Chapter Five

As the doctor was examining Carly, Jason had Max call Sonny to tell him where he was and that Carly was with him. He helped Leticia put Michael to bed and promised him he could sleep with Mommy when she was feeling better. He ordered dinner for Carly and spoke to the doctor while he waited for it to arrive. When it did, he gathered plates and things and carried it into the bedroom. "Dinner!" Jason announced, opening the door. He smiled and nodded to his watch. "I know it's kind of late, but I figured better late than never."

Carly's nose twitched. "Is that pizza I smell?" she asked, a hopeful smile crossing her face.

"You'd better believe it." Jason grinned and crossed the room to her. He set the box down on the bed and unloaded everything else. "I made them put mushrooms and green peppers on it, though. For the baby."

Carly rolled her eyes. "Ever the nutritionalist, Jase."

Jason laughed and sat on the bed, crossing his legs in front of him and facing her. He grabbed a plate and loaded some slices on it. "Beggars can't be choosers," he told her, taking a big bite. It was hot and Jason's eyes widened as he worked to chew and then swallow the large bite he'd taken.

Carly laughed at the expression on his face. She handed him a bottle of water as she put a slice on her own plate. "I can smell the heat from here," she remarked, making a show out of taking a small bite.

Jason gulped down some water. "We can't all be perfect like you," he said sweetly to her.

Carly smacked his arm playfully. "I am in no way perfect!"

"Ain't that the truth," Jason quipped. He grinned and ducked as Carly's arm came out to hit him again.

"I don't need you to agree," Carly laughed. "I know what I am."

Jason reached over and flicked the TV on. "Let's see what's on." He found a girlie movie, but figured it'd relax her so he moved beside her and lay back to watch it with her.

They watched and ate in silence and when they were done eating, Carly moved the plates and the pizza to a nearby table. She climbed back on the bed and leaned against Jason, settling herself into his arms as they finished watching the movie. When it was over, Jason looked down and found Carly in his arms, fast asleep. He smiled and closed his eyes, telling himself he'd slide out of her bed when he was sure she was out for the night. His mind began daydreaming of the future, and Jason accidentally fell asleep with Carly in his arms.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When the plane touched the ground, Sonny waited impatiently for it to stop moving. He tapped his foot on the ground, checking his watch for the hundredth time in fifteen minutes.

"Have you ever heard the saying 'a watched pot never boils'?" Courtney asked, grinning at her brother's anxiousness. She stood up and slipped her hands into her back pocket. "Relax, Sonny. Jason's keeping her safe. You have plenty of time to arrive. She might be sleeping anyway."

Sonny smiled sheepishly at Courtney. "I'm just excited after not seeing her for more than a month."

They were led from the plane then, and to the car waiting on the tarmac. As they were driven to the villa, Courtney squeezed Sonny's hand. "I'm so glad Jason found her."

The smile faded from Sonny's face. "I wonder why Jason didn't call me himself to tell me."

"He's probably still angry," Courtney said knowingly. "What did Max say?"

"Not very much," Sonny growled. "He wouldn't even tell me who had Carly when Jason found her."

"Probably Ric," Courtney said.

"Ric's at the hospital," Sonny pointed out. "If he had Carly, he wouldn't have spent all that time there, leaving Carly alone with no food. Even Ric wouldn't be that sick."

"I'm sure Jason is probably just watching over Carly," Courtney said reassuringly. "That's probably why he had Max call you; so he wouldn't leave Carly alone."

"Probably." Sonny nodded. That made sense to him. They arrived at the villa and climbed out. "I'll help you carry your things," Sonny told Courtney.

Courtney laughed. "Right. You have more stuff." Sonny had brought a bag for himself and three for Carly. All Courtney brought was one bag: for herself with some clothes for Jason. "Maybe I should help you," she teased.

"I wasn't sure what'd still fit her," Sonny grinned, again looking sheepish. "Or what she'd want to wear. So I brought her some varieties."

Courtney rolled her eyes as they walked inside and down to the room Courtney would stay in with Jason. She set the bags down and noticed Jason wasn't there. "Jason's probably in with Carly," Courtney said, looking over at Sonny.

Sonny nodded wordlessly.

Courtney walked to him and took one of the bags from him. "Let's check on Michael quickly."

They checked on Michael and found him fast asleep. Backing out of the room, they headed down to the master suite. Walking quietly inside, they set the bags down, their eyes adjusting slowly to the light. Sonny glanced towards the bed and frowned. Someone was sleeping on the bed, but he didn't think it was Carly. Sonny touched Courtney's arm and motioned to the nearby lamp. She nodded and Sonny stepped forward. He switched it on and heard a loud gasp fill his ears. He glanced at his sister, seeing her eyes widen in horror. Courtney went pale and tears filled her eyes. Sonny moved his head to follow her gaze, and when it did, he also cried out, in anger.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?"

~*~*~*~*~*`*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*`

Ric entered his house slowly, his heart filled with an emptiness. Elizabeth wasn't going to be here, waiting for him. Instead, she was lying in a hospital bed, fighting her life. All because of him and his stupidity.

He sighed, intending to go see Carly but needing a drink first. He walked to the bar, pouring his scotch and tipping his head back to drain the glass. His hand brought the glass down quickly as he gasped; the liquid burned as it slid down his throat. Ric gave his head a firm shake and

widened his eyes. As the warmth spread through him, he felt himself begin to relax slightly.

Ric stumbled into the kitchen, knowing he had to make Carly something to eat. For his own sake, he wasn't going to let anything happen to her. His mind seemed unable to focus as he looked through the cupboards, trying to decide what to make for Carly's dinner. Nothing appealed to him, and he was sure it wouldn't appeal to Carly either. He sighed and shut the cupboard door.

Ric walked towards the panic room and used the remote to open the door. "Carly, I don't - " he began, walking inside. He froze when he saw no one there. "Carly?" he called, even though he knew there was nowhere to go in here. Ric frowned, a sense of panic filling him as he slowly turned in a circle, expecting to see Sonny jump out at him from somewhere. Seeing no one, a short sense of relief filled him. He slammed his fist against the wall, yelling at the top of his lungs.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"