A/N: Here we go again! I hope you guys are ready, because this chapter will be a bit heavier, a bit more emotional than the previous ones have been. I made some choices about certain reveals that I hope you can appreciate. Throughout this story, the most important thing to me is to continue to show the depth of Jason and Sam's connection, whether they're aware of it or acknowledging it, or not.

As always, thank you SO much for your reviews! I'm glad everyone seemed to enjoy my twist with having Franco be the hit and run driver. I don't really have much use for Ava in this particular story, and making Franco the guilty party allowed me to set up what happens in the next couple of chapters. BIG stuff coming up! Please continue to review! Let me know what you think, what you're loving, what you're hating. I want to know EVERYTHING! lol

Happy reading!

Jen

buttercup0303

Chapter 16

Sam stared at Spinelli in shock that quickly turned into anger.

"That son of a bitch!" She spat, pacing away.

Spinelli was staring at the photo on the screen.

"While it would not surprise me if the Demented One was indeed the perpetrator that committed the egregious crime against Mr. Smith, I'm afraid this isn't enough to prove without a doubt his guilt."

Sam spun towards him in disbelief.

"What are you talking about, Spinelli? You can see clearly that Franco is driving the car that almost ran me off the road! And he's driving from the direction where Jace was hit AND I found Jace just a few minutes later. The timeline fits and now we have proof he was in the immediate area."

Spinelli held up placating hands.

"That's true. But I'm afraid all of that is circumstantial. And considering the source, if we were to provide the police with this evidence, there's no guarantee they'll believe you or that the evidence is legitimate."

Sam sighed and sat down, running her hands through her hair.

"My hatred for Franco is pretty well-established." She admitted wryly.

"Okay, then we need more proof. We need to find his car and see if he had any work done to it recently. And maybe we can find trace evidence on it. I mean, the way he hit Jace, there has to be blood or some kind of DNA evidence there."

Spinelli nodded.

"Then that's what we'll get. The PCPD can get a warrant to search Franco's car."

Spinelli nodded and watched Sam.

"So are you going to tell Mr. Smith?"

Sam hesitated and then nodded.

"Yes, definitely. I'm not going to lie to him. And I want to get his permission to share this information with Carly. I think she should know who it is that she's about to marry. Of course, she should already know she's about to marry a sick freak, but this will prove what I've been warning her about all along. The 'tumor' excuse was crap all along. He's the same sadistic piece of trash he's always been." She said angrily. She wandered away, staring out the window, struggling not to let things better left buried unearth themselves.

...

Monica hesitated outside the patient's room. She didn't know why she was doing this. But she'd had to leave Danny with Alice for a couple of hours to come in for an emergency consult. She'd found herself curious about the man who had come into her daughter-in-law's life and before she knew it, she was walking this way. Sighing, she wrapped her arms more firmly around the small box she carried and knocked on the door quickly, before pushing it open.

Jace glanced up to see a blonde woman in her sixties, elegant and lovely, standing in the doorway.

"Can I come in?" She asked softly. Jace stared at her, trying to figure out why this feeling of affection and gratitude was flowing through him.

"Yeah, sure." He replied slowly.

Monica stepped inside and sat in the chair beside his bed.

"My name is Dr. Monica Quartermaine. I'm the head of Cardio."

"I didn't think I had any heart problems."

She shook her head.

"You don't. I'm also Danny Morgan's grandmother and Sam's mother-in-law."

Jace stared at her as he realized who she was. He remembered Sam telling him this woman had run her down and left her on the road, but he also remembered that they were very close now.

"I, um, wanted to meet you. You're spending a lot of time with Sam and she seems to think highly of you."

Jace nodded.

"Sam is an incredible woman. And that boy of hers is great."

Monica beamed.

"I couldn't agree more. Sam was involved with my son, Jason, for a very long time before they were married. She made him very happy and gave him a beautiful little boy. And I think of her as a daughter."

Jace knew where this was going and he respected her for it.

"And you want to be sure that I'm worthy of the kindness she's showing me."

"I want to be sure that you don't hurt her." She corrected him. "Everyone is worthy of kindness. Not everyone is worthy of having someone like Sam in their life."

Jace nodded his head in agreement.

"You're absolutely right. Look, I don't know who I was in the past. I don't know if that person was good enough to be around Sam and Danny. But I know the person I am trying to be now, is. I care about them and I would never hurt them." He said sincerely, looking into her eyes. Those eyes...

Monica smiled and stared at him. She felt a shock down to her bones as she registered the color of his eyes for the first time. Brilliant blue eyes stared back at her and her heart wept.

"Your eyes...They're the exact color of my son's."

Jace didn't know what to say to that but she looked unbearably sad. He reached out and squeezed her hand.

"I'm terribly sorry for your loss. No parent should ever have to bury their child." And what felt like an echo of his own unspeakable pain shot through him and left him breathless. The redheaded child from his memory, he wondered in horror. The thought was unimaginable and he shoved it away, telling himself he was just sympathizing with her loss.

Monica smiled, grateful for his kindness.

"Thank you, Mr. Smith."

"Jace."

She nodded.

"Thank you, Jace. Anyway, there was another reason for my visit. The hospital has a program in place for patients in your situation."

Jace smirked a bit.

"Hit and run victims with completely reconstructed faces and no memory?" He asked in disbelief.

Monica laughed self-consciously.

"Okay, maybe not your exact situation but similar. Every so often, we have extreme cases in which something catastrophic has happened and the patient's health has left them with no resources. And so we developed a program to help those patients. Take this, with the hospital's compliments, please."

She held out the small box and he took it. He glanced at her curiously before lifting the lid off the box.

Inside the box were a cell phone, tablet, a gift card, and vouchers for food in the hospital.

He glanced up in stunned gratitude.

"And all patients get this?"

Monica smiled.

"Not all patients. Like I said, extreme cases. The board determines who qualifies, which is why it's taken so long for you to get it. The phone has a set amount of minutes that you will get per month automatically and has been paid for the next six months. The tablet is Wi-Fi-enabled and will allow you to do whatever online research you might want to do in order to search for your identity or maybe make arrangements for when you are discharged. The Visa gift card is for five hundred dollars, and is meant to help you get on your feet until you can find employment or travel back home once you remember who you are. And obviously the food vouchers will allow you to purchase food from the cafeteria beyond what you're provided for free."

Jace was stunned. He'd never heard of such generosity and he felt uncomfortable accepting it. He closed the lid and held it out to her.

"Dr. Quartermaine, I can't accept this. Please, give it to someone who can use it more than I can."

Monica stepped away and shook her head.

"Please don't take offense when I say this, but there is no one in this hospital right now who needs that more than you. Please accept our gift to you. General Hospital takes great pride in the way we care for our patients and that's why we have the reputation that we do."

Jace stopped holding out the package to her and nodded reluctantly.

"Then all I can say is thank you. Thank you very much."

Monica nodded and with a small wave, she walked out of the room. She walked quickly to her office, closed the door and leaned against it and began to cry. She wasn't sure why it had hit her so suddenly, but she'd never missed Jason more.

...

Jace sat in bed, fiddling with the phone and tablet. They'd already been set up for him. He must have used similar devices in his past because he figured them out quick.

He finally had a way to look into things that had been on his mind over the last couple of weeks. He brought up the local newspaper and searched for articles of missing persons in the state, but nothing came up that even remotely fit him.

Disappointed but far from giving up, Jace searched for articles about his accident but there wasn't much to find. He did, however, come upon Carly and Franco's wedding announcement. He grimaced and closed the tab.

Franco...Carly had said he'd done horrible things, including some to Sam. He knew he shouldn't dig through their past, but he couldn't shake the need to know what Franco had done to Sam. And Carly had been adamant that he not bring it up to Sam.

He hesitated for a moment before bringing up Spyder-Finder. He typed in Sam Morgan and Franco and hit search, waiting for the results to pop up.

Scanning the results, his eyes arrowed down to a link that said "Honeymoon Horror" and he clicked on it with some trepidation. The article popped up and three images filled the screen. Jace stared at a photo of Franco, Sam, and someone he didn't know...and yet...He stared at the unknown man's face for a long time, trying to understand the feeling of instant recognition.

His eyes drifted down to the caption and he read the name beneath the picture. "Jason Morgan". So that was Sam's husband, he thought, for the first time seeing the similarities in their features.

His eyes dropped lower and he read the first line of the column and froze. Jace inhaled quickly, shaking his head.

"Oh God." He whispered, reading the article with growing horror.

Franco had raped Sam on her honeymoon and Danny was the result of that rape? He couldn't imagine that perfect little boy being related to Franco at all.

Rage and shock filled him as he continued to read. Unable to climb out of the rabbit hole he'd gone down, Jace spent the next few hours researching all the horrible things Franco had done.

He saw the article claiming Franco had a brain tumor that caused him to behave the way he did. That tumor was then used as a defense to get him off on all charges, which apparently had worked.

What Jace didn't understand was how Carly could dismiss so many horrific actions. Tumor or not, Franco had committed all of those acts. His victims had to live with the consequences, while he got to live a carefree life and get a happily ever after with Carly? It didn't seem fair.

Jace found himself wondering what the hell Jason had done to Franco to bring him into their lives? He ended up researching Jason Morgan and was dumbfounded by what he found. Sam's husband had allegedly been a mob enforcer?

His mind reeling, Jace stared blankly at the tablet screen. He supposed it didn't matter who or what Jason had done for a living. No one deserved to have his or her lives ripped apart. And he couldn't be as cold or evil as the papers portrayed him. After all, Sam had loved him. She had to have seen good in him.

There were so many emotions running through Jace, primarily hatred towards Franco. Maybe that was why he'd felt such rage towards Franco when they first met. Maybe he'd seen that article in his past and his subconscious had recognized him.

His thoughts traveled to Sam and he was tormented with imaginings of what she'd gone through, how it had tortured her, the pain and horror of what that sick freak had done to her. He even sympathized with Jason Morgan. He must have been tortured by guilt for not protecting Sam. He knew he would have felt that way, at least. But Sam...

His admiration and respect for her grew tenfold. She'd not only survived rape, she'd carried and birthed her rapist's child and obviously loved him more than anything. On top of all that, she had remained a caring, generous, trusting, incredible human being. She hadn't let darkness and anger ruin her. He could understand why Jason Morgan had loved her so much. Who wouldn't?

As for Carly, he felt a tingle of disappointment towards her that he was struggling to get past. She'd been nothing but kind to him and his instincts told him she was a good person. But he couldn't understand her willingness to believe in the goodness of Franco when he'd hurt so many people she loved.

An image of how she'd looked when they were talking about her upcoming wedding floated through his mind and suddenly he knew. She couldn't overlook Franco's past, no matter how much she claimed she had. She had let herself get involved with him for reasons Jace would never understand, but he'd seen the unhappiness and uncertainty on her face. She didn't want to marry Franco anymore; she was just stubbornly refusing to admit she'd been wrong. Jace didn't know why he was so sure of this, but he was.

His mind wandered back to Sam. He needed to hear her voice, assure himself she was okay. And though he knew it didn't make sense, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she needed him right now. Ignoring how late it was, he picked up his new phone and dialed the number he'd already memorized.

...

That night, Sam tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Franco had hurt so many people she cared about and she was convinced he was the one who had hit Jace. Memories from the past taunted her and Sam stiffened, squeezing her eyes shut and willing them away. But they kept coming in disjointed, horrific flashes.

"What did you see, Jason? What did Franco do to me?"

...

"Franco had, uh, cameras all over the place...including the bathroom, and...when you got dizzy in the shower, he was...he was the one who caught you."

...

"But maybe it didn't really happen."

...

"I don't-I don't want to go the hospital. I don't-I don't want anyone touching me right now. Please, Jason."

"They can take better care of you than I can."

"Just help me get into the shower, please. I just want to feel clean. Please, Jason."

...

Sam slowly crumbled to her knees, curling into a ball as sobs shook her shoulders, unable to deal with the horror, revulsion, and devastation coursing through her.

Sam bolted straight up in bed, furious with herself for letting her mind go there. Despite Franco's revelation that he hadn't actually raped her, the damage to her psyche had been done and there was no going back from that. He may not have taken her body, but he had stolen something from her that she could never get back. And even now, knowing the full truth, the events of that night and everything that followed haunted her.

Sam stood up, knowing sleep would elude her. She walked to the window and stared out into the dark, starless night; suddenly wishing she could talk to Jace.

To her surprise, her phone rang. She hurried to it, glancing at the clock. Who was calling so late? She didn't recognize the number.

"Hello?"

"Sam, it's me."

Sam stilled in shock, relief coursing through her at the sound of Jace's voice.

"Hi." She replied, her voice shaky.

Jace closed his eyes as he let her voice soothe him. But he heard the nerves in her voice and knew he'd been right to call.

"Sam, what's wrong?"

Did he know her so well already? Sam wondered.

"Just having a rough night. Ghosts from nightmares past and all that."

Jace sighed, wondering if one of those nightmares haunting her tonight was Franco.

He hesitated, choosing his words carefully.

"Nothing that's happened to you in the past has any power over you now. You're safe, Sam. You've overcome things that would have broken a lot of people and came out stronger. Don't let people who've hurt you in the past have the power to affect your present or shape your future. And I'm here if you need to talk, or you feel scared, or you just need a hug."

Sam listened to him, silent tears coursing down her cheeks. It wasn't just his incredibly kind and insightful words, it was the tenderness in his voice that soothed her. She thought about what he'd said about her being safe and sighed heavily.

"Who told you about Franco?" She asked. She didn't' know how she knew, but Jace had found out what Franco had done to Sam.

Jace hesitated, cursing himself silently for not being careful enough.

"No one. Carly mentioned that she would never expect you at her wedding because of what that son of a bitch put you through. I found out the rest. I'm sorry, Sam. I shouldn't have invaded your privacy like that."

Sam walked over to her bed and sat down, leaning against the padded headboard.

"It's okay. But not everything is in the papers."

"You don't have to tell me anything, Sam." Jace hurried to assure her, not wanting her to relive that horror for his benefit. Not sure if he could handle her reliving that horror.

"I want to. And I think it would be easier if we do it on the phone. Franco didn't rape me, Jace."

Jace shook his head in confusion.

"But the article..."

"Was right. At least, that's what I thought. Franco drugged Jason and I. He set it up so that Jason saw a video feed of Franco and I that made him believe Franco had raped me while I was unconscious. So when Jason told me what had happened, I believed him. I didn't have a memory of it, but somehow, that made it worse. Because I kept imagining the worst scenarios, you know?" She paused, wiping away the tears that were rolling down her face.

"It was one of the most painful and degrading things that had ever happened to me. And it haunted Jason. He couldn't get past his own guilt and rage about what had happened. He blamed himself because he couldn't protect me. And when I found out I was pregnant? I was so terrified that it was Franco's. And through a long and confusing series of events, the paternity test confirmed it. It caused a rift between Jason and I that almost didn't heal. We'd just found our way back to each other when he was killed." She inhaled deeply and Jace let out his own shaky breath. He was surprised to feel something wet plop onto his hand and realized it was a tear.

"Shortly after Jason died, I found out someone had tampered with the paternity test and Danny really was Jason's child. But it wasn't until earlier this year that Franco showed the entire tape that proved he hadn't actually raped me. But the damage had already been done. I will never get back those years I spent believing I'd been raped. That belief and horror is so much a part of me that I will never get rid of it. And Jason never knew. It's one of my biggest regrets. I wish I could let Jason know that it was all a lie. That he never failed me, not once. Not even when we both thought Franco had raped me. I never blamed him, ever. But he'll never know the truth." Her voice broke and Jace heard her sniffle.

His heart breaking for her, Jace wished fervently that he was in front of her so that he could pull her into his arms and never let her go.

"Sam, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry that happened to you, and I'm sorry you have to live with the pain that piece of trash brought you every day. I wish I could have saved you from that. But you? You amaze me. You went through the most hellish experience imaginable and somehow you are one of the most generous, kind, and remarkable people I've ever met."

Sam gave a weak laugh.

"You don't remember most of the people you've ever met." She joked.

Jace chuckled.

"Smartass."

"Jace, I have something to tell you about your case." She started but Jace cut her off.

"It can wait for tomorrow. Right now, I just want to talk to you. I need to know you're okay."

Sam smiled, warmth spreading over her at his words. She curled onto her side and pulled the covers up.

"Okay. Hey, what number is this?"

Jace laughed.

"Mine. I forgot to tell you. I met your mother-in-law tonight."

Sam's brow furrowed in surprise.

"Monica? But she's at the house with Danny."

"I guess she got called in. She stopped by to introduce herself and bring me a gift from the hospital." He told her about the contents of the package and Sam whistled.

"Wow. I've heard of those packages but they're rarely given out, according to Patrick. But I'm glad they gave you one." She paused. "So, did my mother-in-law give you a hard time?"

Jace chuckled.

"Nah. She's definitely protective of you, but she was great. I liked her, actually." He admitted.

"She's a wonderful person. Jace, will you tell me about your day after I left? I can't sleep and I don't want to be alone right now. Talking to you makes me feel like I'm not." She said quietly.

Jace closed his eyes against the well of emotion her words sent rippling through him. He would do anything to help take away even a little bit of her pain.

"Yeah, sure."

Sam brought the blanket around her and let his soothing voice act like a balm to her fractured soul. Something about talking to Jace brought her comfort, like he made her feel safe.

Jace started to tell her about his extra round of physical therapy. He told her about a patient he met in the PT room who had shared a funny story with him. As he spoke, Sam felt her eyes beginning to feel heavy. Jace paused when Sam didn't chuckle with him. He heard her soft, deep breaths that told him she'd fallen asleep and smiled.

"Goodnight, Sam."

He stayed on the phone, just listening to her even breaths. He wanted to be there for her in case a nightmare woke her up. He lay back and closed his eyes, replaying his conversation with Sam.

How the hell was he supposed to back off and keep things in the friend zone when he cared about her more and more with each conversation, with each moment they spent together?

He didn't know how he was going to do it because for him, there was no future in sight that didn't end with him and Sam together.