In 1997, Jason saved his mother from a potential prison term for kidnapping Dr. Pierce Dorman by getting her out of the hotel room she was holding him in & 'cleaning' the place so there was no trace that she was ever there. He was there when Mac arrived to make an arrest & was helpful in getting Dorman arrested & Monica off the hook. Later Jason had to deal with pressure from Robin to quit the business (see the Jason & Robin page). 1997 was also the year that Sonny Corinthos left town & Jason took over as head of the organization. One result of this happening was a driveby at Luke's, which resulted in Nikolas Cassadine becoming severely injured. Jason helped to save Nikolas' life by performing an emergency tracheotomy, allowing Nikolas to breath more easily. Jason also agreed to let Carly call him her baby's father in December 1997, but told her that he would not claim it himself if asked directly.
In 1998, Jason cared for Carly's son after helping Carly leave town, unable to deal with being a mother. Jason had the baby baptized 'Michael', naming him after the man who was like a father to him, Michael 'Sonny' Corithos Jr. Carly returned home during the baptism & was there to witness the naming of the baby. At one point, Tony Jones had kidnapped baby Michael, but Jason had rescued him and Robin, who was also kidnapped, breaking Tony's hand in the process & ending Tony's surgical career. After rescuing Michael & Robin, Jason met with Moreno & resigned from the organization, becoming a mechanic in a motorcycle shop. He then moved out of the penthouse & into Brenda's old cottage with Robin. Jason & Robin were a couple in love until certain stresses damaged their relationship (again, see J&R page). That year, Jason was also instrumental in getting Carly out of Ferncliff (for shooting Tony Jones) and reunited with her son. Once Sonny returned to town, he resumed being head of the organization while Jason became his right hand again. One thing they had to deal with was the fire set to their warehouse by Jerry Jacks. Jerry was initially in Port Charles to neutralize Sonny & Jason...this is one way he tried, but Sonny & Jason were never neutrealized.
In 1999, Jason & Robin broke up & she headed back to Paris to attend school. Jason then had to do battle with AJ for custody of Michael. Jason had support on the inside of the Q mansion in the forms of Lila, Monica & Emily. Jason assured Carly, Edward & AJ would not take Michael from them. In fact, Jason & Carly planned & prepared to take Michael & leave town to keep Michael from the Qs, until Carly changed the plan (see Jason & Carly page). In the plan Jason was accused of kidnapping Michael (by Carly), but not arrested...he was named as Michael's father & therefore was not breaking the law taking Michael out of town. Jason eventually lost custody of Michael (temporarily) & was not allowed visitation. But in May, a custody hearing was set to determine permanent custody of Michael. Jason almost missed the hearing when he was almost busted on (false) drug charges. The judge surprised everyone & awarded joint custody to Jason and the now married AJ & Carly Quartermaine. In order to try & keep his part in the joint custody of Michael, Jason tried to leave the organization yet again. By July, Jason renounced all rights to custody of Michael, giving full custody to AJ & Carly...and making Carly unhappy. In August, Jason came to the rescue of an in over her head Elizabeth at Jakes as she went there looking for trouble & finding it in an aggressive patron. That night, an honest friendship was born. October saw Jason, with the help of Carly, learning that Sonny's new love was, in fact, an FBI agent trying to bust Sonny. Jason had the difficult task of breaking this news to Sonny. In the meantime, Jason & Elizabeth's friendship continued to grow. The defining moment came when Jason was shot in an ambush meant for Sonny. After finding out Sonny & Carly had slept together, a devistated Jason left & wandered out towards the boxcar & collaped where Elizabeth found him unconscious. For weeks, Liz cared for Jason, to a Carly's dismay. While being cared for by Liz, Jason heard pleas by Audrey (indirectly) & Bobbie to keep his distance from Liz. Once he left Liz's studio, Jason agreed to a truce with Sonny, agreeing once again to work for him. Soon after that, Jason & Roy saved Liz's life when it was learned that Sorel had planted a bomb in Liz's studio...Jason got her out & Roy diffused the bomb. In light of all that happened, Jason tries to break off his friendship with & distance himself from Liz, in order to protect her, only to change his mind a short time later. But, just days after agreeing to pursue his friendship with Liz, Jason decides that the best thing he could do to protect the people he loves & cares about is to leave Port Charles...Jason leaves on January 17, 2000 after saying goodbye to Emily, Lila, Monica, Liz & Sonny.
