Part Eighteen

            Gia was still in Jason's room holding his hand when Sonny entered.  He thought he should give them some privacy but she looked up and smiled.  "Hey."

            "Why aren't you in bed?" Sonny asked concerned.

            "I had to see him." Gia told him.  "Everyone kept telling me to take a rest but I had to see him." With her free hand she touched his face.  "I had to know that he wasn't dead."

            Sonny understood.  "Promise me you'll soon go back to your room." He could tell that she was very tired. 

            She nodded.  "Did you find AJ?"

            "Not yet.  If he tries to leave Port Charles he will be found.  Between me and the police there is no way AJ Quartermaine is going to get away with what he did." Sonny told her.

            "If you find him, what will you do to him?" Gia asked.  She looked Sonny straight in the eyes.  She wanted to make sure that he told her the truth.

            "I promised Carly a long time ago that I would never kill him." Sonny told her.  "No matter what he did…because years down the road if Michael wants to know his real father I won't feel guilty because I can't give that to him.  If one of my people finds AJ, they will turn him over to the police."

            Gia was happy to hear that.  She didn't want AJ dead; she just wanted him to pay.  She looked back at Jason hoping that he would open his eyes.  He lay there motionless and Gia bit her lip. 

            "Why won't he open his eyes?" Gia asked, as she began to cry again.

            "Gia, I want you to go back downstairs and sleep.  Sleep is the best medicine and you'll feel better in the morning." He went over to her and helped her stand up.  "Jason is sleeping too.  He'll wake up when he is ready.  It won't do you any good to stay up all night and make yourself sicker.  I promise that you'll know if he wakes up." Gia was a little shaky so he took her arm to steady her.  "I'll help you back to your room if you promise to stay."

            Gia nodded.  She was exhausted, and her head hurt.  As she and Sonny entered the elevator she realized something that her unconscious had known for awhile.  She loved Jason…

            ****

            Carly wasn't ready to give up on her mission yet.  She had found out that the lab was closed to pregnancy tests so late at night but she wanted to know right away.  Leaving the hospital, she found a nearby 24-7 store and purchased a home pregnancy test there.  She went back to the hospital and locked herself in one of the stalls of the hospital bathroom to perform the test. 

            While she waited for the results she thought back.  That night on the couch! Usually, they were careful because neither thought they were ready for another baby.  Adella was just over a year old.  But she knew that if the test was positive both she and Sonny would be over the moon.  She also thought of other reasons why she could feel so tired lately.  She had met Gia and the two were spending lots of time together but that couldn't account for her increased appetite.  And what about her late period? 

            She looked at her watch and took a deep breath.  "It's time." She told herself.  She looked to her other hand where she held the test.  Two blue lines.  She was pregnant! She burst into giggles.  She was so happy! Another baby! She and Sonny were having another child together. 

            She threw the test and the box into the garbage.  Of course, she was going to have a doctor confirm it the next day but she was pretty much convinced. Her hand went to her stomach.  "Hey little one, now that mommy knows you are there she promises she'll lay off the junk food…unless you want it!"  She exited the bathroom still in her joyful mood but she knew she was facing some grim faces.  She walked back to Jason's room and found it empty.  It was late and Carly decided after the quick visit she would find Sonny and go home.  She was tired and she had a baby to think about now.

            "Hey Jase, I see that you still haven't woken up." Carly said quietly.  "I hope you do soon so I can see your reaction when I tell you that I am pregnant again.  I think I am not going to tell Sonny until you wake up.  I don't want him worrying about me and you.  So hurry up, will you?  I don't know how much longer I can wait before I tell him." She laughed a little and squeezed his hand.  She left the room and road the elevator to the floor where Gia was.  She hoped that her friend would be sleeping.

            When she stepped off the elevator, she spotted Sonny coming out of Gia's room.  She smiled a little.  "I knew there was a reason why I got off on this floor." She said as he pulled her into his arms.  It had been hours since she had last saw him and she felt like so much had changed since then.  "Gia is asleep?"
            Sonny nodded.  "Finally…I found her in Jason's room.  She wanted to see him so badly.  I think it did them both some good."

            "Do you need me here?" Carly asked, already knowing that Sonny would want to spend the night.  "I'm really tired and I want to be home in case Adella or Michael wake up and need me."

            Sonny shook his head and kissed her lips.  "Johnny will drive you."

            "I'll be back in the morning." Carly promised.  "I hope you have good news for me." She said referring to Jason.  "If anything bad happens, please call me."

            Sonny nodded, and gave her another kiss.  He watched his wife disappear down the hall and then headed back to Jason's room.  He was ready to pull an all night vigil.

            ****

            Gia woke up around 8:30 the next morning.  She had tried desperately to convince someone to let her go upstairs and visit Jason.  But the doctors were running tests and her mother was fussing over her like she was a child again.  She managed to learn that Jason was still alive but hadn't woken up yet from Alan.  She also learned that AJ hadn't been caught yet. 

            Gia resigned herself to spending the day in the hospital bed.  She hoped that Carly or Sonny would show up later on.  She knew that Carly would make her laugh and Sonny was good with words, although he didn't say a lot.  He had helped her back to her bed last night and then they had talked about Jason.  She could tell that he thought a lot of Jason.

            She did too.  Yesterday she had told Jason that she was ready to try something with him and last night she had realized that she loved him.  Why did it take a tragedy to put a person's feelings into perspective?  She had thought about it and now she knew that she loved Jason.  She had probably been waiting to fall in love again for awhile.  It was true that she loved Nikolas but the man she loved at disappeared years ago and she hadn't realized that she had been over him for a long time.  She had been living with a stranger hoping the man she loved would return.  When he didn't, her heart moved on, and her mind had been slow to catch up. 

            But she was sure now…she was sure that she loved Jason.  She just hoped that she got to tell him.

            ****

            Carly had a coffee in her hand when she came into Jason's room.  Sonny looked exhausted and she hoped that she would be able to convince him to go home and get some rest.  She had just seen Michael off to school and Leticia was spending the day with Adella. 

            Sonny was in the chair, and looked like he hadn't moved much since he had sat down last night.  She put her hand on his shoulder and he looked up.  "Any change?"

            "No." Sonny said.  "I talked to him a lot last night.  Do you think he heard me?"

            "I heard you when I was here after my accident." Carly handed him the coffee.  "I am sure Jason would here you."  She thought about the baby growing inside her.  She knew he or she would hear her as well.  "I want you to go home Sonny."

            "I can't." Sonny admitted.  "Not until I know that he will be okay."

            Carly sighed.  "Alright, I know you are just as stubborn as I am.  I need to do a few things…visit Gia.  I'll be back as soon as possible.  I have my cell phone.  Call me if you need me."

            "I will." Sonny said, feeling Carly's lips on her cheek. 

            Carly left the room and headed down to meet with her doctor.  She had made an appointment that morning as soon as she woke up to confirm what she already knew.  She was told that she would know within an hour and gave the doctor her cell phone number so he could call her. 

            She then set out to visit Gia.  She swore the younger woman's face lit up when she walked in the door.  "Bored?"

            "You wanna believe it." Gia cried.  "My mother finally left but I swore she was in my face treating me like a baby.  The doctors won't let me leave my room just yet even though I feel fine.  My head doesn't hurt as bad, and I was told the swelling is gone.  I am pretty sure that I have no brain damage.  So why am I here?"

            "Better safe than sorry." Carly said. "I'll stay for awhile…try to help you with that boredom problem."

            "Great." Gia said.  "Did you see Jason?"

            "Briefly.  Sonny is with him now.  He's in good hands." She noticed the look on Gia's face.  Carly reached out and took her hand.  "He'll wake up."

            "I hope you're right." Gia wanted to change the subject before she got too upset.  "How are the kids?"

            "I'm glad you asked." Carly grinned.  "Michael asked for you this morning.  He wanted to know when you two could play again.  I told him by next week.  Adella was her cute little angelic self." She then placed her hands on her stomach.  "And this one has just made itself known."
            Gia's eyes grew wide.  "You're pregnant?"

            "I haven't got the official word from the doctor yet but one of those home tests came out positive last night."

            "Wow! What did Sonny say?"

            "He doesn't know yet." Carly said.  "I didn't want to tell him until I was sure.  Plus, he has been worrying a lot lately and I don't want to add something else to the list.  I'll tell him when the doctor calls.  Pretend you don't know, okay?"

            "Sure." Gia was smiling widely.

            "So…how do you feel about being a godmother?" Carly asked.

            Gia reached out to hug Carly.  "I'd be honored." She said blinking back a few tears.  Not only had she found love, she had found friendship.  She would be so happy if only Jason would wake up.  She pulled back.  "You know, I really hate waiting." She pulled back her covers.  She was still wearing the hospital pants she had stolen the night before.  "Help me sneak up to Jason's room.  I won't stay long.  I promise."

            Carly groaned and then nodded.  "Alright.  I'll give you ten minutes.  Alan might come in to give you a test result or he might come to check on Jason.  I think the penalty for sneaking out of your room is three hours bed rest."

            Gia laughed and watched as Carly stuck her head out the door and then waved at Gia.  "Coast clear…"            She pressed the button on the elevator.  "It's a good thing that elevator is right across the hall."

            ****

            Sonny was drifting off.  He should have known that he was going to do this.  He sat up straight again in an attempt to say awake.  He rested his head on his arm, and felt his eyes drooping.  Maybe he should take his wife's advice…

            "Sonny…"

            He sat straight up again and his eyes flew open.  "Jason!" He looked over at his friend and saw that he was opening his eyes.  "Jason!  I'll get a doctor."

            "Wait!" Jason said in a quiet voice.

            "What?" Sonny asked.

            "Gia." The last thing Jason remembered was AJ coming at him.  He knew that Gia was supposed to show up.  Did AJ hurt her?  "Is she alright?"

            "She's okay.  She took a bump to the head but she is alright, Jason." Sonny told his friend.  "You just lie back while I get you some help."

            He exited the room and saw Carly and Gia coming down the hallway.

            "Jason." Gia breathed.

            "Is he alright?" Carly asked.

            Sonny nodded.  "He just woke up."  He looked at Gia.  "He was asking about you."

            Gia broke away from the couple and hurried into Jason's room.  She started to cry again. But this time she was happy.  The sight of Jason lying in the bed watching her every move made her so happy.  "Jason…"

            "Did he hurt you?" Jason asked noticing she was wearing a hospital gown. 

            "Not much.  Don't worry about it." Gia said immediately sitting down in the seat by his bed.  "I am fine.  You scared me so much."

            "I'm sorry." Jason said as he took her hand.  "I really am."

            ****

            Carly watched as the doctor went into Jason's room.  She wrapped her arms around Sonny's waist.  "I knew he would wake up today.  Jason is too tough to die." She leaned up for a kiss.  "After the doctor leaves I think we should give Jason and Gia time alone."

            "I think that is a good idea." He said pulling his wife even closer.  A feeling of relief had come over him.  He knew that Jason was going to be alright.

            Carly laid her head on his chest and smiled.  She jumped when her cell phone rang.  This was it.  Right after the call she would tell Sonny.  She quickly pulled it out and listened to the test results.  "Thank you so much." She squealed and then replaced the phone.  She noticed Sonny's confused look.  "How do you feel about being a father again?"

            "You're pregnant!" Sonny watched as his wife nodded.  "That's great!"  He lifted her off the floor.  "I am so happy right now."  He smothered his wife's face in kisses.

            Carly pulled away.  "One things Sonny…" She put her hands on her stomach.  "If this kid ever asks…he or she was not conceived on the couch.  It was after a romantic candle lit dinner, you got it?"

            Sonny laughed and then pulled his wife into a kiss.

            ****

            Gia waited patiently outside Jason's room as the doctor examined him.  As he was leaving, she grabbed his arm gently.  "He's going to be alright?"

            "He should be fine if he gives himself time to heal." The doctor told her. 

            Gia breathed a sigh of relief.  She felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest.  She reentered the room to find Jason watching her every move.  "I hear you'll be alright."

            "With a little care I should be fine."

            "I'll make sure of it." Gia promised.  She reached out and touched his face.  "I want you to make a new promise."

            "What's that?" Jason asked.

            "Besides the fact that you'll never let anyone hurt me, I want you to promise that you'll never ever get shot again." Gia said.  "Or at least try not to…"

            "I promise." Jason said.  "It's not like I wanted to…"

            "Because if I ever lost you, I would be in so much pain." Gia said as she continued to touch his face.  He felt so warm and she knew that her dreams of him lying there cold would disappear.  "Jason, I know I told you that I thought I was ready for a relationship.  I lied…"

            Jason was confused.  He started to speak but she cut him off.

            "We are already in a relationship.  I guess I didn't realize it." Gia said.  "But I do now.  Jason, I love you."

            Jason felt his heart swell.  "Gia, I know it's hard to believe…but I love you too.  We have known each other for a month but I know I'll love you forever.  I guess it was meant to be.  Carly told me that there were things written in stars for me…and you're one of them."

            Gia smiled as she felt tears fall down her cheeks.  She knew that Jason was the one she was meant to be with.  For awhile she thought it was Nikolas but life has a funny way of showing a person when they are wrong.

            "Marry me."

            Gia snapped out of her thoughts.  She looked down at Jason.  He had taken her hand off his face and gripped it tightly in his.  "What?"

            "Gia, please tell me that you'll be my wife." Jason pleaded.

            She didn't even have to think.  "Of course I'll be your wife."  She leaned down and their lips met in a passionate kiss.  When she pulled back, Jason laughed a little.  "What?" She asked.

            "What ever happened to taking it slow?" He asked.

            "Life's too short for that." Gia informed him before she leaned down and kissed him again.  "And I love you too much."

            "I love you too."

The End – Many questions are still in the air…like what happened to AJ?  And what will Nikolas and her family think of Gia's new love?  Look for a sequel down the road!