A/N: Jason and Sam have finally met, and we got to see what Jason, or Jace, is thinking. The connection that JaSam has always has shines through so brightly, that everyone who sees them together sees it. She may not know who he is, but her soul does. And it's not just her. Jace is totally consumed by thoughts of her. There's just something about her that calls to him. This is what I wanted to see on screen when Jason came back. I get throwing Liz in to stir things up, but making the story about them? It was a huge mistake. Liz will definitely make an appearance eventually, but her role will be nothing like what played out onscreen. In my world, the last time Jason saw Liz, she revealed a life-altering betrayal and changed the way Jason looked at her forever. That doesn't go away, even without his memory, Jason will feel that.

Anyways! You guys have been great and I appreciate all the reviews. Please continue to share your thoughts, reviews, and suggestions. Please fave/follow if you haven't already.

Happy reading!

Jen

buttercup0303

Chapter 6

Shortyly after Sam had left, a new visitor showed up in Jace's room.

"Hey. I'm Detective Falconeri. I'm glad to see you're awake. I was hoping you could answer a few questions about the night of your accident."

Jace stared up at the tanned detective, and tried to shake the feeling of unease. He didn't think he liked cops very much. About as much as he liked being stuck in the hospital.

"Go ahead."

Dante went through a series of questions about the accident, but Jace didn't have any memory of the accident, so the interview was short. Next, Dante took Jace's fingerprints to run them through the system, in the hopes that they would get a hit.

Jace wasn't sure he wanted to be found in the system. Wouldn't that mean he was a criminal?

But then again, did he really want to go his whole life without knowing who he was? It terrified him that he didn't know who he was. What if he had a family out there that was worried about him, wondering what happened? Were they out there looking for him right now? But if he had a family, why hadn't they found him? He'd apparently been in the hospital for nearly a month. Surely they could have located him by now.

The thought that he had no one who loved him enough to miss him left him feeling chilled. He had no one to help him, to support him. He was alone.

"Don't give up. Just stay with me and I promise I'll stay with you and help you through this."

Sam's words echoed through his head again. Maybe he wasn't as alone as he'd thought, Jace thought with a smile. He found his mind wandering to Sam. She was tiny, but from what he could see, what she lacked in height she more than made up for in curves. He didn't need his memories to know she was the most breathtakingly beautiful woman he had ever seen.

But it wasn't just her beauty that held him captivated. It was her heart. From what his doctor had said, she'd stayed by his side since the accident. And today, she'd helped calm him when he was losing it. She had shown him incredible kindness from the moment she'd found him in the street.

He'd known before Dr. Drake had mentioned it that Sam had been to see him. He'd heard her speaking. She'd talked about her childhood, her days as a con woman, and of her deceased husband. He'd heard the pain in her voice when she'd spoken, but even so, it had been her voice he'd held onto when the pain had ripped through the fog of drugs and through his body. She'd kept him sane when he had been trapped in his own body, unable to wake up and ask for help.

He needed to see her again. He had to find out why he felt such a connection to her. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.

...

Sam walked into the penthouse, carrying a sleeping Danny in her arms. Dropping her keys on the desk, she woke Danny up so she could make him eat dinner. She listened to him chatter in his adorable mix of baby babble and actual words, but found her mind wandering to Jace.

She had promised to help him and she was determined to do that now more than ever. She knew how hard it had been for Jason when he'd lost his memory. And he'd had family and friends around him to try and help. But Jace was alone and there was no way in hell she could abandon him now.

Uncomfortable with how much of her mind Jace was occupying, Sam focused on Danny. Guilt suffused her as she tuned back into his story. She made a point to sit down with him after dinner and show him pictures of Jason and talk about him. It was a nightly ritual that she would never give up.

Once Danny was settled in and Sam had read not one but two bedtime stories, she kissed his cheek and headed downstairs. She couldn't wait until morning. She picked up her phone and dialed.

"Hey Carly, can you come over? I need to talk."

…

"Carly, I know it's crazy. But there's something so familiar about him. I'm drawn to him and I don't understand why. I need you to talk some sense into me."

Carly shook her head, worried about Sam.

"Sam, I…" She trailed off, unsure if Sam would want to hear what she had to say. Sam dropped on the couch beside Carly and waited.

"Just say what you want to say."

Carly sighed.

"Okay but you're not going to like it. Sam, I'm the wrong person to come to for advice about staying away from the wrong men. Look at my history-hell, look at my present. If anything, I'm the one who is going to tell you to follow your instincts. You feel a connection to this man. Explore it."

Sam rolled her eyes.

"Ugh, I can't believe I just asked the future bride of Francostein for relationship advice." She muttered sarcastically.

Carly glared at her.

"Nice, Sam."

Sam shook her head.

"Sorry, but you know how I feel about Franco. You can look past the horror and see the tumor. All I can is the horror." She shook her head, refusing to get into another debate with Carly about her relationship with Franco.

"Look Carly, I'm afraid of what I feel for Jace. I mean I don't even know him. Hell, he doesn't even know himself. So what the hell am I doing?"

Carly smiled softly, though she'd been a bit caught off guard at this mystery man's name.

"You're feeling. And after losing Jason, you deserve to feel again. You were with Silas, but you never let yourself truly love him because you were still holding onto Jason. And I think it scares you to feel something for someone you just met."

Sam hesitated, unsure if she was wanted to say the words out loud.

"Carly, I've only felt this kind of connection once before."

Carly's eyes widened as comprehension dawned.

"With Jason." She guessed, knowing it was true even before Sam nodded.

"Then go for it. See what happens." She encouraged Sam. Sam stood up and walked away.

"Carly, he doesn't even remember who he is. He could have a wife or children out there somewhere. And besides, who said this was romantic? I feel a connection to him. That doesn't mean anything." She argued, pacing back and forth.

Carly watched her with a smirk.

"You didn't have to say it was romantic. And who knows if he will ever remember who he was? But I believe he came into your life for a reason. Maybe he is exactly who you need to move on with your life. Just don't close yourself off from something that could change your life."

With those words, she stood up and walked over to Sam. She pulled her into a hug before leaving Sam to her thoughts.

As the door closed behind Carly, Sam turned and walked to the fireplace. She picked up the photo on the mantle and carried it with her to the couch. She curled her legs underneath her and stared at the photo, running her fingers down Jason's face. Dropping her head against her knees, she let the tears come.

Waiting for the elevator, Carly came to a decision, a slight smirk crossing her face. Maybe she should make some time to meet this Jace person.

…

Dante sat at his desk in the bustling, loud PCPD. He stared at the screen, waiting for a hit on Jace Smith's prints as he thought back to the night of the accident.

In all the years he'd known Sam, he'd never seen her so shaken over someone else's misfortune. He knew she always cared what happened to others, but this was different. It was like she had a personal stake in that guy's survival.

"Hey babe."

Dante looked up to see his gorgeous wife smiling down at him, her sapphire blue eyes sparkling. An automatic smile lit his face.

"Hey, baby. Who do I have to thank for this awesome surprise?" He winked at her.

Lulu shook her head, grinning. God, she loved this man.

"Your mom dropped off some pasta. I figured I'd bring you some since you're working late and probably skipped dinner." She waved a small lunch bag in her hand.

Dante's eyes widened greedily and he snatched the bag from her hand, making her laugh.

"Baby, you're perfect. I'm starving. Sit, sit." He was already shoveling pasta into his mouth, closing his eyes to savor the delicious flavor of his mother's cooking.

Lulu leaned forward and peeked at his computer.

"Who's Jace Smith?"

Dante swallowed, gesturing with his fork.

"Remember that hit and run I told you about? He's the vic. I'm trying to see if I can get a hit on his prints, maybe help identify him. He's got amnesia."

Lulu's face folded into compassionate lines.

"Oh, that's so sad. Is that why you looked so upset when I got here?"

Dante remembered what he'd been thinking and frowned.

"In a way. Remember how I told you Sam Morgan was at the site?"

Lulu nodded.

"Yeah, you said she found him. Why?"

Dante set his now empty Tupperware down and smiled thanks briefly as Lulu handed him a napkin and a bottle of watter.

"I don't remember if I mentioned it, but Sam was really worried about the vic. She even insisted on going in the ambulance with him. I was following up on his condition that night, and she was waiting in the ER. She was insisting that Dr. Drake save him."

Just then there was a slight disturbance as a pretty, petite brunette stormed in, waving a ticket in her hand, her face mutinous.

"This is ridiculous! Your officers have nothing better to do than harass innocent women?" As an officer rushed to quiet her, Dante rolled his eyes and turned back to his wife. Something about the woman told him she was anything but innocent.

Amused, Lulu turned away from the scene the woman was causing and focused on Dante. She didn't understand why Dante seemed so worried by this thing with Sam.

"Sam's a good person. She wanted to make sure he was okay." She shrugged.

Dante shook his head.

"Baby, it was more than that. I've only ever seen her react like that when Morgan was in the hospital."

"Jason?" Lulu asked in surprise. Dante nodded.

"And from questioning the nurses, I understand she's visited him everyday since his accident, sitting with him. It's kinda weird, isn't it?"

Lulu thought for a moment.

"I mean, maybe. It's not necessarily a bad thing, though. Right?"

Dante shrugged.

"Nah. I was just wondering if maybe she knows him and subconsciously recognizes him. Maybe she could help identify him."

Lulu smiled.

"That would be amazing."

Just then Dante's computer beeped twice. He turned to the screen, reading the results and then dropped his hand heavily on the table.

"Damn it."

…

The next afternoon found Carly strolling down the hospital corridors and up to the nurses' desk.

"Hi, can you tell me what room Jace Smith is in?"

"Room 2912."

Smiling her thanks at the desk nurse, Carly made her way to the mystery man's room.

She knocked, and then breezed in without waiting for an answer. He lay there, covered in bandages, and Carly felt a pang of pity. Her conscience got the better of her and she turned to leave.

"Who are you?"

The hoarse voice was low, but Carly still heard it. She spun around, shocked at the thrill of familiarity his voice sent up her spine. She couldn't place it but...still. There was something about it.

She smiled brightly to hide her surprise.

"Hi! I'm Carly Jax. I um, heard about your accident and thought I'd just come by and wish you a speedy recovery." She lied through her teeth.

Jace studied the tall, blonde. She was gorgeous but something about her just screamed trouble. And she was lying to him.

"That's not why you came." He said bluntly. Carly's eyes widened in surprise and then appraised him carefully. Nodding once, she stepped closer.

"You're right. That's not why I came." She admitted.

Jace's lips twitched. He didn't know why, but he had to admire how smoothly she had lied and how unabashedly she'd admitted it.

"So why are you here? Do you know me?"

Carly tilted her head.

"You know, I don't know. I mean, I don't think so but there's something about you... Anyway, the real reason I'm here is because a very good friend of mine has been spending an awful lot of time at your bedside."

Understanding lit Jace's eyes.

"You're worried about Sam."

Carly nodded.

"I was, but I don't think I am anymore."

Jace raised a brow.

"We've exchanged, what? Fifteen words and you've decided there's no cause to worry."

Carly threw back her head and laughed.

"Not quite. But I can see why Sam keeps coming back. Take care, Jace."

Hearing herself say his name out loud, Carly froze. She searched his piercing blue eyes, suddenly short of breath. Shaking her head, she wrote off the odd thought that had occurred to her.

With a slight wave, she turned and walked out of his hospital room, just to bump into Sam in the hall.

Jace stared after her, his mind spinning. She'd frozen for a moment, as if she'd seen a ghost. Something about the way she'd said his name...he tried to hold onto it, but whatever it was he'd been about to remember slipped away.

"Carly, what are you doing here?" Sam asked, staring up at her suspiciously.

Carly led her a few steps away. She held her hands out in surrender.

"I just wanted to meet him."

Sam sighed.

"And?"

Carly grinned.

"Well, we didn't talk much but I like him. I can see why you can't stay away. He has this steady, calming presence about him. Something familiar about him too, but I can't quite put my finger on it."

Sam started to speak but just then, she spotted Dante entering Jace's room.

"Why is Dante here?" She murmured, hurrying to Jace's room, Carly not far behind her.

They entered just in time to hear Dante say, "I'm sorry, man. But we didn't get any hits."

Sam froze, the blood leeching from her face as she tried to process Dante's words. Beside her, Carly saw Sam's face and spoke quickly.

"Dante, what are you saying?"

Dante looked back at Carly in surprise.

"Carly?" He said in a questioning tone.

Impatient, Carly waved her hand.

"Dante, tell me what you meant when you said you didn't get any hits."

Dante glanced at Jace, who nodded. His gaze was locked on Sam, concerned. Her face was bleached white and she'd stumbled back a step.

"We ran his prints through the registry but we didn't get any hits. Whoever Mr. Smith really is, he's never been arrested."

Carly looked back at Sam whose head was shaking back and forth now. Concerned, she turned back to Dante.

"Are you sure? Maybe you should run it again? You could have made a mistake." She said quickly.

Dante shook his head, confused.

"There wasn't a mistake, Carly. I ran his prints three times. He's not in the system."

Sam let out a choked sob, spinning around and bolting from the room. Jace called after her, but she kept running.

Sam ran blindly, unsure where she was going until she looked up and saw the sign for the chapel. She burst through the doors and collapsed onto a pew, her body wracked with sobs.

"It's not him. It's not Jason." She whispered brokenly, the hope she hadn't even realized she'd been harboring lying shattered like glass around her.