Chapter 10

Jason's POV

For the next few weeks, I tried to spend as much time with Michael as I could. He was now in a regular hospital, so it was easier for everyone to see him. Everyday, I would leave to go to work come back and stay with Carly and Michael and bring them dinner. I would try to get Carly to go home and sleep in her own bed, but most of the time it was pointless. She said she had already missed so much time with Michael that she didn't want to leave. Lulu and Bobbie tried to come by some days to keep Carly occupied while Michael did physical therapy.

Sonny had called Michael a few times, but he hadn't stopped by. I knew that Michael didn't understand why his dad hadn't come to visit him since he was transferred. Sonny just told Michael that he was busy. But, one day, Sonny did come to visit, and I knew everything was going to change.

I talked to Sonny out in the hall because I didn't want Carly to see him and get upset.

"I want to tell Michael that I signed away my rights to him."

"Why?"

"He's not a kid anymore, Jason. He wants to know why I haven't been here to visit him."

"He's going to be hurt."

"I know, but I want him to know that I love him, and that's why I did it. Will you give me a few minutes alone with Michael?"

"Yeah, okay. But don't stay too long."

"Thanks."

"I'm not doing it for you."

I let Sonny go into Michael's room, and Michael's face lit up. I knew that Michael was going to be hurt and that was the last thing I wanted. Don't get me wrong, I still didn't want Sonny around Michael, but I knew that Michael loved him.

I pulled Carly out of the room and told her about Sonny.

"Michael's going to be devastated, and he's probably going to blame me. Jase, do you think I made the right decision?"

"Yeah, I do. But," I said, can't believing what I was about to suggest, "Maybe after Michael's gets a little better, Sonny could start visiting him."

"What? He's the reason Michael got shot? I can't risk my son's safety."

"I just meant maybe Sonny could visit Michael somewhere when you and I are there, too. That way we could keep an eye on Michael, but he would also get to see Sonny."

"I just want to keep my baby safe."

"I know, so do I."

"Jason, if I ever lost him again, I—" she suddenly put her hand on her head and stumbled backwards. I reached out and caught her just in time.

"Hey, hey," I said, dragging her to a nearby chair. "What happened?"

"I don't know. I just got really dizzy."

I put my hand on her cheek, and I noticed how tired she looked. "Carly, you're tired and you haven't been eating right. You're here all the time. Go home."

"Jason, I'm not leaving."

"Yes, you are. There's a car outside, it will take you home. You're going to eat a nice meal that I will arrange to be at your house when you get home. Then, you will sleep. I'll stay here with Michael tonight. Don't worry."

"What would I do without you? I need you so much."

"That goes both ways. Love you," I told her, giving her a quick kiss before I sent her home.

After Sonny left, I went back into Michael's room, and he looked like he had been crying.

"Jason, why did Mom make Dad sign away his rights to me?"

Furious for making Sonny make Carly look like the bad guy, I asked him, "Is that what Sonny told you?

"No, but I know Dad wouldn't give me up. He loves me, doesn't he?" he asked.

It broke my heart to hear Michael ask that. It hurt me that he didn't think he was loved.

I sat down beside his bed, put my hand on his, and said, "Of course your dad loves you; that's why he gave you up. Your mom loves you, too. She wants you to be safe."

"But I want to see my dad."

"Listen, I told Carly that later, after you get home, that Sonny could see you on supervised visits."

"Well, I guess that's better than nothing," he said, less than enthused.

"Your mom is just worried about you. She loves you so much, and when she thought she lost you, it almost destroyed her."

"I guess I have a pretty great mom."

"Yeah, you do. You have the best mom."

"Jason, I haven't shown mom yet, but I can walk."

"What?"

"Yeah. I can't do it for very long, but I can walk just a little without a walker or a cane. The doctors say soon I'll be able to lose the canes and walkers for good."

"That's wonderful," I said, smiling. "You can surprise your mom when she comes back."

"She left?"

"She didn't feel very well. It's just because she hasn't had any sleep. I forced her to go home and eat a healthy meal."

"I bet that was a fun argument."

"Yeah. Your mom is so stubborn, but she just wants to take care of you."

"Jason," he said, "thanks for taking care of my mom when I wasn't here."

I smiled. "There was nothing else I would have rather been doing. And when you come home, I'm going to take of your mom, you, and your brother."

I reached down and kissed the top of his head. "Now, get some sleep."

"Will you stay?"

"Of course. I'll be right here all night if you need anything."

He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. I stayed awake for another few hours just watching him sleep, just like I did when he was a baby. I loved watching him, especially now that I knew that he would wake up. I vowed to myself that I would protect him from now on with everything I had. Regardless of what biology or DNA said, or the fact that he called Sonny 'dad', he was my son. And a father's job is to keep his kids safe.

Carly's POV

The next day, I woke up early to go back to the hospital. I felt bad for leaving, but Jason didn't give me any choice. I don't know why I had gotten dizzy, but I had been feeling off for a day or so. Jason was probably right; I just needed some rest.

It had been easier to sleep than I thought, despite Jason not being next to me. I loved having his body beside me, with his arms around me. It made me feel safe, protected, and most of all, loved.

"Hey, Carly. I brought breakfast," mom said, walking in.

"Thanks, but I'm not hungry."

"Honey, you have to eat."

"I don't feel that great."

"What's wrong?"

"Last night I got really dizzy. That's why Jason made me come home. The last few days I haven't been feeling great. I'm tired, and I'm a little nauseous, but I think it's just because I've been at the hospital so much."

"Yeah, that could be it, but…"

"But what?"

"Carly, I want you to see a doctor before you see Michael today."

"I'm okay."

"Please?"

"Fine."

I went to General Hospital to get a check up, but I didn't see the point. The doctor asked me what was wrong, and then she drew blood. I told her I didn't think that was necessary, but she said she needed to rule a few things out.

When she came back with the test results, I asked, "Everything's okay, right?"

"Yes, you're perfectly healthy, but—"

"But, what? What's wrong?"

"You're pregnant."

I think my heart skipped a few beats. Pregnant? I was shocked. A baby? Jason and I had talked about having one, but not now.

"How far along am I?

"You're about 6 weeks."

6 weeks. The day after Michael woke up. That was the date the baby was conceived; I just knew it.

"Is everything okay with the baby?"

"Everything looks fine so far. You're in good health. You should call your OB-GYN to schedule an appointment for further tests and an ultrasound."

"Thanks," I said.

Jason and I were going to have a baby. I smiled and put my hand on my stomach. A baby. What if I lost the baby like I lost my last one? No, no, that wouldn't happen this time. Jason wouldn't let it.

I hope Jason's okay with the baby, I thought. He gave his son up, would he not want to claim this one, too? No, I wouldn't let him give up another child.

I couldn't wait to tell Jason, even though I was scared about how he would react. When I got off the elevator, he was standing outside Michael's room, smiling.

"Hey," I said. "I have a surprise for you."

"Well, I have a surprise for you, too. Actually, it's a surprise from Michael."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but you go first."

"I woke up this morning feeling worse than I felt yesterday, so my mom made me get checked before I came here."

"Are you okay?"

When I didn't answer, he asked again, "Carly, what's wrong. You're scaring me."

"Nothing's wrong. I'm… We're… pregnant," I said, smiling.

"What? A baby?"

"I'm six weeks, so…"

"The night after Michael woke up."

"Yeah."

"Wow, I can't believe it."

"Are you okay?"

"Okay? I'm more than okay… this is amazing. I can't believe we're gonna have a baby."

He put his hand on my stomach, and then I put my hand on top of his. He was beaming.

"I didn't know how you would react. I didn't know because you know.. you gave up Jake. I didn't know if you would want another child, and –"

"Carly," he said, trying to stop me.

"With you being afraid with your job—"

"Carly," he said again, this time I actually stopped. "Do you trust me?"

"With my life."

"Then know that I want this baby. I want you, Michael, Morgan, and this baby."

I smiled again. Then, the door to Michael's room opened. Michael walked out.

"Oh my God."

"Yeah," Jason said. "This is your surprise."

"He can walk?"

"Hey mom," Michael said, walking over to me.

I pulled him into a huge hug, and Jason put his arms around Michael and me.

"I love you so much," I told Michael. I looked up at Jason and said, "And I love you, too."

We stood there for a few minutes just thinking about how lucky we were. I had my son back. I was the mother of the two most perfect boys in the whole world, and Jason and I were going to have another child. I had never felt more loved than I felt just then. This is the family we were always supposed to be, and now, I finally had it.