A/N: Hey guys! So, it's time to find out what Samuel saw that night. I know a lot of you are hoping Sam finds out the truth. But here's the thing. I realized I kind of enjoy dragging out the story, with small rewards throughout. If it's all angst, then they lose rooting power. But if it all wraps up in a pretty little bow, it's boring. So, I like to mix the two up. It can be torture but it's so worth it at the end. At least I hope so! lol

Anyways, Sam finds out more about what happened the night Jace was hit, while back in PC, Jace's world is shaken.

Thanks as always for the amazing reviews! I am so glad you guys are enjoying this story. Every time I get distracted by the real world, I see your reviews and it just snaps me back because they're so freaking inspiring and encouraging. It motivates me to keep writing. I hope you keep reviewing and enjoying this story. :)

Happy reading!

Jen

buttercup0303

Chapter 25

"I saw everything."

Sam sat up straighter as Samuel's words echoed in her head.

"You saw everything?" She repeated excitedly.

Samuel nodded enthusiastically.

"You betcha. Your fella came from the opposite direction of where he was hit. There's an access road back there so he probably was coming from there. But here's what's interesting; he looked like he was hurt already, and running from something. He was limping a bit and kept looking back over his shoulder. He rushed into the street and then next thing you know, the driver of that car seemed to slow down for a second before suddenly speeding up and swerving right for the poor man."

Her head spinning with all this new information, Sam stared at Samuel, desperate to ask if he could see Jace's pre-surgery face on the video. But something he'd said caught her by surprise and she stared at him, brow furrowed.

"He was already hurt? What could have happened to him? And what was he running from? And why the hell would Franco run Jace over on purpose? He didn't even know him?" Sam shook her head.

"What am I saying? Franco didn't need to know him. He was a sick freak. He probably hit Jace for kicks."

"He sounds like a real wackadoodle, that one." Samuel said, shaking his head in disgust.

Sam nodded absently before looking back at Samuel.

"Wait, if you saw him crashing through the woods, then you must have seen his face! You know what Jace looked like before his accident!"

Samuel nodded .

"Yes, ma'am, I surely do." He grinned.

Sam laughed in mingled relief and excitement.

"Can I see it? Can I see the camera footage? Please, Samuel, I need to see it." She implored him.

Samuel looked nonplussed.

"I expect you do. The thing is, I don't have it with me."

Sam's stomach dropped.

"Where is it?" She asked in disappointment.

"Well, I wasn't quite expecting to have a heart attack the way I did, being a spritely young buck, myself. But well, God has a way of reminding you of just where you stand, don't he? Anyways, I sent for some of my things, but my damn assistant sent the wrong flash drive."

Sam swallowed her disappointment and reached out to squeeze Samuel's hand. Despite the bravado in his voice when he talked about his heart attack, she could tell it had shaken him.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to dismiss what you went through. I'm being completely self-absorbed. Really, Samuel, I'm sorry."

Samuel smiled and patted her hand with his.

"Don't fuss, lady Sam. I'm just fine now. Besides, I can tell this Jace fella means a lot to you. Besides, after you talked to Mama, and I realized I had the wrong flash drive, I called my assistant and had her mail it to you. She's home sick with the flu, but she swore she'd mail it the minute she got back into the office."

Sam's smile lit the room and she impulsively leaned forward and hugged Samuel tightly.

"Thank you so much! You don't know what this will mean for Jace."

Samuel peered at her knowingly.

"And for you too, I reckon."

Sam blushed and bit her lip, before nodding.

"We're, well, we've gotten close. And before we can go any further, we need to know there isn't someone out there already missing him."

Samuel chucked her chin affectionately.

"You're a good girl, Miz Morgan. And I think any fella lucky enough to catch your eye must be a good one. I hope it works out for you two."

Sam smiled.

"Me too."

…

Jace was sitting at his desk, filling out the paperwork he needed to get a social security card and ID when there was a knock on the door. Glancing at the clock on the wall, he saw it was nearly ten at night. Sam's back early!

Climbing to his feet, his long, muscular legs carried him out of the office and down the stairs quickly. He threw open the door, already smiling down at the petite woman beaming up at him.

And though she was certainly beautiful, she wasn't Sam.

"It's you. It's really you." Her voice trembled, tears filling her eyes as she threw herself in his arms and clung to him, breaking into sobs.

Jace stood frozen, staring down at her, his hands out to the side. He carefully gripped her shoulders and set her away from him gently.

She stared up at him, her eyes running over his face as if trying memorize his features.

"Hey, hey, stop crying." Jace said uncomfortably, reaching behind him, grabbing a box of tissues and shoving it into her hands. "Do I know you?"

Her eyes lifted to his in confusion and she shook her head slightly.

"What? Of course you know me. Jace, it's me, Hayden. Your wife?" She said expectantly, waiting for him to recognize her.

Jace stared down at her in shock, his world tilting on it's axis. He was married. He'd known it was a possibility given his recent memories, but he'd convinced himself he was divorced. Oh God. Sam.

"You're my-my wife? I'm married?" He stammered, staring down at his bare hands.

Hayden let out a pleasant laugh but when he didn't laugh with her, her expression became alarmed.

"Jace, you're kidding right? We've been married for five years. You know that. Jace, you know that, right?" Her voice was becoming a bit hysterical. Jace quickly grabbed her shoulders and led her to the couch, pushing down softly until she sat. She blinked up at him.

"Don't you...don't you remember me?" She asked in a small voice, tears filling her eyes again.

Jace stared at her uncomfortably. He couldn't be staring down at his wife. No, there was no way. This can't be real. I can't lose be losing Sam before we even had a chance.

"No, I don't." He said quickly, stepping away from her, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"I don't recognize you at all. I was in an accident, and I lost my memory. Don't you think that if you were really my wife I would recognize you? That I would feel some kind of pull towards you?"

Hayden wiped her eyes and stared at him beseechingly.

"You don't feel anything when you look at me? You don't remember how much we loved each other?" She asked, hurt in her voice.

Jace sighed. You're not the woman I want to be with.

"No. Listen, either you're lying or you've made a mistake. I can't be married to you. When I was found, I didn't have a wedding ring on." And I've already met the love of my life. And it's not you.

Hayden lurched forward and gripped his hands. A gold wedding band on her ring finger glinted in the light.

"Wait, listen to me! You're my husband, Jace Barnes. And I'm Hayden Barnes." When Jace didn't react, Hayden leaned forward intently. "Look, we had our problems, Jace. We'd been fighting and were talking about getting separated. You threw your wedding ring at me and walked out. And that was the last time I saw you." Tears spilled down her cheeks. "When you went missing, I was devastated. I realized that I wasn't ready to give up on our marriage. But days passed without word from you. At first, I thought you had left me. But then I became more and more worried. I hired a private investigator to find you, and he led me to Port Charles. I knew you'd been in an accident, and he sent me photos of your- your new face. I didn't know about the amnesia. But it's just temporary, right? You'll remember our lives together one day?"

Jace shook his head, untangling himself from her grip. He took a couple of steps away, turning his back on her. He needed to think. And he couldn't do that while she stared at him with that desperate, hurt look in her eyes. She's not my wife!

"I...I don't know what to say." He said slowly. His instincts were screaming at him that this wasn't right, that she wasn't the woman from his memories.

Hayden stood up, tucking her streaked brunette hair behind her ears. She looked around slowly, eyes calculating. When Jace turned to face her, she was watching him with trepidation.

"Jace, tell me what happened to you. I only know what the private investigator I hired told me. You were in a car accident?" She prompted.

Jace shoved his hand through his hair.

"I was in a hit and run. I don't know why I was where I was, but I ended up in the street and someone hit me and left me there to die."

Hayden stared in horror.

"Oh, baby. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you. How did you survive?"

Jace looked away from her, his eyes closing as Sam's gorgeous face floated through his mind.

"I was laying there in the street, bloody, broken, and dying when Sam found me. Sam called 911, got me to the hospital, and has been there with me every day since. I would have died without Sam." He said in a whisper, a lump in his throat as the days he'd spent with Sam since waking flashed through his mind. He couldn't bear the thought that he might never spend another day like that with Sam.

"Well, thank God for this Sam person." She looked around again, before turning back to him.

"Jace, if you don't remember who you are, how can you afford to stay in a place like this?" She asked hesitantly.

Jace cleared his throat.

"Sam owns this building and is letting me live here rent-free until I figure out who I am."

Hayden smiled softly and stepped closer.

"Well, now you know who you are."

Jace stared down at her.

"Do I? I can't just take your word on something this important. If you're really my wife, if we've been married for five years, there will be proof. Pictures, a marriage license, something."

Hayden's face fell.

"You don't believe me?"

Jace didn't answer. He just stared at her until she sighed, blinking back tears.

"Okay. Okay, I guess I understand. This has to be a shock for you. Of course I can give you proof. I didn't expect to have to prove who I am to you, so I'll have to go back home. But I can be back by morning." She said quickly.

Jace nodded, hesitating.

"Where is home exactly?"

"New York City. We have a cute little loft there." She said with a smile, encouraged by curiosity.

Jace looked away.

"Bring everything here tomorrow. I have a friend who can help verify your story."

Hayden's bright smile dimmed a bit at his distant attitude.

"O-okay. I'll be here." She walked past him and opened the door. Pausing in the frame, she turned and walked up to him. She grabbed his hand and placed something small and cold in his palm, closing his fingers around it as she stared up at him defiantly.

"You may not remember me, Jace. But I'm your wife, and I loved you more than anything. And even if you never remember me, I am just so happy that you're alive and that I found you. I love you." She said fiercely, her eyes bright with tears again.

Jace didn't know what to say, so he just nodded.

With a trembling smile, Hayden gave a little wave and left. Jace stared at the closed door, unseeing.

Finally, he looked down and opened his hand. Sitting in the center of his palm, was a gold wedding band. Jace dropped down into a chair, his vision blurring. Letting out a ragged breath, he lowered his head to his hands as all his plans for a future with Sam crumbled around him.

…

Helena sat in the parlor in Wyndemere, tapping her nails impatiently against the arm of the chair.

The parlor doors swung open and banged against the wall as her guest arrived. She leaned forward and glared.

"You certainly took long enough. Tell me. How did it go?"

Hayden rolled her eyes and dropped her purse on the coffee table, before plopping into a cushy armchair and crossing her legs.

"Do not play with me, young lady. I want your full report or I will slit your throat myself and hire someone else to do your job. Tell me. Did Mr. Morgan believe your tale?"

Hayden smirked and held her arm out straight ahead of her, staring at her nails.

"Please. I played the injured little dove to perfection and he fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. But you didn't tell me your mark was drop dead gorgeous. I would have done this job for free." She paused. "Well, maybe not for free. But for a discount, at least." She amended dryly.

Helena threw back her head and laughed throatily.

"You're a mercenary little thing, aren't you? It's why I allowed you to live and decided to utilize your skills after all."

For a moment, Hayden's carefully build facade of disinterest slipped and she glared at Helena with all the bitterness and hatred inside her.

"It's not exactly as if you gave me much choice though, is it? Play your little games or-." She hissed before Helena cut her off, leaning forward.

"Or end up at the bottom of Aegean Sea, just like your pathetic parents." She said, a cruel sneer on her face.

Hayden swallowed, stiffening. She glanced around the room quickly, and as always, lurking in the shadows, stood Helena's constant guards. If only she had managed to be in the same room alone with the old bitch. She would have strangled her with her bare hands.

Hayden arranged her face into a pleasant smile.

"Well, it's a good thing I enjoy money so much. Keep paying me the way you do, and I'll happily continue our working arrangement. You don't even really need to keep my-."

Once again, Helena cut her off brusquely.

"Your precious sister stays exactly where she is."

Hayden's eyes closed briefly, before nodding shortly.

"Your Mr. Morgan wanted proof. Do you have the documents and things you were supposed to provide. He felt bad for me, but he's convinced I've made a mistake. He'll need to be convinced."

Helena waved her hand lazily towards the manila envelope on the table. Hayden reached over and picked it up, sliding out some very convincing documents and photos. She stared in amazement as she flipped through them.

"How the hell? These are actual pictures of me in college. How did you get Mr. Morgan into them?"

Helena rolled her eyes.

"I don't have time to answer idiotic questions. Just do your job and get Jace away from that little guttersnipe."

...

Sam stared out the small window of the airplane, looking out over a dark, starless sky. She glanced down at Danny, who was sleeping, his head resting against her arm. She squeezed him, her eyes returning to the endless sky.

I don't want to wait anymore. It wasn't the first time she'd had that thought, but it was occurring more and more often lately. Sam bit her lip, her heart and mind fighting each other.

He could be married. You're not the same woman you were when you first came to Port Charles. Someone who didn't care who was hurt, who didn't have enough pride to stay away from a married man. And how did that work out for you? Sam let out a small huff. Her inner voice was a real bitch sometimes.

Jace isn't Sonny. He's not going to use me and then throw me away when he decides he wants his wife back. Jace doesn't even remember her, if there even is a her to remember. Jace cares about me. He makes me happy. Why shouldn't we enjoy however much time we have together?

Because you could lose it all. You're not just risking your heart, you're risking Danny's.

Sam glanced down at Danny again, before leaning back and squeezing her eyes closed.

Jace would never hurt Danny. He loves him. And even if he found out he had a family, he wouldn't just forget about Danny and me. He's not like that.

You don't know what he's really like.

I know who he is now. And he is a good, kind, and loyal person. No matter who he turns out to be, I know he will always be in my life. And I'm going to enjoy every minute we get to be together.

You're making a mistake. You're running headlong into trouble. Her conscious warned her.

No, I'm not. I'm running towards happiness. Her heart argued back.

Decided, Sam felt an odd sense of relief, as if invisible cords holding her back had finally been cut.

"I'm coming home to you, Jace." She whispered, smiling as the sun peeked over the horizon off in the distance.