There's no excuse for the delay, other than I have a full time job and I'm trying to learn 4 languages at once ;) (seriously, it's true!) Anyway, if you're still reading, I hope you enjoy it...I'm on vacation this week, so the updates will be fast and furious! Keep those reviews coming!
Chapter 13
Maria pulled the hot dish slowly from the oven and looked around to make sure everything was in place. She had prepared all of Diego's favorite foods, drinks, movies they used to watch together. She had been very vague with him on the phone about meeting her, and though he hesitated, he agreed to talk to her face to face.
The knock at the door tore Maria away from her thoughts. "I'm coming, just one second," she yelled, snatching her apron away from her body and throwing it on the couch by the door. She swung it open to see Diego standing there awkwardly – with Brook Lyn.
"Um, hi," Maria said, glancing Brook Lyn over quickly before smiling brightly. "I didn't know you both were coming, I'm sorry."
"No, look I just came for Diego, but if you want I can go," Brook said, stepping into Maria's apartment first, noting the place settings at the table for two.
"Uh, uh, she stays," Diego said defiantly, holding Brook close to him around her waist. "Whatever you want to say to me, you can say to Brook, too." He finally stepped completely inside the apartment and the smell from the kitchen caught him by surprise. He had been sure Lorenzo had set this up, or encouraged his mother to convince him about something or other. "Is that…?"
"Chicken and tortilla casserole, yep," Maria said, still smiling to shake her nerves at the twist in her plans. "I know I didn't explain on the phone, but I really thought it would be nice just to have you over for dinner, to make your favorites for you…like I used to." Her voice trailed off, looking into her son's suddenly sad eyes. She knew he was remembering their nights in the city, when it was just the two of them against all odds.
Diego cleared his throat. "It, um…it smells great."
"Yeah, I would love to try it, if you don't mind," Brook piped up, and guided Diego toward the table, looking sympathetically at Maria.
"I don't mind at all. I made enough for an army, so dig in," Maria said, easing slightly. She was glad to think Brook was on her side, but she knew convincing Diego was a whole different story.
The two teens began fixing their plates, while Maria got another plate and silverware for herself.
"Is this my shake?" Diego said delightedly, recognizing the guanabana concoction in the blender. He remembered Maria making the drink when he got sick but refused to take medicine. She would crush it and put it in the drink, but he started craving it when he wasn't sick, and she always made it when he asked.
"That's the one," Maria smiled at him. "Should I take your temperature first?"
"No," Diego blushed and looked at the ground. "Thanks, Maria." He kissed her on the cheek but quickly laughed at his girlfriend's stuffed cheeks. "Brook, the food's not going anywhere!"
"Don't pay any attention to him," Maria said, happy that Brook enjoyed her cooking. "He just doesn't want you to eat it all."
Brook swallowed hard; fighting back her laugh for fear she would choke. "It's just so good! I didn't think anyone could cook better than my Nonna's forghetti, but you're definitely good."
Just as Diego finished fixing his plate and sat to eat with Brook and Maria, Brook's cell rang softly in her purse. "Sorry, it's my dad," Brook said, excusing herself to the corner of the room.
Maria's heart jumped a little at the thought of Ned, but tried to hide it from Diego. "There's cajetas cooling in the fridge," Maria whispered, laughing as Diego's eyes widened like he did when he was little. "I also remember your sweet tooth."
Brook walked back up to the table with tears in her eyes. She was briefly comforted by the sight of Diego smiling at his mother, his face full of her casserole. "I have to go," she choked out.
"What? What's wrong?" Diego jumped up when he saw how worried Brook looked.
"My uncle Alan was in a car accident, and um…he hit Michael," Brook said slowly, still spooked from her father's voice. "I need to get to GH."
"Maria, I'm sorry but we gotta go," Diego said, picking up their coats reluctantly.
"Diego, stay here with your mom. I'll be fine, seriously." Brook wanted to rush out of there with him, but she saw the disappointment clouding over Maria's concerned eyes.
"Are you sure you don't need a ride or something? I could go with you guys instead," Maria offered. She was disappointed, but she was worried about Ned as well.
"No, I'll be fine, and I'll call you later," Brook said, making a hasty exit. Maria and Diego sat back down at the table, but the food didn't taste quite as good.
Carly, Jason, and Sam moved to the surgery waiting area without speaking. Carly bit her lip furiously before she could speak to her best friend.
"How could you say that, Jason?" Carly looked at his and Sam's confused expressions. "My son could be dying, and all you're worried about is that he knows Sonny's ok?"
"What are you talking about Carly?" Jason retorted in a whisper. "I wanted Michael to know both his parents love him and that we all want him to pull through."
"Yeah, well he wouldn't have to if I had been there, instead of at Sonny's," Carly said tearfully, turning from Jason.
"I'm gonna go…get some coffee for you guys," Sam said uncomfortably, looking at Jason bewildered before walking away.
"Michael wanted to come to Sonny's tonight, Jason and I told him no," Carly said, turning back to her friend. "I was so concerned that Michael would see him like he was that I didn't think that it would get darker sooner, or that someone could hurt Michael, or…or Morgan in the park. All I was concerned about was Sonny. Why shouldn't Michael know the truth, since we're this great family?"
"No one could have known that this would happen Carly," Jason said patiently, but unsure of where Carly's mind was going about this.
"He could have come over to Sonny's Jason," Carly said, crossing her arms. "We should have sat him down and told him what's going on. He would have been safe. He wouldn't be lying on a operating table right now, if I had just let him come." Carly couldn't stop seeing Michael's bruised face, or his blood on Courtney's clothes. She shook her head violently, and Jason could see her body shaking in lieu of tears.
"Carly, this is not your fault," Jason said, taking her hands. "You were protecting Michael from seeing his father in that condition. It would have done more harm to Michael, you know that."
Carl dropped Jason's hands. "More than THIS? No, you meant more harm to Sonny!" Carly shook her head as Jason bit his lip and looked at the ground. "God, Jason, I'm so sick of this! This – what my life is right now. I sat in that room tonight focusing on getting Sonny through this newest crisis, while an idiot on drugs plowed into my son. The whole time I was thinking about our grand love affair – 'Sonny and Carly.' I keep protecting him, no matter what, Jason. I stand by Sonny, I'm there for him, I talk him off that ledge, that dark place."
"Because you love Sonny," Jason said, quietly. He knew Carly hadn't let go of Sonny, and he didn't really believe Sonny had let go of her either.
"And look what it's going to cost me," Carly shot back. "I protected him over my own son, and if he doesn't pull through then what? Huh! What will I have left? I get to tell Morgan his brother loved him every night before he goes to sleep? You know that's it, Jason. Because no matter how much I love Sonny, no matter how much of my heart I give him over and over again, he'll still move on."
"Ahem," Lorenzo cleared his throat to get their attention. He had heard every word Carly said; she could see it in the bright flecks of his green eyes. "I just came to see if you needed anything." His voice was stiff, reflecting how much his heart felt like it was suffocating hearing Carly proclaim her love for Sonny once again.
Jason saw it, too. Carly looked back at him, but he maintained a stoic stance. "I'm going to find Sam. I'll be back." He walked off, nodding at Lorenzo briefly.
Carly ran into Lorenzo's arms as soon as Jason was out of eyesight, and though he returned her embrace, it wasn't warm at all.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Marco demanded, his gun poised at Reese's chest.
"That's what I'd like to know," Sonny whispered, sitting up slowly and looking from Reese to Marco, and Max huffing behind him.
"I was just here to make sure everything was ok," Reese said defensively to Marco, not looking at Sonny yet. "You can put the gun down now."
"I think I'll keep it where it is, thanks," Marco said sarcastically, but Max lowered his hand from behind him.
"We just wanted to make sure everything was ok with Agent Marshall being in here, sir," Max said, looking only at Sonny. He had seen him only slightly worse than this once, but he could tell it wasn't a good time to voice concerns. "Would you like me to escort her out?"
Sonny looked at Marco's hyper expression and sighed. "It's alright, Max, it's alright. Could you and Marco do a sweep of the rooms for me – all of them?" He looked at Reese thoughtfully, then smiled and cocked his head to the side. "Just in case."
Marco slid his gun behind his back, never taking his eyes off Reese. She could feel the icy stare freezing over the room. "Let us know if you need anything, boss," he said before walking out in a huff. Max resisted the urge to shake his head, just nodded at Sonny and Reese and shut the door behind them.
"I must say, your men are thorough," Reese commented, her heart finally slowing to a normal pace – as normal as she could manage when she looked into Sonny's dark eyes.
"That's why I keep 'em around," Sonny said, moving into a sitting position on his bed. "Still doesn't explain why you're here."
Reese walked cautiously toward Sonny's bed, carefully stepping over the delicate lace handkerchief she dropped moments before. "I was here earlier…to inform you about closing the case."
"Ah, yeah," Sonny shifted uncomfortably, his body aching. He sighed loudly, and looked more tired than annoyed. "I'm just so tired. I mean, can we do this another time? Do I have to sign something?"
Reese couldn't believe Sonny didn't remember anything about the past few hours. "You don't look like you've gotten much sleep."
Sonny's eyes finally focused on Reese's face, noticing the worry lines dancing near her squinted eyes. "Doesn't matter how much sleep I get. I guess that's how you know you're getting old," he chuckled and saw Reese relax a little. He moved again, but muscles he didn't know he had in his back stilled him.
Reese reached over Sonny and adjusted his pillows, and he could smell the scent of her perfume mixed with perspiration around her neck. He resisted pulling his neck up toward her, to inhale her more deeply. "Is that better?" Reese stood back, jolted by how much she wanted to hold Sonny close to her.
"Yeah, thanks." Sonny turned his head to meet her gaze intensely. "But I know pillow fluffing isn't a part of the job description of an FBI agent. Should I check my pillow for a bug now or later?"
"Later," Reese replied, sitting down casually. "For now, just rest and I'll finish up my business with you another time." She began to get up but Sonny grabbed for her hand. She looked back at his confused expression. The sense of recognition in his eyes chilled her.
"You were here, weren't you?" His voice was shaky and hurt. "Before…where's Jason? Where's everyone?"
"I gave him something to fake his death," Rachel said, with an air of finality that choked the life out of Monica momentarily. She stumbled backward, but Bobbie caught her fall.
"How could you do that to his family?" Edward demanded.
"Forget that, what drug did you use?" Tracy shouted over her father expectantly.
"AJ claimed his entire family hated him," Rachel protested when she finally turned away from where Steven had counseled Carly. "He never said why, he never explained his past. He just told me he had scores to settle on every front, and he had to start by making everyone think he was gone."
Courtney looked suspiciously at Rachel. "What do you mean, 'one every front'? You claimed he was only using you to help frame me."
"He already stole the family's money," Ned said unenthused. "He got his revenge on us already."
Rachel turned to Courtney. "I swear to you, I don't know. I know you have no reason to believe me, but all AJ told me was that he was going to make sure everything worked out the way it was supposed to." She looked at the ground, not wanting to look toward the room Steven had disappeared to. "He promised…um, he promised that we would get everything we both wanted." She raised her gaze, and only Jax noticed the genuine tears glistening Rachel's eyes.
Ned continued to roll his eyes at Rachel's proclamations, while he looked around for Brook Lyn. He hadn't asked her where she was when he called – mostly because he didn't want to hear the answer – but he was becoming anxious when she didn't arrive after 15 minutes. He saw Dillon come racing through the doors, with Georgie in tow.
"Hey, Brook with you?" Ned said anxiously.
"No, did you call her? What's going on with Alan?" Dillon fired off questions rapidly.
Ned took quick inventory of Dillon and Georgie's unkempt appearance, and gave her a quick glance at her blouse before moving in front of Georgie as his mother approached.
"I figure we'll talk later," Ned whispered under his breath to Dillon's reddening cheeks. Dillon peeked back to see Georgie scurry to the bathroom, but straightened up quickly when he came face to face with his mother.
"Where have you been? Never mind," Tracy said, pulling her youngest son close to her chest.
"Mom, I'm fine," Dillon said, hoping he didn't reek. "Where's Alan? What happened?"
"He was in a car accident," Tracy said, trying not to cry. "He's in a coma. They just moved him up to a private room."
"Don't forget, he hit Michael," Courtney piped up from behind the Quartermaines. She wasn't any angrier with them than with Rachel, but they were easier targets.
"What? He hit Michael? How?" Dillon pressed, looking from his grandfather's solemn expression to his mother's annoyed one.
"I have had just about enough of the Dumb Blonde Brigade," Tracy said, spinning to face Courtney. "Had you checked to make sure you were legally divorced before jumping into bed with the next poor excuse for a Quartermaine – excuse me, former Quartermaine – my brother wouldn't be in this condition."
"What about my nephew, Tracy? Michael isn't in a coma, he's fighting for his life because Alan can't handle grief over a son he never loved anyway!" Courtney shouted and she and Tracy stood toe-to-toe.
"He's your nephew because your thug of a brother stole him from us," Edward said, forcefully stepping between the feuding women. He turned back to Rachel, who stood firmly, ready to defend herself again. "Now you're going to tell me where my grandson is, and what else he had planned."
Everyone looked at Rachel, and she threw her hands to her side in defeat. "I already told you, I don't know! He said he was going to lay low, wait for his other partner in crime."
"Whatever that means," Courtney pushed the crowd on her way to find Carly, though Rachel's last words stuck in her mind. She approached Jax, who blocked her way. "You want to go another round with me?" She shoved him violently backward before he could get a word out, leaving the Quatermaines to stare at the bruise forming on his face.
Brook walked up behind her father, witnessing Courtney's last outburst. "So – what did I miss?"
Liz climbed into Lucky's bed, careful not to lean onto his stitches, and continued to smooth his hair away from his face. He had stopped crying a while ago, but he refused to speak.
"It just seems like everything is out of whack, lately, huh," Liz said, as much to herself as to Lucky. "Alan and Michael's car accident, Emily, and…you and your father."
Lucky wiped his face and looked down at Liz's pained face. "How are they? Alan and Michael?"
"Michael's in surgery, and Alan's in a coma," Liz said sadly. "I mean, I used to hate Carly, for one reason or another, but I can't imagine the pain she's going through. If anything ever happened to Cameron, let alone what happened to Michael, I'd be inconsolable."
Lucky rubbed Liz's hair and she looked up at him. "That goes for you too."
"Well, I won't be getting into much of anything from this bed," Lucky replied sarcastically, happy to make Liz smile. "Admit it, that's why you want to keep me here, isn't it?"
"Actually, I'd rather have you home with me," Liz said, her voice trailing at her suggestion. She sat up to look into Lucky's eyes, regained her confidence and spoke again. "Lucky, I know we only started talking about this before, but I want to be with you, and not just so I can make sure you recover."
Lucky was taken back by her words. "I want that too." They smiled at each other and Liz leaned into kiss him, but he put his index finger to her lips. "What about your grandmother?"
"Well, I'll tell Grams and I'm sure we'll work something out," Liz said sweetly, kissing Lucky softly at first. Lucky pulled her closer and deepened the kiss, caressing Liz's soft skin. He reached too quickly and pulled back in pain. "Lucky? Ugh, I shouldn't have pushed it," Liz said, checking his stitches.
"No, I shouldn't have pushed it, but this is the best kind of pain," Lucky said, hoping to abate Liz's concern and get back to kissing her. "I'll feel a lot better if you do one thing for me, though."
"What's that?"
"I get to tell Cameron," Lucky said sincerely. Liz could see how attached Lucky had gotten to her son, and her heart couldn't have been more filled at thinking of the three of them as a family.
Tony came to Lucky's door. "Liz, the patient in Room 428 needs some assistance, and your rounds are almost over."
"Deal," Liz whispered to Lucky, kissing him on the cheek before heading out with Tony. Lucky sat back happily, suddenly imagining the Webber living room like the one Liz painted in the boxcar.
The monitor beeped slowly by Alan's beside. Skye stepped in the room almost clumsily, looking in disbelief at the bed before her. She had gotten all the way back to the Quartermaine mansion, expecting to stuff her face with anything in the kitchen, Cook be damned, and was surprised to find it completely empty. When Cook didn't even bother to shoo her out of the kitchen, Alice explained what happened to Alan and drove Skye back to the hospital.
Skye walked over to the stool at Alan's bedside and sat down. She couldn't explain to herself the rage she felt, why she wanted to shake him awake.
"What do you think you're doing, huh? I finally find a father I like and you're trying to quit on me," she angrily whispered. "Well, it's not going to happen, Alan, so wake up! I love you, Dad…just please wake up." Skye leaned over his body, her tears blurring her ability to stare into his face. She never noticed the lines dancing across his forehead, or the sagging skin around his neck that was so prevalent in his current condition.
She sat down, defeated. "I've been standing outside Lucky's room for, I don't know, seems like forever. I just kept watching Luke, pleading with him not to give up on his son." She sighed, grabbing Alan's hand and brought it to her chest. "I couldn't grasp how much his heart was breaking, watching his son lying there, and I didn't ever want to feel that pain. I can't make any decisions for you, but I need you, Alan. I need you to laugh with, battle our demons together. Who else will I – a grown woman – cry to about boyfriend problems?"
Skye placed his hand back his side and began pacing around the room. "Listen at me. I'm still talking about him. I love him, even now, even after I know what he's done." She walked back to Alan's beside. "I'm glad you told me, really. I'm sorry I walked away from you…oh, God, I hope that's not why…" she paused. "I want you to wake up and be proud of me, Alan. I broke it off, you know. I planned a whole gorge fest at the mansion and then come find you for one of our talks," her voice trembled.
Monica stood at the doorway, watching Skye cry at Alan's bedside. She didn't want to interrupt, but her heart broke when she heard Skye finish.
"I knew…you'd be able to tell me that if you could find love anyone can. That it would be that forever love – that I had that inside of me and someone would be there, and deserve it, just like you have." Skye felt someone watching her, and looked up to see Monica, tear after tear pouring down her face, in the doorway.
Rachel wandered down the hallways of the hospital, trying to think of how to unspin this mess. She admitted her misdeeds to everyone, including Steven. There was no way any plan with Lorenzo would work now, and Rachel kept thinking about all the people that were shooting daggers at her outside the ER. The only one that didn't was Jax; she wanted to focus on the small kindness she saw in his eyes, but Courtney stood in front of him protectively, a reflex despite her anger.
Rachel pulled out her cell phone and hit speed dial "1" and tapped the side of it impatiently. If nothing else, she was determined to take the heat off of her.
AJ groggily reached over to his blaring cell phone. "What?" He said annoyed and fatigued.
"AJ, don't hang up, ok. You have to get to Port Charles right now," Rachel said quickly.
"Why would I do that? What, your new plans aren't working out, so you want back in bed with me?" AJ snapped. "Don't think it'll be that easy for you to climb in again."
"Would you stop with the threats? I'm calling about your father," Rachel whispered angrily. "He was in a car accident tonight – he almost died."
AJ held his breath. "You're trying to trick me, aren't you?" His voice instantly became insistent. "My father's fine. He doesn't care about me anyway – that whole family could care less if I showed up." He grit his teeth at his own words, fighting the worthless feelings that crept into his nerves.
"You're wrong, AJ," Rachel urged. "Your father overdosed on pain killers, and your family's been grieving this whole time – I tried to tell you that. Worst part is, he hit some kid too, in park."
AJ sank to the floor next to his bed. "He OD'ed…he hit someone?" AJ could barely get the words out. "Is he alive?"
"He's in a coma, and the kid is in surgery," Rachel said, her heart breaking at AJ's response. "You need to come back, because even if your father makes it, he could still be in a lot of trouble. AJ," Rachel stopped and looked around, but didn't notice Jax watching her behind the adjoining wall, "your father hit Michael Corinthos. Sonny Corinthos could try to have him killed if his son doesn't make it." Rachel didn't hear a dial tone but she couldn't hear AJ breathing anymore. "AJ? AJ? Hello?"
Rachel closed her phone, wiping a tear away from her cheek. She headed off toward signs for the hospital chapel. "Not sure if it'll even help now," she muttered to herself. Once she was out of sight, Jax stepped from the shadows and raced to find Courtney.
Sam walked up to Jason with two large cups of coffee, startled that he wasn't in the same waiting room anymore. "I don't remember which one has sugar. I figured you and Carly would both need it anyway," she offered weakly, unsure of what to say. She pushed the coffee cup in Jason's hand and finally looked up at him. "What is it, Jason?"
"All of this – Sonny, Michael getting hit by Alan – it's just all happening at the same time. It's so fast it feels like it's all coming from the same place." Jason stared past Sam's face, like he was talking to himself.
"It's called 'when it rains, it pours,'" Sam said, looking around. "Where's Carly?"
"She's blaming herself, blaming Sonny," Jason commented. "Michael wanted to come over to Sonny's but she sent him to the park. I just keep thinking," Jason looked at Sam thoughtfully, "about what she said, about telling Michael about Sonny's…"
"Illness," Sam finished, and Jason's startled expression made her look away from him. "I know where Carly's head is right now. I thought the same thing about my baby – the 'what ifs' and mostly, what I did wrong and should have changed. When I looked at Sonny tonight, all I could do was wonder how I missed that side of him."
Sam walked toward the window facing the main street outside the hospital to avoid Jason's eyes. "I agree with you, that Michael shouldn't have to face what we did today, but…Sonny needs help, whether Michael finds out or not." She looked back at Jason, his head hung down between his clinched fists. "I'll take Carly her coffee."
Courtney rushed toward Jason and Sam, curious as to why Jason seemed to be restraining Sam from leaving. Stop thinking like that, she scolded herself. "Jason, Sam, where's Carly? How's Michael?"
"I was just going to give her her coffee," Sam replied, stepping in front of Jason. She still didn't trust Courtney's motives around Jason, and wasn't about to give her any opportunities to make good on Sam's suspicions.
"Michael's still in surgery, we haven't heard how long it will be," Jason said, placing his hands on Sam's shoulders. He hadn't wanted her to leave, but he also knew Sam and Courtney had been tense around one another since the situation with Hope.
"I can't imagine what she's going through," Courtney said, still looking at Jason. "After everything Rachel said tonight about AJ still being alive and his plans, it's hard to even wrap my head around Michael, too."
"What plans?" Sam and Jason said together, and then looked at each other reassuringly.
"She claims that she was only involved in trying to frame me for his murder, but she said some really weird stuff," Courtney replied. "According to Rachel, AJ said he had plans 'on every front' and to carry them out he had to make everyone believe he had died."
"That's crazy! Why would he do that to his family?" Sam interjected, while Jason listened intensely.
"Well, AJ already stole ELQ's money from the family, so I guess he thought his death, and spending their fortune was payback enough," Courtney answered. "But Rachel said she went along with it because AJ promised they would both get everything they wanted. I can't imagine that me in prison is all AJ ever wanted."
"No, he'd want Sonny and me there too," Jason finally answered. He flipped out his cell and dialed Stan. "Hey Stan, look I need you to call Meyer and double check all of the company's transactions in the past two months. It's urgent," he said authoritatively and closed the phone. "AJ may have tried to launder money into our accounts to bust us somehow."
"But Jason," Sam said, her back to Courtney, "Courtney said 'on every front.' If AJ is crazy enough to pull off a con like this – and I have to say it's a good one – he'd want more in return than just seeing you in prison."
Jason looked at her curiously, impressed with how easily she thought like him and examined a different angle. "Maybe, I don't know."
"Well, what's the one thing that AJ wants most? Sending you guys to prison may be gratifying," Sam said, looking between Courtney and Jason, "but revenge isn't this elaborate with a specific benefit in mind."
"You'll be able to ask him yourself," Jax said behind all three of them.
"Go away, Jax. This doesn't concern you," Courtney said before anyone had a chance to respond.
"Wait, Jax," Sam looked at Jason carefully, "what did you mean?"
"It doesn't matter – he obviously stuck around with his tramp and thinks he's got some information, that's most likely inconsequential anyway," Courtney retorted, moving angrily toward Jax. "I hope you had fun, because she's conning you and you're going to deserve it." Courtney threw every ounce of venom she could into her voice, but Sam stepped between them.
"I don't understand how you can simply see me here with her and assume that much, I really don't," Jax replied, hurt at Courtney's refusal to listen. "I came here because you called me, because I love you and thought you were hurt…"
"Yeah, well I saw Rachel's blouse, so I'm sorry about the call – didn't mean to interrupt you," Courtney shot back, pushing Sam out of the way to inch closer to Jax's face. "I'm going to find Carly." Courtney grabbed the coffee Sam had earlier and stalked off to find her best friend.
Jax sighed and Sam patted his arm. "Everyone's worried about Michael. Don't take it so hard – I'm sure you can explain later," she said, and Jax hugged her quickly.
Jason walked to the two of them, his arms crossed and his icy stare in full force. "I don't want to know what you did or didn't do to Courtney," he stated, and Sam looked at the ground and her tapping foot. "What do you know about AJ?"
"Rachel called him, told him about Alan and Michael. He's coming home."
"Where is he, Reese? Why did he leave me here with you?" Sonny's voice was small for the first time, and Reese could tell Sonny was thinking the worst.
"Well, much like Frik and Frack, Jason doesn't trust me enough to tell me where he's going," Reese quipped, anxious to avoid Sonny's questioning. She knew that whatever happened to Michael had to be serious, because no one close to Sonny would have left her with him this long. Her voice lowered as she made her back to the edge of Sonny's bed. "What do you remember, about earlier?"
"My hand," he said, still aching as he moved, his voice husky and exhausted. "You came in, and bandaged my hand."
"Right," Reese said slowly. "Like I said, I was here to wrap up Kristina's case."
Sonny looked past Reese and observed his room – the broken glass and drawn curtains. He moved to the side of the bed to sit up, and saw Lily's handkerchief lying on the floor. He rushed to pick it up. "I destroyed my life with Lily – my first wife."
He turned back to find Reese looking away. "I still feel her, though. I've almost died so many times, and each time I see her…and she's always smiling."
Reese cleared her throat. "I know what happened. I think it's great, though, that you can still see her, feel her," she stopped, feeling tears springing to her eyes. "Whatever you think you destroyed must not be broken, you know. You still have a strong connection to her – not everyone gets that with someone they love."
"Thanks for saying that," Sonny said, noticing Reese's tears. "I guess you don't have visions of the ones you've lost." He put Lily's handkerchief back in his drawer, looking at the picture of he and Carly. He turned away, the memories of the day's events coming back to him.
"No, I can't say that I do," Reese said, standing up. "You're very lucky, Sonny, in more than just that regard." She bit her lip, and began to walk by him, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him.
"I'm sorry, if I scared you before," Sonny said in her ear. He again noticed her perfume, but he only felt intimidated that she had seen him in such a state earlier. He dropped her arm, never noticing her goose bumps. "I'm sure it'll be an interesting note to put with, you know, my file." He brushed past her and eased back onto his bed.
"I was here in an official capacity, but my work is over Sonny," Reese explained, upset that his defenses went back up so quickly. "Nothing that happened is pertinent to Kristina's case, which is closed anyway. I'm sure I'll be reassigned once you sign off on the paperwork and give your statement."
"Well, the sooner the better, right? Life goes back to normal – just me and my kids," Sonny smiled and grabbed the picture of him and Michael that he kept by his bedside.
Reese simply nodded, digging her nails into her hand in a clinched fist behind her back.
"I'm so glad you're here," Carly said in Lorenzo's ear. She pulled away from him to see his face lessen its stiffness. "Um, I don't even know how long he's been in surgery. I'm just waiting for Steven to come out here, you know…just tell me my baby's ok." She sank back down on the waiting room couch.
Lorenzo sat next to her, rubbing her back gently. "Carly, he's going to be fine. And when he comes out, you'll be waiting for him. You'll be nursing him back to health until he tells you to stop interrupting his video games again."
Carly laughed and pushed back the tears staining her face. "He'll probably be asking for those games as he's coming out of surgery. Sonny just bought him another one at Christmas, and he won't…"
Lorenzo tensed all over again, and looked hard at Carly. "Do you need anything? Can I get you some coffee?" His voice was tight and even.
"I'd prefer you be honest with me, Lorenzo. Just tell me that mentioning Sonny hurt you," Carly said concerned. "I know you over heard what I said earlier, and…I can't take it back, because I meant it. But, Lorenzo, come on…"
He faced her directly. "I know where your heart lies Carly. I always have, and I'm not under any chimera that you feel that way about me."
"But I do, I do care for you Lorenzo," Carly implored, scared of the finality in his voice again. "It's taken this, what's happening to my little boy for me to realize that I've screwed up my priorities."
"And I hope you can straighten them out," Lorenzo said, softening only a little. He stood and looked away from her. "You have to do what's best for yourself and your children, and I support you in that," he said, finally looking at her. "But I'm no longer kidding myself into thinking that I'm one of your priorities, let alone be arranged higher on your list."
"Lorenzo, wait a minute," Carly stood to face him and began to protest, but he had held up his hand to silence her. He grabbed her bare left hand, bringing it to his lips slowly.
"If you need anything," Lorenzo said, his lips still on her hand, breathing deeply to hold back his tears, "anything…just call." He finally dropped her hand and faced her again. Seeing the tears in her eyes matching his own, he gave a polite smile and nod, and quickly walked away.
Passing Lorenzo, who was visibly upset, in the hall, Bobbie and Courtney rushed to Carly. "What happened, honey? Is it Michael?" Bobbie asked urgently, while Courtney stared daggers in the path they had come from.
Carly cried silently into her mother's arms but shot up as she saw a pair of gleaming Italian leather shoes racing toward them.
"Where is he? What's happening with my grandson?" Durant's voice pierced through the silence and the three women looked at him, awaiting the next tirade.
Dillon and Ned walked off quietly to talk, leaving Brook in the ER pacing. She saw Lucas staring at one of the empty trauma rooms and approached him apprehensively. "Hey," she said softly.
Lucas turned around. "Hey," he said and looked back at the empty bed where Michael had been just a while ago. He couldn't believe how quickly everything had changed, or how much the guilt was weighing on him. He got sidetracked talking to Cianna, and she actually had to be the one to remind him why he needed the phone in the first place.
Brook could tell Lucas was tense, but after their last encounter she was unsure if she should say anything else. "Well, um…I'm sure everything will be alright, you know. Michael, from what everyone tells me, is a pretty strong kid."
"Yeah, he is," Lucas said, finally looking at Brook. "I just wish it hadn't happened."
Brook reached out for Lucas' hand. "God, Lucas, you're shaking. You have to believe everything's going to be ok – for everyone." She held his hand tightly, and he sighed loudly as he gripped their clasped hands with his other one.
Diego walked around the corridor looking for Brook Lyn. He and Maria finished their food but both didn't want to sit and wait to find out what was happening. Diego was surprised at the vehemence that Maria showed in coming to the hospital, and he could tell it wasn't for Brook. He saw Brook's long brown locks, relieved to catch up with her, but stopped dead in his tracks when he saw her holding Lucas' hands.
Lucas looked awkwardly between Brook and the floor. The butterflies he used to feel for her weren't there, and he didn't know what was left to say. She had been right – his hands were shaking, but he didn't want to tell anyone about how he felt or why. He caught eyes with Diego, whose annoyed look made Lucas drop Brook's hands instantly.
"Brook," Diego called out and she rushed to hug him. "Are you alright?" he asked, never taking his eye off Lucas.
"Yeah, we were just talking about Michael," Brook said nervously, looking between Lucas and Diego. However, both their attention seemed to be just beyond her, and she stopped to see a petite brunette in jeans, black T-shirt, and black bandana with a large duffle bag shuffle exhaustedly toward the exit. The bandana held down the girl's long blonde-highlighted hair, perfectly framing her sun-kissed face.
Cianna looked around but once she caught eyes with Lucas, she stopped and tried to smooth out her appearance. She had been kicking herself the rest of her shift for how she reacted when he didn't know her, and she knew it was best to just let it go now. If only I could get rid of the damn butterflies, she thought, as she silently nodded her head at him.
Lucas nodded back and with that slight movement, Diego and Brook came into Cianna's full view. She successfully hid her surprise at seeing her biggest mistake in the flesh again, and made sure to walk slowly out of the hospital.
Diego cleared his throat suddenly, grabbing Brook's hand tightly. He remembered the feeling of not being able to catch his breath around a girl like that before, but he couldn't imagine he'd face those memories ever again.
"Can we try that again?" Alexis said playfully, kissing behind Ric's ear. She ran her fingers through his hair and trailed them down his sculpted torso past his waistline.
"Did anyone ever tell you you're insatiable?" Ric laughed, kissing his wife deeply.
"I'm a Cassadine. It's in the blood," she teased and rolled on top of him. Just as she began to lower her body and kiss down Ric's chest, his cell phone rang on the nightstand. "Don't you dare answer that!"
"Ha, this coming from the person that founded Workaholics Anonymous," Ric chuckled and kissed his wife. "Nothing anyone says on the other end of that phone is going to stop me from making love to my wife as many times as she desires." He reached for his phone and flipped it open. "Lansing."
"Mr. DA, you better get your ass down to General Hospital and figure out how you're actually going to win a conviction this time." Durant barked into the phone.
"What claim against Sonny do you expect me to leave my bed and my wife for this time, Durant?" Ric said annoyed, and rolled his eyes again when he saw Alexis' interest was no longer on making love.
"Oh, no I know that you can never handle something that important, Lansing. But you will prosecute the man that put my grandson in the hospital – Dr. Alan Quartermaine."
Skye walked out of Alan's room quietly, patting Monica's arm. Monica started toward the bed, still not really feeling her movements at all. She couldn't believe everything that had happened in the past few hours. All she wanted was to tell Alan that AJ was alive; that when they found him they could string him up together.
"Do we have that forever love, Alan?" Monica said softly into his ear. "If I believe hard enough, hold on tight enough…can I bring you back? Can we conquer all again?"
The man outside Alan's door walked lightly, making sure his shoes didn't make a sound. Watching the two of them – Monica crying her eyes out on top of her husband's chest – he ran his fingers through his now short brown hair down the back of his tanned neck. He wasn't ready to face them just yet.