Bombs Away

"Jason has rescued Elizabeth from the collapsing building because, apparently, the elevator shaft is the strongest part of the structure," explains Rebecca Herbst. "In the beginning, she freaks out. She thinks he's one of the mercenaries because he is in disguise, and when she does realize it's him, she goes into his arms and is so forever grateful. He says that they may not make it out alive and in that moment, she feels, it's time that the truth come out. "During the whole hostage crisis, she's had lots of time to think about her lie and what she would do differently if she ever gets out of this place, so she decides that now is the opportune time."

So Liz informs Jason that yes, he's the father of her unborn baby. "It's safe to say, he's shocked," chuckles Steve Burton. "It's definitely a big moment. With all of Jason's concerns about being uncertain about having a kid, him wanting to give Sam one and her wanting to have one; all the stuff with Sonny and Carly and now the hostage situation, it's literally the farthest thing from his mind that this baby would be his." That's not to say that looking back, there weren't any clues. "He gets that she's been trying to tell him something," Burton elaborates. "There have been times, so he gets that there was something going on. He just wasn't sure of the gravity of the situation. Granted, he might not be the brightest guy in the world, but he's not that dumb."

Needless to say, months of keeping the secret took it's toll on Liz. "She is at fault," acknowledges Herbst. "She did sleep with another man while she still had a ring on her finger. Even though she thought the marriage was over, it legally was not dissolved. She has struggled daily with being deceitful, but she can justify it in her own way -- that her lies were only to keep the people she loves safe."

But with honestly comes relief. "I think more than anything, she's tired of being the only one who knows and she wants to share this secret with somebody." Herbst continues. "She wants to lift the burden of having this secret off her chest, so in that respect, she's glad to share this with Jason. And now that he knows, they can figure out what's best for the baby together."

Once they make their daring escape, Jason plans on telling Sam the truth and Liz decides she has to be open with Lucky. However, much like their predicament to date, things don't go smoothly. Jason reunites with Sam who breaks the news that she will never be able to carry a child to term. "That's tough, man" sighs Burton. "Sam just found out she can't have kids because of the gunshot on the balcony at Metro Court -- with a bullet that was meant for him, no less. His intention is to tell her the truth, but the first thing he's not going to do is say "Hey, the baby's mine". Like I said, he's not dumb. He did learn a thing or two after breaking up with Sam when she came out of her coma. (laughs)

Unaware that Jason has changed his mind, Liz sets out to tell Lucky but, as fate would have it, she bumps into Sam first. Sam's news rocks Liz's world. "She's shocked to learn that Sam can't have kids." Herbst elaborates. "And she's immediately crushed for Sam's sake. As much as she and Sam didn't get along, they had a bonding moment during the hostage crisis. As a mother and as a woman, Elizabeth really hurts for Sam. And she knows that now that Jason knows he's a father, he is going to be that much more devastated he can't play that role with Sam."

Burton confesses that Jason is at a loss about what to do next. "There's too much happening at once. Obviously, he would want to be part of the baby's life, but then again he has this whole other life with Sam that he's not just going to ditch. Then he finds out that Alan could be dying. It's one thing right after another."

Jason may have to decide sooner than he thinks. By week's end, Emily mentions to Elizabeth that she believes a grandchild could help bring Jason and his dying father together and a guilty Liz wonders if she and Jason should tell everyone the truth.