ripple effect

It's amazing what people will do when they're hurt. Okay, it wasn't just any little thing that upset the hit man with a heart, Jason Morgan.. Seeing the girlfriend he was still in love with rolling around naked on the floor with his mortal enemy had to be a tad bothersome. And while his first and most predictable reaction would have been to put a bullet in the weasel's head, Jason did something even more damaging - he slept with another woman who, as it turns out, is pregnant. So, what if the baby is his? The question is a sobering one for Jason's portrayer, Steve Burton. He let's out a sigh and shakes his head. "It's a wrench into the works, that's for sure"

Babies and Bullets Don't Mix:

That's putting it mildly. Can you imagine the complexities that would arise in Jason's life were there a child in it? A Jason Jr. wouldn't just change his public one. "I definitely think that (leaving the mob) would have to be a consideration" says Burton. "I just don't know if he can. I don't know what else he would do. Michael and Morgan seem to be pretty safe the majority of the time, except, of course, Michael getting kidnapped." he laughs. "But he'd have to consider it. Jason has learned a lot of lessons in the last year - making Sam's choice for her to be without him and the damage that was done from that in addition to the damage that was done from trying to get Emily and Sonny to separate. Leaving the Mob wouldn't be an instinctive decision. It'll have to be a thought out one".

Mr. Fix It:

He also has deep but different feelings for both Sam and Elizabeth to consider. He still loves Sam and it looked as if they were trying to fix the damage that was done to their relationship. But he obviously has a connection with Elizabeth. Now, if a child is in the picture, he's got a tough decision to make. "Sam and Jason had actually been making small steps in getting to know each other again and to start really enjoying the time that they have with each other," says Burton. "But every time she mentions Ric's name or I see them together, I get angry. We're just taking the time, exploring how to undo the damage".

Friends and Lovers:

We can't help but wonder what's going through Jason's head every time he looks at Sam now that he's seen her "with" another man and what he thinks of Elizabeth, his friend turned lover. "The feelings for Elizabeth have definitely grown," Burton admits. "They needed each other that night and things happened. Since then, they've definitely become closer. As a viewer, you can see that this could go somewhere. That element is always there. On the other hand, he still does care about Sam -.Jason knows that he has his own issues to deal with. There were definitely some walls put up between them and obstacles they need to overcome. But he believes they could get back to what they had if the work was done."

And Now For Something Completely Different

As much as fans were on the fence about Jason and Sam's break-up, it did lead to one good story after another. "Jason has never been in this position of trying to forgive someone." Burton explains. "I love that this is something new for him. The thing is, he cares enough for Sam to try. She regretted what she did. I regretted what I did by pushing her away. But it has led to some really great story.. I'm really excited about this because not only am I trying to overcome and work back to what I had with Sam, but then you have this other road with Elizabeth. Jason is usually a one track guy. He's loyal to this girl and that's how it is. But now you have this other element of having this one-night thing, and she might be pregnant with my kid. It's going to be a delicate situation for the next year."

On the Woman He Pushed Away

"I wasn't really a hundred percent for how Jason broke up with Sam. I would have preferred not to have my fiancée wake up from a coma and me ditch her. Whether or not people like Sam sleeping with Ric, that was the catalyst to a lot of good story. Everything kind of tied together.

On the Woman Who Temporarily Stepped In

"Elizabeth and Jason have both grown. People do grow in their lives. People do change. Now she might think about (being with him) again, if she could deal with the danger. It might be a new story."

On Jason's "Reel" Rival But Burton's Real Friend

"No matter what story Rick Hearst is in, he's always 100%. A lot of actors would fight it, but he continues to play it. Most people want to play the hero and look good. Rick does what the writers ask him to do, and then they write him a great story. He works hard, and it pays off."

On His Good Pal Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos

"It's very important to us to be professional and to set an example" Burton says of himself and Benard. "He carries a lot. I'm second hand man. I like being second. I love it."

FYI

Birthday: June 28

Birthplace: Indianapolis, IN

From Hair to Eternity: That style, that texture. If there's one thing that Burton can't seem to escape it's jokes about his hair. "If I'm not working or if I'm working on other stuff, I don't mind growing my hair out. I'm blessed and cursed with thick hair. So it becomes it's own entity when it gets too long and I try to act. "Oh, this hair was in his eyes! We have to do the whole Emmy scene over again"

Daddy Dearest: For a while there, Carly wasn't sure if Michael was A.J's son or Jason's. So, what are the odds that someday it might be revealed that Jason is already a father? "No, no, no! I don't want that! Keep the kid" jokes Burton. "I know they're always trying to have Sonny and I butt heads, but what's that going to do? What happens if Michael is mine? Then I would take Michael away from Carly and Sonny? Jason wouldn't do that. Take him out of a family that I'm lying to keep him in? I don't think they can play it."