Disclaimer: General Hospital and all it's characters belong to ABC, Disney, etc.

Authors Note: I'm Very Sorry about taking so long to update this story. I got caught in an extreme case of not knowing where to go with this story. Also, about a week after I started this story I started another one that would not let go of my brain. To everyone I have left dangling I apologize. I do fully intend to continue this story to its logical (or illogical) conclusion. For those of us (like me) who no longer can separate out exactly where this diverged from the Cannon I will try to list plot points I am going to ignore/assume hadn't happened yet. 1) Alexis told Sonny about Davis-Corinthos Jr. before ANYONE else found out. 2) Carly and Jax are still friends and run Club 101. 3) Alcazar does not exist. (Sorry, Brenda is dead. I don't know her well enough to write her). 4) Kristina Cassidine (sister) is alive.

If you have any questions please ask me and I will try to answer them in electronic person or in the next author note.

As always thanks to my beta reader (see Ned is still alive in this one). Please give me feedback (I really, really like your kind words).

PS. "Who shot Carly?" I don't know (Ask my beta reader, we have discussed this at length. No it wasn't me.ok it was but I needed to scare Sonny and give Alexis some interesting stuff to react to.). Really, pre-planning a story usually just gets me in trouble.

In the Best Interests of the Child



Chapter 8: Phone Calls

She heard the phone ring for the third time and hung-up. She hadn't really expected him to be at home. In fact she had devoutly hoped he wouldn't be at home. She didn't want to be the one that told him. Didn't want to hear the guilt creep into his voice before he could cover it up with icy control.

Alexis looked around Nicholas' library to gain strength before she picked up the phone again. "At least someone got Carly to the hospital," she told herself. Ned had not been able to get a detailed description on her condition, but Carly was still alive. No matter what she wouldn't have to tell Sonny his wife was dead. Wouldn't have to tell Sonny that she had left Carly to die alone on the sidewalk.

"Stop it," she ordered herself. She needed to call Sonny and let him know that Michael was alright, at least physically. Let him know that Michael was sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by Kristin, Ned, Nicholas, Gia, and Mrs. Lansbury eating cookies. Let him know that she was still taking care of everything else.

If only her hand would stop shaking long enough so she could dial.

"Did you get in touch with Sonny?" Nicholas asked from the doorway.

How long had Nicholas been standing there? "No, he isn't at home. I am going to try his cell phone," she responded. She squared her shoulders, picked-up the phone and dialed Sonny's cell phone number.

One ring. Two rings. Three.

"Corinthos!" a voice barked.

He knew. She didn't have to tell him. She forced herself to stay standing.

"Michael is fine," she answered.

"Alexis? Are you sure? Where?" Sonny asked in rapid-fire succession. In the background she could hear other voices trying to interrupt him. The two loudest sounded like Bobbie and Detective Taggert.

"I'm sure. Michael is with me here at Wyndamiere. We told him you are on your way. You need to come pick him up," she told Sonny.

"I'm on my way," Sonny responded before hanging up the phone.

Alexis put down the phone and looked up at Nicholas still standing in the doorway. "Sonny is on his way here. Could you please make sure the launch is waiting for him at the docks?" She asked Nicholas.

Nicholas nodded his head. "Are you really ok?" He asked.

"I'm fine," she assured him. Nicholas stared at her. She returned his gaze steadily. Men shooting at her could cause her to run, but she could still stare down her nephew. He finally left the room.

She allowed herself to drop into the desk chair. She closed her eyes and dropped a hand protectively over her daughter. "We are all fine, little one. I just need to make one more phone call and then we will go have a cookie with Michael."

Alexis forced her eyes open, reached for the phone, and dialed Detective Taggert's cell phone.

Remember what is important. Remember your promise. You still have to make sure that everything is alright for the children.

************************************************************************

As the hospital elevator inched its way down to the lobby Sonny leaned against that back wall. For just a moment he let the emotional roller coaster ride of the last two hours roll over him.

Anger, worry, and guilt had been his constant companions since Bobbie had called with the news that Carly had been shot. His anger that someone had dared to hurt his family carried him as he barked orders out to his men. However, as his car raced toward General Hospital, worry and guilt started to joined the anger.

The worry ate at him while he sat with Bobbie in the waiting area. He tried to reassure both them both that Carly was a fighter. Carly would be all right, because there was just no other possible outcome. Carly had survived the car accident and she would survive this too. The guilt just mocked him.

It was his decision to back off and give her a few days to get used to the idea of Alexis having his child. That decision could cost Carly her life. The choices he had made to get where he was today could cost Carly her life.

Then Taggert had swaggered up to them. "Well, should I even bother to ask if you have any idea who did this?"

Sonny had been almost grateful to see him. Glad to have someone, even as annoying and useless as Taggert, to distract him from his thoughts. "Isn't that supposed to be your job Taggert?" he had responded.

"Are you going to let me do my job?" Taggert had questioned.

"I have no problem with you trying to catch the criminals. Do you know how to do that?" he had snapped back.

Seeing the look on Taggert's face had been the closest thing to a bright spot since this nightmare began. However, once Taggert had forced his fists to unclench, Taggert had delivered the deathblow. "Well then you will have no problem with letting me speak to Ms. Davis and Michael."

It was Bobbie who had voice the question, "Why would you need to talk to Michael or Alexis?"

Taggert looked almost sorry for having to tell Bobbie. "According to witnesses both Ms. Davis and Michael was with Mrs. Corinthos when she was shot. It would be best to speak with them as soon as possible."

It had taken them several minutes to determine that no one knew where Alexis and Michael were. Even then Sonny wasn't sure Taggert was convinced. Sonny didn't care what Taggert believed. One thought kept running through his head, "Alexis, Michael, and Alexis' child had been there with Carly."

Bobbie was confident they were both fine. Sonny knew better.

Michael was his son and Alexis was carrying his child. They were both dead. Never had a single one of his children been this close to danger and survived. Another one of his children had died before even taking its first breath. Once again taking his mother, Sonny's best friend, with him. Then there was Michael. Sonny had almost let himself believe that Michael was safe from the curse because he hadn't been the father of Michael's birth. The wave of grief was overwhelming. It had taken all of his concentration to not let it show in front of Taggert.

When his phone started to ring he hadn't heard it at first. He only answered it to get it to stop ringing. "Corinthos!"

"Michael is fine." He didn't know which he was more grateful for, the message or the messenger.

There had been so many questions he wanted to ask her. Were she and the baby all right? What had happened? Had Alexis been hurt in any way? Did Michael know what was going on? However, he couldn't ask her those questions with Taggert there. So he had told her he was coming and hung up before he was tempted to ask her those questions.

He told Bobbie that Michael was fine. He was sure the relief he saw in her eyes were mirrored in his own. He assured Bobbie that he would be back as soon as he picked Michael up. He avoided answering any of Taggert's questions as he headed to the elevator, just barely getting the doors closed before Taggert could follow him.

Shaking his head to clear it Sonny glanced at the elevator floor number. He was almost to the lobby. He forced his mind back to the present. He had things to do. What was it that Alexis had said?

"You go take care of your family. I will take care of everything else."

He had a scared little boy to take care of and a friend to check up on. It was time to take care of his family.