Chapter 8
With some serious sweet-talking and promises of rest on Sonny's part Carly was soon released from the hospital.
"I'm not riding in a wheel chair Sonny! I can walk to the elevator." Carly shouted "Stop treating me like an invalid right now or I won't go home with you."
"Carly please just humor me. You were just shot; technically you shouldn't even be leaving the hospital yet. Just let me push you in a wheel chair and I promise you can walk once we get to the penthouse." Sonny argued
"Ugh, fine. Whatever. But I need to meet you at the penthouse. I have to run and errand." Carly said
"What errand?" Sonny asked
"Its business, you don't need to worry about it." Carly said with a small smile
"Carly." Sonny said warningly
"Sonny." Carly mimicked him, "It's an annoying answer isn't it."
Sonny shrugged sheepishly, "Yeah I guess but--."
"No buts. I'll let you wheel me out of this hospital but then I am taking a taxi to the place I need to go and I will meet you at home. End of discussion."
Sonny sighed; he knew he had lost, "Fine. Let's go."
PCPDCarly walked slowly up the steps of the police department hoping to get in and out of there quickly.
Johnny stood just out of sight and watched as Carly walked in to the PCPD with a confused expression on his face. He quickly picked up his cell phone and dialed, "Hey Jason its Johnny… She just walked into the PCPD. I'm supposed to be tailing her but I'm not sure if I should tell Sonny this…uh-huh…OK…I'll call you when we get back to the penthouse."
Next Johnny called Sonny, "Boss, she's just walking along the pier. She just seems to be thinking about something…We should be back pretty soon."
Inside the PCPD Carly quickly walked in the D.A.'s office. "Hey Mr. McCormick, I just need to pick up some files to work on."
"Shouldn't you be in the hospital young lady?" The elderly gentleman asked
"I convinced my ex-husband to get me released on the condition that I would come back and live with him so he could watch over me." Carly explained
"And you haven't told him what's going on yet?" Allen asked
"I'm thinking I should ease him into it. Maybe tell him I'm a lawyer first and an FBI agent later." Carly smiled
"You're a lawyer? I thought you just did alias missions. That's what your supervisor said." Allen said surprised
"My best friend and I never went to college. We went right into the FBI. But we took the LSAT's and passed and then later in our career we had started going to night school and then after she was killed I finished and passed the BAR exam. I haven't ever practiced except to get myself out of trouble occasionally but I figure that might be a good way to start." Carly explained
"Well if you're looking for something to keep yourself occupied while you're out of commission we'd be happy to keep you busy around here." Allen offered
"Well I just might take you up on that." Carly smiled "Well I have to get going before Sonny sends out a search party. Thanks for the files."
Carly left quickly and took a cab to Harborview Towers.
2 weeks Later
Before Carly knew it two weeks went by and she, Sonny and Michael were settling into their old routine. Her recovery was moving along slower than Carly would have liked but she knew better than to complain. Last time she complained Sonny hired a herd of physical therapists to oversee her therapy. The only thing more annoying than all of them watching her was Sonny watching her. They still hadn't talked about their situation but through an unspoken agreement Carly had moved back into the bedroom with Sonny. They still hadn't made love but just being in each other's arms made them both sleep better than they had in ages. Carly still hadn't worked up the courage to tell Sonny the truth yet. She knew that the longer she waited the more likely it was that he would see it as a betrayal rather than an omission about her past life.
Carly had spent a long time in her first week at the penthouse trying to find a place to hide her paperwork. Its was hard with Sonny being around all the time but this week he had finally decided that she was well enough to be by herself for a few hours while he went to work. She alternated between keeping it in between the mattress in the guestroom and taped to the bottom of the couch. Carly was hoping that if Sonny continued to stay out of trouble that she might be able to do some work at the PCPD.
It had been quite a while since Jason or Sonny had been arrested so maybe she could get away with a few small public defender cases. She would have to make sure Alexis didn't see her. Only by pure dumb luck had she been able not to run into Alexis at the PCPD. And every day she thanked her lucky stars that Taggert had been able to keep his mouth shut. She knew it must be killing him to know this secret and not be able to rub it in Sonny's face.
PH 4"Are you sure Carly's not here." Jason asked. He and Sonny just got back from the warehouse and needed to talk about business.
"Yeah. Johnny just called. She's at the hospital." Sonny said while he looked through the mail.
"Is she OK?" Jason asked concerned
"She's fine. It's just a check-up. She didn't want me to go so here I am." Sonny said. "All right well let's get down to business."
"One of our spies in the FBI said that there has been a lot of unusual activity lately." Jason said seriously
"What do you mean by unusual." Sonny asked turning his full attention to Jason
"All the top secret departments are really shutting their doors. No information outside of the department. No new hires, nothing." Jason said
"So there's obviously something wrong." Sonny said
"Or, they just don't know." Jason added
"OK. Here's what we need to do, call our guys have them get us any information that they can--…" Sonny broke up as the phone rang. "Corinthos…yeah…OK…I'll be right there" Sonny hang up the phone. I have to go meet Benny. Can you stay here and wait until Carly gets back?"
"Sure. No problem." Jason walked into the kitchen and got a beer out of the fridge. He walked back into the living room to make some calls. When he sat down on the couch he knocked some papers that were on the cushion to the floor. Jason set his beer on the table and bent to pick them up. Some of them had slid beneath the couch and when Jason stuck his hand there he felt a thick stack of envelopes. He pulled them out and saw that they were case files. He couldn't figure out where they had come from. They had tape all over them and looked like they had been taped to the bottom of the couch but had fallen off.
Jason pulled out his cell phone, "Johnny, are you almost done at the hospital with Carly?"
The door opened, "Yes he's done at the hospital with Carly." Carly said
Jason quickly picked up the files, "OK. Sonny had to go out of a minute he'll be back soon."
Carly looked at him oddly, "Thanks. Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"I have to talk to Johnny about business." Jason said quickly
"OK. I'm gonna take a nap. I'll see you boys later." Carly said and walked upstairs
Jason watched as she went up the stairs and turned back to Johnny who had a questioning look on his face. "My penthouse now!"
As soon as Jason's door was shut Jason shoved the folders at Johnny, "Look what I found taped to the bottom of the couch and I'm pretty sure they aren't Sonny's."
"Are these police files?" Johnny asked looking through them. "What would they be doing taped to the bottom of the couch?" He thought for a minute, "You don't think they're Carly's do you?"
Jason shrugged, "She's definitely hiding something, and maybe this is it?"
"But what is this exactly?" Johnny asked, "Is she a cop? Is she just interested in case studies? What?"
"I don't know. But I'm going to find out." Jason walked back over to Sonny's penthouse. He opened the door, "Carly!" He shouted, "I need to talk to you." When no one answered he shouted again, "Carly!" He walked up the stairs and into the guest room, she wasn't there but the mattress was shoved off to the side a little. He walked through every room in the penthouse and still no Carly.
PCPDCarly walked smoothly up the steps of the police department. Allen McCormick had called and he needed her help with some last minute cases. She figured that her "nap" excuse would at least give her a couple hours before anyone started to wonder where she was.
ELM ST PIERJason had looked everywhere for Carly. He called her cell phone at least 10 times and she still wasn't answering. At first he thought that maybe she had just gone shopping but so far none of the men had been able to find her. He was starting to get a little worried. He was just getting ready to call Sonny when he saw some of Sorel's old cronies laughing near the docks. If they did something to Carly he was going to kill them. He pulled his gun out and held it to the back of the leader's head, "What have you done to Carly Corinthos?"
The other two men he was with also pulled out their weapons but their leader told them to put them away, "We haven't touched Mrs. Corinthos. We don't have a death wish."
"Then where the hell is she?" Jason asked fiercely
Before anyone could answer Taggert rounded the corner and spotted the men, "Well, well, well what have we here? Anger boy, I think you just gave me the excuse I need to arrest you."
PCPDAs soon as Jason got to the police department and was handcuffed to the desk he called Sonny, "Hey man. I got arrested."
Just a few minutes later Sonny showed up with Justus. "What are the charges?"
"Attempted assault." Taggert said gleefully, "He had a gun pulled on some men who used to work for Sorel."
"Could I have a few minutes alone in the interrogation with my client?" Justus asked
"Actually it's currently in use. She should be done shortly." Taggert said
"Fine." Sonny said, "Then give us a few minutes out here." When Taggert walked away he turned back to Jason, "What the hell is going on?"
"Carly's gone. She came back from the hospital and said she was going to take a nap. I went across the hall to my PH to talk with Johnny. I was gone maybe 10 minutes and when I got back she was gone. I've been running all over looking for her. She won't answer her cell and then I saw Sorel's men standing around laughing and I just snapped." Jason said
"I don't think anyone took her. She's probably just going stir-crazy being locked up in the house all day. Just keep the men on it until we find her." Sonny said
"OK, well you didn't actually attack them and there is probable cause that you had reason to be suspicious. Depending on who the prosecutor is we might just be able to get off with a fine." Justus said
"Interrogation room's empty." Taggert said, "You guys go on in there and the prosecutor will be in in a minute."
Taggert uncuffed Jason and moved him into the interrogation room. Sonny and Justus followed after him. "Your wife will be in shortly." Taggert left the room quickly barely able to control his grin.
"What is he talking about?" Justus asked
"No idea." Jason said
"Maybe they called her?" Sonny questioned
Carly walked past the interrogation room and then quickly ducked beneath the window to avoid being seen by any of the men inside. "Shit, shit, shit, shit." Carly muttered under her breath. "Taggert!" She hissed, "What the hell are they doing here?"
"Anger boy got arrested." Taggert responded cockily
"What's the charge?" She whispered still ducking beneath the window
"Attempted assault and concealment of a weapon." He said
"Are you kidding me?" Carly laughed, "There's no such thing as attempted assault and you know damn well that Jason has a license to carry a concealed weapon." She paused, "You didn't tell them what I'm doing did you?"
"No. I told them you were here but not why. Just tell them that I called you to come get Jason." Taggert said
"All right. When they come out I'm going to have to make a scene about you arresting him just so they don't suspect anything." Carly said pleadingly
"Sure thing." He grinned, despite himself he kind of liked Mrs. Corinthos.
"OK, I can do this. No problem. Ready or not, Carlybabes is here." Carly squared her shoulders and stalked into the room after Taggert. "What the hell is going on baldie?"
"I caught anger boy here holding a gun on an innocent civilian." Taggert said crossing his arms on his chest and glaring at Carly.
"You know damn well that 1. He's allowed to carry a concealed weapon; 2. There's no such thing attempted assault and 3. The guy didn't even press charges. Now I just got out of the hospital and stress isn't good so why don't you uncuff my friend so I can go home." Carly shouted
"He still has to sign release papers." Taggert said hotly
"Well he can't really do it with his hand chained to a desk can he?" Carly replied snottily
"Carly--…" Jason began
"I got it Jase." Carly interrupted, "Next time you arrest Jason or Sonny or anyone you damn well better make sure the charges are real and warranted otherwise I will bring a lawsuit on you and this department so fast your head will spin. Let's go Sonny."
Sonny, Justus and a newly freed Jason all followed Carly out of the police station with the same bewildered expression on their faces. Taggert watched Carly leave the building with a small smile of admiration on his face. "Damn, she's good."
Carly was to wound up to wait for a cab so the brisk pace she set on the way back to the penthouse had Sonny and Jason practically running to keep up with her. The ride in the elevator was silent; none of them really knew what to say. When they walked inside the penthouse Jason was the first to speak, "What the hell happened back there? I've never seen you like that."
"I went to law school." At their stunned expressions Carly quickly continued, "I've never practiced it but I renew my license every few years just in case I ever need something to fall back on."
"Is that why you have all these police files?" Jason asked
"What?" Carly asked
"I found some under the couch." Jason said
"Oh, um. My friend Jeff gave them to me. He needed my advice on some cases. He's a defense attorney and since you two have so much experience in that area he thought I might be able to help him a little." Carly lied
Sonny and Jason accepted that explanation without much fuss but then Jason remembered the reason that he had been arrested in the first place. "Where did you go earlier?"
"What?" Carly asked confused
"After you got back from the hospital you said you were going to take a nap but you left. I came back over here to ask you a question and you were gone. We were starting to think something had happened to you." Jason explained
"I was going pretty crazy being cooped up in here so I figured the excuse of a nap would at least give me a couple hours to myself." Carly lied again
"Why didn't you answer your cell phone?" Sonny asked
Carly pulled her cell out of her purse and looked at it, "I'm sorry guys. It's not even on." She smiled sheepishly, "Sorry I had you so worried!"
"It's OK. I'm going to go back to my place. See you tomorrow." Jason said and walked out of the penthouse.
Sonny stared after Jason for a minute, "You eat?" He asked
Carly wasn't sure what was going on, "No. But we really--…"
"Let me make you something." Sonny interrupted
"Sonny I want to talk about this." Carly pleaded
"What's there to talk about?" Sonny wasn't in the mood for a fight. He was hurt that Carly hadn't told him but it wasn't like she was a cop so he could forgive her for it this time.
"Seriously Sonny. I know how upset you get when you think I lied to you." Carly said
"Look we never really talked much ever about our pasts. Sure little things here and there, like how both of our mothers were secretaries and how they both died a while ago but never much about anything else." Sonny shrugged
Carly stared at him almost disbelievingly, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
"It's OK. Yeah I'm hurt that you didn't think you could trust me not to overreact but I can honestly say that I understand why you didn't." Sonny began
"You do?" Carly whispered
Sonny took hold of her hands and led her to the couch and sat facing her on the ottoman, "I know that I'm not an easy person to deal with sometimes and I've given you many reasons in the past not to tell me things. I know that you were afraid that I would shut you out but I promise you that as long as we are honest with each other nothing will tear us apart."
A tear slid down Carly's cheek, "Sonny there's something else I need to tell you."
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