Walking Wounded Chapter 1: Prolouge, a general hospital fanfic

Walking Wounded

Prologue

/New Years Eve 2004/

The long black limo pulled silently up to the parking spot, the tires leaving patterned tracks in the snow. Johnny studied the falling crystals as he switched the engine off. He loved winter in New York. Especially at night. During the day, the streets were gray and dirty. But, in the light of the moon, it all seemed so calm and clean.

He glanced at his watch. Ten minutes to midnight. The Boss had said to be there on time and he'd just made it. His eyes fell to the lit windows of the restaurant. The muffled sound of music and laughter drifted out to him.

Johnny buttoned his jacket and pushed the limo door open, his shoes crunching on the ice as he climbed out. The doors to the No-Name opened, the earlier sounds now clearer. He glanced at the two figures walking closely together and smiled.

He glanced at his watch once more. Eight to midnight. Just like Sonny to be early to test him. He chuckled and averted his gaze from his employers.

Wrapping his arms around his wife, Sonny glanced across the street, smiling at his prompt guard. He turned his attention to Carly when she mumbled something in his ear. "What was that?"

"I said I can't believe we snuck out of the party."

He kissed her neck, smiling at her gasp. "Something wrong with wanting to ring in New Years with my wife?"

"Of course not." Carly glanced at the limo. "Let me guess. Johnny's supposed to drive around the lake until you tell him to stop?"

Sonny's laugh rumbled out into the night and Carly giggled along with him. He pulled her back against him and they swayed together. "Am I that predictable?"

"Eh." Carly smiled wide, shivering as the cold crisp wind hit her exposed legs. She watched Sonny smirk and pretended not to notice. She wasn't about to complain. He'd told her the off-the-shoulder white gown with "the slits that never ended," as he called it, wouldn't keep her warm.

He removed his overcoat, placing it around her shoulders. Carly smiled and sent him a wry backward glance. "How much of a bonus did you give Johnny to agree to be here when we got out?" She tugged at the coat's lapels, snuggling into its warmth.

"Bonus? Please. Ordered, sweetheart. Ordered." He paused and twirled her to face him. His hands touched her hair softly, bringing them down to frame her face. He took a moment to look at her. "God, you're beautiful. I've never seen anything like you. I love you, you know that?" He kissed her sweetly, slowly.

Carly closed her eyes, savoring the moment. It never failed. No matter how long they were married or how many times he'd tell her he loved her, he always managed to steal her breath away. Sonny pulled back, and she opened her eyes to stare into his. She grinned up at him, her hands encircling his shoulders. "You know, for a guy who doesn't say a lot with words, you do pretty good, Mr. Corinthos."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." She raised her lips to his, stopping when she heard the door behind them open.

"Michael."

She watched Sonny roll his eyes and, taking a deep breath, turn to his father. "What is it, Mike?"

Mike ignored his son, smiling beyond him at his daughter-in-law. "Happy New Year, sweetie." He moved to her side and hugged her tightly.

Carly smiled, pulling away. "You aren't going to hassle my wonderful husband, are you?"

Mike chuckled and glanced at Sonny. "Just a little. I wanted to talk to you about your sister and Jason's first wedding anniversary that's coming up very soon."

Sonny shook his head and glanced at his wife for help. She just smiled back. He narrowed his eyes at her and she tilted her head, throwing him one of her impish grins. She turned to Mike. "You can borrow him for a few minutes, Mike." Walking up to Sonny, she kissed his mouth once. "I'm cold. I'll be in the car. Hurry." She leaned over to whisper softly in his ear. "Just in case you didn't know, I love you, too."

Sonny nodded, watching her walk across the parking lot and only turning to Mike when he noticed Johnny was moving to meet her. He glanced behind him once and Carly waved to him. He waved back and asked his father, "So what did you want?"

"I know you and Carly were talking about a big party for them. But I'm thinking that won't be the best idea. You know them."

Sonny paused as Johnny brushed past him. "Where you going?"

"Car- Mrs. Corinthos left her purse in the restaurant. She asked me to get it for her."

Sonny shook his head. "I'll get it. Go back to the car."

"Yes, sir."

"Mike, I-"

Glass and fire and metal rained into the sky.

No matter how often he relived the moment, in his nightmares or waking dreams, Sonny could never pinpoint what he realized first. The deafening explosion of metal and rubber. The black smoke that bellowed into the night sky. That he was running to the wreckage, pulling at the hands that tried to stop him.

He could recall Mike's voice and the sound of someone screaming. He remembered the flames that emanated from what was left of the limo as he pulled at the remains. Blinding pain from the burns on his hands.

That constant sound of pain and terror coming from somewhere, someone.

He saw Johnny's strewn burned body wheeled away on a stretcher. Could still feel Luke hands on his arms as he forced him to the ground.

All he could think of was Carly. His Carly.

His heart. His life. His oxygen.

It was the clearest memory he had of that night. The utter emptiness and loss. That and the cry of heartbreak and anguish echoing in his ears.

It took him a long time to realize that cry had been his...

/Late April 2010, New York/

She burst through the gnarled branches, ignoring the pain in her ankle and the sound of the footsteps that followed her.

It's easier to run
Replacing this pain with something numb
It's so much easier to go
Than face all this pain here all alone

Her eyes scanned the deserted streets, her feet never stopping. She clutched the envelope in her hand. She needed to get...

The footsteps closed in as she rounded the corner. She kicked a metal can to the side and almost smiled at the curse she could make out behind her.

Something has been taken from deep inside of me
The secret I've kept locked away no one can ever see
Wounds so deep they never show they never go away
Like moving pictures in my head for years and years they've played

She saw the shape of a mailbox and let out a shout of triumph. She pulled the slot open and dropped the letter in, leaping out into the street. The footsteps returned.

/Damn./

She needed to lead them away from there. Stopping for a second, she turned and met his eyes. Without thinking, she ducked into the nearest alley. Broken glass splattered against her calves and she winced.

If I could change I would take back the pain I would
Retrace every wrong move that I made I would
If I could stand up and take the blame I would
If I could take all the shame to the grave I would
If I could change I would take back the pain I would
Retrace every wrong move that I made I would
If I could stand up and take the blame I would
I would take all my shame to the grave

Her chest was on fire, breathing coming in pants. She glanced over her shoulder catching a glint of metal.

Knife.

/God damn it./

She nearly tripped on a body. Homeless man. Her balance was off and she missed the wall. Smacking hard into it, she fell to the ground.

It's easier to run
Replacing this pain with something more
It's so much easier to go
Than face all this pain here all alone

Metallic sharp taste of blood filled her mouth and she groaned at the pain shooting up her arm. It was probably broken. Shadow blocked her light and she peered up at his figure.

He closed in, and she felt animal instinct take over. Like hell she was going to go on his terms. Death was inevitable, but if she went it wasn't going to be quietly.

She kicked out at his legs, throwing him off-kilter and earning a window of opportunity. She needed to make it somewhere public.

Sometimes I remember the darkness of my past
Bringing back these memories I wish I didn't have
Sometimes I think of letting go and never looking back

And never moving forward so there never was a past.

Her eyes fell on the fire escape above her, and she made her decision. She could hear the sounds inside the building. Music and voices. If she could climb to the roof and reach the front end…

She could hear his noises, and she took a deep breath, pulling the ladder down, hauling herself up with her good arm.

She climbed the rusted stairs, slipping on a railing in her haste, banging her limp arm on the wall. She cursed loudly and listened to the sound of his breathing as he followed her.

Reaching the landing of the roof, she pulled until her feet touched the ledge and, groaning, she flipped onto the top. Not wasting a moment, she crawled to the other end.

Lights and noise drifted up from the front entrance and she smiled.

That's what she had hoped.

Just washing it aside

All of the helplessness inside

Pretending I don't feel misplaced

It's so much simpler than change

She bit back a scream when his hand reached for her leg. A quick glance behind, and she kicked at his face. She wasn't there yet. Just a little more.

Her mother had always told her she had made a hell of an entrance. She was damn sure going to go out the same way.

He pulled at her again, and she stopped at his choked, "Don't."

It's easier to run
Replacing this pain with something numb
It's so much easier to go
Than face all this pain here all alone

She blinked back tears of fear and pain. It was over and she knew it. She was prepared. It was always a possibility.

She'd known that going in.

They stood at the same time, facing each other. She could see the knife at his side. Her blue eyes met his green ones.

"It's done."

"You shouldn't have run."

There was a hint of remorse in his voice, and she ached to know that he actually cared. In some detached way, he cared.

And she shouldn't have wanted him to. But she did.

"No choice."

He wielded the knife in circles, stepping closer. "There's always a choice."

It's easier to run

If I could change I would take back the pain I would
Retrace every wrong move that I made I would

It's easier to run

She inched closer to the edge. The voices below reaching her ears. Just a little more.

"You have a point. I made mine a long time ago."

"And so did I." His cold eyes bore into hers. "I'll make it fast, I swear."

She smiled sadly at him. "Not as fast as I'd want." She could feel the empty space behind her, and she met his eyes. "Do me a favor."

"What?"

"Tell him he's through. She's going to destroy him."

And, closing her eyes, she spread her arms and dropped back.

The thud and resounding screams drifted up to him a few moments later. He blinked. He hadn't expected that of her, but it wasn't surprising. He held back from looking over the edge. She'd dropped something. Reaching down, he felt the cold metal and held it in his fingers. He didn't need to see it to know it was the silver necklace she always wore.

"It wasn't personal."

He pocketed the charm and moved silently into the darkness of the night, the sounds of sirens and sobs following him.

If I could change I would take back the pain I would
Retrace every wrong move that I made I would
If I could stand up and take the blame I would
If I could take all the shame to the grave

Lyrics: Easier to Run performed by Linkin Park