Man, if you guys hated me before I can't even begin to imagine how you'll feel now... Feedback is always appreciated. Yes, even rants... and I still love you guys...

If Tomorrow Never Comes

Chapter 22

"Lt. Taggert!" Officer Harris ambushed his ranking officer, waving a paper in his hand. "We just recieved a call reporting gunshots out of a warehouse situated on the docks."

"Damn." Taggert leaped out of his chair, picking up his coat in the process. "Let's go."

"Taggert!"

"I don't have time right now."

"But sir, we just got a report that Kelly's was bombed."

Screeching to a halt, Taggert rounded on the rookie who'd just spoken to him. "What?"

"Sir." Another officer reached him, flushed and out of breath. "There was a call from a residential area. Gunshots were fired."

"What the hell..."

"Taggert." Garcia called, running over to his old partner. "Someone just blew up the Recovery Room."

"Jesus Christ..."

Laura took the seat between her daughter and mother, placing the bowl of popcorn on her lap. "Okay. Time for some veggie ladies." Grabbing the remote control, she clicked in on. The sound of a laughtrack filled the room suddenly caught off:

/ We interrupt you're regularly scheduled programming for a breaking news story: Town under seige. The small suburban town of Port Charles found itself the target of brutal attacks eariler tonight. Seemingly unconnected but eerily schronized, the citizens of this quiet rural town besiged with attacks in four different locations. Though the number of injured or death are not known we have found that the home of one the nephew of one of it's promient citizens was targeted. Nikolas Cassadine's home was barraged with gunfire..../

"Oh god..." Laura looked at her mother, horrified. "Nikolas..."

/...no news on whether Mr. Cassadine was injured. A warehouse owned by a promient mob boss, Joseph Sorel was also ambushed. Witnesses have said that moments before the outburst of violence, promient business men, Sonny Corithos and Luke Spencer accompanied by an unidentified man were seen entering the building. No word on the situtation on hand.../

Bobbie covered her mouth with her hand. Carly had spoken to her about the meeting. She reached for the phone, dailing the number to the penthouse, hoping to reach Carly before she panicked. She prayed that God would take care of her brother and son-in-law.

"Bobbie..."

"Amy, I need to reach Carly..."

"Bobbie, it's Kelly's..."

/...the small town restruant Kelly's known for its home cooked meals was also raided. The business is owned by Luke Spencer and family. Firefighters and medical personnal are at the scene attempting to help the injured. Respected attorney Alexis Davis is said to have been one of the many injured, which also included the nanny and son of the local business man Sonny Corithos.../

"Oh my god." Lila terror stricken gaze fell on her her husband and the shocked filled face of her grandson. "Ned..."

Without a word, Ned rushed out of the room, needing to reach Alexis

/...the last known place of attack was the local coffeshop and pub, The Recovery Room, a popular college hangout. No known injuries reported as of yet but it is known to be owned by Mike Corbin, the father of business man Sonny Corinthos.../

Driving 30 miles above the speed limit Laura rounded a corner without pausing. She reached into her bag, pulling out her cellphone and trying to reach Luke. For the fifth time he's voicemail picked up and she growled in fustration and worry. She couldn't find Luke, Sonny or Carly. Closing her eyes she flipped the radio on, hoping to hear any new news.

/ ...it seems that the connection between all the assaults is Sonny Corinthos and Luke Spencer. Both men are known to have powerful enemies. Authorities are rounding up leads.../

Firetrucks and ambulances circled the outside of Kelly's diner. Taggert reached the poline line, ducking under it quickly. "What the hell happened?"

"We don't know, sir,"

Taking a steading breath, Tagget fixed the younger officer with a hard stare. "Then I suggest you find out. Now."

Seeing a strecher being pulled out the door, he rushed over, looking down at the pale form of Alexis. He motioned for the EMT's to hurry. He caught movement to his left and found himself looking into Leticia's and Mikey's tear stained faces.

He kneeled down, speaking calmly and queitly to the small boy. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. But Lexi is...hurt..." He began to cry and Leticia held him closer to her, soothing a hand dowm his back and mummering reassurances. She met Taggert's stare. "She saved our lives, Lt."

"I wasn't aware."

"Well, now you are."

Lucky held Gia bloodstained hands ignoring the disgusted looks of the paramedics. They'd tried sending him away from her but he's refused to budge further than he had to. Staying out of their immediate way but still within breathing distance of Gia. He scanned her beautiful face, her eyes closed, the lashes against her cheeks. Her skin was ashen and her breathing irregular. But she was breathing. She was alive.

He shifted his gaze to the rest of the room, noticing the paramedics that were attending to Shari. He recalled Juan saying that she's broken her arm. His eyes fell to Juan who stood next to a shocked Emily, giving a statement to the police.

Nik had been rushed to General Hospital already. His mother had shown up a few moments before the police and EMT's. After checking on the group, she's tried to get him to accompany her and Nik to the hospital. He'd been ready to go with his brother, the thought of leaving Gia ripping him up, but once his mother had appeared, he'd dug his heels in and stayed by Gia's side.

"Okay, we're going to move her. Be really careful of the brace."

Lucky let go of her hand briefly, letting them move her onto a strecher. Once she'd been situated, he moved to her side. He glanced at Juan and Emily motioning to the door. Juan waved him off. He knew they'd be at the hospital. He'd talk to them there. For the moment the only thing that mattered was Gia.

"Hey, kid. You her family?"

"I'm her fiancee." Not waiting for a response, he climbed into the ambulance, taking a seat next the stretcher. He took Gia's hand in his, bringing it to his lips, briefly. "At least I hope to be."

"Son, you need to let us move him."

Zander heard the voice and stiffly did as he was told. He felt Mary's warm hands on his shoulders but his eyes never the strecher that carried Mike.

"He's a tough guy, Zander. He'll be fine."

Zander glanced around the room, absorbing the destruction held within the four walls. Four innocent people had died here today. Maybe five, he thouht, watching the paramedics haul Mike into the ambulance. He couldn't think straight. The sound and smells of death clinging to him. The blood brought back the horrible memories of that night. So much pain.... so much blood... so much death... He choked down the urge to scream and run. He couldn't run. Not this time. He had family that needed him.

Pushing aside his pain and fear, he regarded Mary and Victor with a sad look. "I'm so sorry."

"So are we." Victor replied, squeezing his arms softly. "Go with him."

"Actually could one of you go with him? I have someone I have to find..."

The sound of the gunfire had long stopped but Johnny, Luke, Sonny and Sorel remained crouched behind the crates. Hearing footsteps approaching Luke readied his pistol, seeing Johnny and Sonny do the same from the corner of his ?"

Sonny visibly relaxed, rising slowly from his positiom. "Benny."

"Sir... sir... where are you going?" Benny called out, following him out into the night air.

Luke ran after Sonny studying his friends face closely. "What is it, man?"

"It doesn't seem the least bit odd that they didn't kill us all Luke?"

"You thinking what? This was a distraction."

Sonny nodded mutely, the fear that had been coursing through him all night intensifing. He needed to see his wife. "I need to go home."

Johnny glanced at Sonny, than handed him the keys to the car. "Go ahead. I'll finish up here." They heard the sound of sirens in the distance. "Go on. Before the cops get here."

Sonny disappeared around a corner, leaving a worried Johnny and Luke behind. Something felt wrong. It was in the air. All around them. Luke prayed to god that Sonny was wrong and the attempt on their lives tonight had simply been executed by some really amatuar goons. The other possibility was too frightening to ponder.

AJ hurried down the steps of the docks. The news that Emily might have been injured that night had reached him when he's arrived at Keesha's for dinner. She's given him a quick kiss and encouraged him to head out and find out whatever he could abour his sister. He smiled slightly, he knew good things were going to happen with Keesha around.

He stopped short catching sight of two dark lumps on the floor of the docks. The smell of blood and violence reached his nose and he ran to the bodies. Turning one over, he looked into the dead eyes of a familar looking man. He couldn't quite place him.

It hit him suddenly, a gasp catching in his thoart. One of Sonny's men. His eyes fell on the smaller body a few feet away. The clouds parted breifly, moonlight shining down on them and he saw the glimmer of it on blond hair. Carly's blond hair.

"Oh god, no."

Rushing over to her, AJ shifted Carly's body over slowly, taking care not to move her too much. Blood seeped onto his jacket and he glimped her face. Horrorified at the damage done, he feels tears well up. Her eyes fluttered open and she griped his hand weakly.

"It's okay. Carly. I'm calling for help. Hang on. Please." Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out his cellphone. Taking off his jacket he placed it over her exposed wound.

Carly's eyes fall shut, her breathing labored and pained. She needed to tell... someone.

"What happened?"

AJ's head jerked around at Zander's outraged voice. "It's Carly, Zander."

Before AJ could blink, Zander was leaning over Carly, his eyes filled with tears. "Car?" Her eyes opened as much as they could. She reached for him, her hands falling limply at her side. Zander's mind memorized the horror of the situation. Carly's face was battered, barely recongizable, except for her eyes. Cuts and brusies marred her face. Her shirt was bloodied, ripped open, brusies on her thoart and chest. Scarps and cuts covered her but what was mind shattering was the bullet hole in stomach. It bleed continously.

Zander took the jacket AJ had provided and applied pressure, feeling the warmth of Carly's blood seep through the material almost immediately. He vaguly heard AJ's call for help. All he could do was keep his eyes on Carly. Like his willpower could keep her breathing. Keep her there with them.

"There on their way."

Their soft voices penetrated the cloud of pain surrounding her. She forved her eyes open, blurry vision focusing on Zander. The black void was calling her. Numbness raising through her fingers and arms. She needed to tell them but...

A blinding pain caused her to cry out and she lost focus. She heard the panicked sound of their voices. She was dying. Reaching up, she gripped Zander's wrist with a sudden rush of strength. "Tell Sonny..."

"What?"

"Tell Sonny, I love him."

Zander heard her declaration and a moment later her head fell limply to the ground. AJ leaned down. "She's not breathing."

Zander shook his head numbly, watching helplessly as AJ bent over Carly. He heard the sound of doors closing and seconds later they were surrounded by paramedics and police asking questions, giving orders. But all Zander could hear was Carly raspy, pain-filled voice. /Tell Sonny, I love him.../

/...and the newest development of what the town of Port Charles is calling the "Night of Horrors." Caroline Corinthos, wife of Sonny Corinthos, was gunned down on the Port Charles Docks eariler this evening. Our sources tell us Mrs. Corinthos did not survive the attempt.../