Chapter 4

Mac agreed reluctantly. He did is as a personal favor Carly. He would probably never forget the sight of her trying to slash her wrists or the look in her eyes. He really never liked Carly but had always admired her strength and character.

Sonny sat in the limo with Carly curled up next to him. Jason had gone to shadybrook to make "arrangements" for Carly's "stay". A few minutes before Carly had started muttering. Ric had said that the sedatives were starting to wear off and she should be able to speak more clearly soon.

"Carly, honey. Please answer me." Sonny pleaded softly in Carly's ear.

"She said I'm not allowed to talk to you." Carly answered slowly

"Who said that?" He asked

"Caroline." She whispered as her eyes closed.

Sonny stared as Carly fell asleep. He could hardly believe that this was his wife. The Carly he knew could never be broken and the woman curled up against him was in so many pieces it would take a miracle to make her whole again. It didn't take long for the limo to pull up in front of Sonny's house. Max came around to open the door. He moved to pick up Carly but Sonny said, "No. I'll get her."

He carried Carly in to the house and up to his bedroom. The house might be different but the bed was the same. He laid her on what he used to refer to as her side. The agitated look on her face seemed to settle the moment he laid her down. She appeared calm and sunk in to the pillows apparently in a deep sleep.

Sonny went back downstairs to wait for Jason, stopping only to check on the boys but Michael and Morgan were fast asleep. He sat in the chair by the fire after pouring himself a glass of scotch. Jason walked in a few minutes later. He pointed up the stairs, "Carly asleep?"

Sonny nodded but said, "That's not Carly. My Carly wouldn't break this easily. She wouldn't give in without one hell of a fight."

"You saw what she did to her apartment. I'd say she already had that fight." Jason said calmly even though his own heart was breaking at the sight of his best friend in so much pain.

"She is the strongest person I know and I'm killing her." Sonny ran a hand over his face.

"You're not killing her. Every person has a breaking point and even though its hard to believe Carly reached hers." Jason said rationally

"I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for her. But you know this. How many times has she pulled me back from the edge? Aside from you she's been the only one to pull me back when I sunk so low I thought I would never see the light again." Sonny stood up and walked over to where Carly had shot the pictures. He picked one up and stared at it through the broken glass of the frame.

Jason looked over at Sonny, "Then you are going to have to return the favor. Carly's at the point where she can't fight for herself anymore so we have to do it for her."

"We?" Sonny asked

"She's my best friend. I won't let her go without a fight." Jason said simply

And just like that Sonny smiled, "Good. I'm going to need all the help I can get." He began to pace, "We need to make sure no one finds out she's here."

"I already took care of Shadybrook and Bobbie and everyone at the PCPD thinks that's where she at." Jason answered, "But what about Ric, Sam and Reese?"

"Ric won't say anything. If you tell Sam not to say anything I'm sure she won't and I know that Reese wouldn't either so I think were OK." Sonny said

The next afternoon by 2:00 Carly still wasn't awake and Sonny began to worry. He sent Jason to find out what kind of sedatives they used on Carly but he wasn't back yet. He sat next to the bed watching Carly sleep. He brushed a few strands of hair that were over her eyes back behind her ear. There was a soft knock at the door and Jason opened the door softly. "Is she awake yet?"

"No, not yet. The doctor has already been here and examined her. He said just let her sleep" Sonny said, "What was the sedative that they used?"

"It was just a real mild one, kind of like a Tylenol PM." Jason said

"So why isn't she awake yet?" Sonny asked

"I called our doctor he told me the same thing he told you. Let her sleep. He said that its not even about the sedative anymore. Her body is so exhausted that it shut it self down pretty much. He said if she's not awake by tonight to call him back." Jason answered

"All right well I guess I'm going to go to the warehouse and get some files to bring here to work. Can you stay here in case she wakes up?" Sonny asked

"No problem." Jason and Sonny walked downstairs. Sonny left and Jason turned on the TV for a little bit.

About an hour after Sonny left Reese showed up. "Hey Jason! Where's Sonny?"

"He's at the warehouse getting some files." Jason said

"Oh. I though he said he wasn't going to go in to work today." Reese said

"He's just getting some work to do at home while he's taking care of Carly." Jason answered

"What!" Reese practically shouted, "Why would he take care of Carly? Ric said you took her to Shadybrook!"

"Uh, Sonny didn't tell you?" Jason asked, "He's going to take care of Carly here. You and Sam were going to be the only ones who know she's here aside from the guards. He was supposed to tell you earlier."

"Well he didn't." Reese said angrily, "I can't believe you two are that stupid! Carly need professional help. She's obviously dangerous not to mention crazy. She needs to be committed!"

"No!" Sonny shouted from the doorway.

"Sonny you can't be serious. Carly needs the kind of help that you can't give her." Reese tried to explain.

"Carly should have had be committed on numerous occasions but she didn't. I'm going to help her like she helped me. I just need you to promise me that you won't tell anyone that she's here." Sonny said

Reese looked like she was about to argue, "I don't like this but fine, I won't say anything."

Later that evening Sam showed up to see Jason, "I got your message. Here's your bag." She handed him a duffle bag, "You moving out?" She said jokingly.

"I'm going to stay here for a few days. Leticia is still out of town and with Carly being here I figured Sonny can use all the help he can get. I thought you were bringing stuff to." Jason said

"I did but I was just joking about the leaving thing." Sam smiled at him

He smiled back, "Thanks."

"So how's she doing?" Sam asked

"She still hasn't woken up yet." Jason answered

"That's not good. Did you call the doctor?" She asked

"Yeah, he said that its normal. He body just needs time to regroup."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense." Sam said

Reese was sitting on the couch when Jason and Sam walked in. "Sonny's in the kitchen making Carly's favorite dinner." She answered their unasked question with a bite in her tone.

"Did she wake up?" Jason asked

"No." Reese shrugged, "I guess he's hoping that she'll wake up in time for dinner and be all normal again."

Sam went and sat down next to Reese while Jason walked back to the kitchen, "Bitter much?"

Reese smiled lightly, "Yeah I suppose I am. Its just that I don't get it."

"Don't get what?" Sam asked

"Their relationship. They rip each other to shreds but they keep coming back for more." Reese said, "It's the most unhealthy complicated relationship that I have ever seen."

"That's true love for you." Sam said, "I don't say this to hurt you or anything and you know that Carly isn't my favorite person but honestly I think she's it for him. Jason said that Sonny once compared his and Carly's relationship to a drug addicts addiction to his drug of choice. For Sonny and Carly fighting is like breathing. They are each other's oxygen, through the good and the bad. They might stray for a while but they always come back."

"Wow." Reese said, "That was honest."

"I don't want you to get hurt." Sam said simply, "Now I've warned you and when he goes back to Carly at least I can say that I tried to stop you."

Reese laughed, "Thanks, I think."

Jason walked out of the kitchen followed by Sonny who was carrying a tray of food. "I'm going to go see if I can wake Carly up and get her to eat. You guys can help yourself to the other food. I only made enough spaghetti for Carly but there's plenty of food in the refrigerator." He made is way up the stairs. He wasn't gone for more than a minute when they heard a crash and Sonny's shout, "Carly! NO!"

Jason bolted up the stairs quickly followed by Sam and Reese. They stopped short just inside Sonny's bedroom. The bed was empty but there stood Carly on the balcony ledge with Sonny standing on the ground next to her pleading with her to get down.