12/13 Dante went to Jason's penthouse and confessed his feelings for Brenda and his regret that he had never told Brenda how he felt. Jason asked Dante how he would feel if he betrayed someone who trusted him. He told Dante about his affair with Elizabeth and said that he knew from personal experience that betrayal was a regret that one carried for life. Dante said that he had made his decision three years before, but he did not know how to live with it. Steve dropped by to let Dante know that Aleksander's body would be released from the east loading dock later that evening After Steve left, Jason got out his gun. When Dante protested, Jason said that Jerry was unpredictable and ruthless and that if he shot Jerry it would be in self-defense. Dante still objected to Jason carrying a gun, but Jason said that no one, including Mac would be sorry if Jerry ended up dead.

At the loading dock, Jason and Dante hid out and watched. Dante reminded Jason that the object was to follow whoever showed up to collect the body, not shoot them. A few minutes later, Jerry appeared. Dante noted that Jerry appeared at GH in person. He speculated that Jerry was the Balkan.

Sam caught up with Abby at Kelly's. They talked about Michael. Abby said that she really liked him and that she was happy that they were going out on a date. Abby left to catch up on schoolwork Michael returned to Kelly's and met up with Sam. He told Sam that Abby was a person he could talk to and he wanted to have a relationship with her. He said that he could have a fresh start with Abby. Sam approved and said that sometimes, family was too close to be objective.

12/14 At Kelly's, Michael sought Sam's advice about his first date with Abby. He wanted to take Abby to an Italian restaurant and then go ice-skating, but he didn't know if Abby would enjoy that. Sam admitted that she didn't know Abby well enough to be familiar with her likes and dislikes. However, Sam didn't think that it was wise for Michael to go out with Abby. Michael seemed surprised by Sam's comment. Sam feared that Michael might have another run-in with one of Abby's customers. Michael assured Sam that he would be able to control himself, but Sam had her doubts. She was worried that Michael would jeopardize his parole, so she urged him to simply avoid the situation by not going out with Abby. Michael explained that Abby accepted him. He revealed that when he was with Abby, he forgot how messed up he really was.

Later, Carly thanked Sam for meeting her at Kelly's. As they sat down at a table, Carly explained that she had met Abby, so she wanted to know more about the woman that Sam had introduced to Michael. Sam would only reveal that she had met Abby Haver while working on a case. However, Sam assured Carly that Michael and Abby had hit it off and that Abby was a good person. Carly insisted that she wanted Michael with kids closer to his own age, so she asked Sam to have a talk with Abby. Sam refused to get involved because it wasn't any of her business.

Sam then suggested that Carly stay out of it too. Carly made it clear that she didn't need Sam to tell her how to deal with her child. Sam argued that Michael was not a child and hadn't been one for quite some time. Sam also revealed that other kids were afraid of Michael. Sam believed that Carly should accept that Michael would not have the life that Carly had planned, or she would end up losing Michael.

At the loading dock, Jason and Dante hid out of sight while Jerry Jacks claimed Aleksander Janacek's body. Jerry quickly sensed that he was being watched, so Jerry drew a gun and then took the morgue attendant hostage. Jerry ordered Jason to show himself. Jason reluctantly complied, while Dante circled around to get a clear shot at Jerry. Jason demanded to know why Jerry was after Brenda. Jerry couldn't believe how so many men made fools of themselves over Brenda. According to Jerry, Brenda was lethal and far more dangerous than anyone realized. Jerry claimed that no man had ever walked away unscathed from Brenda, so Jerry had decided that it was his job to stop her. Jason was curious what Brenda had ever done to Jerry. Jerry refused to give Jason a direct answer. Things took a sudden violent turn when Jerry decided that it was time to leave.

Jerry inched close to the driver's side door of the van, shot the morgue attendant in the back, and then jumped into the van. Jerry managed to escape while Dante and Jason scrambled to call for help and then coordinate roadblocks with Lucky, in an effort to catch Jerry. Within moments, Steve was at the loading dock to check on the condition of the morgue attendant. The morgue attendant was rushed into surgery while Dante and Jason jumped into Jason's car to follow Jerry's van.

Jason and Dante called Lucky to warn him that Jerry was fast approaching Lucky's position. Jason explained that they were on Jerry's tail. Lucky advised Jason and Dante to be careful because a roadblock had been set up. In the van, Jerry saw the roadblock. Jerry apologized to Aleksander and then swerved off of the road. A short time later, Jason, Dante, and Lucky looked down at the mutilated wreckage of the van. Dante warned Jason and Lucky that it would take some time to pull the van out of the ravine, but Dante was certain that Jerry couldn't have survived the crash. Dante was certain that Brenda and Siobhan were out of danger. Jason revealed that Jerry had survived worse, while Lucky reminded Dante that they hadn't been certain that Jerry had been the Balkan.

12/15 Carly arrived at Jason's penthouse in a good mood. She believed that Jason had called her because he had changed his mind about exposing Dante and Brenda's secret. Jason explained that the reason he had asked her to stop by was because Jerry might have been killed in a crash. Carly reminded Jason that Jerry had survived worse. She feared that it might be a cover, so that Jerry could figure out his next move. Jason reminded her that nothing was certain until Jerry's body had been recovered. Carly decided that she had to tell Jax about Jerry, but she confessed that she was relieved. Carly realized that if Jerry was dead then all of their troubles were behind them, and Brenda could return to Europe. Jason disagreed; Brenda would not be out of danger until they could confirm that Jerry had been the Balkan.

A short time later, Michael showed up at Jason's penthouse. Michael was relieved that they were alone because he wanted to talk to Jason about Abby. Jason was concerned that Michael might have had another run-in with one of Abby's customers, but Michael clarified that he had asked Abby out on a date. Michael was certain that Abby had decided not to go out with him because she was afraid of Michael's temper. Jason wondered if Abby had told him that. Michael admitted that Abby had claimed that she was too old for him, but Michael didn't believe her. Jason was curious if Abby would lie to Michael. "No," Michael conceded, but he believed that Abby feared that Michael would lose it and then take it out on her. Jason warned Michael not to jump to conclusions; he suggested that Abby might have had personal reasons, which had nothing to do with Michael, for not wanting to get involved. Jason insisted that it was Abby's call to make, so Michael should respect her decision.

Dante went to Jason's penthouse to let Jason know that Jerry's body hadn't been recovered. Jason explained that Spinelli was keeping tabs on the investigation. Dante was annoyed by the reminder of Spinelli's involvement and who Jason was. Dante felt that the lines between Jason's world and Dante's world were blurred more than ever. Jason had no idea what Dante was talking about. Jason made it clear that he wouldn't reveal anything about Dante's involvement in Aleksander's death because he didn't want to endanger Michael's parole. Dante acknowledged that they were at a stalemate, at least until Michael's parole ended. Dante decided to change the subject; he wondered if Brenda had returned. Jason explained that Brenda was with Sonny. Dante's annoyance returned. Dante couldn't understand why Sonny would buy Brenda a house when he already had Greystone Manor.

Jason explained that it was what Sonny did and then revealed that Sonny had once bought a cow pasture for Brenda, so that they could go on a picnic. Dante couldn't believe that Sonny would have the arrogance to show up on a farmer's doorstep to demand that the man sell his land to Sonny, so that Sonny could impress Brenda. Jason didn't understand why Dante was so angry about it; according to Jason, Sonny had overpaid for the land. Dante explained that the farmer hadn't been given any choice in the matter. Dante insisted that Sonny was just a notch above Jerry. Jason clarified that Sonny didn't kill innocent people. Dante didn't care; he insisted that Sonny was a disaster for anyone close to him, including Brenda. Dante wanted Jason to persuade Brenda to end things with Sonny and then return to Italy once the danger had passed. Jason refused to do it. Jason made it clear that his job was to keep Brenda alive, nothing more.

Carly arrived home to find Jerry playing with Josslyn on the sofa.

12/16 At Jason's penthouse, Jason was certain that Jerry would eventually seek him out, so he suggested that they wait for Jerry to make a move. Dante wasn't keen on using Brenda as bait, but Jason insisted that he knew Jerry better than Dante did. Jason was confident that Jerry would try to go after him because it would leave Brenda vulnerable. Dante seemed a bit offended by the suggestion that he and Lucky weren't a threat. Jason explained that Dante and Lucky wouldn't break the law, but Jason would, so Jason was Jerry's biggest obstacle. Dante was curious why Jerry would target Brenda if it might hurt Jax. According to Jason, Brenda wasn't part of Jax's family, so she was fair game.

Moments later, a man knocked on the door. The man quickly determined who Dante was and then served him with papers. A short time later, Diane arrived to review the papers. Diane explained that Dante and Brenda were being sued for the wrongful death of Anton Banovic, the man who had tried to abduct Brenda in an alleyway. Jason wanted Diane to make the lawsuit go away, but she explained that it wasn't that simple. Dante argued that the shooting had been self-defense. Diane reminded Dante that they only had Dante's word for that because Brenda had never made a formal statement. Diane warned them that Brenda would have to be deposed. "No way," Jason warned Diane. Jason made it clear that he expected Diane to honor their attorney-client privilege. Diane assured him that she understood, so Jason and Dante told her about Aleksander Janacek's death. Jason explained that the Balkan was after Brenda to find out how his son had died. Jason insisted that Brenda couldn't testify because she'd end up incriminating herself.

As Jax watched, Jerry aimed his gun at Carly. Jerry was reluctant to shoot Carly, but he vowed to do so if Jax didn't cooperate. Jax relented, but he vowed to call the police as soon as Jerry was gone. Jerry assured his brother that he didn't expect anything less; Jerry just needed a head start.

12/17 A hysterical Carly stormed into Jason's penthouse and demanded to know what Brenda had done to Jerry. Carly explained to Jason that she had walked into her home to find Jerry holding Josslyn and that he'd pulled a gun on Carly. He'd said he was there because of Brenda. Brenda said that she'd done nothing intentionally to anger Jerry. That wasn't good enough for Carly, who insisted that Brenda tell her the truth. Brenda admitted that she'd accidentally killed the Balkan's son and that Dante had covered it up. Carly berated Jason for not having told her, but he explained that the more people who knew, the more danger everyone would be in. "You promised to protect her," Carly said, referring to Brenda. "I never did." With that, she left.

Brenda told Jason that she was worried for his safety. He changed the subject, and they soon began a heated argument over the color pink. As Brenda removed the regrettably pink pillows, Jax arrived and asked to speak to Brenda alone. Jason agreed, as long as Jax promised they would not leave the building. Jax said yes, and Jason left. Jax vowed, cryptically, to stop Jerry. Brenda worried that Jax would be destroyed if he took his own brother's life.

Jason caught up with Carly and made it clear that she could, under no circumstances, let anyone know that Brenda and Dante had been involved in the cover-up of Alexander's death. Sonny walked in and asked why Jason wasn't guarding Brenda. Jason let Sonny know that she was with Jax, which gave no comfort to Sonny.

At the waterfront, Jerry met Siobhan, disappointed that she hadn't gotten Lucky there. Jerry threatened to dispose of her until his phone rang. On the other end was Theo, whose British accent had been replaced by a New York one. He made it clear that he knew Jerry was meeting with Siobhan and threatening her. Jerry angrily responded that the man had it easy as the Balkan, hidden away where no one was gunning for him. Siobhan was shocked to discover that Jerry was not the Balkan after all. Jerry let her know that he'd never seen the man's face. "Maybe I should remedy that," the Balkan said. "Maybe it's time for you to better understand who I am and what I want."

12/20 Jason, Sonny, and Carly argued about Dante and Brenda in Sonny's restaurant office. Carly was livid after learning from Brenda that she had shot the Balkan's son, and Dante had covered it up. She wanted to see Dante in Pentonville and Brenda in shackles. She demanded that Dante pay for causing Michael to go to prison. Jason urged Carly to focus on what mattered, which was to deal with the immediate threat caused by Jerry. After a long rant against Dante, Carly finally agreed to keep silent about what she knew but told Sonny that he owed her big time. She told Sonny to never refer to that "son of a bitch," Dante, as Michael or Morgan's brother again and then stomped out of the office, followed by Jason.

Jason arrived home and he told Brenda that there was no sign of Jerry and that there was no word about the lawsuit. Brenda was adamant that she could not go on the stand. Spinelli arrived home just as Brenda got flustered and said that she needed to go for a walk. Spinelli agreed to take her, but Jason said that Spinelli could not protect her and Jason would go. Jason and Brenda were talking about the lawsuit when they turned a corner. Following closely behind was Theo, who stopped them and showed Brenda a glove that he thought was hers. Brenda checked her pocket and found that the glove was hers. She thanked Theo and moved on with Jason. Theo stood silently watching them with an appraising look.

12/21 At Jason's penthouse, Jason was reviewing some phone records to get a lead on Jerry when Brenda entered the living room. Brenda suggested that Jason change clothes for Luke and Tracy's wedding, but Jason informed her that he wasn't going. Brenda explained that she intended to go, so Jason had to take her. Jason thought that it was a bad idea to attend the wedding because he wasn't certain that Jerry was dead. Brenda refused to skip out on the wedding; she argued that there would be plenty of guards to protect her and that Sonny would be there. Jason argued that he had not been invited, but Brenda didn't think that should stop him. She reminded him that Tracy was his aunt and that Edward had lost Lila, Alan, and AJ, so Jason should be at the wedding for Edward's sake. Jason refused to relent.

After Brenda left, Jason called Sam to invite her over. Sam was surprised to learn that they had the penthouse to themselves. After a brief kiss, Jason suggested that they buy a Christmas tree. Sam couldn't believe that Jason would want one. Jason knew that Sam liked Christmas trees, so he was willing to buy one to please her. Sam was thrilled, but she insisted that she select the tree and the decorations for it. Jason recalled that she didn't have good luck picking out Christmas trees, but he agreed to let Sam choose.

12/22 Jason and Sam entered the penthouse with a small Christmas tree. Sam placed the tiny tree on the table as Jason chuckled. Sam refused to apologize for picking such a spindly tree. She reminded Jason that he had no room to talk because he had a tendency to pick up strays himself. Sam then held up some mistletoe, so that Jason would kiss her. After the kiss, Sam decided to fetch the box of Christmas ornaments, so that they could decorate the tree. Moments later, Molly stopped by to pick up Jason for a shopping trip. Molly insisted that Jason needed help to pick out the perfect gift for Sam. Sam appeared at the top of the stairs in time to hear her sister's comment. Sam informed Molly that Jason wouldn't be going anywhere because they had plans to decorate the tree.

Molly was aghast when she saw the little tree on the living room table. Sam ignored Molly's reaction as she invited Molly to help them decorate. Molly agreed and then proceeded to offer decorating tips. Michael stopped by moments later. Michael smiled when he saw the small tree, but he accepted Sam's offer to help them decorate it. Molly was about to tell everyone how the tradition of the Christmas tree began when Spinelli walked in. Spinelli stopped short when he saw everyone standing in the living room. Spinelli admitted that he hadn't been expecting anyone to be home. Jason invited Spinelli to join them, but Spinelli insisted that he had an important project to work on and then disappeared into his room.

Michael and Molly talked about a ski trip that Molly and Kristina planned to go on. Michael recommended a certain ski run for them to try, but Molly suggested that he join them on the trip. Michael didn't think that the court would give him permission to leave town, but Jason and Sam encouraged Michael to make the request. Jason and Sam thought that it would be good for Michael to take a short vacation. Moments later, Spinelli returned to the living room, dressed up in a suit. Jason wondered where Spinelli was headed to, but Spinelli refused to tell them anything. After Spinelli left, Molly confessed that she suspected that Spinelli intended to win back Maxie.

Later, everyone enjoyed cookies and eggnog as they looked at their handiwork. Molly offered to take Jason shopping for Sam's present, but Jason assured Molly that it wasn't necessary because he had already bought a gift for Sam. Sam insisted that she didn't need a present. According to Sam, spending time with them decorating the tree had been all that she had wanted. Sam admitted that she had spent most Christmases alone, so she appreciated celebrating the holiday with them. As Sam talked about what their company meant to her, Jason realized that he and Michael needed to do something. Jason ordered Michael to grab a coat because they had to go somewhere.

12/27 Edward took a private moment in his study. He spoke to Lila's photograph and told her how happy he was that Tracy had found love with Luke. He was interrupted when Michael and Jason arrived through the terrace door. They told Edward that they were there to wish him a "Merry Christmas." Edward was overjoyed. Edward ranted against Sonny for keeping Michael away, but Jason said it was Jason's fault because he had kept Michael away from his family. Edward said it was also his own fault because he had tried too hard to keep Jason close. Michael said that Sonny had been a great father and that he took responsibility for his own actions. Edward said that he was proud of Michael and offered him a chance to become a real Quartermaine by taking an internship at ELQ. Michael was not ready and said that he had to think about it. Edward said that the offer was open indefinitely. He thanked Jason for Michael's visit and told them to go enjoy the party.

Luke and Tracy’s reception proceeded joyously. When Jason spied Spinelli, he demands to know what Spinelli is up to? Jason observes the Spinelli doesn’t even know Luke or Tracy. Spinelli said he was there to bury the hatchet with Dante as a favor to Lulu. Jason kinda of congratulated Sonny and Brenda on their engagement, but said Brenda had to stay at the penthouse because her life was still in danger. She agreed and said it would be fun to be old-fashioned and sleep apart until the wedding.

At the penthouse, Brenda asked for Jason's promise that he would attend the wedding. He told her that he would, but she had to remember that her life was still in danger. He told her that he hoped to find the Balkan before the wedding. When Jason left, she went upstairs. Jason went to see Diane, who said that Theo was not optimistic about avoiding a trial. Theo went to see Brenda and said that they needed to discuss the man that she had killed.

12/28 Jason arrived home to find Theo there with Brenda. Brenda introduced Theo to Jason, but he had already known about Theo. Brenda wanted some fresh air, so she decided to take a walk. After Brenda left, Jason asked what Theo's take on the lawsuit was. Theo explained that Brenda's fame and connection to Sonny were problematic. Theo warned Jason that a jury would watch Brenda closely. Jason was certain that Brenda would fall apart on the witness stand, so he ordered Theo to settle the case before it went to trial. Theo didn't think that it was possible because the Banovic family wanted to make Brenda suffer. Jason confided that killing a man, even in self-defense, had nearly destroyed Brenda.

Brenda returned to the penthouse in a good mood. She shared the news about her engagement with Jason, but he had already heard about it. Brenda revealed that she had seen Dante and that he had congratulated her. It had made Brenda realize how silly she had been to believe everyone who had made her feel as if she and Sonny were doomed. Brenda insisted that the opposite was true. Brenda thanked Jason for forcing her to return to Port Charles because it had been the best thing to happen to her. Jason tensed when Brenda ordered him to stand still. Seconds later, Brenda hugged Jason. Jason hesitated a moment and then wrapped his arms around Brenda to return the hug.

On the sidewalk, Theo ordered one of his goons to keep Brenda under 24-hour surveillance. Dimitri suggested that Theo simply kill Brenda, since Theo had gained full access to her. Theo explained that he needed information from Brenda, so he intended to break her down to get what he needed and then kill her.

12/29 Spinelli was making his way to the front door when Jason called out to him. Jason wanted to know why Spinelli had gone to Luke and Tracy's wedding uninvited. Spinelli claimed that he had gone to the wedding to make peace with the "devious detective." Jason didn't believe Spinelli. Spinelli opted to lie again. According to Spinelli, he had been concerned about Brenda. Spinelli insisted that Brenda and Sonny's engagement was a bad idea because they wouldn't make each other happy. Jason argued that it wasn't their call to make, so he warned Spinelli not to say anything to Brenda. Spinelli thought that it was their duty, as Brenda's friends, to intercede when disaster loomed. Jason disagreed; their only responsibility was to protect her from the Balkan. Spinelli didn't think that the Balkan was a threat since Jerry Jacks was dead.

Jason admitted that he wasn't convinced that Jerry had died or that Jerry was the Balkan. After Spinelli left, Lucky stopped by to let Jason know that Theo had been at the police station. Lucky had realized that Brenda and Dante were in a lot of trouble. Jason was concerned that Brenda might confess to killing Aleksander if she were forced to testify because Anton's shooting had been eerily similar to what had happened to Aleksander. However, Jason sensed that something seemed off about the lawsuit; he couldn't understand how Anton's family hadn't known what Anton had been planning to do to Brenda. Lucky suggested that perhaps the Banovic family were in denial. Jason argued that the timing of the lawsuit and Jerry's sudden appearance in town were suspicious. Lucky thought perhaps Jason was looking for a connection where there wasn't one.

Jason admitted that the connection might not be between Jerry and the lawsuit, but rather Jerry and Siobhan. Lucky was curious how Jason had reached that conclusion. Jason reminded Lucky that Siobhan had been the one to provide them with Jerry's name. Lucky and Jason discussed what Siobhan had witnessed on the piers when Jerry had been shot. Lucky assured Jason that Siobhan was a reliable witness, but Jason questioned the convenience of Siobhan stumbling into Jerry just in time to see him shot by a sniper and then plunge into the water. Lucky reluctantly agreed that he couldn't ignore the coincidence. Jason revealed that it was odd that Jerry's body hadn't been recovered. Lucky thought that Jason, of all people, should be able to appreciate that bodies weren't always recovered from the water off of the piers. Jason argued that Jerry's body hadn't been found after the van had crashed, so Jason suspected that Jerry was alive and buying himself some time to go after Brenda from another direction.

Carly was delighted when she saw Jason enter the lobby. Carly was curious what Jason had thought about her Christmas gift to him. Jason appreciated the pool table, but he insisted that it had to be stored at her house when it was delivered because he didn't have room at his place. Carly suggested that he simply get rid of his dinning room table, but Jason refused to consider it. Carly argued that she had bought a pool table for them, so that they could shoot pool at his place, since he no longer met her at Jake's. Jason patiently explained that he didn't have time to play pool with her because he was busy protecting Brenda. Carly didn't think that they had to worry about Brenda because she would be leaving soon. Jason was curious what Carly meant by that. Carly quickly explained that Brenda would be moving out after she married Sonny. Jason didn't believe Carly because he knew that she didn't want Sonny to marry Brenda. He was certain that Carly intended to stop the wedding in some way. Carly denied it, but Jason saw through the lie.

1/3 Carly and Jason were conversing at the Metro Court when she got a call from Morgan, who was on a chartered bus bound for a ski trip. As they talked, the bus began to swerve. Carly was horrified as she heard Morgan and others scream before the phone went dead. The bus careened off the road and then down the side of the mountain. Afterwards, bodies littered the ground, but no one moved as a montage of scenes showed to “Hallelujah”. Carly turned to Jason to tell him that she was certain that the bus had crashed. and then suddenly exclaimed that something was wrong. Carly had heard the other passengers screaming, and the sounds of a crash before she lost her connection. She tried to reach Morgan, and Jason tried to reach Michael, but there was no answer on either phone. Carly and Jason made plans to go search for the bus.

At the bus crash site, bodies were scattered over the snowy landscape. Most had been thrown from the bus and plummeted into a deep ravine. Steve was the first to awake He had minor injuries, but nothing life-threatening. He found Cameron, who was also uninjured. Maxie was uninjured, but Matt had a broken arm, which Steve treated with a makeshift sling. Molly, Kristina, and Ali were okay, as were Taylor and Michael and the rest of the students but Morgan and Olivia were missing. Because they had been thrown into a ravine, no one could get cell service. They were afraid that they would not be found because the driver had taken an alternate route. Michael, Molly, and Taylor searched for other survivors and found the driver, who was badly hurt. He passed away before Steve could treat him. Molly was distraught because she had not administered first aid, but Steve said there was nothing she could have done to help him.

Michael and Taylor went looking for Morgan, but found Olivia, who was seriously injured. Neither Michael nor Taylor noticed Morgan's cap, which was lying behind a bush a few feet away from Olivia. Sonny's phone rang. He picked it up and told Carly he was too busy to talk to her. She told him about the crash and said that she and Jason were on the road, looking for the crash site. Carly wanted Jason to drive faster, but he said that the conditions were too severe for high speeds, and that they needed to drive slowly so that they could look for skid marks and evidence of a crash. Carly bemoaned the fact that she had stayed home for her own selfish purposes instead of being with her sons on the ski trip.

Back at the crash site, Kristina freaked out because Morgan had not been found. She went with Michael and Taylor to search the bus, while Ali and Molly stayed behind to tend the fire. The teens did not find Morgan on the bus, but they did hear a truck on the road above. Michael scrambled up the ravine, but there was no sign of a truck when he reached the highway.

1/4 Nearby, Alexis and Sonny anxiously waited for news about their children. Sam approached the nurses' station, looking for Epiphany, but Epiphany wasn't available. Sam spotted Alexis, so she walked up to her mother to find out what was going on. Alexis and Sonny told Sam about the bus crash. Sam decided to wait at the hospital with her mother.Later, Sam confessed to Nikolas and Brook that she wished that she had gone on the ski trip, so that she could have helped those who had been injured. Nikolas suggested that they should have faith that the passengers could take care of themselves. Sam tried to reassure Alexis that Molly and Kristina would be fine. Alexis confessed that she wouldn't have been nearly as worried if Sam had been on the bus. Alexis trusted Sam to keep the girls safe. Sam was touched by her mother's confidence. Alexis admitted that all three of her daughters were amazing. However, Alexis was tempted to forbid Molly and Kristina to ever leave the house again. Sam chuckled as she warned her mother that Molly and Kristina would never stand for it.

Jason and Carly were racing along Route 55 looking for the wreckage, but they didn't see anything. Jason realized that they were probably on the wrong side of the mountain, so he turned around. Near the crash site, Michael found Morgan collapsed in the snow with a broken leg. Morgan was in considerable pain, but conscious. Michael realized that Morgan wouldn't be able to walk on his own, so Michael hoisted Morgan over his shoulder and then trekked to the makeshift camp where the other passengers were gathered. At the camp, Molly wondered why they hadn't heard or seen any helicopters; she feared that no one was looking for them. Frustrated, Molly decided to go in search of Morgan, but Michael suddenly appeared with Morgan.

Molly was relieved that Morgan was alive. Her joy was short-lived when it became clear that Morgan was hurt. Michael settled his brother on the ground and then went to fetch Steve. Steve was trying to keep a gravely injured Olivia awake by talking to her when Michael walked up. Steve quickly confirmed that Morgan had a broken leg. Steve decided to stabilize the leg, so Molly and Michael kept Morgan still while Steve worked. Molly was curious if Morgan had a compound fracture, but Kristina ordered her sister to be quiet because they didn't need to know the details. Michael invited Molly to hike to the road with him. They reached the top and a car pulled up. It was Dante and Brenda. Brenda stayed on the road with Molly while Michael took his brother to see Olivia. Brenda called Lucky to let him know that they had arrived at the crash site. Afterwards, Brenda assured Molly that help was on the way.

On the road, Jason and Carly received word that Michael had managed to make a call. Carly was overjoyed to learn that Michael was okay. Her happiness quickly turned to concern when she was told that Morgan had suffered a broken leg. Molly confided to Brenda that the crash had happened quickly; one minute she had been telling Michael about her books and then the next minute the bus had swerved off of the road. Molly regretted that she hadn't been reading her first aid book because she might have been able to help the injured.

Moments later, Carly and Jason arrived. Carly quickly assured herself that Molly was okay, but she was desperate to get to Morgan. Molly told Carly where Morgan was, so Carly took off with Jason close behind her. Carly and Jason reached Morgan and the other kids a short time later. Carly credited Morgan with saving everyone because they might not have known what had happened if he hadn't been on the phone with Carly at the time of the crash. As the sounds of sirens filled the air, Morgan told Carly about waking up alone with a broken leg after the accident.

Morgan was grateful that Michael had found him and then carried him to safety. However, Morgan complained because he realized that he wouldn't be able to snowboard for the rest of the year. Carly assured Morgan that Jax would take him skiing as soon as Morgan's leg had healed. Carly confessed that she regretted that she hadn't been on the bus with Michael and Morgan, but Morgan insisted that Carly couldn't have prevented the crash. Nearby, Kristina shivered with cold as Taylor tried to keep her warm by wrapping his arms around her.

1/5 Jax arrived at the hospital after he had received a call from Carly about the bus accident. Alexis and Sam revealed that none of the passengers had arrived, but they were expected soon. Jason, Michael, Brenda, Dante, and Molly arrived at GH. Alexis hugged Molly and wouldn't let go. Alexis learned that Kristina had been transported by ambulance to the hospital because she had been suffering from hypothermia. Jax wondered where Carly was. Jason explained that Carly had decided to ride with Morgan in the ambulance. Molly then began to brag about Michael's heroics and how he had carried Morgan to safety. After Dante and Brenda walked away, Molly told Alexis and Sam about the accident and the bus driver's death. Alexis felt terrible that Molly had been forced to see that. Moments later, Kristina arrived.

In Kristina's hospital room, Alexis, Sam, and Molly hovered near Kristina. Sam offered to get some burgers, but Alexis decided that it was time to get Molly home. However, Alexis wanted Sam to spend the night with Kristina. Sam readily agreed, but Kristina argued that it wasn't necessary.

Elizabeth returned to the hospital with Jake. Jason couldn't seem to take his eyes off of Jake as he asked Elizabeth how Cam was doing. Elizabeth assured Jason and Sam that Cam was fine. Elizabeth noticed how Jason was looking at Jake, so she asked Jake if he remembered Jason and Sam. Jake smiled sweetly at Jason. Jason looked crushed after Elizabeth walked away.

Later, Elizabeth saw Jason and Sam at the nurses' station. Jason was pleasantly surprised when Elizabeth asked them to watch Jake while she delivered Cam's cookie. Elizabeth handed Jake to Sam and then walked away. Sam set Jake down on a nearby gurney where Jake proceeded to play with his toy motorcycles. Jason asked Jake about the toys, which prompted Jake to talk excitedly about his love for motorcycles. Jason confessed that he had a real motorcycle. Jake smiled and then invited Jason to play with him. Jason appeared choked up with emotion as he spent some precious time with his son.

Montage of scenes to "Hallelujah," performed by Jeff Buckley

1/7 Sam stopped by Jason's penthouse to see if she had left her gun there. Jason held it up as he told her that he had broken it down and then cleaned it. "And people say you aren't romantic," Sam quipped. Jason was curious why Sam had left so early. Sam explained that she had needed to get to work, but Jason suspected that there was more. Sam glanced at the staircase as she asked if "she" was around. Jason revealed that one of the guards had taken Brenda for a walk. Sam was horrified by the callous comment that made Brenda sound like a dog. Jason explained that he simply meant that Brenda was out doing whatever it was that Brenda did during her walks. Jason continued to push for an answer about Sam's early departure until Sam confessed that it was a bit stressful to be around Brenda.

Jason revealed that he had hoped to thank Sam earlier for helping him with Jake. He admitted that he had no idea how to act around his son, so he had appreciated Sam's presence. Sam confessed that she had been surprised that Elizabeth had asked him to watch Jake. She believed that it had been Elizabeth's way of giving Jason the opportunity to get to know Jake. Sam thought that Jake was a lot like Jason. Jason grinned as Sam recalled that the motorcycle thing had been crazy. She also thought that Jake was as determined as Jason, but a lot more talkative. Jason and Sam agreed that it was easy to see that Jake was happy.

Sam realized that Jason missed his son, but Jason insisted that Jake had a good family and life, so his pain was a small price to pay. Sam suggested that perhaps spending time with Jake had been Jason's reward for putting up with Brenda. At the mention of Brenda, Jason began to talk about the wrongful death lawsuit and the possible ramifications if Brenda testified. Jason feared that Dante would be charged with a crime, which might prompt Judge Carroll to revoke Michael's parole.

Sam agreed that it was a bad idea for Brenda to testify. Jason revealed that Theo had promised to protect Brenda on the witness stand. Sam was curious what Jason thought about Theo's skill as an attorney. Jason admitted that he wanted to know more about Theo. Sam was willing to investigate the attorney, so Jason offered to pay for her services. Sam assured him that it wasn't necessary; however, Jason insisted. Sam and Jason sealed their bargain with a kiss just as Brenda walked in. Sam quickly excused herself and then left.

Brenda turned to Jason for help planning the wedding, but Jason quickly made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with it. Later, Jason was curious why Brenda was in a rush to marry Sonny. Brenda reminded Jason that she loved Sonny and then added that she was eager to move out of the penthouse. Jason perked up at the thought of Brenda moving in with Sonny, but he insisted that she couldn't leave until it was safe. Jason promised to carry her to Sonny's house the moment she was out of danger. Brenda liked the idea of Jason carrying her to Sonny's house; however, she was more concerned about the wedding plans. Jason didn't care, so Brenda called Spinelli.

Spinelli raced over to the penthouse, where Brenda explained that she needed him to help her put together a wedding. Spinelli softly explained that he couldn't help her because he was opposed to the marriage. Spinelli feared that Brenda might lose her career, her position with ASEC, and possibly her life if she married Sonny. Brenda was clearly disappointed, but she refused to apologize for following her heart. After Spinelli left, Brenda turned to Jason. She blamed Jason for Spinelli's reaction, so she demanded that he fix things.

Later, Carly stormed into McCall and Jackal Private Investigations. Carly demanded to know who "the hell" Sam thought she was to introduce Michael to a stripper and then lie to Carly about it. Sam explained that Abby was a good friend to Michael, but Carly wasn't satisfied. Carly resented Sam meddling in Michael's life because Sam was not Michael's mother. She ordered Sam to keep her "sleazy" friends away from Michael. Sam revealed that Michael had been having difficulty with kids his age because of the time that he had spent in jail.

According to Sam, Michael had approached her to ask her to introduce him to an older woman, since girls his age made him uncomfortable. Sam didn't regret setting Michael up with Abby because Abby was a good person. Carly realized that Michael had difficulty relating to his peers, but she explained that Michael needed support and help to rebuild his confidence, not to meet strippers. Sam defended Abby by revealing that Abby stripped to put herself through college. Carly suggested that Sam and Abby were kindred spirits out to get what they could. Sam was curious why Carly was such a "bitch." Carly explained that Michael was a damaged teenaged boy, so she refused to let Abby wreck his life further. Carly warned Sam to stay out of Michael's life or there would be "hell" to pay.

Later, at McCall and Jackal Private Investigations, Diane agreed to collaborate with Spinelli. Diane decided to read him a draft of the introduction. Spinelli was unimpressed, which offended Diane. Spinelli thought that it was important for them to have honest exchanges if they were going to work together. Diane agreed, so she invited him to give it a try. Spinelli assumed his gumshoe detective voice and then began to narrate a new scene. Diane and Spinelli disagreed about a position that the Jackal and a femme fatale found themselves in. Spinelli decided to show Diane that the position was entirely possible. Moments later Jason walked into the office. Jason immediately ordered Diane to get off of Spinelli. Diane and Spinelli tried to explain what Jason had walked in on, but Jason didn't want to know. Jason explained that he needed a background check on Theo Hoffman.

Theo met with Dante and Brenda at Jason's penthouse to discuss the wrongful death lawsuit. Brenda wondered if they could get a continuance. Theo explained that a man's son was dead and that the father had a right to expect someone to pay for it. Dante appeared puzzled by Theo's remark.

1/10 Jason joined Diane and Spinelli in Spinelli's P.I. office. Diane was miffed when Jason ordered Spinelli to do a full background check on Theo. Diane assured Jason that Theo was above reproach, but Jason was not so sure and wanted to know more about the surly barrister. When Spinelli asked Jason's opinion of Brenda's engagement to Sonny, Jason said it was none of his business. He encouraged Spinelli to help Brenda plan the wedding, after he finished gathering information on Theo.

Brenda was looking at bride magazines when Jason arrived home. He told her that he had spoken with Spinelli as she had asked, and he had agreed to help with the wedding. When Brenda said she wanted to ask for another favor, Jason was leery. Brenda said that she wanted Jason to walk her down the aisle. Jason suggested Edward instead, but Brenda said that Edward would keep advising her to flee, and she did not want to listen to a naysayer on her wedding day. Jason agreed to give her away, but said he did not want to help with the flowers or other arrangements. Brenda had happy tears as she gave Jason a big hug.

Sam had a checkup at GH with Kelly, who said that she was investigating a new procedure that might allow Sam to have a baby. Sam said that she and Jason were happy as they were and did not want children but when she got in the elevator, Sam's face told a different story.

Carly met up with Jason in the restaurant office. She was both livid and tearful after her fight with Michael over Abby. Jason told her that it was a fight that she would not win. He told her that things were more complicated than she imagined. She said that she could not stand by and let anything bad happen to Michael. Carly said that she had made mistakes with Michael. Jason said that they all had. Carly railed against Abby and said that she was emotionally damaged, or she would not work at a strip club. Jason said that Michael was emotionally damaged, but that he had a connection to Abby and was opening up to her. Jason told Carly that they needed to stay out of Michael's way.

1/11 In the office at Pozzulo's, Carly was hurt that Jason hadn't told her about Abby. She couldn't believe that Michael had been seeing Abby since October. Jason believed that it had just been a one-time thing until Michael had called for help after an altercation with one of the club's customers who had hassled Abby on the street. Carly insisted that it was exactly that kind of situation that could send Michael back to Pentonville. Jason assured Carly that he had already warned Michael. Jason revealed that Michael continued to see Abby because Michael felt comfortable talking to her. Carly argued that Michael could talk to them, but Jason disagreed. Jason confided that even he had difficulty discussing what had happened to him in Pentonville.

Jason reminded Carly that Michael wasn't as jaded as Jason and that what Michael had experienced had been far worse. Carly suggested that they find a therapist for Michael, but Jason didn't think that Michael would go. Jason explained that Abby seemed to help, so they needed to respect Michael's choices. Carly wept as she admitted that she was terrified for Michael. Jason realized that Carly would do anything for her children, so he urged her to leave Michael's relationship with Abby alone. He advised her to "stay cool" by not fighting with Michael or forcing Michael to fight her. Carly confessed that being a parent was extremely difficult.

Later, Michael stormed into Pozzulo's to talk to Jason. Michael admitted that he had gone to Vaughn's to see Abby dance, but he had been enraged to see the type of clientele that the strip club catered to. Jason couldn't understand why Michael would go to Vaughn's when it might have jeopardized Michael's parole. Michael ignored the question as he told Jason about the faraway look in Abby's eyes as she danced and how disgusted he had been by the men who had thrown money at her. Michael confessed that it had made him feel like he had when he had been trapped with Carter in the jail cell. Michael was livid because none of the men in the strip club realized how nice and smart Abby was. According to Michael, the men in the club had reminded him of Carter. Jason insisted that Carter was dead.

Michael admitted that he wished that he had killed Carter; however, he realized that the men who patronized Vaughn's weren't Carter. Michael understood that they were just a bunch of guys watching Abby do her job. Jason once again wondered why Michael had gone to Vaughn's. Michael explained that he had talked to Sonny about Abby. Sonny had mentioned that Michael could never understand what it was like to work in a strip club, so Michael had decided to check out Vaughn's. Michael had been disgusted by what he had seen, but Jason was curious if Abby had ever complained about her work. "No," Michael admitted. Jason suggested that they shouldn't judge Abby for working there. However, Jason was relieved that Michael had been able to walk away instead of giving in to his rage. Moments later, Michael received a text message from Abby.

Sam bumped into Abby on the street. She immediately realized that Abby was upset when Abby asked if Sam had seen Michael. Abby quickly filled Sam in on what had happened. Sam felt terrible; she had never meant for things to get so complicated between Abby and Michael. Abby insisted that Michael was the best thing that had ever happened to her, so she wasn't sorry that Sam had introduced them to each other. Abby confessed that Carly had strong objections to Michael and Abby and that Carly had reason to question Abby's morality, but Sam refused to let Abby put herself down. Sam was curious if Abby had real feelings for Michael. Abby admitted that Michael respected her and made her feel special, so she refused to walk away from him. Sam was pleased; she didn't think that Abby should give up on Michael simply because Carly didn't like the relationship. Sam promised to let Michael know that Abby was looking for him and then left.

Jason found Sam waiting for him when he arrived home. Sam told Jason about her encounter with Abby, so Jason filled her in on his talk with Michael. Jason thought that Abby was good for Michael because she had helped him to open up. Sam warned Jason that Abby had developed feelings for Michael. Jason realized that Carly wouldn't be happy, especially since she was still recovering from the scare of nearly losing both of her sons in the bus crash. Sam felt terrible that she hadn't taken that into consideration the last time that she had seen Carly. Jason didn't think that the scare of the bus crash justified Carly disrespecting Sam. Sam understood why Carly was upset, but Sam had sincerely thought that introducing Michael to Abby had been the best solution for Michael's problem.

Jason admitted that he hadn't been thrilled about the idea in the beginning, but he could tell that Abby had helped Michael; however, Jason had no idea how to tell Carly about Michael's visit to Vaughn's. Sam suggested that Jason keep quiet about the incident, but Jason argued that Carly had a right to know. Sam realized that Jason had a point; she would want to know if Michael had been her son. Jason recalled the time that he had recently spent with Jake. He remembered looking at Michael at Jake's age and wondering what Michael would grow up to be like. "Here we are," Jason added with a tinge of sadness in his voice. Sam urged Jason to remember that he had done a lot of things right for Michael. Jason appreciated her support, but he was grateful that Jake wouldn't have to go through what Michael had.

1/12 At Jason's penthouse, Jason was reading the Port Charles Herald when Brenda entered the living room. Brenda saw the headline about a body that had been found in the harbor. Jason warned Brenda not to assume that she was safe simply because the body might be Jerry's. Brenda decided to change the subject by showing off her engagement ring, but Jason lectured her about taking off with Sonny without her bodyguards. Brenda couldn't understand why Jason was upset, so Jason patiently explained that there wouldn't be a wedding if she were dead.

Jason went to Lucky's apartment to talk to Siobhan about Jerry's involvement with the Balkan. Siobhan suggested that Jason knew more about Jerry and the Balkan than she did. Jason reminded Siobhan that she had been the first person to connect Jerry to the Balkan and that she had been the last person to see Jerry alive, so he was curious about Jerry's final moments. Siobhan insisted that she had already told Lucky everything that she knew and that she had given a statement to the police. Jason insisted on hearing the information from her firsthand instead of relying on a report. Siobhan kept it short. She claimed that she had heard a man yelling on the piers.

According to Siobhan, she had walked up in time to see Jerry stagger backwards from a gunshot wound. She had assumed that a silencer had been used because she hadn't heard the shot. Jason wondered if she had seen the sniper. Siobhan insisted that she hadn't seen anyone, but Jason couldn't understand how she could have missed the shooter when the person had been in her direct line of vision. Siobhan attributed it to panic. She also clarified that she hadn't realized that the man who had been shot had been Jerry until Lucky had shown her a picture. Siobhan became increasingly uncomfortable as Jason continued to pepper her with questions, so Jason decided to back off. He asked her to have Lucky call him and then left. Siobhan immediately ran to her cell phone to report to the Balkan that Jason had been asking questions about Jerry.

Jason returned home to find Brenda in the living room. Brenda revealed that she had gone to see Jax, so Jason wondered if Jax had mentioned anything about Jerry being the Balkan. Brenda explained that she hadn't questioned Jax about Jerry because Jax had been waiting for confirmation that Jerry's body had been recovered from the harbor. However, Brenda revealed that she had invited Jax to the wedding. Brenda also confessed that she would have to look at wedding venues the following day with Carol. Jason immediately objected because he didn't think that it was safe for Brenda to go out. Brenda argued that she needed to find a place for the wedding. She couldn't understand why Jason had to wreck everything. Jason explained that he had doubts about Siobhan's story because he didn't trust her. He wanted Brenda to postpone the wedding because he was certain that the Balkan would try to make a move against her. Brenda believed that Jason wanted to stop the wedding because he didn't want Brenda to leave.

1/13 At the penthouse, Brenda accused Jason of being afraid to admit that he would miss her if she moved out because she gave his life some purpose. Carly barged into the penthouse before Jason could respond. Carly ordered Brenda to leave, but Brenda refused to budge. Carly started to argue with Brenda, but Jason cut Carly off by demanding to know what was going on. Carly explained that it was about Michael. Carly bristled when Brenda expressed concern about Michael. Carly refused to discuss her son with Brenda in the room, but Brenda explained that she merely wanted to help and that she would soon be Michael's stepmother. Carly pointed out that Brenda and Sonny hadn't made it down the aisle yet, so Brenda wasn't Sonny's wife. Brenda suggested that they try to do the "girlfriendy thing," so she held out her hand to show Carly the engagement ring that Sonny had bought. Carly pointedly ignored Brenda's hand as she warned Brenda to stay out of Michael's business. Carly made it clear that Michael had been through hell and then stormed out.

At the penthouse, Jason was on the phone with Max. Jason ordered Max not to tell Brenda anything about Michael because Carly would go crazy if Brenda tried to butt into Michael's problems. After Jason ended the call, Spinelli arrived home. Spinelli was disappointed to learn that Brenda wasn't home, since Spinelli thought she might want to hear his news. Spinelli urged Jason to stop Sonny and Brenda's wedding because physical dangers might be the least of Brenda's worries. Jason was startled when Spinelli warned him that Carly might take it upon herself to stop the wedding.

1/14 At Jason's penthouse, Jason confronted Spinelli and demanded to know how Carly was planning to stop Sonny and Brenda's wedding. Spinelli diverted Jason's attention by explaining that Spinelli was writing a book and that he wanted his characters to be realistic, hence his interest in Carly's machinations.

Jason burst in and demanded a copy of the document from Diane. Before Carly or Diane spilled the beans, Jason let on that he was looking for the manuscript that Spinelli and Diane were working on. As she left the office, Diane told him to wait until he read it before getting upset. Jason then wondered why Carly was at Sam and Spinelli's office. Carly tried to throw Jason off the scent by diverting his attention, but he saw right through her. He told her that Sonny would eventually discover anything Dante and Brenda were hiding and that Carly should leave things be.

Dante went to Jason's and revealed that DNA results concluded Jerry and Alexander were not related, which led Jason and Dante to believe that the Balkan was still alive.

1/17 Dante went to the penthouse and told Jason that forensic tests proved that Jerry was not the Balkan, and Brenda was still in danger. Dante and Jason were discouraged to realize that Jerry's appearance had been a diversion, and they were back to square one. Dante had other less-than-encouraging news for Jason. Dante told Jason about Abby's arrest and Michael's near throttling of Ronnie. Both men were concerned that Michael might lose control and do something that would result in revocation of parole.

Theo questioned Brenda in his office. During her recitation of the facts surrounding Anton's death, Theo insisted that she had mentioned someone named Aleksander. Brenda insisted that she had not. It did not take long for Theo to break Brenda down and find out everything that had happened on the night Aleksander had perished. She told Theo that Aleksander had never been her boyfriend. She said that he had followed her to New York, stalked her, and then attacked her police guard. She said that she'd picked up the gun the policeman had dropped and shot Aleksander. Brenda was sobbing as she admitted that Dante was the policeman who had taken the body away. Theo called her actions murder, but Brenda pleaded self-defense. Before Theo could elicit any more information, Dante and Jason arrived to tell Brenda that the Balkan was still alive. Jason left with Brenda.

At General Hospital, Kelly encouraged Sam to get information about the procedure that could restore her fertility and allow her to get pregnant. Sam went to the penthouse and used Spinelli's computer to look up the fertility procedure. Jason arrived shortly after and told her that Jerry was not the Balkan. He told her about Abby's arrest and how Dante had stopped Michael from attacking Ronnie after Ronnie arrested Abby. Jason was torn. He worried about Michael's volatility, but also saw that Michael could talk to Abby because she listened to him and accepted him.