Chapter 21
Alexis did not feel like going back to bed, so she and Johnny sat drinking coffee waiting for the morning to come. Her memory or the lack of was extremely terrifying, but it was fast becoming very irritating to her as well. Sitting there nursing her coffee, Alexis tried to figure out when the first gap in her memory took place. She remembered going to see Chloe in the hospital and then running into Jax outside Chloe's room. He wanted to tell her something so they went back to her apartment and... and... from there her memory simply faded to black.
Setting her cup down she concentrated harder. Putting bits and pieces of memories together that were floating around in her mind, Alexis remembered that Helena had kidnapped her and Stephan along with Bobbie. Luke, Laura, Lucky, Nicholas and Gia were there also. But there was someone else there... who...
Johnny was watching Alexis out of the corner of his eye and saw the moment she grabbed the side of her head. Her eyes widened in fear and she clutched at him with pain very evident in the features of her face.
"What is it, Alexis? What are you remembering?" He was afraid she was remembering Sonny or Kristina and didn't know how he was going to be able to handle the fallout from the memory of either of them.
"Stavros. It was Stavros. He was there. Helena brought him back to life. He was coming after Laura again. He was trying to get to Nicholas and Laura. NICHOLAS! Johnny, where is Nicholas? Is he alright? Do you know my nephew, Johnny?"
Alexis grabbed him by the arm and was squeezing so hard she was cutting off his blood circulation. Prying her fingers loose, he enclosed her hand within his own.
"He's fine, Alexis. He's just fine and he has even been by here a couple of times to see you. He should be coming back in just a few days. He and Gia are on a trip right now, out of the country."
Wait, something was wrong. Alexis could feel it. Something was missing. Chloe. Chloe would know. She needed to see her best friend. Chloe could help her get everything straightened out.
"Johnny, do you know my friend Chloe Morgan? I think I can remember her phone number... Can you call her for me? I need to talk to her."
This was going to be rough and Johnny was not looking forward to it at all. Even though she was remembering her past, it was out of sequence. Johnny heard what happened to Chloe. And that happened before Helena had taken Alexis.
Hoping to stall her until Kevin arrived for their morning session, Johnny stood and started for the kitchen.
"Why don't I get us some more coffee and a little breakfast? What do you feel like having this morning, Alexis?"
Not hearing a response, he turned around and felt his knees weaken. He had never seen such agony on anyone's face before. Rushing back to her he knelt in front of her and lay his arms down on the couch on each side of her ready to pull her to him if she needed it.
"Alexis. Don't leave me. Stay with me. Tell me what you're seeing. Talk to me, Alexis."
Placing her hands on his shoulders, Alexis leaned forward and rested her forehead against Johnny's.
"She's gone. Johnny, Chloe's gone. I lost by best friend. I didn't protect her from my family and now she's gone. I lost the best friend I ever had in this world."
As sobs racked her body, Johnny pulled her into his arms and held her close. Rubbing his hand up and down her back he tried to comfort her with softly spoken words.
"Alexis, it was not your fault. There are evil people in this world that prey on the innocent. That is what happened to your friend. An evil, vindictive man took his anger out on your friend. He paid the price. He is dead now. I know that does not lessen your pain or your loss, but you must not take on the responsibility for someone else's actions."
Rebelling against the painful memory, Alexis pulled away from Johnny and rose to head for the kitchen. Her internal mode of protection had heightened and was firmly in place staving off further memories from surfacing.
"I don't want any more, Johnny. I don't know how I am going to deal with this one. I have to get busy with something that will occupy my mind. I don't want to remember anything else. Just leave it alone, Johnny and help me with breakfast."
As an image of Chloe pushed itself into the forefront of her mind she swayed unsteadily as dizziness came over her threatening to take her feet out from under her. With regret, with sorrow and with intense loneliness, Alexis whispered her name.
"Chloe. I'm so sorry.
Johnny watched as Alexis changed directions and returned to her bedroom. He waited silently and felt a tear fall down the side of his cheek as he heard Alexis sobbing into her pillow. Not knowing how to help, Johnny went to her and sat down next to her without touching her. He would be there if she needed him.
He sat there for an hour with her and just as he was about to reach over to her he saw that exhaustion had finally claimed her and she once again slept. Her face, while tear-stained was contorted with grief even in sleep and he knew it would be a long day for her.
Leaving Alexis to rest, Johnny decided to go ahead and prepare breakfast since he was expecting Joy any time now. With heavy feet he walked to the bedroom door and looked back once more at the sleeping woman who had finally begun her long road home. It would be hard and it would be devastating, but he believed in Alexis. He believed in the woman who showed more strength, more compassion and more will power than any other woman he had known since his grandmother. No woman had ever held as high a place with him as his grandmother did; but Alexis came real close.
Letting herself into the suite, Joy instantly smelled coffee and knew Johnny was already up and cooking breakfast. Heading toward the kitchen she halted at the door and found Johnny sitting at the table with his head down resting on his arms. Calling to him softly she watched as he raised his head and she saw the evidence of his recent tears.
"Johnny? What's wrong, sweetheart? Is it Alexis?"
"She remembered Chloe."
"Chloe?"
"Yeah, her best friend."
"But, that's good isn't it?"
Pulling Joy closer to him, he wrapped his arms around her and lay his head against her stomach.
"She had to remember, but it's a bad memory for her, Joy. Her friend was murdered by a member of her own family."
Sitting back and gesturing to Joy to sit down with him. He took both of her hands in his and absently played with her fingers.
"She took it hard, Joy. She didn't try to hide or bury her grief like she normally does. I've never seen her like that before. All I could do was just sit with her... just be there if she needed me. She finally dozed off. I'm going to call a friend of hers in a little while. I think she needs to see someone familiar."
Joy stood and moved back to stand beside him. Putting her hands on each side of his face she lifted his eyes to meet her own.
"Sweetheart, you are doing just fine with her. Don't think you're not. You've been right there with her. She is going to need you more now than ever. Now that the memories have started, it could be that they will come more frequently. Kevin needs to know about this and he needs to know before he gets here. So, I'll tell you what. You call her friend and I'll call Kevin. But, before I do, I want to go check on Alexis. You ready to serve your two girls some breakfast, handsome?"
Catching her hands and holding them within his, he kissed each palm and looked up at her, loving her for her gentleness.
"Thanks, Joy. Have I told you lately how much I adore you?"
Swallowing the lump in her throat and again dropping her jaw as had become a normal occurrence lately around Johnny, she stepped back absolutely dumbfounded.
"Uh... no, Johnny. That's not one you've come across with before. Could I maybe get you to elaborate on that one?"
Laughing at the look on her face, Johnny stood up and pulled her into his arms.
"Well, Miss Martelli, it's no secret to me that I do absolutely adore you and to put it the way my grandmother would expect me to... I'm falling in love with you. Now, would you please go check on our patient, before I completely embarrass myself."
Looking at him incredulously, she couldn't believe he was acting so nonchalant after dropping that load of bricks on her.
"OOOOOHHHHHHH no you don't. And I'm sure our patient would agree with me when I say, a statement like that should be sealed with something, or am I asking too much here."
Johnny was enjoying himself. He never knew falling in love could be so fun. He loved the way her eyes twinkled when she looked at him and the way her nose scrunched up when she was exasperated with him.
"Oh, you mean you want a kiss or something?"
"At least!"
"Well, I don't think that would be quite fair seeing as how you haven't been quite as how would Alexis say this... uh... forthcoming with an equally lucrative offer."
Jumping into his arms and throwing hers around him, Joy laughed fully.
"Johnny, you know I love you. I love you with all of my heart. But, you better be careful, I think I love your wonderful grandmother more."
"Yea, I hear that all the time." Johnny bent his head and kissed Joy shyly. Lifting his head he looked into her eyes and saw the love and desire she felt for him, then he kissed her again without the restraint he had been told to use when kissing a woman for the first time. Johnny let go of the shyness, the fear of offending, and the life he had led full of loneliness. Johnny stepped into the circle of Joy... all that she was, all that he knew they would be together and wrapped the wonder of her around him.
"Well, it's about time you two stopped playing around."
Johnny and Joy both jumped when they realized they were no longer alone. Alexis stood leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen smiling at them. They both noticed that her smile never reached her eyes. All they could find in her eyes was anguish, fear and anger.
Disengaging herself from Johnny, Joy approached Alexis with concern noting as she did that Alexis moved away from the doorframe and stood erect. Guarded.
"Alexis, how are you doing this morning? I know you will get very tired of that question very fast, but this morning it is a valid question seeing as how the difference between yesterday morning and this morning are worlds apart."
"Joy, you might want to breathe... " closing her eyes against the pain in her head Alexis tried to cover its effect on her. Smiling at Joy, she tried another tactic.
"I don't think it is very healthy to run off sentences that fast with out taking a break. Seems like I've heard that somewhere before or something. Hey, Johnny, is that coffee I smell?"
"Sure partner, I'll get you a cup, but I think you should answer the question. You've had a pretty rough night."
Shooting him a look of warning, Alexis took the cup he offered and turned to go tossing her answer back at them on her way out of the room.
"I'm fine."
