A/N: Hey lovelies! So this was such a big chapter that I didn't want to make you wait a whole week. Plus, I was just so excited to write it. It was one of those chapters that just flows, you know? And you're response to the last chapter was SO incredible and super super supportive, that I was just inspired to write. :D So as always, THANK YOU! Please keep them coming. :)

Anyways, I won't keep you in suspense, since it's the moment you've all been waiting for. I hope you enjoy it! And be ready to suspend a little belief, because I'm sure there will be a point where you guys will be like, yeah right. lol Just go with it :p

Happy reading!

Jen

buttercup0303

Chapter 35

Sam read the letter in her hand, panic shooting through her. Patrick was in trouble? She had to call Anna Devane. With her connections, she was sure she could help save Patrick. But from who? Sam focused back on the letter, reading on.

Wait...what? Sam stiffened as she read Patrick's confession. Her mind started racing in a thousand directions as she struggled to process what she was reading. Jason hadn't died that night on the docks? And Patrick had known?

Anger and betrayal shot through her, hot as a poker. The worst thing about losing Jason the way she had beyond the obvious loss of her soulmate was that she never got to say goodbye to him. As heartbreaking as it would have been to lose him all over again, she could have said goodbye to him. She could have had some sort of closure or at least been able to accept his loss. And Patrick could have given her that chance and he chose not to. He was supposed to be her best friend. How could he lie to her about something so vital?

She barely had time to process the pain of his betrayal when she was hit by another shock. The Cassadines had taken Jason?

"Of course they had." She scoffed, easily able to believe their involvement. Her eyes dropped back down to the letter and it was as if time stopped and the ground was ripped from under her.

He's Jason, Sam. I think Jace is Jason.

She let out a small gasp, the letter slipping from numb fingers as she raised her hands to cover her mouth. Tears filled her eyes and rolled unnoticed down her cheeks.

"Oh my God." She whispered hoarsely.

Jace was...Jason? He was….no, he couldn't...could he?

Could Patrick be right? Is this why she'd fallen in love so quickly and so deeply for Jace? Why they had this instant connection?

Just the possibility had her heart and her soul crying out in happiness, but it was taking some time for her mind to get there. Doubts and questions ran through her head.

They ran his fingerprints through the system. If he was really Jason, wouldn't that have come up? Lord knows Jason was in there. But if it was true and the Cassadines had been involved...it would have been child's play for them to interfere with the search results.

The more she thought about it, the more she started to believe it. She had believed that Jace was Jason when she first found him. She'd stayed by his side, unable to ignore the pull she felt to him. With every moment she spent by his side, she'd felt more and more as if she was home, as if she was safe again.

And Danny and Jace had had an instant bond. So had Jace and Carly, Jace and Michael...and he had immediately hated Franco.

Franco! She thought, remembering Franco's odd words to Jace right before he died.

"It's what we do."

"Oh my God." She whispered, her heart racing.

"Ma'am. We're here."

Sam's head shot up to meet the driver's eyes in the rearview mirror.

"Th-thank you."

Sam quickly grabbed her things and Patrick's letter and climbed out of the car. Before she realized it, she was running towards the elevator. As it glided up towards the penthouse, Sam paced back and forth in the elevator.

"Could he really be Jason? Was my husband right in front of me this whole time?" She'd known somethingabout Jace had felt familiar, had felt right. She'd never felt like Jason was really dead. And that night at Sonny's she'd felt Jason's presence so strongly.

Sam gasped again. That was the night...the night she'd found Jace. Is that why she'd felt Jason's presence?

The elevator doors slid open and Sam stepped out, absorbed in the letter in her hand.

"Sam?"

Sam looked up at the sound of the cultured, beautiful Anna Devane's voice. Anna stood in front of her door, a letter held in her hands. She looked as if she had been crying and the pieces clicked for her.

"Patrick sent you a letter too?" Sam guessed, holding up her own.

Anna straightened, her eyes zeroing in on Sam's letter. She reached out for it, stopping short of snatching it out of Sam's hands.

"May I?" She asked eagerly.

Sam nodded wearily and handed her the letter. Her head was still spinning from everything she'd read. She moved past Anna and unlocked the penthouse and walked inside, gesturing to Anna to follow her.

Anna came in behind her, her head still bent towards the letter. Finally, she looked up, tears in her eyes.

"Oh Sam, you must be so relieved. There is nothing more incredible than finding out the love of your life is still alive. When I found Duke, it was as if I came alive again." Anna gushed, smiling at Sam.

Sam nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks.

"I want this to be real, Anna. So much. But I'm so scared to believe it, only to find out that Patrick was wrong." She admitted, her voice trembling.

Anna's smile dimmed.

"Patrick was very wrong to keep this from you, Sam. And I know how upset you must be with him, but I truly believe he was trying to protect you. Because just as I know how life-altering and incredible it can be to be given a second chance with the love of your life, I also know how devastating it is to lose them all over again. And so does Patrick. He lost Robin only to get her back and lose her again. He wanted to spare you that loss and grief. And now he's missing and Emma needs him. And, well, if Patrick is right, then that means my daughter is still being held prisoner by Helena Cassadine." Anna's voice started sympathetic but had turned hard and cold.

"And if that bitch has my daughter, then I will get her back. I was hoping you would put your anger towards Patrick aside and help me. I think we work quite well together."

Sam shook her head sadly.

"I'm sorry, Anna. I can't help you."

Anna looked surprised.

"Sam, I know Patrick betrayed you, but-." She pled, her disappointment visible.

Sam rushed to stop her.

"It's not that I don't want to help you. As furious as I am with Patrick, he's still my best friend. Of course I want to bring him home safe. And Robin. But I can't...Danny is in the hospital. His-his cancer came back." She explained, choking on the words.

Anna's eyes widened and she automatically reached out and pulled Sam into a hug.

"Oh, Sam. I'm so very sorry. It seems we have even more in common than I realized. I'm also a mother who has to watch her child fight an almost unbeatable disease. But by some miracle, my daughter is winning that battle. I know Danny will too. I'll pray for your little boy." She pulled back, squeezing Sam one last time. "Of course, you need to keep your focus on your son. Don't worry about Patrick. I'll bring him and my daughter home safe."

"I know you will." Sam replied, comforted by Anna's words. Anna said her goodbyes, leaving Sam alone in the penthouse, holding her letter. She stood, lost in the middle of her own living room.

"How can I believe this?" Sam asked out loud, pacing back and forth, talking out the problem in the hopes of finding an answer.

"If it's not true and I tell Jace Patrick's theory, it's only going to prove to him that I want him to be Jason. I can't just ask him, I'd just end up hurting him again." Sam sighed, rubbing her hands over her face.

"If only there was a way to know for sure without telling Jace…" Sam started, trailing off as she slowly lowered her hands.

"There is." She whispered in realization. There was a way for her to find out the truth without letting Jace in on her suspicions or sneaking a DNA test.

Her eyes fell on the laptop sitting on her coffee table, right where she'd left it.

"Samuel's footage!"

…

Jace went up the hospital rooftop and looked out over the horizon. He closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath as he let the fear, pain, and misery wash over him. He wouldn't let Sam see how scared he was because she needed his strength right now. But he was terrified for Danny. He'd never expected to love that little boy as much as he did but he knew if he lost Danny, he would lose the half of his heart Sam didn't own.

"I love him. As if he were my own son. No. He is my son." He said to himself, admitting the truth.

Danny wasn't just some kid he loved. He had truly begun to think of him as his own. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with Sam and he wanted to raise Danny. And he was going to tell Sam as soon as Danny was better. He didn't want to waste anymore time.

"He's my son. So please, save him." He pleaded, looking towards the sky.

Jace stumbled as a sudden flash of images ran through his mind. He clutched his head as pain lanced through him.

Finally, he was able to stand straight, his eyes wide with shock. Without hesitation, he turned and ran down the stairs, crashing through the door into the hospital corridors. Doctors and nurses turned to look at him but he didn't notice as he kept running. He stopped in front of Danny's room and pushed through it.

Danny lay asleep in his crib and pure love and devotion crashed over Jace like a wave. A reverent expression on his face, Jace walked over to Danny's bedside and leaned over him.

"I'm here, son. Your dad is here."

Jace smiled, though a new kind of fear was winding its way around his heart, tightening its grip. His son. His son was fighting for his life. Jace's eyes fell on the slight glisten of drool at the corner of Danny's mouth and he turned on the spot. He rushed to the cabinets and started throwing them open, rifling through them. Finally finding what he needed, he leaned over Danny again.

"What are you doing?"

Pocketing something smoothly, Jace turned to look at Alexis.

"Just checking on Danny. I needed to see for myself he was okay."

Alexis nodded in understanding.

"I just stepped out for a minute to get coffee. The girls are getting food."

Jace nodded, and looked past her.

"I have to go. Take care of my son." He said quietly, making Alexis' eyes widen. But before she could reply, he was gone.

"His son?" She wondered out loud. Oddly enough, it didn't sound wrong at all. "What the hell is going on?"

Jace pulled out the item he'd pocketed and stared at it. Nodding to himself, he went straight to the nurses desk and to Dr. Silas, who looked at him questioningly, and with slight bitterness.

"I need to have this tested right away."

Dr. Silas stared at the cotton swab Jace held out.

"What kind of test do you need?"

Jace thought of the memories that had flashed through his head on the rooftop.

Jace stood on the hospital rooftop, clad in a black leather jacket. Sam stood behind him, clutching his arm, fear etched on her features as she stared past him. A middle-aged blonde woman in her fifties held the baby in her arms, a crazed look in her eyes as she leaned over the edge of the roof. She turned to face him and sneered.

"You know, this united-front act of yours, it's very transparent, by the way. I know that your marriage is in a shambles. And why? Because of you - your pride. This baby deserves more than a broken home. He deserves more than you as his father."

"You're wrong. I want him."

She scoffed.

"Since when?

Jace felt anger battle with the fear in his heart.

"I want him! I want my son. I love Sam, and I want my son back."

"Well, that's a convenient change of heart."

"I was wrong to turn my back on him!" He argued, regret burning inside him for the time they'd lost.

Sam shook her head and grabbed his arm.

"Jason, you don't have -"

"No. Are you hearing me?! I made a mistake!"

Heather sneered again.

"It's a little late for that, don't you think?"

"No, it's not."

"You'll never be able to forget he's Franco's."

"I don't care!" As he said the words, Jace knew he meant them. He didn't care if Franco was Danny's son. He already loved him.

Heather rolled her eyes.

"Of course you do. You hate Franco. You're jealous of him. And you'll never be able to love his son."

"He's my son! And it only matters that he's here now. Sam and I want him."

Jace blinked as the memory ended and he looked up and met Silas' waiting eyes.

"I need a DNA test."

…

Hayden stood in the hospital conference room, facing the window that looked out over the halls. Her eyes were focused on the room across from them where little Danny Morgan was fighting for his life. Tears burned her eyes as she fought a battle inside herself before finally admitting defeat.

"Being a board member has its perks. I'm glad we could get a room so close to Danny and-." Nikolas stopped when Hayden turned to face him, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Hayden, what is it? What's wrong?"

"I can't do this anymore. I just wanted a chance to find my sister. I kept telling myself, one more day, just look for her for one more day. But I can't wait any longer."

Nikolas shook his head, at a loss.

"Hayden, it will take some time but we'll find her."

Hayden shook her head.

"I can't wait for that. A little boy is fighting for his life right now and he needs all the help he can get. He needs his father. So I can't be selfish." She let out a jerky laugh.

"Looks like, once again, I'm choosing these people over my sister. And it's killing me." She sobbed. "I'm so sorry, Nattie. I'm so sorry."

"Hayden…" Nikolas was watching her now, alert.

"But how can I watch that innocent baby fight for his life when I know something that could save him?" She asked, almost as if she was asking herself.

Nikolas stiffened and strode forward, grabbing her shoulders and forcing her to look up at him.

"What do you know that could save my nephew?"

Hayden swallowed, praying her sister forgave her.

"I know Jace's true identity. I know who he is." She choked out. Nikolas shook his head.

"How could that possibly help Danny?"

"Because Jace is his father. Jace is Jason Morgan."

…

Sam dropped the letter and ran to the laptop, flipping it open. She waited, but the screen stayed black. She pressed the button on the side and the light blinked, indicating a dead battery.

"Damn it!" She cursed, jumping on and looking for the charger. Spotting it on the dining room table, she rushed over and snatched it up, running back to the coffee table after plugging it into the wall. Connecting it to the laptop, she powered on the laptop, waiting impatiently for it to start up.

Sam tapped her nails against the tabletop anxiously, leaping forward when the logon screen appeared. She logged in and was immediately launched into the video app, where the footage was paused exactly where she'd left it when she'd gotten the call about Danny.

Taking a deep breath, Sam pressed play and waited, biting her fingernails. After a few minutes of watching the foliage in the forest, Sam let out an impatient curse. She had just leaned forward to skip ahead when suddenly the camera started shifting. It stopped and Sam could make out something moving towards the camera in the distance. Her heart pounding loudly in her chest, Sam didn't notice her nails biting into her palms.

…

Jace paced back and forth outside the lab, waiting for Silas. Silas walked out and Jace jumped to his feet.

"You know, I could get into a lot of trouble if they found out that I prioritized this over the other tests waiting to be processed." Silas said with a shake of his head. "You better not be lying about this saving Danny's life." He warned.

"If these tests confirm what I think they will, then everything will change. And I'll be Danny's best chance at surviving."

Silas studied him curiously.

"Alright, fine. I'll be back. I'm doing the test myself, so I should have the results soon."

Jace nodded impatiently, watching the doctor disappear back into the lab.

"Mr. Smith! There you are!"

Jace turned to see Epiphany bustling towards him, a huge smile on her face, waving a paper at him.

"What's going on? What's that?"

"I wanted to share the good news myself. We got your test results back. You're a perfect match for young Danny Morgan. What are the odds? You're gonna save that little boy's life." Epiphany beamed as Jace stared at her in stunned relief. He could be a donor for Danny. He was going to save his little boy's life.

Just then, the door swung open behind him and Jace spun around to see Silas walk out of the lab. He was staring at Jace in shock.

"I've got the results."

Sam watched the video intently, waiting for that moving form to take shape.

The distant figure moved closer until Sam could see it was a broad shouldered, fit man. He seemed to be injured, limping awkwardly as he tried to run forward. As he got closer, Sam strained to make out his features but he kept his head down. It was black and white film, so Sam couldn't tell what color his hair was or anything.

"Look up." She whispered. "Please, look up."

And just as he moved under the camera, he looked up. Sam's hand shot out to pause the footage as she stared in stunned disbelief at the face staring up at her.

Silas stopped in front of Jace, staring at him in disbelief.

"I don't understand how this can be. But I ran the test twice."

"Tell me." Jace said eagerly.

"You tested positive. You're Danny's father."

Sam stared at the face staring up at her on the screen, tears rolling down her face.

"Jason." She breathed.