I started writing this on August 27, 2006, after Sic slept together, before Alexis' surgery. It's a very short fic, and if I would have continued it, would have been a Sexis fic, but once again, the show stopped me in my tracks. If I ever get time, I'll write a sequel.

The Sudden Stop

Chapter One

"Luke Spencer."

"Natasha Cassadine, and youngin's.'"

Luke bent down to greet baby Molly in her stroller and poke Kristina's belly who was standing close to her mother. Luke had been back in Port Charles for a few days already and needed immediate advice from his sister.

"What brings you to General Hospital, Luke?"

"Well," Luke responded, watching Kristina push Molly's stroller over to the children's waiting area, "... my son's a drug addict and my daughter's pregnant. I came to beg Bobbie for advice. You?"

"Well," she began as she looked over making sure Kristina wasn't listening, "I have lung cancer and my husband cheated on me once again. This time with my daughter." She smiled.

Luke just gaped at her, "Natasha …" he seemed concerned, and then went back to his Lukeness. "You win." He smiled, for only a moment. "Cancer?"

She nodded.

"How does it look?"

"Well, it shows up white on the x-rays …"

"Come on, enough joking, I'm serious, how does it look?"

Alexis felt a strange sense of comfort at that moment, as if she knew that she could trust this man. "They say it's a seventy-thirty chance I won't make it."

Luke dropped his head. "My God … is there anything I can do?"

She smiled, "Just … I don't know, keep me laughing when I start the chemo."

"That I can do."

"Is Lucky okay?"

"I think, I guess I shouldn't have told you, considering you're the D.A."

"I'm not, my husband is."

"He took it over? Wait, he's still your husband?!"

"Oh, yeah, sure, come on Luke, you know me … sticking with the one's who hurt me."

Luke shook his head in disappointment. "How could you forgive him?"

"Oh, I haven't … honestly, he doesn't know I know. Neither does Sam … actually, you and Dr. Winters are the only people who know I know. Hmm."

"Oooh, oooh, can I tell him … please, please, please …"

She smiled. "Cute, there's your sister, and NO!!" she said, motioning to Bobbie who was walking towards them.

Luke looked over, smiled at Bobbie, and then turned his attention back to his friend. "I'm here. I might be busy with my own children Natasha, but I'll always make time for you, you hear me?" he said sternly.

"Yes sir." She smiled sadly and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before he joined Bobbie.

Alexis moved over to the couch in the waiting area and watched Kristina entertain Molly for a while. She was unaware of anyone else in the hospital, until she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Is this seat taken?" asked the Aussie.

"No it isn't!! Jasper Jacks! You little …" he quickly came around to the other side of the couch and sat beside her, pulling her into his tight embrace.

"Hello wife."

Alexis pulled back happily and gazed into his eyes. "Hello husband."

"Uncle Jax!!" yelled Kristina when her attention was brought back over to the adults. She ran into his arms and squeezed him tight.

"Hey you! Oh, I wish I'd know I would run into my favorite two little girls here, I would've brought the presents I brought you in Africa."

"Africa!?" exclaimed and questioned Kristina.

"Yes, Africa, I'll take you there one day." Jax smiled.

"Oh, no you won't," Alexis interrupted.

Kristina quickly lost interest and ran back to Molly.

"What are you doing here?" Jax asked.

"Um … well, I guess you should know too …"

Jax looked concerned at Alexis, whose face changed drastically when she looked over his shoulder and saw Carly stepping off the elevator. "Oh, Jesus, yeah, I guess you being back means that she's back."

Jax looked over his shoulder and saw Carly. He smiled at her as she approached them. "Be nice, Alexis."

"It's not me you have to tell that to. My children are here, she should be decent …"

"Alexis."

"Carly."

"Hi, honey." Carly leaned in and gave Jax a long kiss. It took all Alexis' strength not to throw up. "Let's go," Carly demanded.

"Wait, I …" she was pulling him away. "Carly, stop! I was talking to Alexis. Hold on." He left her there and re-joined 'his' girls. Carly was going back for him when Sonny stopped her from behind, grabbing her arm lightly turning her around.

"Hey, Sonny."

"Welcome back. Where are the boys?"

"Um …" she had to think. "With Leticia?"

"Okay, Carly, that's a person, where … as in place … where are they?"

"I'm not exactly sure, either at your place, my place, or Jax's…" she turned to look at Jax and Alexis just in time to see him envelop her into his arms, too close for Carly's liking. She started to walk over and break up the happy reunion, clearly missing Alexis' tears, when Sonny grabbed her arm again.

"Hey, no, stop."

Carly looked back at Sonny, bewildered. "Why? What?"

"Alexis has cancer. I'm sure she just told him … leave them alone for a minute."

Carly stood stunned … her mouth wide open. Sonny walked past her and leaned against the nurses' station, waiting for his turn to talk to Alexis.

"No, no … no, Alexis, this can't be happening …"

Alexis released Jax and looked up into his baby blue eyes and just smiled sadly.

Jax wiped the tears off his cheeks and sucked in a huge breath, regaining his strength that he lost for a moment, "Okay, so, what are we going to do?"

Alexis smiled. "Well, I'm having surgery at the end of the week, and then chemo … then … we'll see."

Jax nodded. "Ric knows, and Sam … Nikolas, they're all helping you?"

"Yes."

"And they won't care if I'm by your side every second?"

"Will Carly care?"

"Yes."

Alexis laughed and looked over to Carly, seeing Sonny as well.

"Listen, call me or I'll call you tomorrow, go, be with Carly …" she whispered the next part, "break up with her."

"Alexis …"

"I know, I know …I'm not in it …thank God!"

"Okay, listen to me now." He took her head in his hands. "You need anything, a shoulder to cry on …"

"I'll call you …"

"... someone to make you laugh …"

"I'll call Luke …"

Jax smirked. "A loving, devoted husband who adores you …"

"That'll be you again …" she smiled.

"... someone to let all your frustrations out on …"

"I'll call you …"

"... someone to hit, kick, punch, slap …"

"I'll call … Carly?"

Jax just smiled, kissed her on the lips, and walked over to Carly, who oddly enough, smiled politely in Alexis' direction before being led onto the elevator.

Alexis' gaze drifted over to Sonny, who was watching her. She looked back at the girls who were happily playing with their toys, then walked over to Sonny and leaned against the nurses' station beside him. Both parents looking at the girls, crossing their arms, smiling. Alexis was tired. She'd had a long, tough day and she was ready to crawl into her bed and fall asleep. Not even thinking, her head found its way onto Sonny's shoulder. They stood there for a while, watching Kristina read Molly a book, making the funny voices that Alexis taught her to make … her head on his shoulder.

"You okay Lex?"

"I'm fine," she answered, not moving. "Just tired."

"You're going to get through this."

She slightly nodded, hoping he would feel it - she didn't feel like speaking anymore. Tears came to her eyes and dropped as she continued to look on to her girls.

"I talked to Dr. Drake, he said this surgery's gonna hurt. You're going to be in a lot of pain … then after that, the chemo's going to drain you …"

"Why are you saying these things?" she questioned sadly.

"Because I don't want there to be any bull between us - look at me ..." Sonny said, lifting her head off his shoulder with his right hand … he kept it under her chin as he spoke. "Alexis, this thing isn't going to take you from us, okay? You're not going to stop fighting. This surgery and the chemo, it's not going to kill you." Alexis nodded, the tears falling fast. "It's not the fall that kills you, Alexis, it's the sudden stop. So don't stop, Alexis. Don't you dare give up … not on yourself, or Sam, or Kristina, or Molly. You have too much to live for, too many people who need you, yes, including me, and I'll be damned if I'll let you stop."