Chapter 6
Two weeks passed since she saw Sonny, but it was a full two weeks. She spent the time settling all of the cases she was currently working on then cleared her calendar so she could devote her time toward seeing to the care of Michael Corinthos. For the first time in her career she was aware that it wasn't just for the sake of a child that she was devoting so much time and energy to a case. The detective she put on Carly had reported in several times. Carly was doing a lot of damage and not just to Michael. With each report, Alexis was methodically building a case for Michael that would protect him. She constantly told herself that this was not about Sonny. It was not her place to protect Sonny or defend him against a woman who clearly did not know how to love. Her responsibility was to care for Michael. Which was why she was now on a plane headed to Port Charles.
It was time for Alexis to meet Michael. She would not know how to proceed until she knew where Michael stood emotionally with both Sonny and Carly. No matter what the parents of a child wanted, it was more important to Alexis to know what the child wanted. She hadn't told Sonny she was making the trip to Port Charles. She didn't want anyone warned of her trip before she got there.
The plane touched down at the Port Charles airport at 4:55 pm. Alexis was tired and hungry. She told the taxi driver to take her to the Port Charles hotel. She had been there before and knew there was a restaurant on the ground floor. The taxi began to slow and Alexis looked up from the file in her lap to see if they had already arrived at the hotel, but found they were stuck in rush hour traffic and would be stalled for a while. Alexis asked the driver how far they were from the hotel and he told her that actually they were very close.
From where they were it was a short walk through the park on their right. Alexis quickly made up her mind to walk the short distance. While asking the driver to deliver her luggage to the hotel she gave him a more than adequate tip for his time and trouble. As she exited the taxi the driver made a mental note to himself. Scale wise; this was definitely a 9 on a scale of ten. He did not believe in perfect 10s, but this one came awful close and he let out a low whistle just as she closed the door. Alexis refused to acknowledge hearing the whistle. She kept right on walking without looking back.
As she approached the park she heard the laughter of a child and it filled her with satisfaction. A child's laughter was one of the most beautiful sounds she had ever heard. It always brought to her memory another child's laughter from long ago, her own. And again, she remembered her mother. Alexis quietly walked forward searching for the child whose laughter was so infectious. Just as she passed the line of trees that lined the fence surrounding the park, she caught a glimpse of the laughing child. It was a small boy of about 5 years old being pushed on a swing by someone. Alexis gasped and quickly ducked back out of sight.
The man pushing the child was none other than Sonny Corinthos. She did not want Sonny to know she was in town yet and this was perfect, she could observe him with the child without the tenseness she knew he would have if he knew he were being watched. She found a bench that was slightly hidden and sat to watch Sonny play with whom she assumed was Michael. As she watched Michael, she could see genuine love and acceptance on his face when he looked at his father. And Sonny was very careful in his handling of Michael. Sonny had strong hands. She noticed his hands a couple of weeks ago as she watched him relate the events of his childhood. Unaware of his actions as he spoke of his life as a boy he absently picked up an ornamental paperweight off of her desk to give his hands something to do as he opened his heart. He did not notice that during the relating of his story, he became so agitated, angry and ravaged that he broke the ornament. Alexis marveled that it was those same hands that now caressed this child every chance they got. She was so attuned to the sight she was seeing that she failed to see the attractive blonde enter the park from the other side and head toward Sonny and Michael.
But Sonny did not miss her and quickly put his body between the woman and the child in an obvious attempt to shield the child. He had seen her this way too many times. He knew what was coming and all he wanted was to protect his son. He looked back at Michael and immediately saw from the fear in his eyes that he had already seen his mother and he quickly grabbed the leg of his daddy and hid behind it.
It didn't take Alexis long to figure out what was happening, nor did she miss the reaction of the child either and in an instant knew she didn't have to meet Michael to know what was best for him. Nor did she hesitate in her next action. She quickly got up and headed toward Sonny and Michael knowing she would be able to reach them before the woman could.
"Sonny, there is a taxi right outside the gate there. Take Michael right now and get into it." Sonny whirled around and his jaw dropped when he saw Alexis. With one look at her face, he knew she had figured out who was headed their way and looked down at Michael. In a moment he had Michael in his arms, and headed toward the taxi. As he passed Alexis, he gave her a look of gratitude and quickly exited the park.
Alexis watched him long enough to see that he had gotten out of the park and turned to face Carly as she barreled her way down the sidewalk to try and reach her intended target. Alexis deftly stepped into the path of Carly and found herself face to face with a look she hoped she was well rid of since leaving the Greek island she was raised on. The woman was filled with hatred and that hatred was now turned on Alexis.
"Just who the hell do you think you are? Get out of my way." Carly was so intent on getting to Sonny she failed to notice the exchange between Alexis and Sonny regarding Michael.
"Mrs. Corinthos, my name is Alexis Davis and I have been hired by Mr. Corinthos to protect Michael from you." Alexis did not yet want Carly to know just how much she knew about her so she said nothing further.
Carly was stunned. "What do you mean by protect Michael from me? I am his mother, I would never hurt him and why am I having this discussion with you. You know nothing about my son, my husband, or me. As I said, just get out of my way or you'll wish you had."
Alexis gave Carly a quick sardonic smile and stepped aside. She knew she had given Sonny enough time to get Michael out of the way. That was all she was ready to do at this time. She watched Carly explode when she reached the gate and couldn't find Sonny, Alexis turned and continued on her way to the hotel with a smile of satisfaction on her face. After coming face to face with Carly, she knew what kind of battle she now faced. But, she also knew that she would win this battle. And just like so many times before, for Alexis, this battle was now personal. This was a child who needed help. The child came first always. She may not need to talk to Michael or even meet him now, but she wanted to. She wanted to make a connection with him and she wanted him to know in the only way a child could know that he could trust Alexis. In that moment, Alexis put aside her fears and her evident attraction to the child's supposed father... Michael was the issue now and would be until her goal was achieved and the child was protected.