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.

19. Chapter 19

A/N: Thank you for your patience. This was a difficult chapter to write as the story has taken a much more complex and darker turn than initially envisioned. I thought this would just be a happy little holiday tale with some minor angst until I finished chapter 3 and the muse went wild. We will get to the happy and the holiday, I promise, but until then I hope you'll still enjoy the story.

19. part 1 of 3...

You can do this, Sam told herself as warm tears escaped her tightly closed lids.

She wasn't certain how long she'd been hiding out in one of the private water-closets of the ladies room, but she was sure she couldn't leave its safety until she'd regained control. She'd closed her eyes to stop the tears only for her mind's eye to torment her with the vision of Jason moments ago after finding her in an intimate embrace with another man. She couldn't expel the image of his face as it morphed from disbelief to anger, hurt, betrayal and finally a look as though the sight of her made him physically ill.

How the hell are you gonna do this? Sam wiped harshly at her tears.

She wanted to go after him, explain, but she'd headed for the restroom instead. She reminded herself he was too angry right now. Jason needed time to cool down before he shut down. So, she stuck to her plan. She may not be able to fix things with Jason at the moment and she couldn't even begin to think of how to handle her father's sudden return, but she could exact a little revenge on the man responsible for hurting the people she loved. Sam couldn't wait to confront Ric and wipe the smug look from his face once he realized life as he knew it was about to end.

Her anger and disgust for that man had been building stronger throughout the night with every lecherous touch and leer he'd laid on her. The anticipation of finally confronting him rejuvenated her in her mission. She took a calming breath and dried her eyes, determined to see the night with Ric through to the end, then she would find Jason and do whatever it took to make things right again.

xxxxx

Damian Spinelli had little to no experience dealing with troubles of the female persuasion, especially matters of the heart. However, he could not in good conscience sit idly by while his Goddess wept. He'd tried to reach out to her, but she'd only told him she was fine and needed a few minutes of privacy. She'd turned off her comms afterward, but her reassurance had done nothing to assuage his concern. He wished he knew what to do for her. Coop had headed back to his table with Maxie, having told Spin the best thing he could do for Sam was to do as she had asked.

Cody, of course, had overheard the exchange and pieces of when Coop had asked Sam to cover him due to one of Alcazar's men being on scene, but couldn't make sense of what had gone down. He wanted to know what the hell was going on, why his baby girl was crying? Explanations, however, would have to wait as his task at hand required the utmost focus if they were to pull it off, and they had to pull it off. Something too precious to lose weighed in the balance if they failed.

Cody called for the all clear over comms and Spin forced his concern to the background as he double-checked his feed to ensure Cody's path was clear. "Good to go, phoenix."

"Copy that." Cody confirmed then cautiously peered from behind the door before opening it fully and moving along the now empty access corridor that led to the vault.

It took one and a half minutes for guard number 1 to log out and one and a half minutes for guard number 2 to log in to the restricted area he now inhabited all by his lonesome. That left him with three minutes to get in, get out and do what he needed to do. He hadn't been lying when he'd informed Mr. Jacks about his hotel's need for tightened security. Of course, Cody hadn't pointed out the hole in that particular area of the building just yet as it would come in very handy before he was done. As a master thief, he had to shake his head at the blatant oversight. The hotel spared no expense when installing the most secured vault on the market. They even went so far as to secure the vault corridor with twenty four hour guard service, yet gave very little regard to the quality of locks on offices adjoining those offices with doors opening up along that guarded hall.

Cody had picked the lock two doors over and made his way to the other side of his intended point of entry with incredible ease. He'd simply waited for Spin's go ahead before opening it and walking down the hall to the vault. He made it to the panel in good time then carefully pried the cover of the keypad. Cody quickly rerouted the power from the device before clutching a long pair of anti-static tweezers to extract the tiny chip from its lodging. He replaced it with a customized version, courtesy of the Jackal, then pulled the clips effectively restoring power.

The keypad's timeout would be noted in the digital log and there was no getting around that, or altering it. All they could do was minimize the chance of it being discovered by doing it last minute before passwords changed. The digital memory would be wiped clean and that information would then be buried within the history of the printed hard copy no one ever really scrutinized the way they should. It was another weak link in the hotel's security. Cody knew from experience, you can put all the safeguards in the world in place, but your security is only as good as its people. Jasper Jacks' people just weren't that good. Some were merely inexperienced, but the worst offenders were downright lazy.

He popped the cover back on, slipped his tools back into his tux pocket then swiftly made his exit behind the same office door he'd just used two and a half minutes before. He smiled to himself at another job well done while making his way back to the party before anyone had the chance to miss him.

His eyes narrowed at seeing Ric's dark scowl partially covered by a cloth held to his mouth. He'd seen the way that man had looked at his daughter and wondered if he was the reason she had gone off in tears. He'd asked his team again for details without success. Coop wasn't talking and Cody could only assume he wasn't in the position to do so. Spinelli had told him he wasn't sure what happened, but Cody wasn't buying it. He planned to corner them both later for solid answers. For now, Cody lingered in the background without attracting Lansing's attention. He would keep an eye on him for the rest of the night. He didn't trust the man anywhere near his Samantha Marie.

xxxxx

Ric had stormed away from the elevators to the bar. He needed another drink, a stiff one or two, but more than that he needed some ice before his lip swelled any more and made an even bigger spectacle. The bartender had given him a clean towel full of ice and asked if he needed him to call security. Ric had weighed his options deciding to deal with it discreetly once the ball was over. The mayor wouldn't be too appreciative of that kind of negative publicity. The press was still there and it wouldn't speak too highly of their police force that the D.A. had been assaulted by a mob enforcer while more than a hundred of New York's finest stood only a few feet away none the wiser.

He repositioned the chilled cotton against his throbbing lip and winced at the fresh pain it brought. It had stopped bleeding, but it wasn't quite numb yet. He was sure to have one hell of a bruise. The entire left side of his face ached from his cheekbone down through his jaw. Damn Morgan, he silently cursed, but then smiled slightly as the thought of watching him go down for assault warmed his cold heart. It wasn't murder, collusion or RICO violations, not yet anyway, but it was a start. It was just the start of convictions he intended to land on Jason Morgan during his campaign to bring the Corinthos-Morgan organization tumbling down.

He finished off his drink and ordered another double on ice as his eyes stayed peeled on the hall leading to the restrooms. Sam had escaped in there more than fifteen minutes ago. The ceremony would begin soon and the mayor would expect them back at their table. Thank God he wasn't a speaker or presenter tonight, but the mayor was and had made it perfectly clear that he expected Ric to be on the sidelines forming a picture of perfect solidarity within the league of justice for all the papers to print. His jaw tightened as the minutes ticked away. If she didn't come out soon, he'd march in there and pull her out himself.

No way was he going to allow her to embarrass him anymore tonight. Samantha McCall had been a frigid bitch toward him all evening and he was sick of it, especially after the way she'd rubbed her mouth and body all over another woman's date with no regard for propriety, her reputation or her mother's. There was no doubt in Ric's mind after witnessing that lewd display that under her cold exterior lie a hot blooded woman just waiting for the right man to release what she tried in vain to suppress and he was just the man for the job.

Her contempt was only an act to disguise the lust burning beneath the surface. He was sure, given a little encouragement, her ice would melt and she would give in to the lust between them. He'd felt the heat between them that night in the nursery, how she'd trembled at his touch. She was scared to lose control, to let go and give in to the sexual desire he felt for her. She'd felt it too, he was certain. He recalled the way she'd stood frozen in place as his erection pressed against her soft body, as if she were lost in the desire too and only waiting, yearning, for him to give her that little push she needed before their fire would ignite and consume them in its ecstasy.

A little encouragement, that was all she needed from him and Ric suddenly felt himself harden at the thought of having her all to himself tonight. Sam had arranged, without his permission, for the girls to spend the night at Sonny's. Ric had been infuriated when he found out, but let it go when he realized the opportunity it left for him and Sam to spend a little time alone together.

He'd given his new plan a lot of thought during his trip to the nation's capital. His fantasy was wrong on so many levels, but his desire would not be quenched until he'd tasted of her. He'd tried to fulfill his insatiable need by picturing her as he pounded into the woman he loved, but it had failed, offering temporary relief at best. Once, he told himself, just one night with Sam. She wouldn't even have to remember. He would know. He would remember for the both of them. One night to have his fill of her and the ache inside of him, now consuming nearly every waking moment, would be satisfied.

He would be done with her then and could finally focus once again on the people and things that really mattered like his career, his vendetta, Elizabeth and their baby on the way, Cameron -the son they were supposed to have raised together before Lucky returned from the dead and got in the way, and his daughter with Alexis. Those were the things that mattered most, not this obsession over his hot bitchy step-daughter that could ruin everything he'd worked to accomplish. No, he had to satisfy his urges and move on before his secret addiction, his lust for Samantha, was found out.

It had been surprisingly easy to find just what he needed in DC. He knew people who knew people. He hadn't been sure if he would use it until that very moment, but he'd brought it along with him tonight just in case. Actually, that was a lie he'd told himself. He knew the moment he purchased it that he would find an opportunity to use it, to have what his body craved. This was it. Tonight was the night he'd waited for, the night he made her his.

He ordered another double on ice for Sam and laid the now soaked cloth on the bar as he pulled her encouragement from one of his pockets. Ric cast a deceptive grin around the room and Cody shifted adeptly within the crowd so Ric wouldn't notice him watching. Ric took the drink he'd ordered for Samantha and lowered it just below the bar as he looked about with casual disregard. Cody watched as Ric then used his other hand to open and pour some type of clear liquid from a tiny vial into the drink he held.

Cody felt his temper flare and his body tense. That man was going to drug someone and something in him instinctively told him that someone was his daughter. It took everything in him not to stalk over to him and finish whatever the hell someone had already started on his face. He remained in position, however. Cody was never one to back down from a fight, but physical intimidation was not his strong suit. Cody fought using his cunning intellect to outmaneuver and that moment would be no different. He couldn't very well blow his cover by assaulting the D.A. at the policeman's ball. He did, however, make a mental IOU for a private beat down on one Ric Lansing in the very near future. No one hurt his girl and got away with it, no one.

Cody noticed Samanth... Sam approaching Ric at the bar with a carefully crafted blank expression on her face. Her guard was up and again Cody couldn't help wonder if it was due to Ric Lansing or maybe even himself. After all, he knew he'd thrown Sam a pretty hard curve-ball by revealing himself to her tonight. He saw the flicker of recognition in her eye as she met his for a brief second before concentrating on the man in front of her.

"About time you showed up." Ric sneered as he placed her drink on the bar next to his own.

Cody knew it was now or never. He used Ric's distraction with Sam and moved in using his forearm as a cover while his other hand switched position of the drinks. Sam caught her father's slight of hand, but made no mention of it. What the hell was Cody up to? She knew better than to ask.

Instead, she rolled her eyes at Ric. "Let's get this over with."

Cody faded back into the background as Ric turned back and unknowingly grabbed his own double on ice and handed it to Sam. Sam accepted hesitantly.

Ric smiled a smile that made Sam's stomach coil. "Thought we could both use a drink."

Sam nodded and watched as Ric grabbed the other glass and took a good long swig. She looked over his shoulder, uncertain if she should drink, but relaxed when Cody made eye contact through the throngs of decorated officers, local politicians and their guests and gave her a reassuring nod.

Sam's eyes narrowed. Ric was up to something and her father was on to him. Sam turned her gaze back to Ric with a calculated smile in place as she took a sip.

Ric smiled a knowing smile that set her nerves on edge then held out his free hand as if to show her the way back to their table where everyone else was seated.

It wouldn't be until just before they were leaving an hour later that Sam would find a moment to have a few private words with Cody, or Cal as everyone in town currently knew him, and Cody would finally have the chance to warn his daughter Ric had tried to drug her.

xxxxx

He didn't know how long he'd been sitting there. He'd lost all track of space and time the minute he spotted her lips, hands and body pressed against another man. The sting of betrayal nipped incessantly at the piercing wound of his heart. How could Sam do that to him, especially after Elizabeth? His mind rejected the very idea. She wouldn't hurt him that way after what they'd shared. He knew Sam better than that, didn't he? He laughed without humor. He'd thought he'd known Elizabeth better too. He'd certainly known her longer.

He didn't want to believe it, but his eyes, his eyes told him that kiss couldn't possibly have been a first. They were far too familiar with one another for that to have been anything innocent... or introductory. His mind still fought the argument his eyes made. He recalled his first kiss with Sam and how incendiary it had been. So, it was reasonable to argue it very well could have been her first and only time kissing Cooper Barrett. He very well could be just a friend like she'd said, but somehow that didn't give him any more comfort. The thought of Sam pouring as much passion, heart and soul into a first kiss with another man as she had with him... The idea left him cold and embittered, more than embittered. He'd been enraged and in need of something to beat, or shoot, both.

He'd raced down the stairs trying to outrace the beating of his heart as it tore and bled into his chest. As he made it to the bottom, completely out of breath, a funny thought entered his head. The kind of funny Jason figured only God could really appreciate. He'd just run down fifteen flights of stairs to escape the very vision, now in the flesh, that had allowed Elizabeth, who'd climbed fifteen flights of stairs, to trap him. The bitch was dedicated to her cause, he'd give her that much. He huffed in self-recrimination regretting such unwavering loyalty and now loathing the quality he once considered his most redeeming. What a sucker that devotion had proven him to be. He struggled to catch his breath as he itched to take someone else's. The reminder of Elizabeth's deceptions combined with what he'd just witnessed left him full of murderous intent.

He'd stood outside the main entrance of the hotel awaiting the valet to bring his vehicle around. Typical assimilation of detailed movement from people and things in his surroundings were lost to him as he stood in stone cold silence wishing, for the briefest of seconds, that he could turn to stone like so many accused so he wouldn't have to feel the ugly emotions filling his head and heart.

It was the ringing of his cell that broke his trance. He gripped it tight and contemplated slinging it on the ground and stomping it to pieces just for the hell of it before sighing resignedly to answer. Stan had called. It was business and business was the distraction he needed. Logan Hayes had been spotted by one of Sonny's informants at the bar talking to some guy. They hadn't been close enough to overhear what was said, but Stan had sent the informant a photo of Cooper and they were able to confirm it hadn't been Barrett with Alcazar's enforcer. That didn't mean Cooper was innocent, not by a long shot, or that Hayes showing up tonight had been coincidence. Cooper Barrett was better trained than to make a sloppy move like being associated with Logan in public, but Jason knew Cooper was up to something and he was more determined than ever to find out exactly what.

With his razor sharp focus in place once again, fueled by a revitalized rage toward Sam's new best buddy, he'd recognized the man immediately as his SUV passed him by. Logan Hayes was camped out across the street from the Metro Court. Jason circled around and parked a few spaces back giving him a clear view of Logan's vehicle as well as a similar view the man had on the front entrance.

Jason called Stan and had him run the plates, make and model for a name and address of who and where the vehicle was registered. Stan had e-mailed the information to him minutes later. Jason didn't recognize the name, but Stan's thorough background check informed them the owner had been under Alcazar's employ before Lorenzo had left the country. He planned to tail Hayes and wait for a better chance to take him. He'd check out the address later to question the owner, but doubted it was where Logan was staying.

He kept his eyes open, but his mind seemed singularly focused on one thing, Sam. What the hell had he seen? What the hell was going on? Was there more than met the eye and, if so, what exactly was that something more? Was there a simple explanation his anger just wasn't letting him see, or was it his love for Sam that just wouldn't let him see the truth before his eyes? Those thoughts riddled his brain as he sat in wait, for what he wasn't sure. It was someone elses cat and mouse game and Jason was just a spectator, for now.

Jason's fist clenched as he watched the valet hand Barrett his keys. Cooper assisted Maxie Jones, whom Jason assumed had been his date, into the passenger side before getting behind the wheel. He noticed Logan's tail lights light up and Jason started his own vehicle as well. That must have been who Logan was waiting for. He watched as Cooper pulled out of the hotel's front drive and made a left away from town. Hayes pulled out seconds later on his tail and Jason followed.

He cursed, however, as he missed the light and Barrett and Hayes continued ahead without him. Jason was stuck waiting for green in front of the hotel. His gaze wandered back to the entrance as he sat there debating whether to just run it, or not. Not worth it, he decided. The ball had ended and the streets were now flooded with boozed up cops who'd love nothing better than a chance to give him a hard time, and a ticket.

He called Stan back, who'd informed him there was no detectable GPS or security system on board Logan's vehicle to track him by. So, they'd have to plant one themselves. Jason would have to maintain a visual until they could get close enough to tag it. He ended the call on a sigh, tossing his phone to the empty seat to his right as he did so, and looked back over to the entrance of the hotel out of habit, he guessed. After all, he'd been staring at it now for about the last hour and a half if the clock on his phone could be trusted. Jason was doubtful. He wasn't in a very trusting mood at the moment.

His breath hitched and his jaw tightened all at the same time when he saw her. Confusion, anger and hurt from before must have prevented him from noticing how beautiful she looked tonight, but seeing the way the black gown clung and revealed her body in all the right places made his heart clench with want, and pain. She'd told him she was his, asked him, begged him, to make her his, to make her his family. It all had to be some kind of misunderstanding. It had to be. He couldn't lose her. He couldn't.

Jason glanced at the light, still red, then back to Sam. A limo had pulled up and something felt off as he watched her. She was smiling, a bright beautiful smile, and leaning into... Ric? The bastard had his arm around her and she him. They were laughing together. Was she drunk? She had to be, because there was no other way she'd be so carefree and friendly around that man otherwise. Jason hadn't stuck around long enough to discern her level of sobriety. What if Cooper had taken advantage of her? What if Ric now intended to do the same? Concern turned to fury at the thought, but he pushed it down. He had to think soundly so he could act quickly to keep her safe.

The light turned green. He hesitated, unsure of his next move. His foot remained on the brake. He stared ahead to Cooper and Logan now a couple lights ahead. He couldn't afford to lose Logan. He and Sonny needed answers from that man before he slipped back out of the country and it wasn't just about business. He'd have no problem letting it go in favor of Sam if it were, but it was also about Sam. Hayes worked for Alcazar and was tied to Cooper Barrett who was tied to Sam. Sam could be in danger, a target. Correct prioritization of potential threats was vital to her safety. Whatever Logan and Cooper were up to, it clearly wasn't as immediate as whatever Ric might try, but was most likely far more deadly. He debated how to be in both places at once then remembered Damien Spinelli. Spinelli was supposed to be her back up tonight. He'd call him and make sure he kept an eye on her and Ric, chase down Logan then check on Sam himself.

Reluctantly, Jason pressed the gas and headed toward Cooper and Hayes. As he lost sight of Ric easing Sam into the limo, Jason picked up his phone and made the call.

"Greetings Stone Cold." Came an all too cheerful voice.

"Sam and Ric just left Metro Court. Make sure Sam gets home safely and keep an eye on Ric. Sam seemed a little... over-served. I don't want him alone with her right now." Jason clipped out orders.

"No worries. I too was concerned that perchance a mix up was made, or not made as the case may be, but Goddess assured me moments ago she is fine." Spinelli rambled, pleased that as upset as Jason had been he was still looking after Fair Samantha.

Stone cold criminal that he was, his Goddess loved the man heart and soul as anyone with eyes must see and Spinelli only wanted his friend's happiness. Her broken sobs earlier had pained him greatly.

"Mix up, what mix up?" What the hell was that twerp talking about? His ramblings confused the hell out of him, probably because he had trouble tuning in long enough for him to get to the point.

"Nothing, nothing to worry over. Goddess is in total control of each and every one of her extremely capable faculties. I assure you." Spinelli backtracked.

Sam had sworn him to secrecy. Jason had been called away on business that afternoon and he'd wanted her to wait, but after what Sam had learned after Jason left she didn't want to wait. She couldn't, but she didn't want Jason distracted when he should be focused on work. She refused to endanger him that way.

"Not good enough. You stay by her side until I get there, or do I need to remind you what happens to you if anything should happen to her? Anything!" Jason threatened.

"Message received. No need for violent fulmination." Especially since I'm already on it thanks to orders from Fair Samantha's very own paternal one, he silently added.

"I'm tracking their movement as we confabulate. Looks as though destination is the lake house." Spinelli informed.

"Get there. Stay there and see to it she's fine and stays that way until you here from me! Call me at the first sign of trouble!" Jason barked and ended the call in the middle of Spinelli's long-winded agreement to comply.

His hunch about where Cooper had been going was right. He caught up to them as they turned into the police commissioner's neighborhood. Cooper was dropping off his date. He hung back and parked along the street a few houses down once again watching Logan watch Cooper.

Cooper pulled his rented Tahoe into the drive and parked. The ride to her home had been fairly quiet as music played softly in the background. They'd both admitted to having a wonderful time together, but Cooper had been unable to put his heart back into his date every since Sam had walked away from him over an hour ago. He tried to quiet those thoughts. He owed Maxie his full attention. He liked her and she was his date and if he wanted another date with her, he better keep his head on straight. Coop walked around to open Maxie's door for her and helped her step down from his vehicle.

She smiled at him and he felt his heart speed up a beat or three as it had every time she'd smiled at him that night. That must mean something, right, mean that maybe this was where he should place his focus and not on another woman who was in love with another man? "Have I told you how honored I was to have you on my arm tonight?"

Maxie's eyes twinkled and pleasure hinted at the corners of her mouth. "Hoping to secure another chance with heavy flattery in the final stretch?"

Half of his mouth turned upward. "Will it help?"

Maxie shrugged. "Couldn't hurt."

Coop chuckled. "My thoughts exactly."

They paused on the front stoop, facing one another, in the faint gleam of the post light at the top of the drive. "I guess this is where I say goodnight."

Maxie smiled and spoke softly. "It was a good night. I had a good time."

Coop smiled back as a nervous fluttering filled his gut. "Me too. We should do this again sometime."

"Hm." Maxie teased. "Another date? I'll have to run it by my Fairy Godmother."

"Well..." Coop played along as he glanced at his wrist watch. "To my credit, I did manage to get you home before the stroke of midnight."

Maxie's face twisted playfully in mock incredulity. "And you think that works in your favor?"

Coop felt his body take a step closer to hers. He could feel her tremble under the weight of his heavy gaze and it excited him in a way he hadn't felt in a long time. "Being a gentleman is always a plus."

"Not always." Maxie whispered huskily and she wondered to herself as she had many times before why she could never resist playing with fire?

"Good to know." Coop murmured trying his best to maintain his cool.

Maxie Jones had a way of raising the heat inside him and he was seconds from giving in to that fire, but just as he was about to take her lips with his own a torchiere on the front steps flipped on bathing them in bright light.

Maxie scoffed and rolled her eyes at her father's antics. She could faintly hear her sister scolding him on the other side of the door and shooing him away. She had to shake her head.

Coop chuckled at her frustration. Served her right for her antics earlier in the night. "Think I'd catch a bullet if I were to kiss you right now?"

Maxie raised a challenging brow. "The better question is whether it's worth a bullet to kiss me right now?"

Coop smiled at that and lowered his lips slowly to her cheek in a gentle caress. Maxie's brows furrowed as her eyes fluttered open. She hadn't expected that move at all, but it had left her with an odd mixture of disappointment and relief. In all honesty, she wasn't sure she felt ready to get hot and heavy again yet and, with the charge of emotion he'd kindled inside her, a kiss on the lips from him would have ended in nothing short of hot and heavy. His gesture was gentlemanly and sweet. She smiled as he pulled away.

"Worth the bullet and the wait." He told her as he took a step back.

Maxie's heart fluttered.

Coop smiled handsomely and she was speechless. "Goodnight, Maxie. I'll call you."

With that, he turned to leave. He'd wanted to kiss her on the lips desperately, but it just didn't feel right after what happened earlier. He didn't want to kiss Maxie for the first time on the same day he'd first kissed Sam. He feared the comparisons his brain might make despite his protestations. He wanted the first time he kissed Maxie to have a special date all its own and there would be a first time, of that he was sure. There was just something about her he couldn't resist, didn't want to resist and anything he'd felt for Sam after their kiss was best forgotten.

Maxie swallowed and nodded. "Goodnight, Coop." He descended the steps and walked back to his truck as Maxie watched him go.

She sighed deep and worked the key in the lock wondering, as she opened the door and stepped inside, if she should give her father a piece of her mind now or in the morning. In the morning, she decided. She was still on a high from her night and hoped to ride it out until dawn at the very least.

Logan sat across the street in the middle of posh upper middle class suburbia. He'd spotted his old friend trying to duck him just as he was leaving the ballroom, but hadn't let on. He'd been surprised to see him. Lorenzo had kept him too busy to track him down again. His orders upon leaving Venezuela that morning had been to ensure McCall stayed on task by whatever means necessary until the object had been acquired, but seeing Barrett practically gift-wrapped and delivered had been too much temptation. So, he waited and he watched then he followed the traitor and watched some more.

He watched Coop smiling and laughing with a beautiful blond and anger and jealousy boiled within. Cooper Barrett should not be enjoying life, not after he'd taken all his joy from him, stolen the woman he loved and driven her to her death, literally!

When the light flashed on, he was able to get a clearer view of the woman and it took his breath away. He wondered if Coop was even aware of it then smiled hatefully wondering what the girl might think to know she was merely a stand in for his dead fiancee. His body recoiled at the very word. Julie had been his woman, his love and, as much as her death pained him, the knowledge that she would at least never be Cooper's gave him comfort. Logan waited until Coop had driven a safe distance before following never noticing a dark SUV falling in line behind him a few hundred yards back.

Jason had spent a good hour and twenty minutes trailing behind Logan. He'd followed them first to drop Maxie off at her home then back to Harbor View Towers where Cooper had turned in for the night. Logan idled in front of the parking garage entrance for only a few minutes before driving away. Jason had tailed him to a house on the outskirts of town, most likely one of Alcazar's safe houses. The neighborhood was older, featuring mostly two story homes on large wooded lots. Jason watched as Logan turned down a long winding drive until the red tail lights peaking through the trees cut off. Logan exited the vehicle then made his way inside with a key. Jason saw a light come on in an upstairs window and figured he must be retiring for the night.

Jason wasn't prepared to grab him yet. He couldn't be sure what kind of security Alcazar might have in place. Instead, he called Sal and Vincenzo, two of his best men. Stan equipped them with the tracking device and Jason waited for them to show. Salvatore was one of the organization's best wheel-men. He'd been trained in evasive as well as offensive high speed driving techniques and could probably tail a perp better than the secret service. Vinnie was the muscle and, aside from Jason, one of very few men he trusted to hold his own in hand to hand against an experienced special ops soldier like Logan or Cooper. Vinnie had been a Navy SEAL for ten years before coming home. He'd joined the military at his mother's urging to protect him from the business and provide a good example to his little brother, but ended up seeking Sonny's employ after all when he came home to find his kid brother had secretly joined the organization and refused to walk away even though Sonny had been willing to let him go. Vinnie had been a loyal employee for five years and his only request had been that he always stay close to protect his brother, Paulie. He was an honorable man and Jason respected and related to his choice to put family ahead of his own personal desires.

Jason left Vinnie and Sal with orders to stake the place out and plant the tracking device undetected then tail Logan and report any suspicious movement immediately. If it looked like he was getting ready to skip town or they got a clear shot at capture, then they should go for it and call him with details once he'd been detained. Comfortable with his decision, he left the men to their duties. He needed to get to Sam. It took around forty-five minutes to get from downtown to the lake house. Jason looked at the clock. Sam and Ric should have arrived about twenty five minutes ago. Fortunately, he was only about five minutes away. He picked up his phone and dialed Spin for report failing to notice the dark gray sedan in his rear-view as he did.

xxxxx

Sam was livid, disgusted and livid, but she didn't let it show. The sicko had tried to drug her and if not for her father's watchful eye and quick action she would have been helpless to defend herself against whatever revolting fantasies Ric intended to play out on her tonight. With her dad's help though, she'd managed to turn the tables on him. Her plan was working even better than she'd hoped. Cody had told her about seeing Ric dose her drink with a clear liquid that Sam figured was most likely Rohypnol, a powerful hypnotic prescribed to chronic insomniacs and also abused by date rapists.

Thanks to her love of medical mystery shows, Sam knew just enough about the drug to fake its symptoms. She wanted Ric to believe his plan had worked, to let him believe he held the upper hand until she slapped him with it. The drug was known to induce anterograde amnesia in sufficient doses, leaving individuals unable to remember certain events they experienced while under the influence. When used to aid in the commission of sexual assault, victims were often unable to clearly recall the assault, the assailant or the events surrounding the assault. Basically, Sam needed to mimic the effects of being profoundly intoxicated and increasingly drowsy and she had been ever since Cody had alerted her on her way out of the ball.

She'd told Ric she wanted to change into something more comfortable as soon as they got to the house. In reality, she wanted to buy a little time for the drug's effects to take hold. She had no idea how much had been in the drink, or how long it would take to affect him since he was bigger than her. It had already been over two hours and she was surprised that he was still standing, even though he had begun to slur his words and acted very giddy as they were exiting the limo.

Sam finished dressing in a long sleeve pink jersey and black pajama bottoms. She couldn't stand how his hands had touched her exposed skin all night and, maybe it was silly, but being completely covered made her feel more secure. She sighed deep and grabbed the file she'd compiled of all his transgressions against the people she loved, ready to call him on every single one. What Sam failed to realize and what made the situation she was walking into so much more dangerous was that the drug wasn't only Rohypnol, but a very effective mixture of GHB commonly referred to on the street as liquid x.

Ric sat on the living room sofa, his tux jacket tossed on the chair, his tie undone and his shirt sleeves rolled up at the elbow. The powerful drugs had taken a firm hold of him. He was in a euphoric state. He felt free for the first time in months, years, like there was no reason to hold back his feelings any longer for the woman currently undressing in the other room. The thought of her slipping out of that sexy black gown and into his waiting arms made him hard. It had taken everything in him not to pull her on his lap on the ride home and take her in the limo, but he forced himself to wait.

Ric had only given her half the dose he was given. She was a small woman and he'd only wanted to give her a little push to finally let go of her pent up lust, not risk killing her. So, he waited. At first, he'd thought maybe he'd been scammed with fakes because he hadn't noticed anything different about her behavior during the awards ceremony. On the way home, however, he could tell they were starting to work. Her walls were crumbling. She was smiling, laughing and downright flirting with him. She no longer tensed when he touched her. Soon, soon she would walk back into the room with him and when he finally kissed her she would be helpless to resist. She wouldn't want to resist. She would finally give in to the heat between them and he would finally know what it felt like to sink himself deep inside her.

Now, if only he hadn't had so many double bourbon's over the last several hours. Ric wasn't ever one to drink very heavily, but with his political future currently dependent on remaining in the mayor's good graces he'd been in need of a little liquid courage. He still felt really good, extremely relaxed and definitely in the mood, but he was also beginning to feel more than a little drowsy. He blinked hard and smiled with his eyes closed as he heard Samantha's soft footsteps across the naked hardwood.

19. part 2 of 3...

Sam smiled as she stepped in front of him and set the file on the coffee table. He was already dozing off. Perfect. She'd be lying if she said the thought of confronting him before hadn't frightened her a little. Jason had filled her in on just what the man was capable of when pushed into a corner and she hadn't wanted to end up another one of his victims, but she needed to do this. Tonight. She'd continued reading through e-mails with Spin after Jason had been called away that afternoon and when she'd seen with her own eyes the lengths Elizabeth and Ric had gone to she could barely contain her emotions another moment let alone another day.

Besides, she could take care of herself. She was Sam McCall after all. She'd found herself out of more tight spots than a jock at an all girls catholic school. She convinced herself this situation would be no different, though she did breathe a little easier now knowing she held the upper hand. Ric was relaxed, drowsy and very chatty. He'd be easier to take down in the off chance he decided to get physical and he might even let more damning evidence slip in this state than if he'd been sober.

It was that turn of events that had given her the courage to do it on her own. She'd told Spin she'd changed her mind about confronting him tonight and was going to bed then pulled the tiny receiver from her ear and transmitter from her body before shutting it off. This was personal and private and as much as she'd known it was necessary to include Spinelli before, for her safety and Jason's sanity, she decided she could handle Ric on her own now that he was practically incapacitated.

Ric's eyes opened and roamed Sam's body head to toe before settling on her fiery golden gaze. "I was beginning to think you'd changed your mind about a night cap and decided to call it a night."

Sam smiled, savoring the moment before dropping the bomb. She turned to the dry bar and poured herself a drink. "Now why would I want to call it a night when there's still so much fun to be had?"

Ric licked his lips and sat a little straighter. "My thoughts exactly."

Sam turned with drink in hand as she took a gulp and sat on the coffee table directly across from him. She looked at him long and hard for any traces of guilt or remorse over what he'd done. She found neither. What she did see was the same sickening lustful eye he'd laid on her a hundred times or more. She felt her stomach recoil the way her body wanted to, but she remained seated. She leaned forward in fact, refusing to back down out of fear.

She took another slow sip of the whiskey and felt it burn, her eyes never leaving his. She reached out and offered him her drink. He took it in his hand and she bit her lip to keep from screaming in repulsion as his hot fingers stroked hers. She felt tears wanting to sting her eyes. This was sick, her mind screamed. How could someone her mother loved and trusted do this to her? Do this to his family?

Ric took a long drink from her glass. It wouldn't be much longer. He could see the battle within her and he was moments from making the move that would have her cast any remaining inhibition aside, sealing their fate and bodies as one tonight.

Sam curled her finger, beckoning him closer. Ric moved to the edge of the seat, his knees on either side of hers. If he closed his legs, her thighs would rub against his. The thought nearly sent him over the edge.

Sam leaned in and whispered in his ear. "I have a confession to make."

This was it. His dick twitched with her husky revelation. She was finally going to admit she wanted him too. "Tell me." He urged.

"I know what you're doing and I know what you want." She told him moving back to see his face as she toyed with him.

His eyes had darkened to black pools of lust and a wicked smile played across his face.

"What am I doing? What do I want?" He wanted to hear her say it, admit out loud that they were both wanting and feeling the same thing.

Her smile changed abruptly then and she pushed herself back further, but still seated across from him.

"This!" She exclaimed as she grabbed a file from the table he hadn't noticed until now and slapped it down in his lap.

Ric was confused and it showed on his face, but his smile hadn't disappeared completely, not yet. He was puzzled, but still amused. "What is this?"

Sam just smiled wider, but the warmth usually found in her eyes was gone. "Take a look."

Ric sat back on the sofa and opened the folder as Sam rose from her spot on the table. The farce was over now and she wanted as much distance as she could get from him.

Ric felt his pulse race. There were pictures, tons of pictures time and date stamped of him and Elizabeth kissing outside their motel room. What the hell was this, blackmail? There were papers beneath the photos. It only took a minute, even in his clouded mind, to recognize they were printed e-mails off his private address to and from Elizabeth. How the hell had she gotten a hold of these his brain questioned. This was all bad. His instincts for self-preservation kicked in without blinking. "Look, Sam, I don't know what you think you have here, but I assure you it isn't what you think!"

Sam scoffed and shook her head, almost amused. She couldn't believe that asshole was gonna sit there and deny being caught. "You know they say a picture is worth a thousand words, but those e-mails right there are priceless. Even if you could manage to talk your way out of the photos, those e-mails are the nail in your coffin, Ric! The video is icing on the cake. You're done. Do you hear me? You're done hurting this family, my family! If you know what's good for you, you're going to walk away while you still can and never look back. I want you gone. You've been cheating on my mother for over a year. You pimped your little whore out to Jason and made him believe he slept with her when the truth is he passed out before she could even strip him of his clothes. You let him think that baby was his when you both knew all along there was no way it was possible. He never slept with her and L!z was already a month pregnant the night she climbed those stairs to seduce him. What the hell is wrong with you?"

Ric was having a hard time hanging onto her words, but what he did hear was making him sweat. He wasn't going to sit there and be judged by the likes of a former con who lied and stole for a living and he damn sure wasn't going to allow her to speak about Elizabeth that way after the slut show she'd put on tonight by the elevators. "What the hell is wrong with me? Me!? What the hell is wrong with you? You're defending a cold blooded murderer now?"

Ric stood to his feet, but remained in place as he shook off the dizziness that took over. "He kills people for a living, Sam! The life he chooses to live leaves a constant threat looming over this community, this family, my family! You know, the one I was a part of before Alexis even gave you a second thought? Tell me, Sam, how long did you wait for her? How many times did you wish, growing up, she would come looking for you? Come find you, rescue you from the likes of your deplorable father? She didn't though, did she? Couldn't be bothered, not until Kristina, not until the daughter she loved more than anything and certainly more than the daughter she never even cared enough to fight to keep! No, but Kristina, Kristina was a different story. Alexis fought for her as if her own life depended on it because she's special. She's Sonny's!" He spat the name out as if it were excrement on his tongue.

Sam shook her head ignoring the tears welling up in her eyes as his hate and twisted truth spewed all over her. "You know it's true. I know it's true. She puts her before everyone, before you, me, even before Molly. It took me a while to see it, to allow myself to believe it, but Alexis will always choose Kristina over Molly just like my mother always chose Sonny over me. It's always about what's best for Kristina, never about what's best for Molly or, God forbid, the man she married and committed to spend the rest of her life with!"

Sam huffed. "You're jealous, jealous that Alexis has a favorite and it isn't you. You're jealous of a little girl and, and Sonny!" It all went back to his hatred and envy toward his brother.

"For God's sake, she married you, Ric. Chose to spend her life with you, not Sonny, she gave you a beautiful baby girl and the chance at a beautiful life and you ruined it! You threw it all away because you can't stand the fact that your brother had Alexis first. Was it ever about Alexis, or your love for her? Or was it always just about taking something away from him, taking the mother of his child and his little girl?"

Ric sneered and shook his head with smug contempt. "You think you've got all the answers, huh Sam? You think your mother is the only one who could possibly be the wronged party in all of this? You couldn't be more wrong. Alexis was unfaithful to me for months before Elizabeth and I were ever together. I tried, countless times to get her to open up to me. She didn't want to talk, yet she had no trouble bending my dear older brother's ear. We could have had a court appointed supervisor sit in on Kristina's scheduled visitation with her father, but Alexis wouldn't hear of it. Any excuse to spend time with that man." He scoffed in disgust.

"You're crazy. She can't stand Sonny. She barely tolerates him and throws a fit if Kristina spends one second longer with him than court ordered." Sam denied.

"Am I, Sam? Am I crazy?" His eyes studied her inscrutably and Sam wondered in that moment if the effects of the drug had worn off completely. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks. You weren't here during the battle for custody of Kristina. Alexis fought tooth and nail for full physical custody of her daughter, yes, but she'd accepted the fact that the truth was outed. Everyone knew Sonny was her child's father. There was no way she could continue to lie to her daughter after that point. It wasn't easy, but she accepted that Sonny would have a place in Kristina's life. At first, I was naïve enough to believe her insistence on being the one to chaperone Kristina with her visits to her father was just Alexis' need for control taking over, her need to be reassured first hand of her daughter's safety. It didn't take long to see it for what it was really was. Alexis was bonding with Kristina and Sonny. She no longer just accepted the fact that he was her child's father. She embraced it. All the sudden, it was as if I'd been cut out entirely from the decision making process for anything having to do with Kristina. If Alexis wanted or needed advice, only Sonny's was good enough. Only Sonny's reassurances held water. She cut me out, refused to let me in. I needed someone and Elizabeth was there. She was my friend."

Sam didn't care to hear his excuses, but she did want to know why. "If that's how you felt, if you were through with Alexis and moving on with Elizabeth why not just come clean? Why not just get a divorce before you destroyed all the good you had between you?"

Ric went to take a step and swayed unsteadily on his feet. He closed his eyes willing his head to stop spinning and the drowsiness to go away. The slur of his words didn't go unnoticed by either. "At first, it wasn't what I wanted. Elizabeth had just been someone that wassthere for me when I needed her. I wasn't ready to give up on Alexis or the family we made so I stayed, but it never got better. Alexis and I had been fighting for months with no end in sight. I finally decided to tell her I wanted a divorce the night of the blackout, but she gave me her news first. She'd just been diagnosed."

His actions made sense, in his own twisted mind she was sure, but Sam didn't feel one ounce of sympathy for him. It wasn't as if all he'd done was failed at a marriage and cheated on his wife. The man standing in front of her had plotted to destroy another man's life, the man she loved, he'd slept with his slut on the side while his wife was possibly dying of a terminal illness and tried to drug her tonight in attempt to assault her sexually.

A shiver of revulsion and fear of what might have been rushed over her. "You're sorry little sob story isn't gonna fly here, Ric. Adultery might not land you in jail, although I'm sure family court wouldn't think too highly of you for it, but I'm pretty sure the other stuff will. Conspiring with your lover, a helpless civilian no less, to infiltrate an alleged organized crime syndicate? Violating who knows how many rules and regulations regarding proper conduct of an investigation? Not to mention how many other laws you've bent and broken. I wonder what support the mayor and governor you so adeptly brown-nosed all night would lend you if they knew? I'm thinking they'd lose your number the second it hits the media, right after they insisted you step down as D.A., that is." Her eyes speared him with every bit of venom she had for him coursing through her veins. "I wonder what the police would say if they knew you'd tried to drug me tonight so you could put your disgusting hands on me?"

Ric's eyes went wide. How the hell did she know? It felt like forever that he stood there as he struggled to connect the dots. Wait, his mind paused. She'd said tried. That must mean he hadn't succeeded. She'd played him. Anger raged through him melding with sexual frustration. He swallowed back the sudden nausea that struck him as his agitation mounted. He blinked away the spots. It was getting harder to breathe and fight the sleep overtaking him. Suddenly, it all clicked. She'd somehow managed to switch their drinks. She'd drugged him!

"You bitch! You drugged me!" He lunged for her and though she managed to pull back, his arm snaked out and grabbed a fist full of hair as he yanked her toward him.

Sam yelped in pain as he snatched her hair forcing her against him. She went to push him away, but his hands found her wrists before she could. She hadn't expected such quick reflexes. His anger must have given him a moment of clarity, but she could see him fighting the effects. She struggled to break free of his grasp, but he clenched her arms tighter and twisted them behind her back. "Get your filthy hands off me, you pig! Let me go!"

The bitch had played him and was threatening to ruin him, Ric seethed. Like hell would he let that happen. He was in control, not her, and it was time she learned as much. He wasn't sure what he was going to do at first. Grabbing her had been a reflex of his anger before he'd had a chance to think it through. He wasn't the kind of man who resorted to manhandling women, but having her lithe body struggling against him excited him. He felt an overwhelming sexual urge to keep her close. He wanted her and as much as she fought, he knew that all that tension between them wasn't just anger. It was desire. He just needed to show her. He'd show her how good it would feel to let go and give in to their baser needs.

Sam's knee rose swiftly to his groin and Ric twisted to block it. In doing so he'd turned them both so that her back was to the sofa and lost his balance causing them to fall onto the sofa with him on top of her. Sam's arms were now trapped under their combined weight behind her back as she continued to thrash and scream for him to get the hell off of her! He grunted, countering her movements and refusing to let her go. If she would just stop fighting for a minute, he could show her.

Sam refused to give in to defeat, but when she felt him rub his lower half against her and try to position himself between her legs she panicked. How had things turned on her so quickly? How had she allowed herself to get into this position? She felt so foolish. Jason had warned her about him, but she thought she knew better. Jason, oh God, once Ric finished with her he'd never be able to see her as anything but the trash who'd been careless enough to let her mother's husband use her.

His wet mouth was sucking on her neck and she felt his bulge against her thigh. His labored breaths were hot and reeked of alcohol and the smell sent her right back to a time and place she'd tried so hard to forget. She'd been stupid that night too and this moment brought it all right back to the forefront of her mind. She felt herself closing down as she had back then, shutting off from everything and everyone around her in that moment just to get through it, just to survive.

"One kiss, Sam. Just give me one good kiss. I know you feel it too. Kiss me and I'll show you, show you how good it'll be between us." Ric rasped as one hand cupped her breast and another forced her face to turn and look at him.

She wanted to shut her eyes, shut her eyes and block it all out. Forget. Forget, forget forget, but she didn't. She forced herself to stay in the moment. She reminded herself she wasn't that scared young girl anymore. She was a survivor, a fighter. She may not be strong enough to stop him, but she wasn't going to stop fighting, never again. Wasn't that what she'd told herself? Never again!

"You're sick! I don't want you! I never wanted you! Get oooo..." And then his tongue was in her mouth.

Her body stiffened and her fight or flight instinct kicked in as she gagged. She did the only thing she could to fight him off considering her arms were still trapped beneath her. She bit down hard on his busted lip, causing Ric to jerk back as he cursed her and grabbed at his freshly bleeding wound. She used the distraction as he lifted up slightly to pull her arms out from under her and gouge at his eyes with her thumbs. He jerked back even further to escape the pain she inflicted as he hollered out angry obscenities.

She tried to pull her legs free, but he remained straddling them. His hands gripped at her thighs as she attempted to knee his groin again. He looked at her with rage like she'd only seen a few times before and always just before she was about to be beaten. She had to get away. She pushed, kicked, clawed and screamed to no avail. Sam saw Ric's hand draw back and she drew her hands over her head defensively and closed her eyes in preparation for the first blow, but it never came. She felt the weight of him lift off and opened her eyes to see Jason slamming Ric to the floor.

Jason! He was there. Relief filled her. He was there and she was safe. She barely had a second to feel that relief, however, before she realized Jason was about to kill him. She pulled herself from the sofa as Jason's fists made relentless contact with her attacker's face. Ric, drugged up or not, was no match for his unleashed ferocity. He gripped Ric's shirt collar in one fist as the other pummeled him into oblivion.

Jason had called Spin on the way to the lake house, who'd assured him he'd just spoken to Sam. Spinelli said Sam told him she was safely tucked away in her bedroom and about to turn in for the night. He'd sent Spinelli home and, not wanting to risk running into Ric at the door, Jason had parked at the end of the drive and crept around to the French doors opening onto the back deck from Sam's room. He'd tapped at the glass, but figured maybe she was already asleep when she didn't answer. Maybe ignoring him. It was dark in her room, so he didn't realize Sam wasn't in bed until he'd picked the lock and stepped inside. A chill went through him at seeing her bed empty and that bad feeling he'd had all night returned full force when he heard her scream and yell for Ric to get off of her.

He was horrified and blinded by rage when he ran in to the living room to find Ric on top of Sam, forcing himself on her and raising back to strike her. Sam was fighting, slapping, kicking and screaming but it just wasn't enough. He was bigger. He was stronger and now Jason was going to give him a taste of what that powerlessness felt like. He was going to beat him to death. His fists connected with Ric's face until he felt the crunch of a broken nose and cracked jaw. Ric's face was a bloody mess by the time he started on his body. Blow after blow landing to his ribs and gut before the tiny hands pulling at his arm registered and the soft hum of her voice broke through the buzzing in his ears.

"Jason! Jason, stop! You're gonna kill him!" Sam begged.

She wasn't sure right then if she really cared about Ric's life, but she cared for Jason's. She wouldn't risk losing him to a murder conviction.

Jason threw two more punches as his body slumped in exhaustion. He felt Sam throw her arms around his neck and cling to him. He was out of breath and couldn't form words to even ask if she was alright. He lifted his heavy arms to wrap around her and hold her close as he forced himself to stand. Ric now lie unconscious at their feet, but he was still breathing.

"Sam." It was the first and only word he could say as he pulled her to him tighter and buried his face in her vanilla and floral scented locks and nuzzled her neck.

"I'm sorry Jason. I'm so sorry." She was sorry for acting so reckless and breaking her promise not to do it on her own. She was sorry for hurting him the way she had when she'd kissed Cooper at the ball. God, she was so sorry and she just wanted everything to be okay, for them to be okay, because she didn't think she could take it right now if he pulled away. She held him tighter as she cried into his chest fearing he would close himself off to her as soon as it sunk in that she was out of immediate danger.

"Are you okay?" He hadn't told her it was okay, she noted, but his eyes weren't filled with hurt or disgust for her now as they were when she'd last seen him. They were filled with nothing but concern and, she hoped, love and it made her heart ache for him because, God, she loved him.

Sam nodded silently as the emotional toll of what almost happened began to hit her and tears streamed down her face. He padded them away with a gentle stroke of his thumb as he held her gaze. He'd been so angry and so hurt when he saw her in Coop's arms, but at that moment all he could feel was relief. He was relieved he'd arrived in time and grateful she was safe in his arms. He pulled her back against his chest and pressed a kiss to her temple and just let himself love her.

"You're alright. You're safe now. You're safe." He said out loud, but wasn't sure if it was meant to reassure her or him.

They stood there holding one another until they both felt reassured enough to pull away to look at each other as they talked, neither making any move to break from the embrace completely.

"Thank God you showed up when you did. How did you know?" She wondered.

"I didn't." He breathed deep to calm himself. "I just had this... bad feeling all night like you were in trouble. It's why I showed up at the ball. I needed to make sure you were okay."

She felt him tense when he mentioned the ball. "Jason what you saw..."

His body tensed even more and his arms started to drop from around her and she knew she only had moments to get what she needed out before he shut down. She grabbed his face with both hands and pulled so he would look into her eyes as she spoke.

"Look at me." She pleaded as his face turned to hers, but his eyes still looked away.

"Please, Jason. Look at me." She begged softly and Jason's heart clenched at the sorrowful vulnerability.

He looked into her eyes and she swallowed back her tears. "The kiss was a cover. It all happened so fast. One minute I was chasing..." She paused and edited, not really sure how to explain about her father. "...the next thing I knew Coop said we were in danger and it was the only maneuver we had time to make to avoid being spotted. It was the first time anything like that has ever happened and, I swear to you, there is nothing nothing between Cooper and myself other than friendship and there never will be. I'm with you, Jason. I want you, only you." She stressed as her thumbs caressed his cheeks and her eyes penetrated his resistance.

Jason looked deep into her troubled gaze and he wasn't sure if he believed it, wanted to believe it, or needed to believe it? He felt gun shy after having his friend, Elizabeth, betray him. He'd always known trust was a leap of faith, ultimately. Sure you can minimize the risk by not giving it out too freely until someone had proven themselves, but hadn't Sam already done that in the way she'd stuck by him and believed in him over the years? If he was willing to die for this woman, kill to protect her, shouldn't he be willing to risk his heart for her too? He decided to take the leap. He decided to take her at her word, but to hear she was in danger worried him. Did she know what Barrett was up to with Alcazar? Was she keeping secrets that could risk her safety? He needed to know.

Jason nodded slowly that he believed what she'd told him. He felt the tension release from her instantly as she relaxed against him. "I trust you, Sam, but I need to know... I need to know what happened here tonight and I need to know about Cooper. Are you still in danger?"

Sam held his tender gaze, such intensity and warmth. She smiled up at him softly and shook her head. "No. I don't think so."

He nodded thoughtfully, not entirely convinced, but seemingly satisfied for the moment since she was safe in his arms.

Ric was still bleeding on the hardwood. His breaths were now ragged wheezes. Sam looked down from the security of Jason's embrace. "We need to get him to a hospital."

Jason looked down and felt his anger renew. "Or I should just finish what I started."

He felt Sam tremble against him and bury her face back into his chest as she hugged tight against him again. "No, Jason. Please, he isn't worth it. He isn't worth the risk of you getting caught for his death. Please!"

Jason's anger was promptly replaced by a tender throbbing in his heart for her. "Okay. Okay, Sam. Don't worry. I'll have my men take care of it."

Sam pulled back to look at him once more. "How?"

"Do you have the number for the limo service you used tonight?" Jason said.

Sam nodded. "The driver gave me his card. I left it in my room when I changed. Why?"

"We need a cover. I don't want anyone to know what happened here. You've been through enough without being interrogated by the Fife's downtown." He told her as his hand rubbed her back soothingly.

Sam looked at him strangely and Jason shrugged. "Michael. Nick-at-Night."

Sam smiled. He'd do anything for that boy or any child, she imagined. He was so good with kids and that reminded her of what she hadn't had the chance to tell him yet. Elizabeth's baby wasn't his. There was no way, in fact, that it could be and she wanted to tell him more than anything, but she'd waited to do it in person. It would have to wait a little longer, though, they needed to focus on Ric. "Jason, there's something I need to tell you about tonight. I want to tell you everything, about tonight and Cooper, just like you asked, but I think we should get Ric to a hospital first."

Jason nodded and sighed as he reluctantly let her go for the first time since he'd arrived. He asked Sam to retrieve the phone number from her bedroom as he pulled his phone from his pocket. He knew he owed Sonny a call, but it was the middle of the night and he decided it could keep until morning. He needed to be there for Sam tonight. Instead, he called two of his guys who worked on the clean up crew. Ten minutes later, Gianni and Enzo were handling everything with their normal proficiency. The blood, other possible DNA and all signs of a struggle had been wiped clean.

Enzo had called the limo service from the home phone impersonating Ric and requested the same driver return to pick him up to take him back to his suite at the Metro Court. When the driver showed up, Gianni made it clear he had two choices. He could accept a nice little bonus for his services, or they could take him diving in the harbor sans underwater breathing apparatus. Minutes after stopping for gas, the driver found himself knocked out in the back of his limo with two grand in his pocket and Enzo behind the wheel with Gianni, Ric and the driver as passengers. Enzo pulled up to the curb at GH emergency entrance and Gianni pulled his face mask over his head before opening the door and tossing Ric onto the concrete of the well-lit portico. The tires squealed as they took off, ignoring shouts from someone in scrubs who ordered them to stop.

They were lucky. The effects of the drugs combined with the trauma from the beating would probably leave Ric unable to recall how he'd ended up in that situation in the first place. Sam would of course be questioned, but all she would know was Ric had called the limo service to return to his suite at the Metro Court before she went to bed. The timing would match up with the limo driver's story when he called in to report being knocked out after stopping for gas with Ric on his way back into town and the gas station's security video would show two unidentifiable masked men overtaking the driver and limo.

While Gianni and Enzo took care of Ric, Jason busied himself looking after Sam. She was doing her best to act fine, like what happened hadn't shaken her, but he knew better. There was no way in hell he was letting her stay there for the night afterward. He convinced her to pack a change of clothes and told her he was taking her back to her boat for the night. It was her home. She felt safe there and he knew she needed that and him right now whether she would admit it or not. He hadn't pressed her for any more details. He knew she would tell him and at the moment all he cared about was getting her some place she felt safe.

Logan remained parked in the driveway across the street from the lake house where his pursuer from earlier had parked his SUV. He'd waited, quietly hidden within the shadows of the trees, to see what would happen next. Logan didn't recognize him, but when he'd had his people run the plates it made sense that Sonny's enforcer would have wanted to keep a close eye on him. It was only fair to return the favor, he guessed. It amused him to think the great Jason Morgan actually believed he hadn't been made, though he did have to give the man credit.

It wasn't until they'd pulled away from Harbor View Towers that Logan actually spotted him and even though he knew Mr. Morgan resided at that address he had a feeling the hitman had been following him a lot longer. He'd headed for a safe house on the outskirts of town and used the hide-a-key to unlock the door. He proceeded to go upstairs and pretend to go to sleep before slipping out the back and through the trees to a hidden access road where another getaway car was always kept ready and waiting. He managed to turn the hunter into the hunted with relative ease.

He kept watch on the house for a while as a second black SUV pulled into the drive. This time, they didn't park at the end, but drove all the way up to the door. He couldn't get a good look through all the trees, but he'd seen two men in the front seat as they turned into the drive. One of them then walked down the drive to pull Morgan's SUV to the door as well. A few minutes later a limo pulled in. It seemed odd to see so much activity at that time of night and he wondered what Morgan was up to.

Approximately five more minutes went by before the limo left. The windows were blacked out and he wasn't sure if Morgan was in the limo, or not. He was torn whether to follow it, but decided to wait. Some time later Morgan's SUV pulled out of the driveway and turned left onto the road. He couldn't see the driver clearly, but he could make out what appeared to be a woman's figure in the passenger seat. Logan had a feeling the woman would be with Morgan, so he followed them. He was long gone by the time the limo returned for a fourth time that night so Gianni could retrieve their SUV and follow Enzo in the limo as he dropped the driver off on a deserted street corner on his way to one of Sonny's chop shops.

Other than asking Sam occasionally if she was sure she was okay, Jason had remained silent on the drive to the marina. She'd argued that she was fine to stay at the lake house. It was late and there was no point putting Jason through the trouble of driving her around town, but Jason wouldn't hear of it. Truthfully, she'd have to admit her fight had been only halfhearted at best. Alexis and the girls weren't there and they were the only thing that made that place feel anything close to home. Danny was on her boat, though, and that would always feel like home to her. The only place that had ever felt better, safer, was in Jason's arms.

She looked over at him as he pulled into the guest parking lot. His brows were furrowed with worry, for her no doubt, and her heart warmed at the sight. She looked down at their joined hands resting on the console. He hadn't let go of her since he'd started the truck. His fingers threaded hers and his thumb caressed her palm every now and again as if to offer the simplest of reassurances that he was still there, by her side, and she was safe. He looked over to her as he parked and his eyes pierced her warm bourbon depths. He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it and closed his eyes with a sigh, savoring her touch, as she caressed his cheek with the back of her hand. He stayed like that for a moment before letting go so they could unbuckle and exit.

Jason grabbed her bag from the back and hurried around to help her step out of his truck. When he saw her flinch at the movement, he wanted to drive to General Hospital and beat the hell out of Ric all over again. He took her hand in his as they walked toward the slip, but soon let go in favor of wrapping his arm around her gently and pulling her closer as they walked. She wrapped both her arms around him and nuzzled her cheek into his side as they made their way toward Danny's Lullaby. She'd been tense with fear and tortured with her thoughts of the evening's events as well as the horrible memories from her past, but she felt better with every step she took toward her boat and with every step she took with Jason by her side.

Logan Hayes parked across the street from the marina. He didn't want to risk getting too close. He knew he was better, but that didn't mean Morgan wasn't good and he didn't particularly care to be spotted. He watched as Jason Morgan walked arm in arm with a woman he now recognized as she passed under the dock lighting as none other than Sam McCall, Cody McCall's long lost daughter. Now, wasn't that interesting, Logan thought. Morgan looked pretty attached to the woman. He was sure it was news his boss would be most interested in learning. He made note of the boat they boarded and address of the marina for future reference and gave it another twenty minutes before sneaking back to the safe house. He might as well continue to let them think they had the upper hand.

19. part 3 of 3...

The first thing she did when she stepped foot below was to tell Jason she wanted to take a hot shower and change. It was freezing, she'd told him, hoping he bought that excuse. It wasn't the frigid November night that made her shiver, but the memories flashing through her brain. She could still feel Ric's hot and heavy breath and hands on her and his mouth on her neck. She could still recall the way it felt when he shoved his tongue forcefully into her mouth and his hardness against her as she gagged. The memory made her retch as the hot water beat down on her reddened skin. She could tell by the aches in her muscles as she moved there would be bruising. She only hoped she could cover them. She didn't want anyone to know. She didn't want Jason to be reminded and she didn't want to be reminded either. She just wanted to forget.

She lathered the soap and cleaned herself as if scrubbing hard enough would erase what had happened and thoughts of what would happen when her mother woke up. How could she tell her mother what Ric had done? She didn't want to break her heart that way, but she knew if it was the only way to convince her mom to cut that man out of their lives, then she would do it. Sam just hoped the evidence of his affair would be enough.

Jason did his best to give Sam her space and time. He could tell she needed a moment to collect herself. He just wanted her to know it wasn't necessary. He was there for her for whatever she needed and he wanted so badly for her to open up and share what was bothering her. It was more than just tonight, as if that weren't enough, and it was more than worrying for her mom and sisters too. He'd seen that look in her eyes before when she'd mentioned her past and it felt as if her past had come back to haunt her tonight. The implications of those possibilities, considering what had almost happened to her tonight, had him anxious. He was worried sick, but instead of joining her in the shower he'd headed for the galley and gone about fixing Sam her favorite comfort foods.

He knew she probably wasn't even hungry since she'd had a big meal at the ball. It was more about keeping busy and the thought that even just a bite or the mere gesture might give her some comfort. He remembered her telling him once how whenever she'd felt scared or nervous that a job might go wrong, her father had always taken her to a pancake house and fed her a stack of flapjacks and hot tea with milk and honey. She'd kept the tradition alive for Danny too whenever something scared him. With that in mind, Jason stood over the hot griddle flipping one after another as the hot tea steeped.

He cleaned up in the kitchen and placed the plate full of butter-soaked flapjacks drenched in syrup along with her cup of tea on a tray and carried it in to her bedroom. The water was still running, so he carefully set the tray on her desk and stepped over to the bed to turn her sheets down. He stripped off his boots, socks, jeans and shirt leaving him in just his blue boxers. His concern grew as he realized the shower was far longer than she usually took.

Jason knocked on the bathroom door and paused for her reply. Hearing none, he stepped in the bathroom and his heart sunk at what he saw. His eyes immediately teared up. Sam was huddled so naked and small at the bottom of the shower with her arms wrapped around her knees. Her head was down as the water, cold now, fell on her, but he could tell by the way her body heaved she was sobbing. He opened the glass shower door and knelt down scooping her vulnerable body against him and lifting her into his arms as he carried her to the vanity by the sink.

He sat her on the counter and held her as she cried against his chest. Her arms wrapped around him and pulled him close and the raw desperation in her voice as she spoke broke his heart. "Why, Jason? Why did he have to do this?"

Jason swallowed the lump in his throat. He didn't know why. He would never know how any man could ever hurt a woman that way. There was only one answer that made any sense. "He's sick, Sam, and I'm so sorry."

His hands were flat against her bare back. As he kissed her softly on her forehead, he felt her shiver. She was cold. "Let's get you dry."

She allowed him to pull away and pick up the towel she'd laid out at the beginning of her shower. He proceeded to softly and tenderly rub the towel over her skin as he dried her off, feeling a stabbing pain in his heart with every newly forming bruise he came across. Her wrists, upper arms, her thighs, neck and breasts all had red and purple marks. He breathed deep knowing she needed his calm right now more than his indignation.

Sam placed her hands on his bare chest as he finished towel drying her hair and moved to wrap the towel around her. He met her eyes looking up at him as he tucked one end of the towel into the other and placed his hand on her cheek, caressing it. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and he felt his own eyes water again as he held her gaze then lower his lips to kiss her forehead again, her eyes as she closed them and then each cheek. She smiled softly at the tenderness he showed her as his lips hovered over hers with hesitation and she leaned in and kissed him sweetly at first then slow and sensual as if they were making love and, when he finally pulled back breathless, that's exactly what she saw shining in his eyes. Love, and she felt it from him so strongly that she had to wonder why he hadn't told her yet, why she hadn't told him?

Was it too soon? Maybe he wanted to wait until things were resolved with Elizabeth first. She didn't care. She didn't need to hear the words or say them if he wasn't ready to hear them, because when he looked at her like that, and every time he touched her, she felt them and she intended to make him feel them too.

Jason lifted her wordlessly from the counter and placed her gently on her bed. He helped her slip the sapphire silk nightie she'd pulled from the drawer arms first then head to keep from having to exert her aching muscles too much. He helped settle her in the bed and under covers and she frowned as he refused to slide in next to her.

"I made you something." He told her with the hint of a smile as he retrieved the tray of food from the desk and placed it over her lap.

She smiled. "Pancakes and hot tea. Jason..." She was really touched that he remembered something she'd told him once, more than a year ago now.

He smiled and pecked her lips. "Eat up before it gets cold." Sam nodded and picked up her knife and fork to cut into them.

Jason slipped back into her bathroom for a minute and came back out with a bottle of ibuprofen. He handed her two and she swallowed them down with a sip of tea. He took two as well for his hand before closing the cap and setting the bottle on the bed stand. He'd already cleaned it and placed a tiny band-aid over the worst of the cuts on his knuckles. The ice had kept the swelling down, but it had started to throb. He flexed his fist again to make sure nothing was broken. He'd hit Ric hard enough to break a few bones. He was lucky he hadn't broken one of his own in the process.

"You're lucky nothing is broken." Sam told him as he climbed into bed beside her.

Jason just clenched his jaw and nodded. He didn't want her worried about him. He was supposed to be there for her, not the other way around. Who cared about his stupid hand? Sam could have been... He looked down unable to finish those thoughts in his head.

Sam watched him as her hands rested at the tray gripping her utensils. Tonight had been hard on him too. First he was hurt by her and now he was filled with worry. She didn't want him to worry.

"Looks like someone else could use a bite of comfort food." Sam hovered a fork full of fluffy syrupy pancakes in front of him with a smile.

He couldn't help issue a half smile too as he opened his mouth and she fed him the bite. They weren't bad. A bit too sweet for his taste, but not bad.

"Good?" She inquired as he chewed.

He gave a slight shrug. "Not bad."

"Not bad? Not bad." She took another bite. "These are perfect!"

He laughed a little at her enthusiasm. "Some people prefer a little pancake with their butter and syrup."

She narrowed her eyes as she looked at him sideways. "Yea, well, those people don't know what they're missing." She took another bite and moaned in culinary delight.

Jason chuckled and shook his head and she returned it with a sassy smile and shoulder shirk. He sat in silence after that, just content to watch her enjoy her meal. She ate a few more bites and drank her tea. She really wasn't hungry, but it just tasted so good and it really did make her feel better. Pancakes and hot tea was one of the few traditions she had with her dad and Danny. Jason was making sure to keep that tradition alive for her. He was always so thoughtful with her. She would have eaten the entire plate full just to make him feel good, but she was truly stuffed. She put down her fork and butter knife and wiped her mouth and hands with the napkin.

"Hmmm." She hummed as she laid her head back against the headboard with her hand over her stuffed tummy.

"Full?"

She nodded and he got up and took the tray full of dishes to the kitchen then crawled back under the covers with her. She was tired. It had been such a long day, for Jason too, she was sure, but she still owed him those explanations and he still needed to know about the baby.

She sat up in bed and turned to face him. His brows furrowed in question.

"I want to tell you about tonight." Sam told him.

"It's okay. You need your rest. It can keep." He assured her.

Sam shook her head. She was tired, but she needed to get it out. She wouldn't be able to sleep until she knew they were both on the same page. "I need to tell you."

He nodded and sighed, secretly glad she was ready to talk. He just hoped he could find the words to help.

"Um, I'll start with Cooper." Talking about what happened with Ric was going to be harder for her.

Jason nodded allowing her to go in whatever order and at whatever pace made her most comfortable.

"Cooper Barrett was a man I ended up helping on my first solo case as a P.I. His sister's husband hired me to look into her suspicious activity. They were living in the city at the time and he thought she was having an affair. It turned out that she was helping to hide her little brother after he'd gone AWOL from the Army, escaped military police custody to be more precise." Sam admitted and shifted uncomfortably.

"Coop was in special forces and left for dead when a mission went bad deep in enemy territory. He was the sole survivor of his team, or so everyone thought at the time. He felt betrayed by the Army when they called off air support and left his team to be slaughtered." Sam explained as Jason became more intrigued than ever to know every thing about the man and any danger he might pose toward Sam.

"Coop mourned the hardest for his teammate and best friend, Logan Hayes, but learned shortly after making it back to friendly territory he'd been set up to take the fall for espionage, treason and countless other crimes involving the theft of a high grade bio-toxin that his team had been tasked to secure during transit through hostile territory. Coop managed to escape stateside during transport to a more secure facility for interrogation and during his own investigation learned Logan was still alive. Logan had set him up and he and his partners planned to sell the next gen weapon on the black market." Sam paused giving Jason a chance to ask any questions, but he seemed content to let her continue.

"I successfully tailed his sister, Sarah, which wasn't easy and found her with Coop. I got photos of them together. I wasn't convinced they were lovers, but I could tell the woman was in serious trouble. They were both in over their head and needed help, so I forced their hand by threatening to turn what I had over to the authorities. Coop knew if those photos got out that his sister would be in danger and so he caved and told me everything. Together Coop and I, along with Spinelli's help, ended up tracking down the evidence to prove his innocence and that Logan faked his death. Coop was exonerated of all charges and given an honorable discharge. However, Logan Hayes, is still at large and Coop has been secretly working with Spinelli to track him down... and kill him. When Cooper burned Logan as the traitor, Logan vowed to take everything and everyone he ever cared about away from him. Logan claimed to have forgiven Coop for the death of his ex-girlfriend, but hadn't really. Logan's girlfriend broke up with him when she developed feelings for Coop. Logan was still in love with her and felt betrayed. When he found out Coop had proposed to her, he confronted her on the night of Julie and Cooper's engagement party and begged her to reconsider and take him back. They got into an argument. Coop told him to back off and Julie asked Coop to let her handle it, but Coop didn't listen. Logan and Coop got into a fist fight and Julie stormed off upset because she'd come between two friends that had been more like brothers. She was so upset she didn't heed the train crossing signals and ended up dying in a car crash."

"Geez." It was all he could think to say and Sam nodded her head.

It wasn't at all what he'd thought. Cooper and Logan weren't working together at all. Logan was out to hurt everyone Coop cared about and Cooper was after Logan to protect his family from harm. It made sense now why Cooper had been looking for any information they had on Alcazar since Logan worked for him.

"It seems Logan still blamed Cooper for Julie's death and had sworn revenge. Logan felt like he had nothing to live for after losing Julie and his best friend. So I guess when he was approached and offered $1 million cash to secure the weapon and they explained he would have the opportunity to pin it all on Cooper, he couldn't resist." Sam shrugged and fidgeted nervously over what came next.

"Sam, you said Logan Hayes was hired by someone else for this job. It was Lorenzo Alcazar, the arms dealer, wasn't it?" He already knew the answer.

Sam sighed. She knew she should have told him sooner. She nodded, yes.

"Sam..." Jason sighed. Alcazar was deadly and his highly trained killer now had Sam lined up in his sights. She should have told him the minute she knew he was involved. He could have helped. He and Sonny had been fighting Alcazar for years as he continually attempted to gain a foothold on their territory.

"I know. I know I should have told you, Jason, but by the time we learned of Alcazar's involvement the case was almost over. We'd done what we needed to do and proven Logan was still alive and had framed Coop. I had planned on telling you all about my new job and the case as soon as I arrived, but then everything happened with Elizabeth and Ric and then my mom... I just, it didn't seem as important anymore. Alcazar and Logan were on the run, Cooper and Spin were tracking him down and I had more important things to focus on like you, us and my mom's recovery." Sam reasoned.

Jason sighed deep. He didn't like it, but he understood it. She'd been hit from all sides from the moment she stepped foot back into Port Charles. "Logan Hayes was spotted at the policeman's ball tonight, Sam. Was that who you and Cooper were trying to avoid?"

Sam's mouth fell open. She hadn't been expecting Logan himself to risk apprehension by returning to the states, let alone the town where her family lived. "I, I don't know. Coop just said it was one of Alcazar's men. We didn't have a chance to talk about it after, but it must have been."

Jason was conflicted. He felt bad for jumping to conclusions at what he'd seen and thinking the worst of Sam when her life had been in danger, but he still wanted to rip Cooper's lips off for putting them on his woman. Jason unclenched his jaw noticing it had tightened without realizing and took a deep calming breath. "Just promise you won't go after Logan or Alcazar and you'll be careful. Promise you'll tell me the minute anything feels off. I know you can take care of yourself, Sam, and I respect that, but this isn't some average thug. He's highly trained and he's lethal and he's enforcer to one of the biggest international arms dealers in the world."

Sam nodded feeling bad already about breaking her promise to not go after Ric on her own. "I promise Jason. I should have never confronted Ric on my own. I never thought... I broke my promise to you and I'm sorry. I was wrong."

"Hey." Jason cupped her face to look up at him. "I'm just glad you're alright."

Sam half smiled as tears escaped down her cheek and she swallowed the emotion with a nod. "Me too."

Jason returned her little smile and wiped her tears away.

He didn't want to bombard her with questions, but there was still something he didn't quite understand. He lowered his hand from her face and took her hand in his. "You seemed fine with waiting for me when I left your office this afternoon. What changed your mind? What made you go after Ric on your own tonight?"

Sam bit her lip. This was it and she wasn't sure how he was going to take it. It was one thing to know the baby might not be his, but he was about to learn all chance of that was a lie and a small part of him would have to hurt at having the chance at fatherhood dangled in front of him and then ripped away so cruelly. She didn't want to hurt him, but it was best if the news came from someone that loved him. "After you left, Spin and I continued sorting through all the e-mails. We came across proof that there's no way you could be the father of Elizabeth's baby."

Jason blinked and squeezed her hand. "What... What do you mean? What proof?"

Sam squeezed his hand back reassuringly and scooted closer to him on her knees as she explained it as gently as she could. "You never slept with her. She lied. She went there that night with the intention of getting you drunk and making you think you'd... been together. It was Ric's plan. He wanted her to fake a pregnancy if necessary to win you over and gain access to inside information. Only you were already drunk when she arrived because you were upset with me and she was already a month pregnant with Ric's child and didn't know it at the time."

He brought his hands up over his face. "Oh God."

He gripped his short spiked hair in his hands and pulled. He didn't know what emotion to feel first, betrayal all over again or stupidity for ever trusting that woman? Anger for not seeing through her sooner or relief at finally being free?

Jason was silent as the emotions played out and Sam was usually good at reading him, but she couldn't tell if he was alright or not. She cautiously placed her hand on his shoulder. "Jason... say something." But Jason couldn't say a thing.

He just looked over at her and all he could think was he was free, free to be with Sam, to love her, marry her and raise a family with her. They would have their own family without ever having to include Elizabeth in anything. As soon as he and Sam made Elizabeth pay for what she'd done, they would never even have to give her a second thought. He sat up in the bed and pulled Sam to him, careful not to crush her too hard as he hugged and loving the way she hugged him back even tighter. "Don't let go Sam. Just... don't ever let go."

He was so thankful all of Ric and Elizabeth's lies and manipulations hadn't worked, that he hadn't let the best thing that had ever happened to him slip away.

"I won't Jason. I won't." She promised him as she ran her fingers through his hair and hugged him tight. No man had ever made her feel as needed and wanted as him.

He pulled her carefully into his lap, not wanting to hurt her, but wanting to feel her closer. She sat with her legs laying across her side of the bed and her side leaning against his chest. She rested her head against his shoulder as he rubbed her back and played with her hair. She breathed deep and closed her eyes. Being on her boat and the pancakes and hot tea had helped, but all she really needed was him. Just being in Jason's arms was enough.

A few minutes passed and she wasn't sure if he was going to ask any more questions or not, so she continued softly with her explanation. It was easier that way, not looking in his eyes, but still being safe in his embrace when she recounted the evening's events with Ric. "I wanted to tell you as soon as I found out, but I knew you wouldn't have left if it hadn't been important business. I didn't want to risk distracting you and put you in danger. Besides, this wasn't something I could tell you over the phone. I wanted to wait and tell you before confronting Ric, but the more I thought about everything they had done to you the angrier I got. It just got the better of me. I called Sonny and asked if he could watch the girls overnight, so Viola wouldn't have to stay so late. Really, I just didn't want them in the house when I planned to confront Ric after the ball."

She fooled absently with the hem of her nightie and Jason found something about that action so endearing that for the briefest of moments he could picture just what she'd looked like as a little girl before her innocence had been lost to the con. It was lost, but not gone. It was still there inside her and he saw it in the tiniest of expressions. He wrapped his arms around her wishing he could have been there to always keep her protected from harm, emotional or otherwise.

Sam breathed in the comfort of his warmth. "I kept Spinelli on comms per our agreement all night and I hadn't planned on turning them off until I found out Ric had been drugged."

Jason tensed remembering earlier when Sam had told him Ric was drugged and wouldn't remember anything about tonight. He was lucky his men had already left with him when Sam told him the rest of it, or he might have pulled out his gun and shot him. He might still. If her drink hadn't been mixed up with Ric's, she would have been the one drugged and helpless. Ric had actually tried to drug her.

Sam bit her lip when he tensed under her. She berated herself once again at having been so foolish. "I trust Spinelli, but this was just so personal. When I saw how the drugs were effecting Ric, I really believed he would be too out of it and too relaxed to do anything. I don't know why I thought that. It wasn't like I had any proof of what kind of drugs he'd actually ingested. I made an assumption that almost got me..."

Her sentence trailed off as Jason shushed her. "All that matters is that you're safe."

"Because of you." She turned to look up into his eyes then closed them as he rubbed his soft lips across her forehead and she felt him sigh.

"I wish I got there sooner. I made the wrong choice." He whispered regretfully.

"What do you mean?" Sam pulled back a little to see him better.

Jason licked his lips. "I was tailing Logan. We were staked out across the street from the Metro Court when your limo pulled up and I saw you with Ric."

Sam was confused what that had to do with anything, but Jason continued before she could ask. "Something seemed off. It just didn't feel right and I knew something was wrong. You were too friendly with him. You were laughing and smiling."

Realization hit. "I was acting as if the drugs were working. I didn't want to tip him off until I was ready to confront him."

Jason nodded. "I knew something was up and I hesitated at the stop light. Logan and Coop were a few lights ahead of me. I wanted to follow you and Ric and make sure you were okay, but I chose to follow Hayes instead. I called Spinelli to keep an eye on you until I could make it over to check on you. I never thought... I should have known better. If I had checked on you first, he never would have put his hands on you."

"Jason, this isn't your fault. Logan is a threat to you, your business, Cooper and his family too. I'm glad you followed him. What was he doing following Coop?"

Jason shook his head. "He just watched him say goodnight to Maxie at her door when he dropped her off then he followed him to Harbor View. I followed him to one of Alcazar's safe houses not far from the lake house."

That was another reason he hadn't wanted Sam to stay in the lake house. Sam felt her anxiety rise at the thought of Logan so close to her family. As if reading her thoughts, Jason spoke up. "I've got my best men watching him. Sonny also added guards for the girls and to stand watch over your mother's room at the hospital. Nik didn't like it, but he understands it's necessary."

Sam sighed in relief. "Thank you."

Jason placed a kiss on her bare shoulder. "Of course and, as for you, I want you by my side until we're sure this thing is handled."

Normally, Sam would have argued, but after the night she'd had she didn't mind the thought of having Jason around twenty-four seven for a while. The thought actually made her feel safe. "Okay."

"That's it? Just... okay?" He sounded doubtful.

Sam nodded. "After tonight and having to keep my distance from you last week, it'll be nice."

Jason leaned his head down to hers and kissed her softly on the lips. "It will." He agreed. "And I don't intend on us ever having to keep our distance from one another again."

Sam couldn't help recall her mother's request. She wasn't sure she'd be able to live up to her promise if anything happened to her mom.

"Your mom is going to be fine." Jason whispered in her ear and she smiled.

"How do you always do that?"

"Do what?" He wasn't sure what she meant.

"Read me so well."

He shrugged. "Same way you read me, I guess."

"Sometimes I wish I could read you better." Sam admitted.

"I think for two people that are usually very hard to read, we do a pretty good job, but I'm sure it will only get better over the years."

"Mm, over the years. I like the sound of that." She hummed as Jason kissed her again.

He pulled back not wanting to take things too far. She was certain to be sore and even though she was calm now, she'd suffered a traumatic event. Truth be told, he was perfectly content to just hold her in his arms for the night and know that she was safe.

He saw her lashes flicker soft and slow. She was falling asleep. A faint smile found his lips as he helped maneuver her so that she was lying in her spot on the bed next to him again. He wrapped his arm around her as her head found purchase on his pectoral and she snuggled into his side. He breathed contentedly and stroked her bare forearm as he listened to her breathing even out until she was asleep and he fell under as well soon after.

Page 39 of 39 Created: 2011-07-16 Updated: 2014-11-09 Words: 18928 Characters: 100518