Chapter 15

Moments passed in silence as the two women sat next to each other, each wondering the other's thoughts. The ticking of the clock became suddenly louder within the strained silence. Alexis initially stunned Dara with her invitation to help send her brother's captor to prison. Dara now peered at Alexis skeptically. Leaning forward she folded her arms and finally allowed herself to give in to the curiosity that was persistently knocking on the door of her logic. "And just how do you propose we accomplish what no one else has been able to, Alexis? I've been trying to figure out how to save my brother and get free of Sonny for ten years and you walk in here as if you have all the answers and are ready to pick him up and deliver him personally to his new home in the state penitentiary. Forgive me if I seem a bit dubious."

Alexis smiled with compassion completely understanding Dara's reluctance to grasp onto the smallest amount of hope. For ten years her brother had been lost to her... alive yet unable to be a part of her life. She knew a little quid pro quo would be needed in order for Dara to be able to trust her.

"Dara, before we go any further there is something you need to know so that you will understand why I'm pushing this so hard. I need Sonny off the streets and out of commission for a reason. It's not something I'm proud of, but like I told you earlier... I will do what needs to be done in order to protect my family and when it comes to my daughter... in the end... as I've proven in the past the law doesn't hold much weight if it gets in my way of protecting her. But, I have the means to take Sonny out legally now and I intend to do just that with your help or without it. I hope it will be with your help though... you've earned the right to be a part of this."

"So he has some sort of hold on you as well?"

"Not yet, but it's only a matter of time. And before he has the chance to make a move against me, I'm going to shut him down. I will not lose my daughter again, Dara. Not to anyone."

"Kristina?" Dara questioned curiously. "What does Kri..." Her eyes grew wide as the puzzle pieces finally fell into place. "Sonny?"

"Yes, Dara. Sonny. And if there were any doubts in my mind about what I am about to do, your history with him just put them to rest. He will not be a part of my daughter's life."

Dara sat back and grinned. "So my resignation as ADA set you up to do what no one else has been able to do since he blew into town."

"Don't misunderstand me, Dara. Whether I accepted the position of ADA or not, nothing would have stopped me from doing what I intend to do as soon as possible. So, how willing are you to trust me to handle this so that we both come out winners, as well as those we love?"

Seeing the determination and fire in Alexis eyes, Dara finally found reason to hope. The two of them together could just possibly pull this off. Looking at her nemesis, she didn't seem quite so formidable any longer. Alexis did have a heart, and it was a big one. Dara found herself wanting to get to know Alexis on a friendlier basis. Lifting her hand she waited for Alexis to accept her gesture of consent. Without hesitation Alexis grasped her hand and they shook once sealing their commitment to stand together until their goal was achieved.

Alexis stood and walked back to Dara's desk calling back over her shoulder... "Dara, do you know Jared's schedule and where he's staying?"

Joining Alexis at her desk she picked up a pen and began scribbling down an address. "I'm allowed to see him whenever I can get away. But, there is always a guard with him. Why? What do you have in mind?"

"I'm going to send someone to Puerto Rico to bring Jared home. But, I think we're going to need more than one person to pull this off, in fact..." Alexis sat down and thought a moment. Looking back up at Dara, she wondered if her idea would be met with resistance. "Dara, when was the last time you spoke with Taggert?"

Frowning at the question, Dara answered hesitantly. "Just a few weeks ago. Are you thinking about involving Taggert in this?"

Returning Dara's gaze, Alexis smiled. "Dara, we need two people that we can trust implicitly. Taggert has wanted to take Sonny down for years... he's motivated to do whatever is asked of him legally to accomplish a task he was never able to complete on his own. And I'm going to ask Felecia Jones to accompany him. I trust her and I think she will know the best way to infiltrate the group holding Jared while keeping a lid on Taggert's enthusiasm at the same time."

"You know that all it will take is a phone call on Sonny's part and Jared is either moved or... or killed. Alexis, please don't... "

Alexis made her way around the desk to stand next to Dara. Placing her hand on Dara's arm she turned her around so she could look at her directly. "Dara, Sonny is not going to be concerned about making any phone calls today. And by the time he is prepped and arrested the only phone call he is going to make is to an attorney. If all goes as I hope, you will have Jared home tomorrow and Sonny will be well on his way to prison. Not only will we have what is in those files on your desk, but we will also have him up on charges of kidnapping... and..." Alexis paused.

"And what, Alexis?" Dara asked.

"Would you be willing to turn states evidence against Sonny and turn over the files you have regarding his activities for the past ten years?"

Without a moment's hesitation... "Yes. I can have those files ready when you need them. But, I have one question for you."

"What?"

"Why aren't you letting the FBI handle this? It seems to me that if you turn over everything we have and let them handle it then you and your daughter are less likely to have any fall out later down the line and given the track record of our very own PCPD, there is ample cause to question their ability to pull this off."

Pacing slowly to the window, Alexis stared out trying to put together an answer that made sense out of the chaos in her mind. She slowly began to explain in the best way she could.

"Dara, You know how close Sonny and I were at one time... and I don't mean in the manner that produced Kristina. Sonny and I were friends... good friends. We depended on each other for so many things. There was trust and safety, understanding and laughter. We connected in a way that few people ever do. With everything that has taken place in the past two years... it all started with a pregnancy test... and my decision to keep his daughter from him. He has no clue exactly why I walked away... he has bits and pieces... but until he knows for sure there will always be questions in his mind. I can't let him go to prison without understanding why his best friend walked away from him. He has to know that Kristina is his daughter. I owe him the truth, but he also needs to know what his life cost him. He will remember everything I did to protect her... he will remember every time I went to him for help only to be denied. But, most of all he'll know that his daughter will be safe and grow up happy. It's all I can give him now. As much as what he did with your brother sickens me... it doesn't stop me from wishing my friend was still in my life. I miss the Sonny I used to know. I will always miss him and regretfully my daughter will never know the man I once knew. But that is a fact I will have to learn to live with for the rest of my life."

She felt Dara beside her and the tension relaxed in her body a little as she felt Dara's hand fall to rest on her shoulder.

"You've carried a pretty heavy weight for a long time, Alexis. We both have. It's time we dealt with it and got on with our lives free of that weight. Let's get busy and put together how this all needs to take place and in what time frame."

Alexis reached up and covered Dara's hand with her own and smiled sadly. "You right. Let's get this over with. I'll call Felecia while you get in touch with Taggert. I want them in Puerto Rico as soon as possible. Once we have them on the way, we'll discuss how I'm going to handle Sonny." Turning to face Dara she looked at her sternly. "And this is non-negotiable, Dara. I handle, Sonny. It's past time for you to relax and enjoy your life once again. All I want from you is your files. This case will not go to court. So there will be no need for testimony on your part. Once we're done here... go home... take the rest of the day off and wait for Jared to come home."

Dara was beside herself with worry and the need to help. "I can't leave you to handle this alone, Alexis. You have to let me help, if for no other reason than my need to avenge Ty and Jared." She hated having to ask anyone for anything on her account. But this was different. Alexis was handing her life back to her in a gaily-wrapped neat little box and she couldn't sit on the sidelines while everything went on around her. "Please, Alexis. Don't leave me out of this... Let me start re-building my life by doing something right for a change."

Alexis fixed her gaze on Dara for a moment before walking back across the room as her thoughts began to logically settle into place. How could she deny Dara a place in what needed to be done? Given the horror that Sonny forced her to live with day after day for ten years... Dara deserved to be included in the fall of Sonny Corinthos. She deserved the chance to actively re-claim her life.

"Alright, Dara. From this moment on... we're in this together. So... think you can handle acting as Sonny's reluctant counselor for one more task?"

Dara grinned widely. "If it helps put that bastard away, you're damn straight I can."

If she weren't so torn about what she was doing, Alexis would have allowed herself to chuckle over Dara's eager response. As it was... given their history... Alexis was walking a precarious tight rope when it came to the various emotions that were slowly tearing her apart inside. "Okay. I want you to call him and set up an appointment for him to meet with me at my apartment. If he gets difficult, ask him if he remembers that night in Puerto Rico when I toasted our friendship with the words, 'Friends to the end'. That's all you need to say. He'll get it and ask what time."

"You two really were close, weren't you?"

Alexis smiled sadly. "Yes." She whispered. "Too close."

"Are you sure you want to do this, Alexis? Because once the ball starts rolling, we won't be able to stop it. And as much as I'm beginning to admire you... I couldn't stop this train if you begged me to. I want my brother home where he belongs and just as you warned me on more than one occasion... I'll do whatever I have to for my family."

Nodding with understanding, Alexis shrugged. "I think I would lose all respect for you if you didn't, Dara. No... we both know that we have to stay focused and take care of the problem in the most efficient way possible."

Taking her seat behind her desk, Dara picked up her phone and began dialing. Alexis returned to her seat in front of the desk and pulled her cellphone from her purse. It was time to begin. No turning back.

Moments later, both women sat back and gazed at each other intently. Dara broke the silence.

"Taggert will get in touch with Felecia now and together they will schedule where they will meet. I hope Felecia knows how to handle over zealous men. He's going to be a handful."

"He'll be fine, Dara. I would worry more if we sent him to collect Sonny." She shifted nervously in her chair and breathed deeply a few times. Tension drove her from her chair as she waved toward the phone.

"Go ahead. Make the call. I want him there at two."

"Wait a minute, Alexis. What if he goes ballistic and attacks you?"

"He won't harm his daughter's mother, not when he knows how much damning evidence I have on him. But, just in case... when I leave here I'm going to get the equipment I need to set up a surveillance camera in my living room. I just have to be real careful and stay calm. His reaction will depend on how all the information is presented to him. I may have to replace a lot of glassware by the time he's finished his tantrum, but I honestly don't think he will harm me."

"Don't underestimate him, Alexis. He'll be a cornered man... You're taking his freedom from him. He's not going to react in a manner that you're familiar with. Let me follow him there and wait outside with backup. We can put together a surveillance system that will not only tape the encounter but will transmit to a monitor and I can keep an eye on what's happening. If he goes off the deep end I can come in and provide enough of a diversion to give the officers enough opportunity to get him into handcuffs. I don't want you taking any unnecessary chances."

Considering Dara's thoughts and suggestions, Alexis knew it only wise to err on the safer side of the situation.

"I'll call Lucky and explain the situation. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to help."

"Good." Leaning forward, Dara placed her hand on the phone receiver. "Are you ready?"

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Make the call."

Alexis stood at the window overhearing every word Dara spoke into the phone. She was cool... no emotion... no tell tale signs of anxiousness or fear. She made the appointment as though she were choosing what suit to wear for the day. Alexis marveled at the steady unwavering tone of her voice. She shook her head back and forth as Dara hung up the phone.

Noticing Alexis' reaction Dara inquired the reason. "What are you shaking your head at?"

"You. I wish I could be just as un-phased this afternoon as you were on that phone just now."

Getting up from her desk Dara joined Alexis at her window and took the woman's hands into her own. "I wouldn't want to be in your shoes for anything in the world right now, but I promise you I will be just on the other side of the door backing you up. If you sense him getting out of hand before I recognize it, send me a signal. I'll have Lucky breaking down that door faster than you can blink."

Letting go of Dara's hands she wrapped her arms around the woman surprised at how far they had come in the last couple of hours. It was a gift born out of mutual need. They were more alike than either of them would ever have guessed and for Alexis it was an unexpected relief in a very stressful situation.

"I can't thank you enough, Dara."

"Thanks are not necessary, Alexis. I just hope that when all of this is over, maybe you and I can somehow find our way to becoming friends."

"I'd like that very much. Now before I have a chance to really think about what I'm doing, I need to make a phone call, pick up that equipment and get back to the apartment. Call me if anything comes up that I need to be aware of."

"You got it. And Alexis..." Dara waited until she held Alexis' complete attention. "Good Luck."

Alexis smiled. "Thank you, Dara. I won't forget this."

Dara smiled. "Neither will I, Alexis. Now get going before this gets maudlin."

They laughed companionably as Alexis left the office. Pulling her cellphone out of her purse once again she dialed quickly and waited for an answer, her foot tapping anxiously. She needed to hear only one voice in that moment. One calm steadying voice!

"Ric?"

"Hey... How's it going?"

His voice sounded so warm and caring... she felt the familiar comfort of longevity steal through her every nerve soothing the frayed edges. It was the feeling you basked in when you spent years building a relationship with someone and knew they were as much a part of you as you were to them. It was totally unbelievable to her that Ric would cause that kind of familiar comfort given the short length of time they had been a part of each other's life. She felt the tension in her neck and shoulders melt slightly. She clutched the phone tighter to her ear trying to get closer to him.

"It's done. I'm meeting Sonny at two."

"Where?" Ric could hear the stress in Alexis' voice. He was worried about her... worried about the toll she was about to extract from herself by completely severing all ties to a man who once held her heart... whose blood coursed through her daughters heart with every beat.

"My apartment."

"Good. That gives you the advantage. How are you feeling?" He didn't like the sound of silence on the other end so coaxed her. Alexis. Talk to me. Tell me what you're feeling.

She couldn't hide the tone of her voice. It was too raw... the emotions driving her were too big to contain. She answered him honestly. "I'm scared."

"That's normal. I'd be concerned if you weren't."

"No, Ric. I mean I'm really scared. What if something goes wrong? What if..."

Stop, Alexis. Don't do this to yourself. You are holding all the cards... you have everything you need to see this through to the end. Don't let him defeat you before you ever meet with him. You can do this. You have to. Remember the reason you're doing it. This is for Kristina. Your daughter! If you don't see this through then her life will always be in jeopardy because he will find out whether you tell him or not."

"I know you're right, Ric. But, it's just so hard. I keep remembering the man who was my friend. Ric, this is going to destroy him. I'm going to destroy my daughter's father."

"Yes. You are! He answered softly. He looked down toward his feet and smiled at his niece who was now holding onto his leg grinning up at him as if he were a king or something. His heart swelled. "And I'm going to be right here taking care of his beautiful daughter who by the way is having a wonderful time with her Uncle Ric. We've been making mud pies." He was trying to ease her anxiousness and take her mind away from her appointment with Sonny. Her laughter told him he was succeeding.

"You have my daughter playing in mud, Ric?" A vision of Kristina covered in mud raced across her mind and Alexis shuddered at the image.

"Oh yeah. We got one heck of a mud pie maker on our hands. That is until she gets the idea in her head that Uncle Ric would look so much better if he sported a 'mud beard'."

"A mud beard? Please tell me you took a picture. That is something I would dearly love to see. Your face covered in mud."

Not on your life, sweetheart. Only one Davis girl gets to see me covered in mud and I can assure you it isn't the older one."

"The older one? You're skating on thin ice, mister."

Put my skates on real early this morning. Knew I'd probably need them. Being around you at o'dark o'clock was a pretty dicey proposition for me. Had to be prepared for the unexpected.

"You make it sound like I was out to mangle you or something. It wasn't my fault you appeared on my doorstep almost two hours early."

"Oh yes it was, counselor. It was totally your fault." Ric smiled with mischief.

"How was it my fault?" Alexis asked incredulously.

He could tell by her voice that she was no longer thinking of Sonny. He was successful in getting her to relax a little. She needed a break between her meetings with Dara and Sonny and he was happy that she felt comfortable enough to call him and allow him to help her through a tense situation.

"Ric?"

She brought his thoughts back to her with a higher more inquisitive tone of voice. He couldn't help himself. She opened the door and he skated right on through.

"Well what did you expect me to do after all those... dreams that put me in a cold shower first thing this morning."

Oblivious of where he was leading her, Alexis naively fell headlong into his trap. "Just what dreams are you referring to, Ric?"

"Have you ever made love in an elevator, Alexis? Or in a gondola in Italy?"

With feigned exasperation to cover the effect of the visual he caused she answered quickly. "No Ric, I haven't."

"You ought to try it sometime. I can pretty much guarantee you'll want to do it more than once."

She felt a sensual stirring deep inside as his voice dipped to a suggestive arousing tone. Taking a deep breath she jumped in a little further curious to find out if he could have possibly dreamed of the two of them... together. "I know I'm going to regret asking, but just what do your dreams have to do with me?"

He couldn't go any further. He didn't want to take a chance of creating another tension filled situation for her so he backed off. "From now on, I'm not drinking your coffee before I go to bed. Stuff makes you dream funny." His stomach jumped into his throat when he heard her laugh. He was proud of himself for the way he was helping her, mindless of his own needs. Hearing her fall silent he knew his time with her was drawing to a close.

"Alexis, just remember... we're here... waiting for you. Do what you have to and we'll see you when you're done. We'll go out... maybe take a jolly to the ice cream store."

She laughed again. "A jolly? What is a jolly, Ric?"

And her laughter fed his own as he remembered his childhood. It was a word he made up when he was a kid and wanted to make himself feel better. He became quite creative at times as he walked to school or the corner store. "It's just a word that means we'll be taking more of a walk than just a walk."

"You're not making sense."

"Yes I am. When you're out to have a good time and there is a walk involved. You make the walk more fun. It becomes a jolly walk. Maybe we'll skip... maybe we'll swing Kristina back and forth between us... maybe we'll tell jokes... whatever comes to mind. Anything goes on a jolly."

"Maybe a mud pie in the face?" she teased.

They both laughed as he tried to defend himself against getting another mud filled face. Once a day was enough for him. He countered her question.

"Sure, why not. But, you do know that once a pie is thrown and hits it mark, the pie-er becomes the pie-ee and I get to retaliate."

"Uhmmm... I think I just changed my mind."

"I thought you might."

Alexis was still standing outside Dara's door leaning against the wall oblivious that she hadn't quite pulled the door closed. Hearing the creak of the hinges she turned quickly to find herself face to face with Dara once more trying to figure out if Dara had heard any of her conversation. She turned her head away from Dara to end her call.

"I have to go, Ric."

"I understand."

"No, you don't. I need you to know that I really appreciate what you just did for me. Thank you, Ric."

"You would have done the same for me, Alexis. And don't worry. Kristina and I will sit down at two and we'll talk about mommy and how much we love her and how much we want to help and support her. You'll feel us, Alexis. Just concentrate on this beautiful little girl and you'll feel us. Now go get 'em tiger and I'll see you when it's over.'

She knew he kept talking, but she stopped listening when her heart focused itself on a strangely compelling word. At least it was strange coming out of Ric's mouth. Did he actually say what she thought she heard? 'He said 'we'.' she thought to herself. 'He said 'how much 'we' love.' The forlorn grating sound of a dial tone suddenly met her ear and she realized he was gone. An intense feeling of being completely alone unexpectedly engulfed her and she was oblivious to the hot tears trickling down her face. The sound of a bereft whispered 'Ric' escaped her lips as her heart reached out to search for something to hold on to... anything to keep her from drowning in the feeling of loss that was overwhelming her. She was stunned by her uncharacteristic emotional reaction to a simple phone call. One word repeatedly raced through her mind at an alarming speed. 'Why?' The warmth of a hesitant hand fell on her arm startling her and she quickly turned to find an inquisitive Dara smiling with curiosity.

"DA Lansing? I guess he's not the monster we all thought he was."

Her words drew a nod of agreement from Alexis as she tried desperately to regain control of herself. "No, he's not. He's been so good through all of this. I don't think I could do it without him now."

"So he knows about Kristina?"

"Yes. Taking the ADA job was his suggestion so that I would be in a better position legally to deal with Sonny. It put me on a more level playing field."

"And it doesn't hurt that you're beginning to trust him not only with your daughter's heart but your own as well."

Dara's words traveled to the very core of Alexis and she felt her anxiety rise. "It scares me, Dara. It would be so easy to just let go and..."

"...be with him?"

She looked again toward her friend and nodded. Her soft "yes" choked on the emotion rising in her throat.

"So get today done and then deal with Ric. If he's as special as you make him sound then I think just maybe you're ready to finally find your own little corner of the world to live in peacefully for a change. Just maybe you're standing on the edge of a life that all women were born to enjoy before the world stole our illusions of innocence... before the 'Sonnys' of the world destroyed our hopes and dreams. And just maybe you've found someone to build a life with that's built on trust and honesty with a healthy dose of love thrown in for good measure. In the final analysis isn't that what we've worked for... dreamed of since we were little girls with the rest of our lives stretching out in front of us?"

"Is it?" she asked with hesitancy hearing that 'L' word for a second time, a word that held the power to paralyze her emotionally. Loving Kristina was one thing, but to love a man... love 'him'... the idea threatened to take her breath away as a current of excitement suddenly raced through her taking her by surprise. She couldn't ignore the excitement as a vision of his face drifted across the cinema of her mind. It made her heart flutter anxiously. Lifting her arm she lay it across Dara's shoulder and slowly led her companionably down the hall giving more consideration to the possibility of pairing the words 'love' and 'Ric' in the same sentence. "Maybe it's time I found out." She whispered quietly to herself as much as to her companion who smiled delightedly beside her.