Chapter Two: A Return and A Promise

Two more days had passed. Even Bobbie was beginning to give up but not Sonny. He fought with Benny about ending the search daily. A.J. continued to try to talk to Bobbie at the brownstone, kelly's and at the hospital but Sonny's guards were usually able to keep him away. Today Sonny was at the penthouse, which was quickly looking like a small tornado had swept through it, papers were thrown all over the place and glasses and bottles of scotch were everwhere. He was sitting at his desk having the same discussion with Benny.

Sonny (on the phone): I don't care. They work for me. You tell them to keep searching or they will find themselves at the bottom of a river. That's the end of it.

(Sonny hangs up the phone and sits down to massage his temples. Almost as soon as he sits down there is a knock on the door. At the cabin Carly once again came to. She had felt a bit of strength return to her and she tried to recall why and how she got where she was but couldn't remember. She knew one thing, if she didn't do something she was going to die here. She used all the strength she had left to roll off the bed she was on and make her way outside. Her head was spinning but she pushed on, once she got two or three feet outside she collapsed in exhaustion but just as she collapsed, two men emerged from the woods and saw her. They ran to her and immediately knew who she was.)

Man 1: I can't believe she's alive. Mrs. Corinthos?

(No response.)

Man 2: Get her to GH. I'll call Mr. Jax.

(The first man took off his jacket and wrapped it around here and then took her in his arms and made his way out of the woods. The second man followed and called Jax who immediately called Bobbie. At the penthouse Sonny had allowed Matt in.)

Matt: Sir, its Alexis Davis.

Sonny:sighs: I know. Send her in.

Alexis: How are you?

Sonny: As good as I can be expected.

Alexis: Any news?

Sonny: No, but she has to be out there somewhere.

Alexis: Sonny it's been weeks and nothing. I think its time to face it. Carly's…..

Sonny: Don't say it Alexis.

Alexis: Sonny don't do this to yourself.

Sonny: Do what?

Alexis: Blame yourself for what happened to Carly.

Sonny: We've had this conversation before.

Alexis: And we'll keep having it until you see that this isn't your fault.

Sonny: It is my fault. I kept Carly on a hook for months. She was hoping for a reconciliation then... I... killed her.

Alexis: Carly chose to stay latched onto you while you moved on.

(Alexis moved in to hug Sonny but he backed away.)

Sonny: That's what started this in the first place. I think it would be better if we kept our relationship strictly business like it was before.

Alexis: Am I just supposed to forget what we had that night? Forget the feelings I have for you?

Sonny: It was a mistake and will never happen again.

Alexis: You can stand in front of me and tell me it meant nothing to you. That I meant nothing to you?

Sonny: That night I wished you were Carly. I'm sorry but that's the truth. You are my lawyer. That's all.

(She could see he couldn't look her in the eye anymore. Ever since the accident he couldn't look at her. She could see the pain in his eyes though. She felt the same way he did, even though she had never said it, guilty.)

Alexis: I got the petition you asked for. A.J. can't come within twenty feet of Michael, Bobbie, the brownstone, or Kelly's.

Sonny: Thank you.

Alexis: You're welcome.

(As Alexis finishes her statement, Jax comes barreling into the room out of breathe like he just ran a marathon, Matt is right behind him.)

Matt: I'm sorry sir. I couldn't stop him.

Sonny: It's ok. What do you want?

Jax (out of breath): They…..They found her.

Sonny: Is she….

(He couldn't finish the question.)

Jax: She's alive.

Sonny: Thank god. How is she? Where is she?

Jax: One of your men and one of my men found her collapsed outside of a cabin about fifty miles from the lake. They called and took her to GH. I talked to Alan on my way here and he said she must have been carried to shore then made her way to the cabin. It's a miracle she survived but she's still in rough shape.

Sonny: She's alive, it's a start.

Jax: I called Bobbie, she is with her now. I decided to come here to tell you in person.

Alexis: Jax, what aren't you telling us?

Jax: When they brought her in... she went into a coma.

Alexis: Oh god.

Sonny: What are her chances?

Jax: They said it gets worse with each passing hour. They had to put her on a machine to help her breath and they are giving her IV fluids. That's all they can do. The rest is up to her.

Sonny: I have to go see her.

Alexis: I'll go with you.

Sonny: No. I should go alone.

(He left without realizing Jax and Alexis were still in the penthouse.)

Jax: Come on i'll walk you to your door.

Alexis: It's only across the hall.

(Jax insists and they go to Alexis's to talk. In the limo Sonny was yelling at Max to drive faster. No speed seemed to be fast enough. Once they got there Sonny rushed to the front desk. The nurse gave him directions to Carly's ICU room. He sees Bobbie talking to Dr. Jones and nurses. When she sees him she rushes over to him.)

Bobbie (through her tears): I will never be able to thank you enough.

Sonny: Can I see her?

Bobbie: Yeah, She's in here. She looks worse than it really is.

(He thanked god that she was alive. When he first looked in the room he cringed but then he looked up again and really looked at her. He hadn't seen her in almost a month and through the tubes and IV's she was the most beautiful woman he had every seen. As he continued to look at her one tear fell down his cheek.)

Sonny: Bobbie, could I have a few minutes alone?

Bobbie: Of course.

(Sonny sits down next to her. He touches her hand. Her skin is rough and cold.)

Sonny (choked up): Hey Carly. You…You made it back to us. I'm so happy you're alive. I know I drove you to this and i'm…i'm sorry. I will regret that night for the rest of my life. I gave you hope of a reconciliation and smashed it to pieces. I want you to know you've always had my forgiveness I know why you did what you did with the FBI. I was just too stupid and proud to tell you. I hope that once you wake up you can forgive me for my betrayal. I can only imagine what you went through for the past three or four weeks, I swear you will never have to go through anything like that again. I know you're tired but you have to come back if not for me then for Michael. He misses you so much. He asks about you everyday. I love you Carly and if you wake up I will spend the rest of my life seeking your forgiveness and showing you how much I love you..

(Sonny starts to cry and Bobbie comes in the room and puts a comforting hand on his shoulder.)

Bobbie: She made it this far. Don't give up on her now. She'll fight the rest of the way.

Sonny (wiping his eyes): I know she will.

Bobbie: I want to thank you again for never giving up on her. If you had stopped searching we might never have found her.

(They hug and just sit in silence. A couple hours pass and Dr. Jones comes in.)

Dr. Jones: I'm sorry but visiting hours are over. I promise I will call you if there is any change in her condition.

Sonny: Ok. Bobbie why don't I give you a ride home?

Bobbie: Thank you but I have my car. How about you come over and say goodnight to Michael?

(Sonny and Bobbie head to the brownstone. He tucks Michael in and then heads to the penthouse with a sense of relief he hadn't felt since Carly disappeared. The next morning Sonny woke up with the sun to go see Carly. He had gotten in touch with Alexis on the way to ask her to add Carly to the restraining order against A.J. She did it right away and was on her way to the Quartermaines.)

A.J.: Well, Good morning Alexis.

Alexis: I wish I could say the same for you.

Courtney: Why is that?

Alexis: You haven't heard have you?

A.J.: Heard what?

Alexis: They found Carly yesterday. She is alive.

A.J.: That bitch, just like her to screw me again.

Courtney: A.J. how can you say that? Michael has his mother back. We should be happy.

A.J.: Courtney not now. Why don't you go play with Rosie?

Courtney: Alexis, could you give us a minute?

Alexis: I'll be in the hall.

(Alexis closes the doors behind her and Courtney turns to A.J. with an angry and disgusted look on her face.)

Courtney: You don't get to dismiss me like I'm your pet. I am your wife.

A.J.: I'm sorry. It's just…this was my one sure way to get Michael back and it's gone.

Courtney: You would really wish Carly dead just so the Quartermaines can have him?

A.J: I would do anything to get my son back, anything.

Courtney: Even...marry me?

(A.J. doesn't answer he just looks down. Courtney sits down shocked and looks up at A.J. She couldn't believe that Sonny was right about everything. She felt sick to her stomach. As she got up Edward entered the room waving something in his hand.)

Edward: Did you see this?

(Waving the paper in front of A.J. the headline reads "Carly Corinthos Found Alive")

A.J.: I just heard.

Edward: We can kiss little Michael good-bye now. What is that mobster's lawyer doing here?

A.J.: I don't know. Courtney and I have been talking. We asked her to wait in the hall.

(Edward turns to address Courtney. She backs away from him.)

Courtney: You're all sick. You would wish death on a mother to get her child.

Edward: My dear, you don't know the whole story.

Courtney: I know enough. Everything my brother said was true. This marriage was all about Michael. Never about love.

A.J.: Courtney come on.

(Courtney storms out and he can hear the front door slam. Alexis walks back into the room as Edward leaves giving her a dirty look.)

A.J.: Ok. You have ruined my day and I know that's not why you came here now spit it out.

Alexis: I came here to give you this.

A.J.: A restraining order?

Alexis: That says if you come within twenty feet of Carly, Bobbie or her son you will be arrested.

A.J.: I know what it says. Boy Sonny didn't waste anytime did he?

Alexis: He's just making sure you can't get your slimy hands on his son. As for Carly, I may not be friends with her but I know that she is a good mother and I don't want Michael to have to live with you and your twisted family.

A.J.: Fine you served me with this. Now get out.

Alexis: Have a nice day A.J.

(Alexis leaves and A.J. throws a glass against the wall. His hopes for getting Michael were all but gone. He promised himself then and there that he would get Michael back no matter what. He still had an ace up his sleeve.)