Shot in an Alley: Exiting the Panic Room

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Thank you, as always, to the lovely reviewers!

--------- Panic Room

Carly sat and watched as Scott Baldwin came on the monitor. She had the news on like she did everyday, mostly to see if the cops had grown a brain cell and figured out where she was.

"Earlier today we received confirmation that the shoot out on Pier 14 was in fact between Faith Roscoe's men and Lorenzo Alcazar's. Both alleged mobsters were dead when the police arrived on the scene..."

Carly smiled. That had to be Sonny's doing. She would be out of the hell she was in soon.

-------- Corinthos Penthouse

Sonny, Jason and Elizabeth watched as Scott Baldwin confirmed what they already knew.

"So now that leaves Ric." Jason said.

Elizabeth nodded but didn't say a word. Sonny knew that this must all be hard on her. It was certainly difficult, and though he knew what his heart wanted from him, it was beyond difficult to formulate such a plan as one that involved killing his own brother. That was a decision that would take time for him to act upon, if he ever could. Even though Ric was still at large and Sonny was unsure what to do with him, he had already made one decision - his wife was coming home.

Things were going to change when it came to protecting Carly. She would always have two guards with her. There was no way he was allowing this to happen again. His wife would never have to face this again. Anyone who tried to hurt her would die.

That was easy. He knew exactly what to do in every other aspect of this situation, except with Ric. After seeing Carly, Jason, Elizabeth, and Michael suffer like this he knew that the man couldn't go free. There was no way.

Earlier that morning Elizabeth had gone over to see her. She had told Sonny that Carly had been crying when she entered the room, though he hoped that she would be happy now to see what had happened to Faith and Alcazar – proof that her isolation would soon be over. Either way, it appeared that Carly had finally had enough. Sonny hated himself that he hadn't been there to comfort her.

It was time to end this.

--------- Panic Room

Carly sat down on her cot again. Soon she could go free. Sonny just had to get rid of Ric. Then she would go home. She would play with Michael when he came home. She would hold on to Sonny as hard as she could. She'd go and have lunch with her mom. She'd bug Jason after she got done lecturing him about how he needed to be more careful. She'd figure out what to do about the Courtney/Elizabeth thing.

She would plan her baby's nursery.

--------- Sonny's Limo

Jason and Elizabeth were at the penthouse. Michael, Mike and Courtney were on the island. Carly was in the panic room.

That was going to change soon. Soon his whole family would be under his protection.

Soon his family would be whole again.

--------- Panic Room

Carly saw Sonny and Marco come up the walk. She saw them open the door. She watched as Sonny brought the control out of his pocket.

She knew, she knew she was going home.

Carly stood up and went to the door. The steel slid open. Both Carly and Sonny stood there for a second. Just staring. They didn't need to say anything.

After a short while Carly made the first move. She ran into Sonny's arms and held on for the life of her.

She didn't need the penthouse to feel it. All she needed was him. She could feel it now. She was home.

Carly's nightmare was over.