Note: So this is about hte last time you will see Carly in this story. Can I get a Amen! I always have a hard time writing her character because
I don't understand her motivation. However, before she left I gave her a little dose of reality or my reality as I like to call it. Anyway, she's gone
and we are now focusing on bringing Alexis back to her family.

As always comments, replies and suggestions are greatly appreciated and cherished.

Chapter 32

Hospital Lobby (Several Different Conversations)

Carly couldn't meet Sonny's eyes as Michael continued to rail at her. She knew the look in Sonny's eyes would be that of a man looking upon his enemy even if she also happened to be the mother of his two children.

Sonny turned to his son and said with a cold voice, "What did you just say son?"

Michael looked at his father shocked at his own outburst. His sister and brother sat up eager to hear the latest news on their mother and instead woke up to a fighting match.

Alicia stood up by Michael and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder as he struggled with his next words, "Mom received a call from somebody telling her that they had just overhead a conversation between Carly and Helena letting her know to meet her on the docks in fifteen minutes. She asked me to meet her because she knew you would be livid if she went by herself. We got to the docks in time to hear Helena ream Carly out for screwing up what she had been sent here to do. You see the infamous Carly Corinthos wasn't the victim of a kidnapping and a daring rescue after all. More like a Helena paid vacation. She was brought back here to wreck havoc on Mom's life so Helena would have the perfect in to murder her."

Kristina felt her blood boil as she realized that Carly had once again interfered with her sister's happiness and put her life and the life of her family in danger. She started to walk over when she felt someone holding her back.

She spun around on Zander and said "My sister is in there with a bullet in her and all because Carly doesn't like to lose so she teamed up with the woman responsible for putting my sister through hell all of her life and murdering our mother."

Zander pulled her into his arms and said, "You are right, what she did is inexcusable but you aren't the one with the right to call her to task for that. That right belongs to the husband and children of Alexis. They have every right. Come on; let's go get something to eat while we wait for news on Alexis."

Kristina nodded while glaring once more at Carly let Zander lead her away.

The doctor came out of the room, stopping the tirade that Sonny was about to unleash on Carly. "May I speak to the family of Alexis Davis please?"

Sonny looked at Carly in loathing spitting out his words at the doctor, "It's Corinthos, Alexis Corinthos. How is my wife doctor?"

The doctor reviewed the man in front of him and the family that surrounded his patient. He was one of those doctors who believed that a patient's wellbeing was a lot to do with their recovery. "I'm Dr. Marcus Goldblum and I'll be in charge of your wife's case. I'm also consulting with Dr. Meadows her ob-gyn to determine the best course of action that is both advantageous to her as well her children."

Sonny nodded and said, "I'm grateful for all you're doing Doctor, but how is my wife doing? Can I see her?"

The family waited on bated breath for the doctor's next words "I'm sorry to say Mr. Corinthos that your wife has fallen into a coma. We don't know if she will make it through the next 72 hours. The bullet hit her lung and we were able to extract the bullet but now before we had to place her in a medically induced coma."

Silence reined as Carly excused herself from the private family moment. "Mom is in a coma?"

The doctor looked at the suffering family in sympathy. "Yes, and I don't want to alarm you but that is actually good news."

Sonny looked up with tears falling from his cheeks as the rage overtook him and his words came out sarcastically, "Can you please explain to me how my pregnant wife being in a coma after being shot is good news?"

The doctor refused to give this grieving man the joy of seeing him flinch, "Your wife was seven months pregnant with twins and she was shot. That was stressful not only for her but also for the children. The bullet didn't cause major damage. By us forcing her body to shutdown and go into a coma, it allows for her organism to heal as she regains her strength to fight. Fight for her life and the life of her children."

Sonny looked away and Michael stood up and shook the doctor's hand. "Thank you doctor. Do you know when we can see our mother?"

Kristina came back and saw that Carly had vacated the premises. She sat down next to Morgan and Kristina. "Has the doctor been by? Is there any word?"

Kristina started to cry again and said "Mom's in a coma Aunt Kristina. They don't know if she's going to make it. Dad is going crazy and Michael is trying to hold us all together."

Kristina pulled her namesake in her arms as the tears fell down her cheeks unimpeded.

Sonny slid down the wall as the doctor's voice ran through his head. It's good your wife is in a coma. He tried to define some level of understanding to what he was saying but nothing made sense. The only thing that made sense was that he wanted Carly and Helena dead. He wanted her and Helena to pay for everything that had been done to Alexis and his family.

He looked up when Jason came next to him and sat on the floor beside him. "So you got a lot of things running through your head. Most importantly of those things is your wife. Revenge for what Carly and Helena did can come and must come later. You have to stay strong for your frightened kids in there."

Sonny closed his eyes and rested his head on his knees, "She's it for me Jase. I don't breathe without her. I'm nothing without her, she took my heart and my family's heart and we are only functioning at half speed without her. I just don't understand why she didn't call me if she was in trouble."

Jason smiled to him and said, "Why does she ever do anything she does? She wanted to protect you and her family."

Chapter 33

The beeping sound of the machine was the only signal that she was alive. That alone was enough to burn that image into his brain for the rest of his life. He pulled the chair up to the bed and pulled her limp hand into his and rested his head on top of their crossed hands.

"So this is what I get for letting you come back home? You were supposed to be resting not out fighting demons. Why did this have to happen to us Alexis? I can handle anything if you are by my side with me fighting not lying in a bed looking dead. I can't do this without you. It took me for Carly coming back to life to realize how much I love you. Do you know how scared I am right now? I can't keep this family together alone, that's your job. My job is to ensure that you don't eat popcorn and you help me raise our children together with love and respect of each other. I got to tell ya though; we've done a helluva job with that oldest one. You would be so proud of Michael, Alexis. There just aren't words to describe how grown up he's acting. He is even helping me to keep it together. I would love to stay with you but you have three other children who patiently allowed me to come in and see you first. I need you here with me so get well and get well fast because I love you and I need you."

Sonny came out of the room and swayed on his feet. Jason and Zander rushed to his side and led him to the sofa in the waiting room. "Hey man, when was the last time you ate?"

Sonny looked at Jason sadly "I'm usually the one who has to remind Alexis to breathe and without her I can't even remember to eat. She's in there now with all these tubes running in and out of her just so she can breathe. Did you know I couldn't feel the babies anymore? It's like their sleeping right along with her. She has to wake up; I don't know how much more of this I can take."

Jason put an arm around his shoulder as Michael looked away in fear.

Morgan's voice piped up "Can I see Mom now Dad?"

Sonny looked at his son through weary eyes "Of course, and you once you're done Kristina will go and then Michael. He's probably doing the best out of all us and can wait the longest."

A timid voice spoke up and said "Actually Mr. Corinthos, if they're okay with it, can Michael go in before Morgan?" Sonny had almost forgotten she was at the hospital. He remembered the conversations that Alexis had with him about her. Sonny had laughed her off as just a fling but seeing her by Michael's side made his respect for her grow ten fold, while the truth behind Alexis' words that Alicia was it for their son rang true.

He cleared his throat and nodded, "Morgan, you heard the lady, your brother first."

Ric's Office

She walked into Ric's office on a mission. "Is it ready?"

Ric looked up and nodded "Yes, but I was a little concerned when you called me and said that you needed the papers because you are leaving town. Why Carly?"

Carly rolled her eyes and sat down "Are you going to be my therapist now? Do you want to hear how poor little Carly came to this decision?"

Ric leaned back in his chair and said, "You know we have never got along and probably never will. It had nothing to do with who you were but all about who you weren't."

Carly sat forward and said, "Who I wasn't? What is that supposed to mean?"

Ric laughed shortly "You aren't the woman who can change my brother. My brother and I will probably never be close but from the little I've seen, he's married or he will be again shortly to the one woman who changes him for good."

Carly stood up and said, "I'm so tired of everyone saying that Sonny is better off with Alexis. She helps him… blah, blah, blah! What about what he had with me is that suddenly so wrong for him?"

Ric nodded and said, "Everything you had with Sonny with the exception of Morgan was wrong and I'll tell you why. You guys self-destruct each other. There is no other way with you two. You betrayed him, he wouldn't forgive, and you fake your death guilt brings him back. There was no love, no growth there. Just a sick disease of mutual destruction paired in with sex."

Carly laughed shortly "Well thank you very much Dr. Lansing for that startling insight into Sonny and my relationship."

Ric nodded agreeing her with while smiling "Smile, laugh all you want Carly but you know it's the truth. Not once did Sonny ever take anything you said in regards to his personal growth as serious. Hell he didn't even trust you enough to tell you his secrets when he was married to you. You always got tired of it being Alexis this and Alexis that. Why do you think that was? He wanted to be whatever he needed to be to keep Alexis in his life. Even get rid of you."

Carly felt the tears come to her eyes as the truth of Ric's words hit home. "Where is the pen?"

Inside Alexis' Hospital Room

"So this is how you repay me for meeting you at the docks huh?" Michael pulled his mother's hand close and kissed it gently aware of all the wires and tubes that were flowing through her body and giving her life.

He gently touched her stomach where his new family members lay and said, "You know I never once imagined that you would be in this situation. I always thought it would be Dad and you would need me to keep you together. You know Dad is looking to me to stay strong. You are the only one who knows how weak I am, well you and Alicia. Do you know she stood up to Dad for me? She asked that I be allowed to see you before Morgan and Kristina. Dad listened. What have you been saying to him about her huh?"

Michael willed his mother to respond but his only answer was the beep of the monitor that let him know that her heart was still beating.

Back at the Hospital Lobby (Several Different Conversations)

Carly stepped off the elevators looking for Jason. She wasn't up to more teardowns from Michael, Morgan, or Sonny. She saw him leaning against the counter talking to her mother.

"Carly, sweetheart what are you doing here? Did you come by the check on the boys and Sonny?"

Carly shook her head and pulled her mother into a hug "I love you Momma and I'm sorry for everything."

Bobbie looked at her in confusion and said, "What's going on? Why the sad face?"

Jason turned to Carly in question "What's the game Carly?"

Carly shook her head as tears sprang to her eyes, "No more games Jase. I'm gone you win. Everyone wins but me. I'm leaving town tonight, I think it's best for everyone."

Jason nodded and said "You'll have the money and transportation ready for you when you say."

Carly nodded grateful for the lack of questions and said, "Can you give this to Sonny? I believe this is something he wants."

Jason nodded and said, "This is the signed divorce papers?"

Carly nodded and walked out before the tears overcame her.

Thanks EP