Carly slid into the chairnext toSonny's hospital bed, instinctively she reached out to touch him, but stopped and instead found herself content int watching the steady pattern of his breathing, something was so reassuring by the rise and fall of his chest, every beat of his heart caused Carly's to ache with the fear that she knew in a short time would become a reality... the dream world she'd so carefully created would be shatterd.

Sonny would throw out words like betrayal and honesty and Carly knew that she would once again have failed him.

"Don't look so worried Carly."

"How do you do that?" Carly asked studying his face.

"Years of practice… uh… you always show your fear once you've been caught in one of your lies."

"Sonny, give me a chance to explain." Carly pleaded, reaching out to touch his hand only to have him pull it away.

"I think our entire marriage has been based on you trying to explain yourself out of one thing or another."

"Don't you think you owe it to me to hear me out before you judge me?" Carly asked defensively.

Sonny's eyes opened slowly, he turned his head sideways to look at her. He'd once looked to her for love, but now any feelings he had for her were dimmed into darkness.

Carly raised her chin, searching his eyes for any signs of sorrow or remorse, but now all she saw was emptiness, "Please, hear what I have to say before you make the mistake of throwing us away!"

"You threw us away along time ago…you could never let go of your insecurities… I'm done." Sonny said flatly.

"You can't mean that Sonny, you told me we'd be together for the rest of our lives, what about our family?" Carly pleaded, wiping her eyes, " Michael and I need you and you need us!"

"I used to think my love for Michael could conquer any problems between us… that our love for him would help to bring us closer… I was being selfish by doing that to him… and by doing that to you… Michael deserves more than that."

"But we did work… we were a family…"

"We don't work Carly, mayb…maybe we never did," Sonny chose his words carefully, " I see now how toxic we are for each other."

"You love me Sonny, you told me so… don't do something you'll regret." Carly's voice hitched with desperation.

"Will I?" Sonny's eyes widened in question, " I don't think so," he paused, clearing his voice," I think for the first time in along time I'm thinking clearly."

"It's because of Brenda isn't it?" Carly spat out, " She'll never love you like I do."

"Tell me, how'd you get that fat lip?" Sonny asked weakly, the sedatives beginning to take effect.

"Alexis was out there pining away for you and I told her to leave, that you wouldn't want her here… and Brenda slugged me." Carly spat out, her eyes narrowing at the slight smile on Sonny's face, " why is she defending the witch anyway, they hardly know each other."

"Don't talk about Alexis like that… I won't put up with it."

"Put up…" Carly's eyes widened, "it's always been about her hasn't it? You've always put her ahead of me, don't you get it Sonny… she's no angel, she's got plenty of skeletons in her closest."

"Who doesn't?" Sonny's brow shot up, " and uh… I don't recall Alexis everclaiming to be an angel."

"Besides Eddie's Angel… you mean?" Carly snickered, and then cocked her head to the side, " you know she's with Ned now?"

"Mmmm, uh, was that supposed to scare me Carly?" Sonny asked his eyes prying, "I believe he's been playing the part of Father to my child with your help… lies all of it lies."

"So what, she gets a free pass… you don't care that she lied to you, but I'm cast out like yesterday's garbage because… I did what I thought was right to protect my family?"

"My feelings for Alexis are none of your business… she had her reasons for what she did."

"You know what?" Carly asked jumping up, " That's not fair… I lied to you and it's betrayal, she lies and everything is okay… why the double standard Sonny?"

"Because unlike Alexis, you were supposedly my wife, no secrets, no lies, just the truth… and in my own way I betrayed Alexis."

"What about you betraying me Sonny… when you slept with her?" Carly shouted, she quieted her voice, " I hate her for what she did to us."

"First of Carly, I'm the one that went looking for Alexis, I needed her and she was there for me, second of all you had no business being in my house, we were divorced Carly… divorced." Sonny repeated emphatically.

"But you kept me at arms length, you led me to believe we had a future." Carly said curtly.

"And that was a mistake… it was wrong," Sonny said regretfully, " I confused what I'd felt for you in the beginning with what our relationship had turned into… I played with not only your emotions but Alexis as well, and I'm sorry for that."

"Your sorry… and you have the nerve to include her in it… you owe me an apology Sonny, Me, you came back to me and you told me you didn't love Alexis."

"I lied."

"What?" Carly's eyes welled with tears, this couldn't be happening to her.

"I lied, just like you lied about the accident." Sonny admitted, " you punished Alexis and I by faking your death… but what I truly can't get past is the fact you only thought of yourself, you didn't even stop to think what you'd be putting your Son or Mother through."

" How dare you judge me! You don't know what I was going through... I needed you and...you came back to me just like I always knew you would… you had the divorce revoked, we renewed our vows before God."

"Guilt drove me back to you Carly, for what I presumed I'd put you and Michael through… even as my feeling grew for Alexis…I knew I'd left you hanging in the balance… it wasn't until Jason came back and I had him check out your whereabouts while you were gone, he was so vague with answers… I got suspicious… the pieces of the puzzle began to fit… my doubts and anger grew and I did stupid things… I've been lying to you."

"Lied about what?"

"I never had the divorce revoked."

"But we were married by priest Coates."

"He was on the take, he was an informant for Roscoe, when I found out I gave him a job he couldn't refuse a mock wedding… unfortunately I didn't' realize that Coates was working for Alkazar all along… he tried to kill Jax today."

"No… wh…wh…why would Al do something like this?" Carly asked puzzled.

"It appears you had a relationship with Alkazar that most of us didn't… don't bother lying, I already know the truth." Sonny said, reaching up to rub his chin.

"What's the truth Sonny?" Carly shouted, flailing her hands in the air, " whatever Alexis tells you, or Brenda, or is it Jax…they're all hypocrites, you and I are fighters Sonny, we belong together!"

"Listen to yourself, don't do that to yourself and don't do it to me, Alkazar told me everything, he taunted me with it... he didn't hold you in high regards."

"He used me against you… he threatened to kill Michael if I didn't fake theaccident." Carly lied.

"Stop, stop, stop… I'm tired."

"Of course you are, I'll come back tomorrow when you're rested and thinking clearer." Carly grabbed her purse and wrap and she began to turn away, only to have Sonny grab her wrist.

"You didn't let me finish," Sonny spoke evenly, his temper flaring, " I will always care about you Carly because of Michael, but whatever love there was between us, it's gone… the trust never existed, and it's over, we're over."

"You know what, you've been through a lot, we should talk…"

"I'm done talking, it's over." Sonny said sternly, " don't do this to yourself, don't try holding onto something that never really existed in the first place."

"I don't believe you… I won't!"

"Well you need to…I've had some of the guys remove your things and take them to the brownstone."

"I can't believe your doing this to us… Is this your way of self-destructing, to punish yourself?"

"I self-destructed the day you faked your death… I realized when I found out it was all a lie, that you never really cared what happened to me or the people around you, the only person you cared about was you."

"That's not true Sonny... I love you!"

"You know I think you really need to go over that in your head, do you really love me or is it the need to win that's kept you coming back?"

"Win, what would I be winning?"

"Alexis was never a threat, she would've been happy to remain my attorney and more importantly my friend, but you opened my eyes with your constant references of her feelings for me and before I knew it… I realized my feelings for her had changed and you realized it to, and that's when you decided you'd fight dirty to get what you wanted…and I have to thank you."

"Thank me for what?"

"After the PCPD shooting my relationship with Alexis took on a whole different meaning… when you betrayed me, she was there for me… I know now what I didn't then… she's the one, she's always been the one."

"Are you deliberately being cruel, don't you know what your saying is killing me?" Carly sobbed.

"No more cruel that it wasfor you to watch us mourn your death."

"Sonny…"

"Like I said, I'm tired," Sonny said cutting her off, then added softly, " I'll make sure that Michael and I have a talk soon… as soon as I get out of here."

"Oh, and that will make it all so much better Sonny… when you tell him, you've once again chosen to walk out on him!"

"I'm not saying it's right Carly, we're both to blame in this, we haven't been good parents, and I plan to remedy that."

Just then Johnny appeared in the doorway, he saw and felt the anger and hurt radiating off Carly, clearing his throat he spoke quietly, " Sorry to interrupt, but I need to have a word with Sonny."

"Well you are interrupting,get out!" Carly shouted, turning her back on Johnny."

"It's okay Johnny, Carly was just leaving." Sonny said dismissively

"Right… I should've known." Carly shook her head in disgust, " your two go on about your business, let it never be said that I stood inthe way... but Sonny just so you know, I'm not giving up on our family... I never will!"

Shaking his head Sonny watched her go, Johnny shutting the door behind him," stupid question, but how do you feel?"

"Uh… like I've just been shot in the chest." A momentary grin flashed across Sonny's face.

"Glad to see some things haven't changed, you still have a sadistic sense of humor."

"Oh, oh sounds like you've been taking lessons from Alexis in the comebacks department."

"She's a good teacher." Johnny smile broadened, not going unnoticed by the man lying before him.

"Is that so?" Sonny's brow quirked, "what exactly has she been teaching you?"

"Why do you want to know?" Johnny asked innocently, " Not getting jealous are you?"

"Depends." Sonny said, " Do I have a reason to be?"

"If I were only that lucky," Johnny said looking toward the heavens, " but she's hung up on this other guy, some career criminal with a hot temper, and makes a killer cup of cappuccino."

"You don't say, anyone I know?

"Somebody we all used to know, and I'm hoping he's come back to stay." Johnny said honestly.

"You don't have to worry Johnny."

"I've admired you since I was a kid Sonny, you took me in when my brother left the country, you've always been good to me, but make no mistake, I won't tolerate Alexis being hurt again."

"Since when you have you been on a first name basis with your boss?"
"Since we came to an understanding that we had a mutual interest in saving you."

"About that… what were you thinking, letting her put her life on the line for me?" Sonny demanded.

"Come on Sonny, you know Alexis better than anyone, she doesn't take orders… she didn't listen to any of us… so we decided to work together, Jax and Jason even tried to be civil to one another for her sake."

"Candyboy was in on this from the start?" Sonny grimaced, running a hand over his head, " well, I know that was all Alexis."

"Jason tried talking her out of it…"

Sonny held up his hand, " it's not important now… where's Jason now?"

"He took off on his bike, I imagine he's feeling as betrayed as you are right now… he put a lot of faith in Carly."

"That's who he is… he's always been Carly's protector," Sonny said then paused, " he always liked Alexis… but she was never his friend."

"I think that's all changed now, he was very worried about her ... you too."

"Where is Alexis?" Sonny asked, it was Johnny's hesitation that began to make him worry, "Johnny?"

Johnny didn't know how to tell Sonny, that Alexis was retreating, he'd seen the disappointment in her eyes when Monica had appeared and said Sonny wanted to see Carly, she'd tried hard to hide it, but he'd seen that look before.

"She went to the precinct, to give her statement."

What?" Sonny shouted, pushing himself up in bed, only to fall back in regret as the pain shot through his chest like fire.

"Calm down, Taggert's not going to press charges, it was self defense."

"I need to see her before she does something she'll live to regret…"

"What is she going to regret?" Johnny asked puzzled.

"Why would she leave like that?"

"Truth is Carly upset her, and then when she found out that Zander had taken off to the precinct she went after him."

"Why didn't you go with her?" Sonny replied angrily.

"Brenda and Jax went with her, besides she asked me to stay and watch over you."

"Damn it!" Sonny shouted, " Alexis is about to admit to something she didn't do!"

"What are you talking about Sonny, we all saw the gun in her hand."

"She shot him alright… but there were two bullet wounds… one from Alexis' gun… the other from Zander's."

"If Zander shot Alkazar, then where was Alexis bullet wound… he only heard one gunshot."

"Both guns went off simultaneously, the coroner is going to notice the gunshot that killed Alkazar was shot at an angle, Zander and I made eye contact when I spotted him on the rood… Alexis shot Alkazar in the arm so he'd drop his weapon."

"That explains it, "Johnny replied, " when Taggert and I were looking over the crime scene, he looked up toward the roof… and when Zander rushed in later, Alexis confessed that she shot him."

"We both know Alexis would do anything to protect the kid and I wouldn't put it past Alexis to find the gun and put her prints on it… the other gunshot wound could be explained away that he'd been shot during the initial chaos."

"Sounds plausible… but do you think Alexis would jeopardize her career for Zander?"

"Alexis would do anything for someone she loves… and even if Zander had done it to save our lives, I know her… she doesn't want to see it on his record," Sonny said, " but I can't let her do this, this could have repercussions to her law practice… I know how important Alexis' career is to her; I don't want her stripped of something she's worked so hard for… Alexis is a survivor, but she tends to put everyone's before herself… now it's my job to put Alexis before everyone else."

"You know what Sonny?" Johnny asked.

"What?"

"You have definite possibilities."