"Are you Jason Quartermaine?" She texted back after pouring herself a glass of red wine. Sam wasn't much of a drinker but had started the tradition after drinking a glass after each triumph; but in all actuality, she wasn't entirely certain that if this was a triump or another hurdle. "I don't know; but this Jason has my face." What the actual fuck; Sam wasn't sure if she was intrigued or creeped out. "What are you talking about?" She texted him while staring instinctively at the call button.
She wasn't sure if he'd pick up the phone; or if he'd stop messaging her altogether; for right now; she'd have to play at his pace. "I don't have his memories; or any for that matter, but I have his face." Sam swallowed hard, she wasn't certain how to process the message but perhaps it made sense as to why he never called anyone but what happened to him. "Can you meet with me?" She texted him. It was a little fast; and could very well scare him more than a phone call but Sam had to know if this was really true.
Sam waited a few minutes, hoping she hadn't scared him when her phone began to ring, Sam quickly answered it, but didn't even have to talk. "We can't talk long in case someone is tracing the call, that's happened before but we can't meet; it's not safe but maybe you can talk to Jake; convince him to bring you to meet me.." and that was it. The line went dead. "What the hell is going on.." Sam shook her head before taking a last gulp of her wine, setting the glass firmly on the wicker table when her phone panged again. "Any News?" It was Mac.
Sam sat for a moment; her phone propped up on her lap; her fingers hovering nervously over the letters before she quickly typed out the message before she lost her nerve. "not really? still following leads but will let you know when I catch something." It wasn't that Sam didn't trust Mac but none of what was going on made any sense; the caller sounded just like Jason, it was Jason but his voice was filled with so much paranoia and self-doubt, a completely different person from when they were younger.
Sam stood from the swing; raising her arms out and stretching out before grabbing the empty wine glass; She carried it back into the cabin, washing it and placing it on a dish rack to dry. Walking across the small cabin, she pulled the quilt up from the queen-size bed. The cabin was the ideal spot for her to regroup and refocus' – its single-floor plan meant everything she needed was in one room, minimizing the risk of distraction.
Lying in the darkness, Sam's thoughts lingered on Jason, the memories creating a montage in her mind. She recalled how he always seemed unshakeable, a pillar of strength for those around him. His selflessness, his resilience in the face of harsh criticism from his parents, had left a lasting impression on her.
She could argue that she didn't somehow develop feelings for him in those moment;but it'd be a lie. Jason was just so strong; and when they would talk, just the two of them, she find herself constantly blushing through each moment but Jason, he wouldn't blink an eye; his gaze was always so unquiveringly focused on her and more times than not; it intimidated her in the most intimate way.
As she stared at the ceiling, shadows dancing in the moonlight, she couldn't reconcile the Jason she knew with the frightened, confused voice on the other end of the phone. What had happened to strip him of that inner strength and confidence? What had driven him to change his identity and hide away in a place like Cedar Bay?
Questions swirled in her head as sleep slowly crept in. Despite the comfortable bed; and the quietness around her, her mind was restless, playing over the events; and yes, the memory of Jason Quartermaine. She couldn't help but recall each and every moment; and wonder if she'd somehow missed some breadcrumb being too focused on her childish crush. With theese thoughts; Sam finally drifted off to sleep with the promise that she'd revisit Jake and thought about the best possible approach.
When morning light approached; Sam's resolve grew even more as well as her anger for being yanked around by Jake. Fueled by a mix of anger and determination, Sam stormed into The Rusty Pelican, kicking the door open with such force that it instantly drew all eyes to her. The patrons at the bar turned in surprise as she made a beeline for Jake, who was laughing and talking with some regulars.
Without hesitation, Sam reached behind the bar, grabbed Jake firmly by the ear, and yanked him over the bar; and away from his customers, she dragged him outside, his protests drowned out by the clamor of the bar.
Once outside, Sam shoved Jake against the wall and, without a word, slapped him across the face. His expression shifted from surprise to pain, and then to a defensive stance as he raised his hands in front of him.
"Whoa, whoa, Lily! What the hell?" Jake exclaimed, still holding his hands up.
"Why did you lie to me, Jake? How do you really know Jason?" Sam demanded, her voice seething with anger.
Jake's expression changed to a smirk, despite the stinging slap. "Why did you lie to me? Lily?" He emphasized the fake name before slowly crossing his arms. "You have no child by Jason Quartermaine; and your name is not Lily but Samantha Cassadine!" he retorted, challenging her with his gaze.
"Jake, I don't have time for this shit! I need to find Jason! His family hasn't seen him in seven years and they have suffered in concern for him!" Who the fuck was this guy, what did he have to do with Jason.
"Wow; the last hitman was much more convincing but not nearly as attractive.." He said subtly brushing her hair out of her face as she reacted by chucking him in the gut, sending him leaning over, and groaning. "I am not fucking around, Jake. If you don't get me in contact with Jason, I swear to god; I will bring his parents, his whole fucking family here and I will descend them onto your ass and the threat of the Quartermaines is enough to leave any grown man quivering in his boots."
Jake was back up; as he forced Sam away from the bar, walking closer to the beach before turning her around. "Sam, you cannot do that! You have no idea what you've stepped into and I suggest you pack your shit up and go on back home!" Sam's frustration boiled over at Jake's dismissive attitude. "Fuck you, Jake," she spat out, her patience wearing thin. Jake, looking annoyed, nodded and retorted, "Typical woman, refusing to take any good advice."
As Sam turned to leave, a sudden realization hit her. She stopped dead in her tracks and spun around. "Wait, what did you mean when you said 'hitman'?" Her voice was a mix of suspicion and curiosity, recalling his earlier comment. "I..Look, Sam, I have had a few people come into town looking for Jason and some don't appear that friendly..." Sam nodded crossing her arms, her interest only more piqued, "& you just jump to the conclusion that their affiliated with organized crime?"
Jake shifted uncomfortably, realizing he might have said too much. "It's not just a conclusion, it's an observation. This town is small, Sam. Strangers stand out, especially the ones asking too many questions about Jason."
Sam's mind raced with this new information. It seemed Jason's disappearance was more than just a simple case of someone wanting to start over. "And what about you, Jake? How are you involved in all this?" Her tone was accusatory, her gaze piercing.
"I can't...Not here..I have a break at noon, meet me at the seagull's nest; it right up the road from here, we can talk more privately there." Jake's voice was low, cautious.
Sam eyed him, trying to gauge his sincerity. "Fine, noon at The Seagull's Nest. But Jake, if this is some sort of trick..."
He quickly threw up both hands in defeat. "I promise, no tricks...but you should prepare yourself for what I have to say; it's not going to be easy to hear..or stomach." He warned walking past her; back towards the bar. "!2 o'clock, Sam. Don't be late!" He insisted as she nodded, she was definitely not going to be late but her mind couldn't help but swirl with the many possibilities of what he had to say to her.