Chapter 2

Alexis was standing at the kitchen sink with a cup of coffee thinking about her night with Sonny when she heard a knock on her door.

"Come on in, Johnny, coffee's on..." She knew it was Johnny by the sound of his knock.

Johnny walked in and went to the cupboard for a cup. Before he picked up the coffee pot he leaned over and kissed Alexis on the cheek.

"Morning, sis. Have a good night?"

Alexis looked up at him to see if he was picking on her and sure enough, Johnny winked at her with an 'I know what you did last night' look on his face. Alexis slapped him on the arm while her face turned a healthy shade of red.

"You better watch out, I know your boss."

"Hey, I'm not worried. I know his girlfriend."

Alexis laughed and leaned over to rest on his arm.

"You know, you're good for me. I think I'll keep you around awhile."

"Yeah, right. Like you really have a choice in the matter."

Alexis loved the friendly banter between them. It had been much too long since she enjoyed simple playful conversation. She needed more of these conversations in her life. Her life was entirely too serious. It was time for things to settle and be easy.

"Hey, Lexie."

"Hmm."

She was doing it again. He didn't have her full attention.

"HEY, LEXIE!"

"WHAT?"

"You know, you really need to stop wandering off like that."

"Oh, I didn't go far. Besides, it looks like I won't have any choice anymore about whether I wander off or not. You won't let me."

Johnny felt something tug at his memory, he let it pass and gently laughed at their silliness. Man, he felt good. It was going to be a long day, but he was ready for it. Sonny spoke to him just before he left and things were going to heat up fast. He had seen Sonny in this frame of mind before and the last time it led to an all-out war. He was hoping Sonny could clean up the mess before that happened again.

"Sis, I'm gonna have to leave you in Max's care today. Sonny's called a meeting of all the heads of the organization and I have to be there."

Alexis looked up at Johnny. She knew what that organization was all about and she had two very special men in her life now that were totally enmeshed in that business. As much as she loved them both, the thought quickly passed through her mind... 'It would probably have been better if I never met Sonny Corinthos and come to Port Charles'. As quickly as the thought surfaced, she got rid of it. She would endure anything to keep both of these men in her life now. And she was tired of running. She was tired of living with fear. This time she wasn't going to let fear win. She wasn't going to let what may or may not happen keep her from a life she felt she deserved.

"Johnny..."

Johnny could see something was troubling her; he laid his arm across her shoulder and spoke very softly as though she were a child.

"I'll take care of him. I won't let anything happen to him. I promise. It'll be okay."

"But, who's going to look after you? It's not just Sonny I'm worried about. I can't lose you either."

Johnny needed to hug his sister, to comfort her. He gently put his other arm around her and held her while he told her what she needed to hear.

"Lexie, before you came into my life. I didn't care what happened to me. But, that's just not true anymore. I want a life now. I want to know that someone loves me enough to worry about me. And it feels good to know that when I walk out that door this morning it won't be just to protect Sonny, I'll be watching out for myself as well."

"Thanks, Johnny."

"Are we ok here, now? Got all that serious stuff out of your system?"

"Yeah, you're off the hook," laughed Alexis.

"Greeaaat. You wear me out. What's on your plate today?"

"Well, I have to make a trip to the courthouse today to file Sonny's bid for adoption and then I'll meet Sonny back here. After that, I'm free the rest of the day. I do need to take a trip to New York to see how things are going at the office though. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow..."

"Okay, Max is outside and I have to get going. So, I'll see ya later."

"See ya, Johnny."

After Johnny left, Alexis went back to the bedroom to dress for her trip to the courthouse. Once she was ready she went to retrieve the adoption papers from the table to put them in her briefcase. She figured it wise to check that everything was in order with them before she reached the courthouse.

As she checked it over she satisfied herself with the legal jargon and turned to the last page to check the signatures. "Sonny Corinthos," that's fine, she thought, and the witness... "John Mitchell Cassadine..."

She stared at the name, looked toward the front door and then back to the name. "John Mitchell Cassadine!" Alexis slowly sank to her knees as the color drained from her face. She could feel it rising within her and knew she couldn't stop it. Terror has no boundaries; it eats you up from the inside out.

Her mind was chaotic with questions. There were so many she couldn't focus enough to begin to process it all. What she did know was that she needed space, she needed air. She couldn't breathe.

I have to get out of here, she thought. I can't be here... I can't be... I can't...

Alexis ran to the bedroom to pack. Within the hour she was on a plane headed back to New York without filing the adoption papers. She couldn't. Not until she knew more about 'him' and she had to know more. Not just for Michael's sake but for her own as well. Once she put some distance between herself and Port Charles she would be able to calm down enough to think more rationally.

Who was he? Did he know who she was? Why had she never heard his name? Did Stephan know him? Was he running from them just as she was? Or had he been sent to look for her? Helena! Helena! Just the thought of the name sent chills through her.