Chapter Ten: Brought to the Surface

After a week and a half absence, Alexis was home. She was looking forward to getting back into her routine. While she was away she spent time with Kristina and Ned. She knew the next part of being back would be hard but she had to get over Sonny and move on. It was the same thing Kristina had been telling her for the past week. She was about to go into her apartment when Sonny got off the elevator.

Sonny: Hey, Alexis.

Alexis: Hi.

Sonny: How are you doing?

Alexis: I'm fine and you?

Sonny: I followed your example and took a vacation; I got back four days ago.

Alexis: Did it help?

Sonny: Yeah it did.

Alexis: That's good. How's Carly?

Sonny: She's ok. Still doesn't remember me but she wants to try and start over memory or not. She agreed to go out to dinner with me tonight.

Alexis: I hope it works out for you both.

Sonny: How was LA?

Alexis: It was just the break I needed.

Sonny: Did you see anyone while you were there?

Alexis: Yeah, I stayed with Kristina and Ned. They showed me around the city and we just had a lot of fun. Well I have to go unpack then get back to work. It was good to see you.

Sonny: You to.

(Sonny knew she was hiding something she did while she was in LA. His men kept an eye on her while she was there to make sure she was safe. They told him what she had done. He didn't understand why Alexis didn't just come to him. He couldn't help but feel a tiny shred of relief. He shrugged that off rather quickly and felt anger began to well up for what he had once again lost. He planned on talking to Alexis about it later. He couldn't dwell on it now. He wanted to plan the perfect evening for him and Carly. After Carly took Michael to the park they went to the brownstone so Carly could talk to Bobbie. Bobbie could that she was nervous and tense.)

Carly: What if I say something or do something wrong?

Bobbie: Since when do you worry about that? Besides Sonny will understand.

Carly: I'm just so nervous mom.

Bobbie: I know you are. Just be yourself don't pretend to be the old Carly. Treat this like a first date.

Carly: This isn't a first date. I lived with him, he took care of my son, and we shared a child. I just can't remember it.

Bobbie: Who told you all that?

Carly: Jason told me a few things. Sonny filled in some blanks. Even though I can't remember I feel whole when he's around.

Bobbie: Maybe something is about to come back to you.

Carly: I hope so. I have to go I promised Michael I would take him for Ice cream. Then Leticia is going to take him to the park while Dr. McIver is with me. Thank you for your advice.

Bobbie: You're welcome and good luck.

Carly: Thanks Bye, Mom.

(Carly brought Michael for his Ice cream then went home. Leticia arrived and took him to the park while Carly waited. She tried to clean up a little but she was too nervous. She just sat on her couch and looked through magazines. Her mind drifted to thoughts of what she might remember. She was startled when she heard a knock on the door.)

Carly: Hello, can I help you?

Troy: Hi, I'm Dr. Troy McIver. Are you Carly?

Carly: Yes I am. Come on in. Will the living room be ok?

Troy: It's fine. How are you?

Carly: A little nervous.

Troy: That's normal, I do have to tell you up front that this is not full proof and it might not work.

Carly: I understand let's get started.

Troy: First, why don't you tell about the memory loss.

Carly: Well, I remember everything except one person. His name is Sonny Corinthos. From what I've been told we have a pretty extensive past. I also don't remember the night of my accident or the weeks after. What I don't understand is why would I only forget Sonny?

Troy: It could be that something happened the night of your accident, involving Sonny that made your subconscious bury him.

Carly: How do I get it back?

Troy: Take this.

(He hands her two pills.)

Carly: What is it?

Troy: It puts you in a semi-hypnotic state. So I can hopefully get you to recall your lost memories.

Carly: Ok.

(Carly takes it and within thirty minutes she feels it working. Troy begins to ask her questions.)

Troy: Carly?

Carly: Yes?

Troy: Can you tell me your name?

Carly: Carly Benson.

Troy: What is your Son's name?

Carly: Michael Corin...Benson.

Troy: Carly, can you recall Sonny Corinthos?

Carly: I know of his reputation. He's Jason's boss.

Troy: Take your time.

(It takes a few minutes then an image comes to her. She is with Sonny and he looks awful.)

Carly: I'm in a living room with him.

Troy: What else do you see?

Carly: There's broken glass and mess all around us…

Memory: Breakdown

Carly: What is it exactly that I did --?

Sonny: Sing it loud -

Carly: That you think I should be so ashamed of?

Sonny: Nothing. Not a thing. The people you love, you know, may be bleeding all over the furniture, but at least they're alive when you're done with them. Ask me if I can say that. Ask me! Do you tell them you'll protect them and then you wind up at a grave, at a hospital bed, wondering what went wrong? No? No? Ask me if I can say that.

Carly: This is wrong, man. I don't know you, OK? I don't know you very well, but these are people that you love that you're talking about here - Brenda and your wife and I don't know who else. They definitely deserved better than they got. Who doesn't? It's not you. Do you understand? I don't care who you are, what you do. You don't have the power of life and death. Nobody does. People don't drop dead because you did something wrong. My mother died in front of my eyes of a stroke, the woman who raised me, OK? And we were having an argument. She was furious because I had disappointed her one too many times. Was that my punishment? Hmm? God's not cruel. God doesn't think that way, and neither do people who love you, OK? You blame yourself, man, but they never would. Look, this stuff that you - that you dream about when you sleep, it's not your fault.

Sonny: Don't spread your sickness to me. You can't live with yourself, fine. Make up fairly tales. Keep telling yourself, you know, "Hey, I did the best I could." But don't tell me what I've done or haven't done because I am not afraid to look the devil in the eye.

Carly: Sonny, come on. Just - Sonny, can I just - Let me just see it.

Sonny: What?

Carly: Your hand, OK? You hurt yourself. See?

Troy: Do you remember becoming intimate with Sonny?

Carly: We were arguing and then he kissed me, one thing lead to another. I was with Jason at the time. We hurt him so bad.

Troy: What was the result of that night?

Carly: I was pregnant with Sonny's baby. After Jason left me I married his brother A.J. and moved in with the Quartermaines. I hated A.J. but I wanted my other son Michael to have a good life and A.J. wanted to be close to his son. Sonny didn't want his child growing up in that house. So, he rescued me from the Quartermaines and had me move in with him. He would never say it but he was so happy about the baby. He had another chance to be a father. At first I did anything I could to annoy him. We started to grow on each other.

Troy: What happened to the child?

(Carly didn't say a word and flashed to an event.)

Memory: Carly's fall

CARLY: LOOK, I'M WEARING SONNY'S RING NOW, OK? SONNY IS THE HUSBAND THAT I WANT.

A.J.: YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS ALL YOU'RE ABOUT, CARLY -- A DIAMOND AND MONEY!

CARLY: LET GO OF ME.

A.J.: CARLY!

EDWARD: OH, GOD.

SONNY: CARLY? CARLY? CALL 911. CARLY.

Carly: A.J. had my wrist and OH GOD!

(Carly comes out of it with tears in her eyes.)

Troy: What happened?

Carly: What Sonny told me was true. I didn't want to believe him. I lost our child.

Troy: Maybe we should stop for today so you can process what you've remembered. I'll be in Port Charles for a couple weeks so I'll come by in a few days so we can continue.

Carly: Ok. Thank you.

Troy: You're welcome. I'll see you later.

(Troy leaves and can't help but feel sorry for her. It seemed to him like her past was full of a lot of pain. Carly sits on the couch and starts to cry. The images of her falling play through her mind over and over. She finally cries herself to sleep. She dreams about their child. That he was born and they are a family. She is brought out of her dream by a ringing phone.)

Carly: Hello.

Sonny (on the phone): Hi, Carly. Are you ok?

Carly: Yeah I'm fine. Are we still going out tonight?

Sonny: Of course. I just wanted to make sure you still wanted to go.

Carly: Yes I do.

Sonny: I will be there at eight to pick you up.

Carly: Where are we going?

Sonny: It's a surprise.

Carly: I'll see you at eight.

Sonny: 'Til then

(Carly hangs up and feels excited because she actually remembers him not everything but she still remembers. She goes upstairs to start getting ready. Time flies and it was already 7:30. Carly called Bobbie to see if she could take Michael for the night. Then she called Leticia to ask her to bring Michael to his grandma's after they went to dinner. As she puts the finishing touches on her make-up the doorbell rings.)