A/N: Guys, surprise! It didn't take me 2-3 weeks to post this chapter! lol It was actually fun to write it, so it went pretty smoothly. I was so relieved and so grateful that no one read the last chapter and thought, wow. Julexis all over again. I tried to make it clear that it wasn't Jason going after Sam because we all know he would never hurt Sam. But under Helena's control? Totally different story. He's basically a blank character, made to do Helena's bidding. So I'm really glad you guys went along for the ride and seemed to not only understand that, but enjoy it. :)

Now, we have to see how Jason will deal with the consequences of his actions. If he manages to break Helena's hold, how will he deal with what he did to Sam? Will the people in their lives understand? Forgive him? That's something we'll have to find out.

As always, thanks for the amazing reviews and support. I'm so excited to be closer to the end of this run and kinda sad at the same time. So, let's get to it!

Happy reading!

Jen

buttercup0303

Chapter 43

The loud report of the gun echoed in the room, making Sam's ears pop. Her eyes were squeezed shut, and she tensed, waiting for the pain, or darkness...something. But it never came. Instead, there was just a thud to the right of her.

She slowly opened her eyes to see Jason staring at the corner of the room, his gun still pointing in that direction. He was trembling.

She followed his gaze and gasped, stunned. One of Helena's guards had come in through a side door she hadn't noticed before, his gun still gripped in his hand. But he lay there, a bullet hole in the center of his forehead. She slowly looked at Jason and froze to see him staring at her with a burning gaze.

"Jason?"

Without preamble, Jason pulled Sam into his arms, wrapping them around her and lifting her off her feet in a crushing embrace, his face buried in her neck.

"I'm so sorry, Sam. I'm so sorry." He whispered hoarsely, his tears scalding her skin.

Relief and love swamped her as she realized that Jason had fought off whatever hold Helena had on him. In the end, he hadn't been able to hurt her. With a cry, Sam's arms came up and wrapped around him tightly.

"I knew you could beat her. I knew it."

Jason pulled back, lifting a trembling hand to gently tuck her hair behind her ears.

"I could have killed you. I almost…" He trailed off, unable to finish his words, tears pooling in his eyes, making them look like swirling pools of crystalline blue. Sam cupped his face and pushed up to press a gentle kiss on his lips.

"But you didn't. Jason, you broke Helena's mind control because you couldn't hurt me, let alone kill me. Your love for me was stronger than any hold that bitch has on you."

Jason started to nod but his eyes slid down to her raw, bloodied wrists and once again, his eyes burned with anguish and fury.

"Sam, your wrists! I did this to you." He held her wrists gently, staring at the broken, raw flesh around her wrists and the cuts from when she'd sawed at the ropes. They still seeped blood, a slow trickle, but to Jason, it may as well have flowed as steady as a river.

Jason dropped her hands and took a step back from her, staring at his own hands with disgust and self-hatred.

"I did that to you."

Sam could see how tortured he was and couldn't stand it. She rushed forward and grabbed his face between her hands.

"Jason, stop. This wasn't you. You weren't in control. And you didn't hurt me, I hurt myself trying to get free. Baby, please. Don't let Helena have any more power over you or us. If you can't hold me because you're too overcome with guilt, then she still wins. And I don't want that bitch to have the satisfaction. In fact, I want to see the look on her face when we walk back into that room, hand in hand. Then I want her dead." Sam's voice was wrathful and cold.

But Jason was shaking his head.

"We're not going back in there. Robert and Anna are still here. We'll find them and they'll save Robin and the others. We're getting off this island, now."

Sam stared at him in shock. Jason had never run from a fight before.

"Jason, Helena needs to pay. And we can't just leave our friends!"

Jason turned to her, and Sam gasped. For the first time in her life, Jason's eyes showed real fear.

"Sam, what if she says something to trigger whatever's in my head? What if this time, I can't fight it off anymore? What if...what if this time I really do hurt you?" His voice had trailed off into a hoarse whisper.

Sam's heart broke. The fear in his voice wasn't because of Helena. It was because he didn't trust himself not to hurt her. She rushed forward and threw her arms around him, holding him tight.

"I trust you with my life, Jason. I don't think she has a hold on you anymore. You overcame her hold to save my life when that guard came in. Once you did that, her hold was broken. I know it. I can feel it, right here." She pounded her chest, staring up at him intently, willing him to see the truth in her eyes.

Jason searched her eyes, and what he found was unaltered love and unswerving trust. Shaken to his core, he let out a shaky breath, cupping Sam's face gently.

"Thank you. Thank you for believing in me and loving me. I love you so damn much, I can hardly breathe."

He crushed his lips down on hers for a passionate, hard kiss at first. But then he softened it, moving his mouth over hers gently, putting all his love into their kiss, until it was so tender it made her knees weak.

When they finally broke apart, both had tears in their eyes.

"Okay, let's go make that bitch pay." Sam said with a grin that was almost scary.

Jason chuckled and nodded.

"Alright, Mighty Mouse. But let's go in smart."

She paused and stared at him for a second, but he was explaining the plan so she shook it off, focusing on the plan. Then Jason was moving over to the dead guard and ripping strips of fabric off his shirt. Sam watched in puzzlement as Jason stood with the fabric scraps and walked over to the dry bar. He snatched a bottle of water and what looked like vodka and strode over to her.

"Let's take care of your wrists first."

Understanding dawned, and Sam smiled, holding them out. She hissed with pain as he poured the vodka over her raw wrists, disinfecting them. He blew on them gently, until it stopped burning, and then gently wrapped them in the fabric he's taken. Sam took a swig of the vodka, eyes closed as Jason finished bandaging her wrists. They fluttered open in time to see Jason lift them and press gentle kisses on each of her wrists.

"That's better." He said gruffly.

Sam smiled at him and nodded, hopping off the desk.

"Much. Thank you, baby."

Jason nodded.

"Now let's go take care of Helena." He said, his voice cold and deadly.

And then they were moving towards the door, Sam barely pausing to scoop something off the floor.

One brow raised, Jason stared at the letter opener Sam clutched.

She shrugged and grinned.

"I have a plan too."

…

Helena heard the gunshot echo through the house and grinned baldly at her guests. Hayden cried out, and buried her face in Nikolas' chest, as tears pooled in his eyes. Tears slipped down Patrick's face as he faced the thought of never seeing his best friend again. Robin cried silently beside him.

"He'll never forgive himself for this." She whispered heartbrokenly.

"Good!" Patrick hissed, furious that she was thinking of Jason right now, when Sam lay dead somewhere in this house.

Robin turned to him in surprise.

"He's not in control, Patrick. He's as much a victim as Sam."

"Tell that to Danny when he asks what happened to his Mommy." Patrick snapped. Robin had no reply for that.

"I don't understand though. Where are my parents? There's no way they wouldn't have come with Jason and everyone to rescue me."

"You got that right, love."

Robin gasped as Robert's voice seemed to echo in her head. It was just a whisper, but Robin's head snapped to the side. There he was, Anna beside him. They were sneaking in through a side door, the guard having already been dragged outside and taken out, unnoticed. Robin felt the first flicker of hope since Jason had walked in the door.

Robin's eyes flew to Helena, but she was too busy gloating to have heard Robert. Or so she thought.

"Ah, Mommy and Daddy Scorpio. What an unpleasant if totally predictable surprise." Helena's voice drawled out a moment later. Robin watched in horror as her parents stepped into the room, hands up, as two guards pushed them forward from behind, guns shoved into their backs.

"No." Robin whispered, hope draining out of her, her shoulders drooping as she fell against Patrick's side.

Robert and Anna were shoved forward, but Robin stared in surprise when Robert looked back and winked at her.

"It was quite foolish of you to come alone." Helena said with a smirk. Everything was working according to plan.

"Who said we did?" Anna retorted with barely concealed disdain, her eyes roaming eagerly over daughter, as if to reassure herself she was real.

Helena studied the infamous spies facial expressions and paused. They looked much too pleased with themselves.

They had something up their sleeves. She turned towards the closest guard.

"Where is…?"

At the steady sound of heavy footsteps moving towards the room, Helena felt her confidence fall around her shoulders like a cloak.

"Aww, here comes my dear Mr. Morgan now."

She looked up as Jason strode into the room. She started to smile but it slid off her face as that wretched Samantha came in right behind him, their hands clasped. That filthy street rat had the audacity to peek around Morgan and send a beaming smile Helena's way, along with a little wave.

Robert chuckled, grinning at Jason, who nodded at him shortly.

"Funny thing, Hells. I was just about to say the same thing."

"Sam!"

"You're okay!"

"Jason, you fought off her conditioning!"

The cries of relief chorused through the room, sending Helena's blood boiling.

"Guards, kill them all!" She shouted rashly, letting her rage overtake her usual calculating calm demeanor.

She watched in shock as Morgan wasted no time, moving in a deadly blur, firing six fatal shots. Her guards fell like dominoes, neat bullet holes right in the center of their heads.

Helena looked positively apoplectic as she lost control of the situation in an instant. Her head snapped towards Jason, her eyes gleaming malevolently.

"Morgan! Your mis..gargh." Her screamed words ended in a strangled gurgle when the letter opener Sam hurled across the room slammed into her throat with deadly precision, buried to the hilt.

Helena clutched her throat, blood spurting out of her mouth as she choked on her own blood.

Jason twisted around to look at Sam in shock.

Sam shrugged.

"I told you I had a plan. She can't control you if she can't talk." Sam grinned wickedly, no remorse for her actions at all.

"That's a helluva woman you got yourself there, Morgan." Robert said, winking at Sam.

She curtsied before rushing forward to untie Patrick while Anna did the same with Robin, and Nikolas helped Hayden free her sister. Nattie rushed out of the room, claiming she was going to get something to bind Hayden's wound with.

"I know. She always was good backup." Jason finally replied. Sam's head lifted up slowly at his words. How…?

There was no time to wonder though, as Patrick crushed her in his arms.

"Sam! Thank God you're okay! Look, I know you hate me right now, and you have every reason. I just need you to know how sorry I am, and how much I hated lying to you. I pray that someday you can forgive me." Patrick's eyes shone with tears as he braced himself for Sam's rejection. Sam pulled away, putting some space between them as she stared at him, struggling to understand her own feelings. Finally, she smiled weakly.

"I'm so happy you're okay, Patrick. It's been hell thinking you could be dead."

Patrick smiled in relief, reaching out to her again but when she leaned back, his smile faded, his hand dropping to his side.

"But I don't know how we go back to what we were. You lied to me, Patrick. You knew that Jason was alive, and you didn't tell me. And maybe it was for the best, but maybe I could have saved him. Prevented Helena from ever having the chance to brainwash him into almost killing me. I lost time with him, grieved for him, and you could have saved me from that, but you didn't. I don't hate you, Patrick. But I don't forgive you. Not yet. Maybe not ever." She pushed back to her knees, standing up.

She turned to Robin, who was just pulling out of Anna and Robert's arms. Sam reached out and grabbed her hands.

"Robin, there are no words that could ever be enough to tell you how grateful I am to you. Without you, Jason wouldn't have survived or made it back to me. And even though you hid Jason's survival from me too, I will always be grateful, for the rest of my life. Thank you for giving me back my husband." Sam had to blink back tears. Robin smiled sweetly at her and pulled Sam into a tight hug.

"I'm just so grateful that he made it, and that his love for you was strong enough to break the hold Helena had over him."

"Me too." Sam whispered, pulling back to look at Jason over her shoulder. He held a hand out, and with a small wave at Robin, Sam pulled away and walked over to Jason.

Patrick stared after her, devastated.

"She's going to forgive you, Patrick. She just needs some time." Patrick looked down at Robin, letting his problems with Sam slip away so he could fully appreciate this moment. He reached out and ran a trembling hand over her cheek, smiling gently.

"Is this real? Are we finally free? We really get to go home and put our family back together?"

Robin let out a watery laugh, nodding.

"Yes, Patrick. We're finally going home to our daughter, and I'm never leaving my family again."

Nikolas got to his feet, helping Hayden stand and helping her to a nearby chair.

"I'll be right back, okay?" He reassured Hayden tenderly, gently brushing the hair back from her brow. She was perspiring lightly, her face pale.

He turned and his eyes searched the room until they landed on Sam and Jason off in the corner. He strode over and yanked on Jason's arm, spinning him to face him. When Jason was facing his direction, Nikolas cocked back his arm and punched Jason in the jaw. Jason's head snapped to the side, but otherwise, he didn't move.

"Nikolas!" Sam cried out in shock.

"That was for shooting Hayden!" He said through gritted teeth, before throwing another punch, making Jason fall back a step. "And that's for what you did to my cousin." He shouted, pointing to Sam's bandaged wrists.

Snapping out of her shock, Sam ran forward and shoved Nikolas away.

"Nikolas, stop! You know Helena was controlling him! And if he had been anyone else, I would be dead right now. But because my husband's love for me is that strong, he couldn't hurt me. So stop! I appreciate your concern and I love you for wanting to protect me. But if you hit my husband again, I'm going to kick your ass."

Nikolas stared at her in disbelief. He grabbed her shoulders and made her look at him.

"Sam, he could have killed you. When will you wake up and see that he's too dangerous to be around?" Sam winced as his fingers dug into her skin. Jason's eyes narrowed and he took a step forward.

"Get your hands off my wife. I let you land those two punches because I deserved them. But if you leave a mark on her, you'll be leaving this country on a stretcher."

Nikolas let go of Sam in a rush, staring at his hands.

"Sam, I- I- I'm sorry. I didn't realize how hard I was holding you." He stammered, ashamed of himself. Sam reached out and grabbed his hand and squeezed.

"I know you're just worried about me. But I'm okay. I promise." She smiled softly, and turned to Jason, who was still glaring at Nikolas.

She put her hands on his chest and studied his face.

"He was wrong, Jason. I've never been safer than I'm in your arms." Jason shook his head, not meeting her eyes.

"No, Sam. He's right. You've been hurt time and time again because of me. Because of the life I lead, the work I do. How many Manny Ruiz' or Francos, or Helena Cassadine's will it take for you to see I was right from the beginning. My life is too dangerous for you. For a family."

Sam shook her head, refusing to believe they were having this same fight twelve years later. And bringing up Manny Ruiz? Why would he-wait.

"Jason, I never told you about Manny Ruiz."

His eyes dropped to hers and her breathe caught.

"Jason, you-" But her words were cut off as Hayden cried out.

"Nikolas, where's my sister? Why hasn't she come back? What if something happened?" Hayden said in a panic, looking around.

Sam watched as Anna leaned close to Robert, her words traveling to Sam.

"We need to get a medivac in for Helena. I want her brought to justice, not the grave."

Robert shrugged.

"I have no problem with the old bird biting it, but if that's what you want, love."

Sam glanced over at Helena, unable to help the hatred the bubbled up. Helena was slumped over in her chair, still gasping for air, blood seeping steadily from the wound in her throat. Her face was pale, and personally, Sam didn't think she'd make it out of that house alive. The thought wasn't entirely unpleasant.

Before anyone could move, an alarm sounded throughout the building. Everyone looked around, alert.

A moment later, Hayden's sister walked in, her face sooty, a slightly wild look in her eyes.

"Nattie? Oh thank God!" Hayden cried out before pausing, her brow furrowing with concern. "Natasha?" Hayden asked worriedly. Nattie glanced over at her, her turquoise eyes glazed over.

"I'm here."

Hayden stared at her, a shiver of foreboding running through her.

"Nattie? What's that sound? What did you do?"

Nattie did an odd waltz-like stroll to Helena's chair, dropping to her haunches in front of her. She tilted her head and grinned madly at Helena.

"Helena killed our parents and ruined our lives. She took away everything we loved the most. I just returned the favor."

At her words, Helena's eyes widened in panic, and she made a gargling noise, but was too weak to do more than thrash about slightly.

Nattie laughed, sending a chill shivering down Sam's spine. Something wasn't quite right about her.

"That's right, you old witch. I torched your precious Stavros and Mikkos' bodies. They're burning to ashes along with your crazy ass scheme for Dr. Scorpio to revive them. And you're going to follow them into hell!" And with a sudden scream of fury, Nattie leapt forward and gripped the handle of the letter opener.

"Nattie, no!" Hayden screamed, horrified.

"Stop! Helena has to pay, but not like this." Anna shouted, moving forward slowly.

A chilling smile spread over Nattie's face.

"Exactly like this." With those words, she wrenched her arm to the side and dragged the letter opener across Helena's throat, leaving a jagged, gaping opening, blood gushing out. Helena's cold cruel eyes went wide with panic before the life slowly leeched out of them, her head lolling to the side.

Stunned, Sam stared at Helena's dead body, before saying the only thing she could.

"Holy shit."