The Journey is Over
A General Hospital fan-fiction
Chapter Six
Sonny glared at Carly and Courtney. "Do something!" he ordered, "Call 911!"
Carly finally sprang into action. She picked up the phone and dialed. Courtney remained still. The only outwardly sign that she registered what was happening was the tears streaming down her face.
"Hello?" Carly said when the operator picked up, "yes, I have an emergency. My father-in-law is having a heart attack." She gave the particulars to the operator who assured her an ambulance was on the way while Sonny walked out of the apartment to tell Johnny to inform them when the paramedics arrived.
Carly hung up the phone and came to stand over Mike. "How are you feeling, Mike?"
Mike grimaced as he tried to smile. He looked over at Courtney, who was still crying. "Honey..."
"Mike, don't talk," Sonny told him, "lie back. The paramedics are on the way."
Mike looked at his son. "How did you know?" he asked him, casting his eyes toward Courtney.
Sonny glanced at her. "We'll talk about it later, Mike," he insisted, "I promise."
Johnny walked in the apartment at that moment. "Boss, Max just called from downstairs. The ambulance is pulling up."
"Thanks, Johnny, lead them in when they get here," Sonny told the guard.
Johnny left to wait at the elevators. Two minutes later, he returned with two paramedics carrying a backboard.
"Where's the patient?" the one in front asked.
Sonny moved aside. "Right here," he replied, "my father."
The paramedics checked Mike's vitals before assessing that he should get to the hospital to have his heart monitored. Despite Mike's protests, Sonny insisted that he follow their orders.
As he was being strapped to the board and carried out, Courtney remained behind. Sonny followed closely behind. "I'm going to ride with him in the ambulance," he told Carly.
Carly followed them to the elevator and watched until the doors closed. She went back into the penthouse. Courtney was sitting on the sofa with her head in her hands.
Carly put her hands on her hips. "Well, I hope you're happy.
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Sonny paced in the waiting room while waiting for someone to tell him about Mike's condition. Every once in awhile, a nurse would come out and Sonny would snap to attention, but no one told him what was going on.
Finally, Monica Quartermaine walked out. She approached Sonny. She smiled at him to help ease his discomfort. "First of all, Sonny, Mike's okay," she began, "he had a mild myocardial infarction."
"Translation please?" Sonny asked.
"A mild heart attack. We're going to keep him overnight for observation," she continued. "You can go in to see him if you want."
Sonny thanked Monica as they heard a page for her over the hospital intercom. Monica walked away as Sonny gave a sigh of relief. He walked toward the trauma room and peeked in the window. Mike was hooked up to a heart monitor and he had an IV attached to his arm. He appeared to be asleep but as Sonny pushed open the double doors he opened his eyes.
"Hey Sonny," Mike said weakly. He looked behind Sonny expecting to see Courtney come in after him.
"She didn't come," Sonny informed him.
Mike looked disappointed. "How long have you known?" Mike asked, referring to Courtney's revelation.
"I just found out earlier today," Sonny replied, "I have to admit I wasn't really surprised."
"Why?"
Sonny sat in the stool next to Mike's bed. He sighed. "I don't know, really. I never 100% accepted that she was your daughter," he admitted to Mike, quickly adding, "I believe that you believed she was but I never really believed that she was. Does that make sense?"
Mike shrugged. "Kind of," he said, "your gut instincts were telling you something different." Sonny nodded. "I guess you should have listened to them after all. But," Mike added, after a pause, "why would she lie about being my daughter?"
Sonny relayed what Courtney had told him on the docks. Mike was stunned to learn about her past. 'How could a girl who looked so innocent turn out to be a con artist?' he wondered. But then he realized that those made the best con artists, people who didn't look the part were usually the ones who were scamming you.
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Courtney looked up at Carly. "Don't say it, Carly," she pleaded, "I feel bad enough already. I may have killed him."
"You didn't kill him," Carly told her, "Sonny would call if Mike died. Chances are, he'll be in the hospital for a while and then he'll be released. You'll see."
"No, I won't see," Courtney said, "I can't face him again. Not after all the lies." She paused. "It's best if I leave. I'll get Greg off my back at least."
"I forgot about him. Have you heard from him?"
Courtney shook her head. "I hope I never see that bastard again."
At that moment the phone rang. Courtney froze fearing the news as Carly answered it. "Hello?"
"Carly, it's me," Sonny said, "I just wanted to let you two know that Mike is alright. He's staying in the hospital overnight. I'll be home later."
Carly nodded. After hanging up, she relayed the news to Courtney.
Courtney stood up. She went to the closet and pulled down her suitcase. "Now that I know that Mike's okay, I can leave with a clear conscience," she said as she carried it up the stairs.
to be continued....