Carly stared at Sonny. "Excuse me? I'm doing what?"
"You're scared that A.J. is coming for you? Then it's safer for you to stay
at the penthouse. It's easier for me to keep you under guard at my place
than to send them over to the Brownstone."
"I don't know about this…" She chewed on her bottom lip.
"Honey, this might be a good idea after all." Bobbie jumped in. She could
see that Sonny was getting impatient and this was a conversation that they
didn't need to be having in the middle of the airport.
"Since it seems you don't want me staying with you then I guess Michael and
I will stay with Sonny." Carly frowned at her.
"Now, you know I didn't it mean it like that so don't start that up."
Bobbie warned her.
Sonny checked his watch. "We should go, we have to meet with the lawyer on
the way to the penthouse. Johnny, take Michael and Bobbie to the penthouse
ahead of us. They don't need to wait around while we're in the meeting."
Carly glared at him as he started barking out the orders. "And who's coming
with us, if Johnny is with them?"
"Francis." Sonny grinned nastily at the look on her face. "Come on, let's
go."
~*~*~
"Be careful, sir. The lobby was just mopped." The Harborview Towers doorman
warned Sonny as he escorted Carly inside. Sonny nodded in his direction.
"So according to your lawyer all I do is sign and I'm free?" Carly asked
for the umpteenth time.
"If you ask me that one more time…" Sonny gritted out. "Yes, one signature
and that's all."
"I just don't want any slip ups." Carly whirled around to face him and her
foot slid on the wet floor. "Whoa!"
"Carly! Would you be more careful." He said harshly as he reached out to
steady her. If anything happened to their child…
"Well, well, well it's about time you showed up. So where was he hiding
you?" A.J.'s voice drifted over to them. He emerged from a dark corner
where he'd been waiting.
"A.J." Carly whispered. She turned accusing eyes to Sonny. He was supposed
to keep him away.
"Get out of here, A.J. before I call the cops."
"Hey, I just wanted to see the wife." A.J. staggered over to them. It was
clear that he was drunk. "Is that a tan? Did he stash you somewhere
tropical? I bet it ticked you off that you were too knocked up to get any
action. Then again knowing you…"
"Do something." Carly hissed as she pressed herself closer to Sonny's side.
He was the only thing that separated her and A.J. She was not going to let
him get close to her. Sonny wrapped his arm around her.
"Oh, isn't that sweet? Look at that. You two are already looking like a
couple. Awww." A.J. said in a mocking tone. "That is until she finds
someone with deeper pockets. Enjoy it while it last Sonny, she's trash but
she's still a fun ride."
"Francis." Sonny snapped and the guard grabbed A.J. and dragged him over to
the door.
"Hey! You can't do this."
"I just did." Sonny smirked.
"He's not going to be around all the time Carly. One day, him, the guards,
they'll all be gone and then it'll be just you and me. You and me, Carly. I
won't forget, baby."
Carly buried her face in Sonny's shirt until A.J. was out of the building.
Then she unleashed her fury on Sonny, hitting him over and over on the
chest. "Damn you, you said you took care of him. You said you'd keep him
away from me. I thought you kept your promises."
"That was just a fluke." He swore and grabbed her hands to keep her from
hitting him again.
"No, that was glimpse of the way things are going to be isn't it? A.J.'s
going to pop up whenever he wants and threaten me. Did you hear him? Did
you hear him!"
"I heard him, Carly. But I'm not going to let hurt you."
"I don't believe you. Johnny wouldn't have let him get that close. I know
that Jason wouldn't have either." She shot out.
"Too bad for you because I'm not Jason. I do things my own way and when I
say that I'll care of it, I will. Now calm the hell down for once."
"It's not good for me or the baby." She repeated his warning with a smirk
on her face.
"It's not. Tomorrow, we'll get you a restraining order." At Carly's snort
he added. "It's a start. Now, are you calmed down? Michael doesn't need to
see you all worked up."
"Oh God, Michael." Carly pressed her hand to her mouth. "What if he got
upstairs?"
"He didn't."
"How do you know?"
"Someone would have called me." He said logically.
"I have to check on my son."
"Fine, but go slow. I don't want you slipping again."
Once they got to the penthouse Carly rushed in past the guard on duty and
found Bobbie helping Michael play with his building blocks in the middle of
the living room. Carly snatched Michael up and hugged her tightly to him.
Sonny shrugged out of his coat and sniffed. "See, I told you he was fine.
Now put him down before you smother him to death."
Even as she turned to glare at him she gave Michael back to Bobbie. "Do not
tell me what I can and cannot do regarding *my* son. You have no say."
"Come on, he was turning blue." Sonny said with a laugh.
"He was fine!"
Bobbie looked from Carly and Sonny and back. "You guys, maybe you shouldn't
fight in front of Michael. I'll take him upstairs for his nap."
"Nobody's fighting." Carly faked a grin and a cheery tone for Michael's
benefit. She carefully picked him up again. "And I'll put him down for his
nap."
As Carly stomped upstairs Bobbie walked over to Sonny. "You know, maybe
this wasn't such a good idea after all."
Sonny dropped down onto the couch. "Things will work out fine."
"Things aren't going to work out if you keep fighting."
"We wouldn't fight if she would just do as I tell her to." Sonny mumbled.
"It's obvious you don't know my daughter because you *can't* tell her what
to do. She'll only ignore you and do her own thing. *Or* she'll go to the
extreme and do what you want but do it in such a way that you'd wish you'd
never even bothered in the first place."
Sonny closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. "Are you done?"
"No, but you look tired. Sonny, it'll be easier on everyone involved if you
would just give in a little."
"I give in enough." He shot back.
Bobbie raised an eyebrow disapprovingly and continued. "You two better
learn to work together. Ordering Carly around isn't the wisest thing you
could do."
Sonny let out an exasperating sigh. To him, none of this was any of
Bobbie's business. What happened between Carly and him only had to do with
the two of them and their child. "Right."
Bobbie could tell that she was getting to him but not in the way she meant.
She gathered up her purse and coat. "You know what? Tell Carly that I'll
see her tomorrow after the signing. She should rest up tonight. Jet lag can
be murder."
"I will." Sonny murmured.
Carly padded down the stairs barefoot just as Bobbie left. "Where's she
going?"
"She thinks you should get some rest. And so do I?" Sonny stood up and
walked around the couch towards her.
"Do I look like I care?" Carly snipped at him.
"Carly…" Sonny rubbed the back of his neck and forced back a retort. "You
and me, this fighting thing isn't going work."
"Who said were fighting? We had a disagreement here and there but no real
fights yet. Unless you're just dying to end the truce. God, you couldn't
even last a day could you?"
"I'm trying to end the truce, maybe you and I should stop butting heads."
"Maybe you should stop ticking me off. It's not good for the baby." She
said in a saccharine tone and patted her stomach.
Sonny gritted his teeth. "Never mind. I try to do the right thing and you
just…forget it."
Carly sighed. She wasn't helping things ever by taking everything he said
the wrong way. Most of the time she was just looking for an excuse. "Okay,
okay, I won't…I won't jump on everything you say if you promise to stop
telling me what to do."
Sonny stared at her and she sighed again. "Alright, unless it has to do
with this baby, okay? Are you happy?"
He nodded. "Fine with me."
"God, you are so difficult." She grabbed a pillow and wrapped her arms
around. "I don't know how we're ever going to live together without
fighting."
"Hey, I don't want to fight with you all the time. You start most of it. I
think you happen to like fighting with me." He narrowed his eyes
suspiciously.
"Please." Carly tossed her pillow at him. "I don't think so. I think you
like the fighting more. What, does it turn you on or something? God, I bet
you're one of those fetish types."
"Kinky sex seems more like your style." Sonny smirked. "I like the slow old
fashioned if it ain't broke don't fix it type."
"Boring." Carly faked a yawn.
"Not with me." Sonny drawled.
"Right." Carly snorted.
"Not that you'd ever find out…"
"Already had the pleasure, remember?" She gestured towards her stomach.
"Wasn't exactly memorable."
Sonny chuckled to himself. Carly picked up another pillow and tossed it him
again. "Get over yourself!"
He smiled slowly and seductively. "You know you still think about. The
satin sheets, when we knocked over the lamp, the—"
"Puh-lease!" Carly stressed the word and rolled her eyes.
"What's the line again? 'Methinks the lady doth protest too much?'"
"Your Shakespeare sucks." Carly muttered.
"I guess I'll have to lock my door tonight to keep you from getting in."
Sonny teased.
"Whatever." Carly got up and walked over to the window. How did they end up
talking about sex anyway? Sex was what got them into this mess in the first
place. Time for a change in subject. "I wish I was still on the island. I
love to take a walk on the beach right about now. To feel the sand
squishing between my toes…"
"With Johnny right?" Sonny scowled.
Carly frowned and turned around. "Yeah with Johnny. We like to take walks
together. He was the only who talked to me down there. Does my friendship
with Johnny really bother you that much?"
"No." Sonny laughed it off and scratched his ear. "That's the last thing on
my mind. I'm just…curious."
"*Right*." Carly dragged the word out.
"I'm going to bed, we have to get up early tomorrow. You should think about
going to bed too." Sonny muttered.
"Was that an order?"
"It was a *suggestion*." Sonny said.
"I'll go to bed soon. I'm just don't feel that tired right now." Carly
shrugged.
"Well do it soon. If you want." He quickly added.
"Uh-huh." Carly walked back to the couch and curled up. Sonny paused on the
stairs and stared at her. Carly glanced up. "Yeah?"
"Goodnight? That's what people say."
She frowned. "Yeah, goodnight, whatever." Sonny shook his head and made his
way up the stairs.
There was a soft knock then Johnny opened the door and stuck his head
inside. Carly lit up at the sight of him. "Hey you!"
"Where's Mr. Corinthos?" Johnny whispered.
"He went upstairs. You want me to get him?"
"No, I have something for you." Johnny carried a plastic take out bag in
one hand.
Carly sniffed the air and broke out into a big smile. "Is that what I think
it is?"
"Fried plantains, just the way you like it." Johnny took out the carryout
container and placed it on the coffee table.
"Oh my God, Johnny! Where did you find this?" Carly happily dug into the
container. "Did you get me a knife and fork, never mind I'll just eat it
with my hands. How did you know I would be craving this?"
Johnny laughed as he watched Carly devour the sweet banana. "I don't know,
maybe the fact that you've eaten it every night for the past two weeks
might have clued me in?"
"You are too good to me, Johnny." She smiled. Her smile grew bigger when he
blushed from her praise. She shook her head. "Uh-uh, those blushes are not
going to get me to share my plantains with you so don't even bother."
"I would never—" He protested half-heartedly. Actually he was thinking of a
way to snatch one without her knowing.
"Yeah right. I saw the way you were eyeing them." Carly covered the
container with one hand and held the other one up to stop him, just in
case. "You know what would be lovely with this?"
"Don't say it, don't say it." Johnny's face scrunched up in disgust. He
knew what was coming.
"Ice cream! Vanilla ice cream. Please, Johnny." She pleaded.
"Ugh, you cannot want that."
"It's not me, it's the baby. Now, go get some vanilla ice cream. Breyer's,
the kind with the vanilla beans. Oh! And some chocolate sauce. And more
plantains, I'll finish these before you get back."
"I am not going to get you ice cream." Johnny shook his head forcefully.
"It's not healthy, especially with that."
"Johnny…" Carly pouted and Johnny gave in.
"Ok, ok. I'll be back with the ice cream and plantains soon." Johnny made
his way to the door.
"Thanks, I'll even share with you if you like." Carly said graciously. She
laughed at the face he made at the prospect. "Wait! Here you can have one."
She held out the strip of banana for him. He came back over and went to
reach for it with his hand but Carly held it away. "Uh-uh, open wide."
He obediently opened his mouth and Carly popped it in. He smiled as he
chewed. 'Thank you."
"No prob." She wiped away a bit of grease from the corner of his mouth.
"Okay, now go get more food."
Upstairs Sonny watched the scene play out. He wore a severe frown. He
didn't like the closeness they shared or how comfortable they were in each
other's company. If he didn't trust Johnny so much he would send him out of
town for a few months. It wasn't that he was jealous of Johnny and Carly's
relationship. The notion of that was absurd. He just didn't trust Carly to
not try to turn his own guard against him. The last thing he needed was his
guard being loyal to someone other than him. That was all it was, Sonny
told himself. Nothing more.
~*~*~
"Tell me again why we're meeting at A.J.'s lawyer's office?" Carly
complained as she and Sonny walked off the elevator. They were flanked by
Johnny and Francis. "I thought we, you, were in control."
"We are. A.J. knows we hold all the cards but having *us* come to him makes
him feel important." Sonny said. He took her elbow and guided her towards
the room they would be meeting in.
"Shouldn't your lawyer be with us?" Carly looked around.
"He's meeting us there."
"Do I look alright? Like I'm in control?" Carly glanced down at the suit
Bobbie brought over for her that morning. It was a navy blue sleeveless
dress with a matching jacket. For once Carly didn't feel like a whale.
"Yeah, yeah, you look fine." Sonny mumbled without sparing her a glance.
Carly scowled but didn't say anything. She was too nervous to start an
argument.
"This is it." Sonny stopped in front of the door. "Johnny, Francis, you two
stay out here."
He glanced at Carly expecting her to complain but she stayed quiet. He
knocked on the door once then opened it without waiting for an answer.
Adrian Stewart and A.J. were on one side of a long table and Sonny's lawyer
was waiting on the other side. Sonny helped Carly into a chair and stood
behind it, one hand resting on the back.
"You're late." A.J. said obnoxiously. He eyed Carly and she shrank back
against the chair. Sonny placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed.
Sonny ignored him and spoke to his lawyer. "You have the papers?"
"Right here, sir." He withdrew a packet of papers from his pocket and slid
it across the table.
"What's this?" A.J. started to pick them up but Adrian got it first. He
scanned them. "It's a restraining order. You are order to stay at least
five hundred feet away from Miss Benson."
"What! They can't do that."
"They can do whatever they want." Adrian thought back to his not quite
legal girlfriend. "Don't complain about it."
"This isn't fair."
"Are we hear to sign some papers or just listen to Junior whine?" Sonny
drawled lazily.
His attitude was one of 'whatever, I don't give a damn'. Carly drew
strength from it. Sonny was right. They were the ones with the power. Right
now she had nothing to be afraid. A.J. couldn't touch her. Sonny was here;
Johnny and Francis were just outside, waiting. Sonny could feel her relax
under his hand and smiled a little.
Sonny's lawyer placed the papers in front of A.J. who stared at them for a
few seconds. He looked up at Carly to stare into her eyes. She stared back
and finally spoke. "Sign them, A.J. let's end this now."
"Not the ending I had planned." A.J. muttered.
"We could go for another ending if you want Junior. One that includes you
behind bars. Would you like that?" Sonny sneered. "Sign the damn papers."
A.J. swallowed hard but slowly signed away his wife, his child, and the
future he once thought they could have. With each signature Carly's smile
got bigger and bigger. It was finally happening. She was almost free!
A.J. caught her smiling and snarled. "Don't you dare laugh, because this
isn't over!"
"Shut up, A.J." Adrian murmured when he saw the way Sonny was looking at
A.J.
In spite of herself Carly held onto her smile. She picked up the pen and
grabbed the papers. "This ends now, just as soon as I finish my name."
But before she could complete her signatures A.J. slammed his hands against
the table, stood up and stormed out. Carly shrugged and finished. "There we
go. Does this mean I'm done?"
Sonny had to smile to himself. She didn't let A.J. cower her. He was proud
of her. "Yeah, you're free."
"I'm free?" Carly beamed. She jumped up, as much as her advanced pregnancy
would let her. She hugged Sonny. "Thank you!" Then she surprised Sonny's
lawyer by hugging and thanking him too. She was about to go around the
table and hug Adrian but Sonny stopped her.
"Hey, you want to celebrate? Lunch or something?" He grinned at her. "The
PC Grille?"
"Yeah! I'm starved." She grinned back. Once they were out of the office she
jumped on Johnny laughing. "I'm free! I'm free! This is the *best* day of
my life."
A.J. had stomped down the corridor to Adrian's office. He could Carly
laughing and crowing about her victory over him. He poured himself a glass
of scotch that Adrian kept around for celebrations. He tossed it back and
grimaced.
"Enjoy it now, Carly." He said as the warmth of the scotch spread
throughout. "It's not going to last."
He dropped the glass on the carpeted floor and grabbed the bottle. He
wasn't sure what he was going to do. He would just figure it out along the
way. One way or another they will respect him again.
~*~*~
Carly and Sonny had just finished off their appetizers. For once they'd
managed to hold a civil conversation. Neither wanted to disrupt the
celebration with a petty argument. "I just can't believe it's all over.
Just like that." Carly snapped her fingers.
"Over and done with. Now we can move on to the more important things."
Sonny said.
"Yeah, those." Carly lowered her eyes.
"Forget I mentioned that." He quickly said. "We can worry about the future
tomorrow alright?"
"Right. Tonight's about my freedom." She picked up her glass of sparkling
water and toasted. "To freedom!"
"Hear, hear." Sonny clicked glasses with her.
"I'm so glad you're having a good time after you destroyed my son."
Monica's angered voice came from out of nowhere.
"Monica." Sonny smiled falsely at her while Carly stared down at the table
and groaned. "If anyone destroyed your son, it was him."
"He was fine until *she* came into his life."
"Right, because being the family screw up and the drunk who wrapped his
brother's head around a tree is just peachy keen compared to him marrying
me!" Carly snapped. Her eyes shot fire at Monica who stepped back slightly.
"He would have never started drinking again if you hadn't taken his son
from him."
"He started drinking because he's weak." Carly snarled. "And I took *my*
son with me like any good mother."
"You don't know anything about being a good mother. If you were you
wouldn't be sitting her knocked up by this sleaze. You think we didn't
know? A.J. told us everything."
"I'd rather be pregnant by Sonny any day than carry another Quartermaine.
At least Sonny's all man, not some sniveling mama's boy whose own mother
doesn't want him unless he's the last resort. You know you wouldn't be
going through all this if this were Jason's child. You'd be on your knees
kissing my feet if you thought it'd impress Jason."
"You'd like to think that wouldn't you?" Monica hissed. "You aren't good
enough for either of my sons. A.J. is better off without you anyway but
believe me when I say that we won't give up on Michael. He'll be coming
home to us where he belongs."
"Try it and A.J. goes to jail. He's given up all rights, he knows he can't
win." Sonny answered. He'd enjoyed Carly's little impassioned speech but he
wasn't going to let Monica continue to threaten her.
She stared down Sonny. "I don't know what kind of blackmail you have on him
but—"
"He tried to make me seem crazy, Monica." Carly said softly.
"We all knew that. Sane people don't go to Ferncliff." Monica snapped.
"He tried to kill me." Carly said a little louder.
"Right, my son is not a killer." Monica denied. "And if he tried, he would
have succeeded. Pity he didn't try."
"Sonny, I want to leave now." Carly stood up abruptly, knocking the table
with her stomach.
"You're going to run again, Carly? Do us all a favor and don't come back."
Monica sneered.
"Why don't *you* do us all a favor and shut up." Sonny barked. He placed
his hand against Carly's back and guided her out of the restaurant.
~*~*~
A.J. sat hunched over the wheel of his car. He was parked across the street
from The PC Grille, waiting. Every now and then he would take a drink from
the bottle of scotch that he'd snatched from his lawyer's office. Once he
actually thought to himself 'What am I doing? This is crazy. Just turn
around, go home, and sleep it off.' But then he took another sip and all
rational thoughts were gone. The only thing left was revenge. He wasn't
afraid of Sonny Corinthos. He was Alan Quatermaine Junior, damn it!
A.J. watched as Sonny escorted Carly into the waiting limousine. She looked
very upset and Sonny wore a frown. A.J. wondered what happened in the
restaurant that caused them to leave so quickly. He didn't have enough time
to worry about that; their limo was starting to pull away. He quickly
followed. He wasn't sure what he was going to do but he knew it was going
to be big. Corinthos would never disrespect him again.
While waiting behind them at a red light the thought suddenly hit him. Look
at how vulnerable they were in that limousine. They were the proverbial
sitting ducks. Anything to just come along and hit them. They were the only
ones on the road. Nobody would see him do it.
A sinister smile stretched over his lips and he laughed to himself.
Perfect, absolutely perfect. A little rear end to show Sonny he wasn't
scared and then he could take off before Sonny could get out of the car. He
could do nothing about it! A.J. finished off the bottle for a little extra
courage and then tightened his hands on the steering wheel.
Inside the limousine Sonny was speaking softly to Carly. Her leg was
shaking. "You shouldn't let her get to you like that."
"You don't know what it was like. When Monica realized how A.J. felt about
me she decided it gave her carte blanche to treat me anyway she wanted. She
*hates* me Sonny. You heard her. She wants me dead."
"She's *nothing*." He stressed the word. "After today you never have to
deal with the woman and she knows that. That's why she just had to get one
last dig in."
Carly shook her and looked away. "You…"
Sonny laid his hand on her knee and squeezed. "There's no sense in getting
so worked up over this. It's not good for the baby."
Carly stared down at his hand. "And everything's about the baby, right?
Nothing about my feelings?"
"You can take care of yourself, the baby can't. It's depending on you so if
you won't look out for it then let me."
"Don't ever accuse me of not looking out for my kid!" Carly snapped and
pushed his hand off her knee. "And keep your hands off of me."
"Too late for that." He snapped back.
Carly stared at the window for a second. She muttered. "I'm sorry, I said I
wasn't going to do that anymore."
He took a deep breath and murmured. "Fighting's not going to do us any
good."
Carly hesitantly nodded. "I suppose you're right…"
"So…you think I'm 'all man'?" Sonny said with an arch eyebrow.
"Shut up." She rolled her eyes. "I only said it tick off Monica. Michael's
more of a man that A.J."
She absentmindedly rubbed her stomach comforting herself and the baby.
Sonny studied the way her hand moved up and down. Carly looked up and
caught the longing look on his face. She rolled her eyes, oh for goodness
sake. He looked like he was a little boy and she had his ice cream cone.
She sighed dramatically and said, "Sonny."
"Huh?" He glanced up.
"Would you like to…" She paused, took off her seat belt, and twisted in the
seat to face him. "Feel the baby?"
She watched as a light came on in his eyes as he tried to hide his glee.
Carly was taken aback at how happy he was at the prospect of just touching
her stomach. Sonny couldn't believe that he was about to finally get a
chance to feel something that he helped create.
"Well, I…sure." He shrugged and slowly stretched out his hand.
"Oh, just do it." She snapped.
She grabbed his hand and was just about to lay it on her stomach when the
car was suddenly hit from behind. Carly was sent flying and landed against
the seat across from her.
"Carly, are you okay?" Sonny said frantically. He quickly unbuckled his
seatbelt. "What the hell was that? Johnny!"
"I'm okay." She murmured as she tried to get up. She touched her forehead.
"I just bumped my head is all."
In his car A.J. snickered. "Oh, this is fun." He muttered to himself.
He had to try it again. He slowly reversed and then with a maniacal grin he
surged forward ramming the stationary limousine again. Only this time he
wasn't able to laugh about his victory. The force of his blow caused him to
slam against the windshield. His body slumped over the steering wheel.
Sonny was helping Carly back into her seat when A.J. hit the second time.
Both went flying this time, Carly on the floor and Sonny against the door.
"Damn it, Johnny! What is going on? Do something!" Sonny shouted as he made
his way over to Carly. He ran his hands over her body. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, really. What's happening Sonny?" She asked anxiously.
Sonny could see the fear in her eyes but he didn't want to worry her. "It's
probably nothing."
But all Sonny could do was think of his enemies. This could be ambush by
Sorel. He reached into his jacket for the gun he occasionally wore. Thank
God, he thought to wear it today.
"If it's nothing why are you bringing out a *gun*?" Carly's eyes widened at
the sight of it. She didn't know Sonny even owned a gun, much less knew
what to do with one.
"Just in case it is something." He tossed out.
"Uh-huh." She said disbelieving and then winced.
Sonny immediately jumped on it. "What was that? I thought you said you were
okay?"
"It's just a cramp." She denied.
"I need to get you out of here and to the hospital." He thought about what
had to be done. This wasn't good. Johnny wasn't answering him. What could
have happened? Sorel's men could be waiting for him outside the door. He
didn't want to expose Carly and the baby to any danger but he had to get
her out. He was jolted out his thoughts when someone knocked on the window.
"Who do you think it is?" Carly whispered. She had picked up on Sonny's
nervousness.
"Shush." He said softly. "Look, I need to roll down the window for me. Try
to stay as far back as you can, okay? And don't say a word. Can you do
that?"
Mutely, she nodded.
"Good." Sonny cocked his gun then pointed at the window and nodded at Carly
to let her know it was time to press the button.
As the window slowly rolled down Carly became even more nervous. What on
earth did Sonny Corinthos get her into? Was this the beginning of some mob
war? Was she going to die simply because she carried Sonny's child? Oh,
God, she silently prayed. I don't want to die. Don't let the baby and me
die. Please.
When the window had finally slid down Johnny stuck his head in. "Boss?"
Carly sat back in relief but Sonny exploded. "Damn it, Johnny! I could have
shot your ******* head off! What were you thinking? Why didn't you answer
me? What the hell is going on out there?"
"I'm sorry, sir. The limo was hit—"
"I know that! By who?"
"A.J. Quartermaine hit us. I got out to see what happened and that's why I
didn't hear you call."
"A.J.?" Sonny repeated in disbelief.
"I just checked his car, he's passed out over the steering wheel. He's
barely alive. He smells like winery." Johnny frowned.
"That SOB got drunk and then tried to run us down?" Sonny's eyes hardened.
"He could have killed Carly."
"I know." Johnny frowned. The first thing he wanted to do when he found out
it was A.J. was rip the drunk apart but he knew he had to report to Sonny
first.
"You said he was out cold?"
"Yeah, looks like he hit his head." Johnny nodded.
"Then let's go wake him up." Sonny said. He started to get out of the limo
but Carly's soft whimper stopped him.
"Sonny…"
"I'll be right back." He promised her and stepped out to survey the damage.
He swore softly. The backend of the limo was crunched up, as was the front
of A.J.'s car. Sonny tucked the gun into his waistband then placed his
hands on his hips and looked at Johnny. "Call for another car, I need to
get Carly to the hospital."
"Is she okay?" Johnny immediately asked.
"Yes." Sonny snapped, aggravated at Johnny's show of concern. "She said all
did was hit her head."
"Sonny!" Carly's frantic call floated out of the limo. She continued to
call his name louder and louder as she became more hysterical. "Sonny!
Sonny! *SONNY*!"
Sonny and Johnny rushed back over to the limo. Sonny yanked open the door
and ducked in. He gasped. Carly was staring down at her blood-covered
hands, her skirt was soaked in blood and tears streamed down her face. She
opened her mouth to scream again but Sonny quickly kneeled beside her.
He swallowed her and took her hands in his. He forced himself to stay calm.
"What happened?"
"I…I did it again, Sonny, I did it again."
The terror in her voice broke his heart. He softly stroked her hair. "It'll
be okay, trust me. Let's get you out of here." He scooped up her up in his
arms and carried her out. "Johnny! We need to get her to a hospital fast."
Johnny gulped. "I'll call an ambulance."
"No!" Sonny whispered harshly. He wasn't sure how much time they had.
"It'll take too long."
"The limo isn't going anywhere." Johnny apologized regretfully.
"Look." Sonny broke off when a passing car slowed down. The driver stuck
his head out the window. "You guys okay? Need any help?"
"As a matter of fact." Sonny nodded towards Johnny who whipped out his gun
and pointed it at the driver. "We need your car."
"W-what?" The driver stammered. Great, just his luck for being a Good
Samaritan. His wife always said it was going to get him trouble one day.
"Slide over, let Johnny drive." Sonny ordered as he carried Carly to the
backseat.
"What about Quatermaine?" Johnny looked back at the damaged car.
"Leave him." Sonny settled himself and Carly in the back. "Now drive!"
"Yes, sir." Johnny pushed aside the frightened driver who sat frozen and
took control of the car.
As he sped away Carly whispered to Sonny. "Nothing's going to happen to the
baby, right?"
"No, I won't let it." He said automatically. "I promise."
"Good." She murmured as she slowly closed her eyes.
"No, no, Carly, don't go to sleep on me. That's not a good thing to do." He
jostled her, trying to wake her up but her eyes remained closed. "Come on,
Carly, wake up sweetheart. *Wake up*!"
"You're scared that A.J. is coming for you? Then it's safer for you to stay
at the penthouse. It's easier for me to keep you under guard at my place
than to send them over to the Brownstone."
"I don't know about this…" She chewed on her bottom lip.
"Honey, this might be a good idea after all." Bobbie jumped in. She could
see that Sonny was getting impatient and this was a conversation that they
didn't need to be having in the middle of the airport.
"Since it seems you don't want me staying with you then I guess Michael and
I will stay with Sonny." Carly frowned at her.
"Now, you know I didn't it mean it like that so don't start that up."
Bobbie warned her.
Sonny checked his watch. "We should go, we have to meet with the lawyer on
the way to the penthouse. Johnny, take Michael and Bobbie to the penthouse
ahead of us. They don't need to wait around while we're in the meeting."
Carly glared at him as he started barking out the orders. "And who's coming
with us, if Johnny is with them?"
"Francis." Sonny grinned nastily at the look on her face. "Come on, let's
go."
~*~*~
"Be careful, sir. The lobby was just mopped." The Harborview Towers doorman
warned Sonny as he escorted Carly inside. Sonny nodded in his direction.
"So according to your lawyer all I do is sign and I'm free?" Carly asked
for the umpteenth time.
"If you ask me that one more time…" Sonny gritted out. "Yes, one signature
and that's all."
"I just don't want any slip ups." Carly whirled around to face him and her
foot slid on the wet floor. "Whoa!"
"Carly! Would you be more careful." He said harshly as he reached out to
steady her. If anything happened to their child…
"Well, well, well it's about time you showed up. So where was he hiding
you?" A.J.'s voice drifted over to them. He emerged from a dark corner
where he'd been waiting.
"A.J." Carly whispered. She turned accusing eyes to Sonny. He was supposed
to keep him away.
"Get out of here, A.J. before I call the cops."
"Hey, I just wanted to see the wife." A.J. staggered over to them. It was
clear that he was drunk. "Is that a tan? Did he stash you somewhere
tropical? I bet it ticked you off that you were too knocked up to get any
action. Then again knowing you…"
"Do something." Carly hissed as she pressed herself closer to Sonny's side.
He was the only thing that separated her and A.J. She was not going to let
him get close to her. Sonny wrapped his arm around her.
"Oh, isn't that sweet? Look at that. You two are already looking like a
couple. Awww." A.J. said in a mocking tone. "That is until she finds
someone with deeper pockets. Enjoy it while it last Sonny, she's trash but
she's still a fun ride."
"Francis." Sonny snapped and the guard grabbed A.J. and dragged him over to
the door.
"Hey! You can't do this."
"I just did." Sonny smirked.
"He's not going to be around all the time Carly. One day, him, the guards,
they'll all be gone and then it'll be just you and me. You and me, Carly. I
won't forget, baby."
Carly buried her face in Sonny's shirt until A.J. was out of the building.
Then she unleashed her fury on Sonny, hitting him over and over on the
chest. "Damn you, you said you took care of him. You said you'd keep him
away from me. I thought you kept your promises."
"That was just a fluke." He swore and grabbed her hands to keep her from
hitting him again.
"No, that was glimpse of the way things are going to be isn't it? A.J.'s
going to pop up whenever he wants and threaten me. Did you hear him? Did
you hear him!"
"I heard him, Carly. But I'm not going to let hurt you."
"I don't believe you. Johnny wouldn't have let him get that close. I know
that Jason wouldn't have either." She shot out.
"Too bad for you because I'm not Jason. I do things my own way and when I
say that I'll care of it, I will. Now calm the hell down for once."
"It's not good for me or the baby." She repeated his warning with a smirk
on her face.
"It's not. Tomorrow, we'll get you a restraining order." At Carly's snort
he added. "It's a start. Now, are you calmed down? Michael doesn't need to
see you all worked up."
"Oh God, Michael." Carly pressed her hand to her mouth. "What if he got
upstairs?"
"He didn't."
"How do you know?"
"Someone would have called me." He said logically.
"I have to check on my son."
"Fine, but go slow. I don't want you slipping again."
Once they got to the penthouse Carly rushed in past the guard on duty and
found Bobbie helping Michael play with his building blocks in the middle of
the living room. Carly snatched Michael up and hugged her tightly to him.
Sonny shrugged out of his coat and sniffed. "See, I told you he was fine.
Now put him down before you smother him to death."
Even as she turned to glare at him she gave Michael back to Bobbie. "Do not
tell me what I can and cannot do regarding *my* son. You have no say."
"Come on, he was turning blue." Sonny said with a laugh.
"He was fine!"
Bobbie looked from Carly and Sonny and back. "You guys, maybe you shouldn't
fight in front of Michael. I'll take him upstairs for his nap."
"Nobody's fighting." Carly faked a grin and a cheery tone for Michael's
benefit. She carefully picked him up again. "And I'll put him down for his
nap."
As Carly stomped upstairs Bobbie walked over to Sonny. "You know, maybe
this wasn't such a good idea after all."
Sonny dropped down onto the couch. "Things will work out fine."
"Things aren't going to work out if you keep fighting."
"We wouldn't fight if she would just do as I tell her to." Sonny mumbled.
"It's obvious you don't know my daughter because you *can't* tell her what
to do. She'll only ignore you and do her own thing. *Or* she'll go to the
extreme and do what you want but do it in such a way that you'd wish you'd
never even bothered in the first place."
Sonny closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. "Are you done?"
"No, but you look tired. Sonny, it'll be easier on everyone involved if you
would just give in a little."
"I give in enough." He shot back.
Bobbie raised an eyebrow disapprovingly and continued. "You two better
learn to work together. Ordering Carly around isn't the wisest thing you
could do."
Sonny let out an exasperating sigh. To him, none of this was any of
Bobbie's business. What happened between Carly and him only had to do with
the two of them and their child. "Right."
Bobbie could tell that she was getting to him but not in the way she meant.
She gathered up her purse and coat. "You know what? Tell Carly that I'll
see her tomorrow after the signing. She should rest up tonight. Jet lag can
be murder."
"I will." Sonny murmured.
Carly padded down the stairs barefoot just as Bobbie left. "Where's she
going?"
"She thinks you should get some rest. And so do I?" Sonny stood up and
walked around the couch towards her.
"Do I look like I care?" Carly snipped at him.
"Carly…" Sonny rubbed the back of his neck and forced back a retort. "You
and me, this fighting thing isn't going work."
"Who said were fighting? We had a disagreement here and there but no real
fights yet. Unless you're just dying to end the truce. God, you couldn't
even last a day could you?"
"I'm trying to end the truce, maybe you and I should stop butting heads."
"Maybe you should stop ticking me off. It's not good for the baby." She
said in a saccharine tone and patted her stomach.
Sonny gritted his teeth. "Never mind. I try to do the right thing and you
just…forget it."
Carly sighed. She wasn't helping things ever by taking everything he said
the wrong way. Most of the time she was just looking for an excuse. "Okay,
okay, I won't…I won't jump on everything you say if you promise to stop
telling me what to do."
Sonny stared at her and she sighed again. "Alright, unless it has to do
with this baby, okay? Are you happy?"
He nodded. "Fine with me."
"God, you are so difficult." She grabbed a pillow and wrapped her arms
around. "I don't know how we're ever going to live together without
fighting."
"Hey, I don't want to fight with you all the time. You start most of it. I
think you happen to like fighting with me." He narrowed his eyes
suspiciously.
"Please." Carly tossed her pillow at him. "I don't think so. I think you
like the fighting more. What, does it turn you on or something? God, I bet
you're one of those fetish types."
"Kinky sex seems more like your style." Sonny smirked. "I like the slow old
fashioned if it ain't broke don't fix it type."
"Boring." Carly faked a yawn.
"Not with me." Sonny drawled.
"Right." Carly snorted.
"Not that you'd ever find out…"
"Already had the pleasure, remember?" She gestured towards her stomach.
"Wasn't exactly memorable."
Sonny chuckled to himself. Carly picked up another pillow and tossed it him
again. "Get over yourself!"
He smiled slowly and seductively. "You know you still think about. The
satin sheets, when we knocked over the lamp, the—"
"Puh-lease!" Carly stressed the word and rolled her eyes.
"What's the line again? 'Methinks the lady doth protest too much?'"
"Your Shakespeare sucks." Carly muttered.
"I guess I'll have to lock my door tonight to keep you from getting in."
Sonny teased.
"Whatever." Carly got up and walked over to the window. How did they end up
talking about sex anyway? Sex was what got them into this mess in the first
place. Time for a change in subject. "I wish I was still on the island. I
love to take a walk on the beach right about now. To feel the sand
squishing between my toes…"
"With Johnny right?" Sonny scowled.
Carly frowned and turned around. "Yeah with Johnny. We like to take walks
together. He was the only who talked to me down there. Does my friendship
with Johnny really bother you that much?"
"No." Sonny laughed it off and scratched his ear. "That's the last thing on
my mind. I'm just…curious."
"*Right*." Carly dragged the word out.
"I'm going to bed, we have to get up early tomorrow. You should think about
going to bed too." Sonny muttered.
"Was that an order?"
"It was a *suggestion*." Sonny said.
"I'll go to bed soon. I'm just don't feel that tired right now." Carly
shrugged.
"Well do it soon. If you want." He quickly added.
"Uh-huh." Carly walked back to the couch and curled up. Sonny paused on the
stairs and stared at her. Carly glanced up. "Yeah?"
"Goodnight? That's what people say."
She frowned. "Yeah, goodnight, whatever." Sonny shook his head and made his
way up the stairs.
There was a soft knock then Johnny opened the door and stuck his head
inside. Carly lit up at the sight of him. "Hey you!"
"Where's Mr. Corinthos?" Johnny whispered.
"He went upstairs. You want me to get him?"
"No, I have something for you." Johnny carried a plastic take out bag in
one hand.
Carly sniffed the air and broke out into a big smile. "Is that what I think
it is?"
"Fried plantains, just the way you like it." Johnny took out the carryout
container and placed it on the coffee table.
"Oh my God, Johnny! Where did you find this?" Carly happily dug into the
container. "Did you get me a knife and fork, never mind I'll just eat it
with my hands. How did you know I would be craving this?"
Johnny laughed as he watched Carly devour the sweet banana. "I don't know,
maybe the fact that you've eaten it every night for the past two weeks
might have clued me in?"
"You are too good to me, Johnny." She smiled. Her smile grew bigger when he
blushed from her praise. She shook her head. "Uh-uh, those blushes are not
going to get me to share my plantains with you so don't even bother."
"I would never—" He protested half-heartedly. Actually he was thinking of a
way to snatch one without her knowing.
"Yeah right. I saw the way you were eyeing them." Carly covered the
container with one hand and held the other one up to stop him, just in
case. "You know what would be lovely with this?"
"Don't say it, don't say it." Johnny's face scrunched up in disgust. He
knew what was coming.
"Ice cream! Vanilla ice cream. Please, Johnny." She pleaded.
"Ugh, you cannot want that."
"It's not me, it's the baby. Now, go get some vanilla ice cream. Breyer's,
the kind with the vanilla beans. Oh! And some chocolate sauce. And more
plantains, I'll finish these before you get back."
"I am not going to get you ice cream." Johnny shook his head forcefully.
"It's not healthy, especially with that."
"Johnny…" Carly pouted and Johnny gave in.
"Ok, ok. I'll be back with the ice cream and plantains soon." Johnny made
his way to the door.
"Thanks, I'll even share with you if you like." Carly said graciously. She
laughed at the face he made at the prospect. "Wait! Here you can have one."
She held out the strip of banana for him. He came back over and went to
reach for it with his hand but Carly held it away. "Uh-uh, open wide."
He obediently opened his mouth and Carly popped it in. He smiled as he
chewed. 'Thank you."
"No prob." She wiped away a bit of grease from the corner of his mouth.
"Okay, now go get more food."
Upstairs Sonny watched the scene play out. He wore a severe frown. He
didn't like the closeness they shared or how comfortable they were in each
other's company. If he didn't trust Johnny so much he would send him out of
town for a few months. It wasn't that he was jealous of Johnny and Carly's
relationship. The notion of that was absurd. He just didn't trust Carly to
not try to turn his own guard against him. The last thing he needed was his
guard being loyal to someone other than him. That was all it was, Sonny
told himself. Nothing more.
~*~*~
"Tell me again why we're meeting at A.J.'s lawyer's office?" Carly
complained as she and Sonny walked off the elevator. They were flanked by
Johnny and Francis. "I thought we, you, were in control."
"We are. A.J. knows we hold all the cards but having *us* come to him makes
him feel important." Sonny said. He took her elbow and guided her towards
the room they would be meeting in.
"Shouldn't your lawyer be with us?" Carly looked around.
"He's meeting us there."
"Do I look alright? Like I'm in control?" Carly glanced down at the suit
Bobbie brought over for her that morning. It was a navy blue sleeveless
dress with a matching jacket. For once Carly didn't feel like a whale.
"Yeah, yeah, you look fine." Sonny mumbled without sparing her a glance.
Carly scowled but didn't say anything. She was too nervous to start an
argument.
"This is it." Sonny stopped in front of the door. "Johnny, Francis, you two
stay out here."
He glanced at Carly expecting her to complain but she stayed quiet. He
knocked on the door once then opened it without waiting for an answer.
Adrian Stewart and A.J. were on one side of a long table and Sonny's lawyer
was waiting on the other side. Sonny helped Carly into a chair and stood
behind it, one hand resting on the back.
"You're late." A.J. said obnoxiously. He eyed Carly and she shrank back
against the chair. Sonny placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed.
Sonny ignored him and spoke to his lawyer. "You have the papers?"
"Right here, sir." He withdrew a packet of papers from his pocket and slid
it across the table.
"What's this?" A.J. started to pick them up but Adrian got it first. He
scanned them. "It's a restraining order. You are order to stay at least
five hundred feet away from Miss Benson."
"What! They can't do that."
"They can do whatever they want." Adrian thought back to his not quite
legal girlfriend. "Don't complain about it."
"This isn't fair."
"Are we hear to sign some papers or just listen to Junior whine?" Sonny
drawled lazily.
His attitude was one of 'whatever, I don't give a damn'. Carly drew
strength from it. Sonny was right. They were the ones with the power. Right
now she had nothing to be afraid. A.J. couldn't touch her. Sonny was here;
Johnny and Francis were just outside, waiting. Sonny could feel her relax
under his hand and smiled a little.
Sonny's lawyer placed the papers in front of A.J. who stared at them for a
few seconds. He looked up at Carly to stare into her eyes. She stared back
and finally spoke. "Sign them, A.J. let's end this now."
"Not the ending I had planned." A.J. muttered.
"We could go for another ending if you want Junior. One that includes you
behind bars. Would you like that?" Sonny sneered. "Sign the damn papers."
A.J. swallowed hard but slowly signed away his wife, his child, and the
future he once thought they could have. With each signature Carly's smile
got bigger and bigger. It was finally happening. She was almost free!
A.J. caught her smiling and snarled. "Don't you dare laugh, because this
isn't over!"
"Shut up, A.J." Adrian murmured when he saw the way Sonny was looking at
A.J.
In spite of herself Carly held onto her smile. She picked up the pen and
grabbed the papers. "This ends now, just as soon as I finish my name."
But before she could complete her signatures A.J. slammed his hands against
the table, stood up and stormed out. Carly shrugged and finished. "There we
go. Does this mean I'm done?"
Sonny had to smile to himself. She didn't let A.J. cower her. He was proud
of her. "Yeah, you're free."
"I'm free?" Carly beamed. She jumped up, as much as her advanced pregnancy
would let her. She hugged Sonny. "Thank you!" Then she surprised Sonny's
lawyer by hugging and thanking him too. She was about to go around the
table and hug Adrian but Sonny stopped her.
"Hey, you want to celebrate? Lunch or something?" He grinned at her. "The
PC Grille?"
"Yeah! I'm starved." She grinned back. Once they were out of the office she
jumped on Johnny laughing. "I'm free! I'm free! This is the *best* day of
my life."
A.J. had stomped down the corridor to Adrian's office. He could Carly
laughing and crowing about her victory over him. He poured himself a glass
of scotch that Adrian kept around for celebrations. He tossed it back and
grimaced.
"Enjoy it now, Carly." He said as the warmth of the scotch spread
throughout. "It's not going to last."
He dropped the glass on the carpeted floor and grabbed the bottle. He
wasn't sure what he was going to do. He would just figure it out along the
way. One way or another they will respect him again.
~*~*~
Carly and Sonny had just finished off their appetizers. For once they'd
managed to hold a civil conversation. Neither wanted to disrupt the
celebration with a petty argument. "I just can't believe it's all over.
Just like that." Carly snapped her fingers.
"Over and done with. Now we can move on to the more important things."
Sonny said.
"Yeah, those." Carly lowered her eyes.
"Forget I mentioned that." He quickly said. "We can worry about the future
tomorrow alright?"
"Right. Tonight's about my freedom." She picked up her glass of sparkling
water and toasted. "To freedom!"
"Hear, hear." Sonny clicked glasses with her.
"I'm so glad you're having a good time after you destroyed my son."
Monica's angered voice came from out of nowhere.
"Monica." Sonny smiled falsely at her while Carly stared down at the table
and groaned. "If anyone destroyed your son, it was him."
"He was fine until *she* came into his life."
"Right, because being the family screw up and the drunk who wrapped his
brother's head around a tree is just peachy keen compared to him marrying
me!" Carly snapped. Her eyes shot fire at Monica who stepped back slightly.
"He would have never started drinking again if you hadn't taken his son
from him."
"He started drinking because he's weak." Carly snarled. "And I took *my*
son with me like any good mother."
"You don't know anything about being a good mother. If you were you
wouldn't be sitting her knocked up by this sleaze. You think we didn't
know? A.J. told us everything."
"I'd rather be pregnant by Sonny any day than carry another Quartermaine.
At least Sonny's all man, not some sniveling mama's boy whose own mother
doesn't want him unless he's the last resort. You know you wouldn't be
going through all this if this were Jason's child. You'd be on your knees
kissing my feet if you thought it'd impress Jason."
"You'd like to think that wouldn't you?" Monica hissed. "You aren't good
enough for either of my sons. A.J. is better off without you anyway but
believe me when I say that we won't give up on Michael. He'll be coming
home to us where he belongs."
"Try it and A.J. goes to jail. He's given up all rights, he knows he can't
win." Sonny answered. He'd enjoyed Carly's little impassioned speech but he
wasn't going to let Monica continue to threaten her.
She stared down Sonny. "I don't know what kind of blackmail you have on him
but—"
"He tried to make me seem crazy, Monica." Carly said softly.
"We all knew that. Sane people don't go to Ferncliff." Monica snapped.
"He tried to kill me." Carly said a little louder.
"Right, my son is not a killer." Monica denied. "And if he tried, he would
have succeeded. Pity he didn't try."
"Sonny, I want to leave now." Carly stood up abruptly, knocking the table
with her stomach.
"You're going to run again, Carly? Do us all a favor and don't come back."
Monica sneered.
"Why don't *you* do us all a favor and shut up." Sonny barked. He placed
his hand against Carly's back and guided her out of the restaurant.
~*~*~
A.J. sat hunched over the wheel of his car. He was parked across the street
from The PC Grille, waiting. Every now and then he would take a drink from
the bottle of scotch that he'd snatched from his lawyer's office. Once he
actually thought to himself 'What am I doing? This is crazy. Just turn
around, go home, and sleep it off.' But then he took another sip and all
rational thoughts were gone. The only thing left was revenge. He wasn't
afraid of Sonny Corinthos. He was Alan Quatermaine Junior, damn it!
A.J. watched as Sonny escorted Carly into the waiting limousine. She looked
very upset and Sonny wore a frown. A.J. wondered what happened in the
restaurant that caused them to leave so quickly. He didn't have enough time
to worry about that; their limo was starting to pull away. He quickly
followed. He wasn't sure what he was going to do but he knew it was going
to be big. Corinthos would never disrespect him again.
While waiting behind them at a red light the thought suddenly hit him. Look
at how vulnerable they were in that limousine. They were the proverbial
sitting ducks. Anything to just come along and hit them. They were the only
ones on the road. Nobody would see him do it.
A sinister smile stretched over his lips and he laughed to himself.
Perfect, absolutely perfect. A little rear end to show Sonny he wasn't
scared and then he could take off before Sonny could get out of the car. He
could do nothing about it! A.J. finished off the bottle for a little extra
courage and then tightened his hands on the steering wheel.
Inside the limousine Sonny was speaking softly to Carly. Her leg was
shaking. "You shouldn't let her get to you like that."
"You don't know what it was like. When Monica realized how A.J. felt about
me she decided it gave her carte blanche to treat me anyway she wanted. She
*hates* me Sonny. You heard her. She wants me dead."
"She's *nothing*." He stressed the word. "After today you never have to
deal with the woman and she knows that. That's why she just had to get one
last dig in."
Carly shook her and looked away. "You…"
Sonny laid his hand on her knee and squeezed. "There's no sense in getting
so worked up over this. It's not good for the baby."
Carly stared down at his hand. "And everything's about the baby, right?
Nothing about my feelings?"
"You can take care of yourself, the baby can't. It's depending on you so if
you won't look out for it then let me."
"Don't ever accuse me of not looking out for my kid!" Carly snapped and
pushed his hand off her knee. "And keep your hands off of me."
"Too late for that." He snapped back.
Carly stared at the window for a second. She muttered. "I'm sorry, I said I
wasn't going to do that anymore."
He took a deep breath and murmured. "Fighting's not going to do us any
good."
Carly hesitantly nodded. "I suppose you're right…"
"So…you think I'm 'all man'?" Sonny said with an arch eyebrow.
"Shut up." She rolled her eyes. "I only said it tick off Monica. Michael's
more of a man that A.J."
She absentmindedly rubbed her stomach comforting herself and the baby.
Sonny studied the way her hand moved up and down. Carly looked up and
caught the longing look on his face. She rolled her eyes, oh for goodness
sake. He looked like he was a little boy and she had his ice cream cone.
She sighed dramatically and said, "Sonny."
"Huh?" He glanced up.
"Would you like to…" She paused, took off her seat belt, and twisted in the
seat to face him. "Feel the baby?"
She watched as a light came on in his eyes as he tried to hide his glee.
Carly was taken aback at how happy he was at the prospect of just touching
her stomach. Sonny couldn't believe that he was about to finally get a
chance to feel something that he helped create.
"Well, I…sure." He shrugged and slowly stretched out his hand.
"Oh, just do it." She snapped.
She grabbed his hand and was just about to lay it on her stomach when the
car was suddenly hit from behind. Carly was sent flying and landed against
the seat across from her.
"Carly, are you okay?" Sonny said frantically. He quickly unbuckled his
seatbelt. "What the hell was that? Johnny!"
"I'm okay." She murmured as she tried to get up. She touched her forehead.
"I just bumped my head is all."
In his car A.J. snickered. "Oh, this is fun." He muttered to himself.
He had to try it again. He slowly reversed and then with a maniacal grin he
surged forward ramming the stationary limousine again. Only this time he
wasn't able to laugh about his victory. The force of his blow caused him to
slam against the windshield. His body slumped over the steering wheel.
Sonny was helping Carly back into her seat when A.J. hit the second time.
Both went flying this time, Carly on the floor and Sonny against the door.
"Damn it, Johnny! What is going on? Do something!" Sonny shouted as he made
his way over to Carly. He ran his hands over her body. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, really. What's happening Sonny?" She asked anxiously.
Sonny could see the fear in her eyes but he didn't want to worry her. "It's
probably nothing."
But all Sonny could do was think of his enemies. This could be ambush by
Sorel. He reached into his jacket for the gun he occasionally wore. Thank
God, he thought to wear it today.
"If it's nothing why are you bringing out a *gun*?" Carly's eyes widened at
the sight of it. She didn't know Sonny even owned a gun, much less knew
what to do with one.
"Just in case it is something." He tossed out.
"Uh-huh." She said disbelieving and then winced.
Sonny immediately jumped on it. "What was that? I thought you said you were
okay?"
"It's just a cramp." She denied.
"I need to get you out of here and to the hospital." He thought about what
had to be done. This wasn't good. Johnny wasn't answering him. What could
have happened? Sorel's men could be waiting for him outside the door. He
didn't want to expose Carly and the baby to any danger but he had to get
her out. He was jolted out his thoughts when someone knocked on the window.
"Who do you think it is?" Carly whispered. She had picked up on Sonny's
nervousness.
"Shush." He said softly. "Look, I need to roll down the window for me. Try
to stay as far back as you can, okay? And don't say a word. Can you do
that?"
Mutely, she nodded.
"Good." Sonny cocked his gun then pointed at the window and nodded at Carly
to let her know it was time to press the button.
As the window slowly rolled down Carly became even more nervous. What on
earth did Sonny Corinthos get her into? Was this the beginning of some mob
war? Was she going to die simply because she carried Sonny's child? Oh,
God, she silently prayed. I don't want to die. Don't let the baby and me
die. Please.
When the window had finally slid down Johnny stuck his head in. "Boss?"
Carly sat back in relief but Sonny exploded. "Damn it, Johnny! I could have
shot your ******* head off! What were you thinking? Why didn't you answer
me? What the hell is going on out there?"
"I'm sorry, sir. The limo was hit—"
"I know that! By who?"
"A.J. Quartermaine hit us. I got out to see what happened and that's why I
didn't hear you call."
"A.J.?" Sonny repeated in disbelief.
"I just checked his car, he's passed out over the steering wheel. He's
barely alive. He smells like winery." Johnny frowned.
"That SOB got drunk and then tried to run us down?" Sonny's eyes hardened.
"He could have killed Carly."
"I know." Johnny frowned. The first thing he wanted to do when he found out
it was A.J. was rip the drunk apart but he knew he had to report to Sonny
first.
"You said he was out cold?"
"Yeah, looks like he hit his head." Johnny nodded.
"Then let's go wake him up." Sonny said. He started to get out of the limo
but Carly's soft whimper stopped him.
"Sonny…"
"I'll be right back." He promised her and stepped out to survey the damage.
He swore softly. The backend of the limo was crunched up, as was the front
of A.J.'s car. Sonny tucked the gun into his waistband then placed his
hands on his hips and looked at Johnny. "Call for another car, I need to
get Carly to the hospital."
"Is she okay?" Johnny immediately asked.
"Yes." Sonny snapped, aggravated at Johnny's show of concern. "She said all
did was hit her head."
"Sonny!" Carly's frantic call floated out of the limo. She continued to
call his name louder and louder as she became more hysterical. "Sonny!
Sonny! *SONNY*!"
Sonny and Johnny rushed back over to the limo. Sonny yanked open the door
and ducked in. He gasped. Carly was staring down at her blood-covered
hands, her skirt was soaked in blood and tears streamed down her face. She
opened her mouth to scream again but Sonny quickly kneeled beside her.
He swallowed her and took her hands in his. He forced himself to stay calm.
"What happened?"
"I…I did it again, Sonny, I did it again."
The terror in her voice broke his heart. He softly stroked her hair. "It'll
be okay, trust me. Let's get you out of here." He scooped up her up in his
arms and carried her out. "Johnny! We need to get her to a hospital fast."
Johnny gulped. "I'll call an ambulance."
"No!" Sonny whispered harshly. He wasn't sure how much time they had.
"It'll take too long."
"The limo isn't going anywhere." Johnny apologized regretfully.
"Look." Sonny broke off when a passing car slowed down. The driver stuck
his head out the window. "You guys okay? Need any help?"
"As a matter of fact." Sonny nodded towards Johnny who whipped out his gun
and pointed it at the driver. "We need your car."
"W-what?" The driver stammered. Great, just his luck for being a Good
Samaritan. His wife always said it was going to get him trouble one day.
"Slide over, let Johnny drive." Sonny ordered as he carried Carly to the
backseat.
"What about Quatermaine?" Johnny looked back at the damaged car.
"Leave him." Sonny settled himself and Carly in the back. "Now drive!"
"Yes, sir." Johnny pushed aside the frightened driver who sat frozen and
took control of the car.
As he sped away Carly whispered to Sonny. "Nothing's going to happen to the
baby, right?"
"No, I won't let it." He said automatically. "I promise."
"Good." She murmured as she slowly closed her eyes.
"No, no, Carly, don't go to sleep on me. That's not a good thing to do." He
jostled her, trying to wake her up but her eyes remained closed. "Come on,
Carly, wake up sweetheart. *Wake up*!"