"Are you alright, son?" Edward asked Michael. Michael stared at his breakfast shuffling it around his plate. He couldn't help but thinking about the conversation the night before. He needed the truth.
"Yeah, I'm just not hungry." He answered.
Edward looked on in concern. "According to Monica your mother is doing well, and we're both thrilled about the generous invitation from Carly and Jax for thanksgiving."
Patrick had shown Monica the test results, and then explained Carly's request to keep them private to avoid worrying her children any further. As a mother, Monica understood her impulse and agreed to keep her mouth shut.
"I know she is. I'm just going to go out for a bit." Michael explained. He didn't want to confront Claudia directly about the botched hit, due to her unborn baby; but decided to go to the garage instead. Michael walked in on Olivia in Johnny's embrace.
"Michael?" Johnny said startled.
"I'm sorry to interrupt." Michael replied.
"No, that's fine. I'm needed at work anyhow." Olivia excused herself.
"So?" Johnny asked. "Is everything okay with your mom?"
"Yeah." Michael answered. As he stood directly in front of Johnny everything that he rehearsed himself saying in the car flew out the window.
"What can I help you with? Is your car running okay?"
"Yeah." He repeated. He could sense Johnny starting to get irritated. "How well do you know Jerry Jax?"
Johnny took a breath and realized what Michael was asking. "Personally? Not well. I'm assuming that's not actually what you want to know."
"My mom had a stroke because Jerry Jax told her something. I was wondering if you or your sister knew what that something was."
Johnny shook his head. He wondered when the secret was going to come crashing down on them. "Michael, you wouldn't be standing here if you didn't know. I do appreciate that you came to me and not Claudia."
"So, it's true?" Michael asked. His rage was boiling.
Johnny nodded. Michael threw his fist out connecting with Johnny's jaw, and he went stumbling back. He held his jaw and responded. "I deserved that."
Michael was still pissed. He thought back to every conversation he had with Claudia since he woke up. He remembered the horrid way he treated his mother, and holding it against her when she convinced dad to make him move out of the house. Johnny could see that Michael was struggling with how to feel.
"She never meant to hurt you, Michael. She wouldn't put an innocent child in the line of fire if she could have helped it."
Michael went to swing again, only Johnny saw it coming and used his forearm to parry the attack. "So, why lie? Why marry my father and get pregnant with his child?"
"I've been asking myself the same thing." Johnny admitted. "Claudia put a hit out on your father because when you disappeared he blamed us. He took me, locked me up in a padded room, and beat me."
Michael wanted to shut Johnny's voice out. He knew the fear that the Corinthos name instilled, but right now he couldn't handle hearing why.
"Ian Devlin messed up. He should have never taken that shot. Claudia and I have regretted that night ever since and there is nothing I can say to make it up to you."
Michael simmered down. He stopped to think about how everything had blown up. Starting with him purchasing a gun and accidently shooting his fathers girlfriend, and then running away. He thought about how every misdirection catalyzed another chain of events, each more severe than the previous. "I want it to stop." Michael finally said.
"What?" Johnny asked.
"This. Me. The shooting. I don't want anybody else hurt. God, my mom could have died!"
"I don't either, but Jerry seems to pop up and create trouble as soon as everything looks to be settled, and it's only a matter of time before your father finds out."
'And he'll kill Claudia.' Michael thought. "What if I am the one to tell him? What if I beg him to let it be? Claudia isn't a threat anymore, I mean, she doesn't want him dead."
"No, she loves their child, and wants to give it a good life." Johnny explained, but he couldn't see Sonny backing down, and if Sonny killed Claudia he wouldn't be able to let it go. The cycle would continue. Maybe Michael was right, nobody besides Devlin had died yet, if there was a chance to stop it, it was now.
***********
"Good morning." Monica greeted Carly. "How are you feeling?"
"Better." Carly responded hoping that she might be able to talk herself out of there a day early.
"Okay, well let me check a few things." Monica had Carly sit forward to place the stethoscope on her back and listen to her breathing. "How does this feel?"
Monica gently pressed against the nape of Carly's neck where the bandage covered. She gasped and her eyes tightened.
"Lay back." Monica instructed. "Carly, I'm counting on you to be honest to the doctors. We're here to help."
Carly understood the hidden meaning and appreciated Monica's discretion. "I'm still really sore. I don't know how much the morphine is helping."
"The swelling is still pretty severe. How about your torso and lower abdomen?"
"Movement is getting easier. I was able to dress myself this morning, but walking is impaired."
"It's going to take time." Monica understood what it was like to be a patient, and the urgency to go home and be with her family. "But I promise you get to go home tomorrow, and Edward and I look forward to coming."
"Monica, you know…" She tried explaining her cover.
"I know. I won't say anything." She confirmed.
"Anything about what?" Jax asked as he came in with Britni.
"Anything about the Christmas present that I planned for Michael." Carly quickly came up with. "The Quartermaine's have a ski lodge in Vermont, and I was asking her if it might be okay if Michael and some friends went up there for the New Year."
"I think that's a great idea." Jax said handing Britni to her mother. "But you should tell him soon, before his friends already have plans."
"She was going to mention it tomorrow." Monica covered. "First I have to talk it over with Edward, but I don't see a problem."
"Thanks Monica." Carly said before she left.
"How are you doing today?" Jax asked, greeting her with a kiss.
"Good, I can't wait to get out of here."
"Just follow the doctor's instructions. They know what they are talking about."
"How's Morgan doing?" Carly changed the subjects.
"He's fine. I brought him to Karate before stopping by. Carly, are you okay?" He sensed something was wrong. "You look like you're in pain."
"Oh, it's just a little headache."
"Are you sure? Maybe they are rushing the release."
Carly snickered. "You just said that they know what they are talking about."
"You're right. Maybe I should leave Britni with you for a bit. Have you had breakfast yet?"
"I little bit. I could use a latte." Her eyes perked up.
"All right. Take it easy. I'll be right back."
Carly cradled her daughter in her arms. "It's okay sweetie. Mommy is going to be fine. You just need to stay strong, and don't get into too much trouble for daddy. And never, ever, forget that mommy loves you." Carly followed Britni's example closed her eyes and rested.
************
They had arrived at the hotel late, Lucky was the first to stir. As he reacquainted himself with where he was and why he noticed Sam curled up next to him. He couldn't help but enjoy the familiarity in it. He started to move; Sam squirmed and her arm draped over his chest. Lucky laid back and let it be. There were worse places in the world to be then in a honeymoon suite curled up to a gorgeous woman. As Sam presented signs of life Lucky ducked out of bed.
"Joel and Sarah Mitchell? Is that the best you could come up with?" Lucky teased as he came out of the shower.
"I was on a time crunch. Besides, you kind of look like a Joel." Sam responded.
"Really? I always thought I looked more like a Greg."
"Huh? You do kind of. Next time help with the arrangements and you can come up with the aliases."
"Next time? Let's see how this goes first. What is the plan for the day?" Lucky asked.
Sam couldn't help but be distracted as Lucky stood before her with water beading on his chest, wearing nothing but a towel on the lower half. "Well, I thought we'd start by you ordering some room service, and then we can take a drive around town and familiarize ourselves with the people and businesses we're dealing with. This evening we can check out the casino."
Lucky thought to ask what the plan was us they were to see Jerry, but figured that was going to be mostly ad lib anyway.
"While I'm ordering breakfast what will you be doing?"
"Showering." She said slipping off her nighty, and wrapped a fresh towel around her.
"Right." He said feeling himself perk up, and then picked up the phone.