Chapter Fifteen
"Ok this may be a little cold," Dr. Rivera said and then squeezed some of the clear gel against Claudia's bare belly, she flinched slightly at the coolness. Dr. Rivera then took the wand attached to the sonogram and pushed it into the gel and began to spread it around. He then repositioned the monitor. "And there's your baby," Dr. Rivera said as both Claudia and Sonny stared at the screen.
"It looks…sorry I don't see a baby." Claudia finally said.
"Well it's still early in the pregnancy, so you won't see any defined appendages, but you can see this right here," Dr. Rivera pointed to a pulsating spot on the screen. "That's your baby's heartbeat." This brought a smile to both Claudia and Sonny's face.
"Wow," Claudia said as she stared at the screen entranced. "There really is someone in there."
"Yeah," Sonny spoke out. "You can't tell what it is yet can you?" He asked.
"No, it's still too early." Dr. Rivera said. "But I can tell you that your baby looks healthy and perfectly normal. And Mrs. Corinthos,"
"Claudia," She corrected him.
"Sorry, Claudia your cervix is closed and your blood pressure is back within its normal range. I think you're out of the woods, provided that you remain stress free."
"She will Doc, I'll make sure of it."
"So I'm officially off bed rest?" Claudia asked with a wide smile.
"Yes, so long as you don't overdo it." Dr. Rivera said as he handed Claudia a wet wipe to clean her belly. "I'm going to keep everything set up because I want to check you again in the morning."
"Thank you Dr. Rivera." Sonny said as he walked the doctor to the door.
"You're most welcome Mr. Corinthos; I believe that in a few months you and your wife will have a very healthy and beautiful baby." The doctor said as he left the room, closing the door behind him.
"You hear that?" Sonny asked as he turned back to his wife with a smile on his face.
"I sure did," She replied smiling back and she threw the covers back, and threw her legs over the side of the bed.
"Whoa what are you doing?" Sonny asked as he moved to the bed meaning to stop her.
"I'm off the bed rest and I'm dying to take a bath."
"I don't think that's such a good idea."
'Then don't think about it. Come on Sonny I feel icky, just help me take a bath, please." She said with a pout, and Sonny had to smile as he rolled his eyes.
"Alright, alright, I'll go run the water, you just take it easy."
"Thank you," Claudia called out to Sonny's retreating back as he entered the master bath.
Sometime later
"Feel better?" He asked as he stood behind the chair she sat in, drying her hair with a towel. He watched her reflection in the mirrored vanity she sat in front of, her eyes were closed and her head tilted back a bit to give him full access to her long dark tresses.
"Mmmhmm, thank you for bathing me and for washing my hair." She said as she opened her eyes and stared up at his reflection.
"You're welcome though honestly I thought you put up a fight when I started bathing you."
"Are you kidding, and pass up a chance to be pampered like that, and by you?" She replied playfully with a giggle.
"So you ready to get back into bed?" Sonny asked and could tell by her expression that he was in for an argument.
"Sonny I've been given a clean bill of health I'm fine and the baby's fine," Claudia said as she rubbed moisturizer over her arms and shoulders, and then around her neck. Her actions paused when she noticed the look on Sonny's face and the way his eyes seemed to be transfixed on to her neck. "It's not as bad as it looks I have very pale skin, so I bruise easily." She tried to reassure. "In a couple of days it'll totally be gone as if it had never happened."
"It'll never be gone, not for me, not here." He replied pointing to his temple. "And I don't want it to ever go away, I have it branded in my mind as a reminded to never, ever let it happen again." Claudia simply nodded her head, knowing she didn't need to reassure him of her forgiveness again.
"Ok," She spoke again hoping to steer the conversation from the dark road it was headed down. "I'll go to bed."
"OK well I…I know there's an 'if' in there because that was just too damn easy." Sonny said with a chuckle, his dimples gracing his face.
"And," She spoke with a smile and Sonny could only smile back in appreciation to her defiance and determination to never give him the last word nor upper hand. "I would like you to lie with me." His silence caused her to be self conscious. "It's ok if you don't want to if you don't feel comfortable." She said as fidgeted with her hand and bowed her head, to avoid his eyes.
"No I'm not uncomfortable I don't mind, it's just that… I just don't want to hurt you or the baby. You know I'm clingy when I sleep, and I don't want to put you one of my bear hugs." Sonny said with a smile, one Claudia matched with one of her own.
"It's ok Sonny, you're not gonna squeeze the baby out of me if that's what you're worried about. Please stay with me, at least until I fall asleep." She pleaded with a pout on her mouth.
"Alright, alright just put away the pouty mouth." He said with a chuckle.
She had crept quietly from the room, down the hall and then down the stairs. She had been up for nearly 2 hours watching and waiting for Sonny to awaken, but her grumbling stomach told her that she had to get something to eat. So she struggled for a few moments to extract herself from Sonny's embrace, being careful not to wake him, and then she headed out in search of the kitchen. When she reached the foot of the stairs she headed for the first door across from the stairs. She opened the large oak doors and stepped into the study. Her eyes scanned the room with interest before they landed on the piercing blue eyes of Jason Morgan. She stood frozen with fear. She was sure that by now Jason was aware of her part in Michael's shooting, and that he probably wanted revenge.
"Was there something you needed Claudia?" He asked with his usual menacing, intimidating gaze and seemingly irritated tone that he used with everyone except Sonny.
"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting,"
"You're not," Jason quickly replied as he folded his arms across his chest.
"I was just looking for the kitchen. This house is so big I kind of got turned around."
"Where's Sonny?" Jason asked in an accusatory tone.
"Oh he's still sleeping and I didn't want to wake him. If he were awake he'd make me stay in bed and I really need to stretch my legs."
"Sonny mentioned that you were at risk of losing your baby and that the doctor put you on bed rest, so..."
"I've already seen Dr. Rivera he checked me last night. He did an ultrasound and he said the baby was fine and that I was out of the woods as far as miscarrying, but you know Sonny. He wants me to stay in bed for a few more days."
"Then you should listen." Jason threw out.
"Sorry I don't do the good little obedient housewife." Claudia stated as she rolled her eyes and hugged herself. Besides Sonny's not a doctor."
"Fine do whatever you like. The kitchen's all the way at the end of the corridor, last door on the right."
"Thank you," Claudia replied as she bunched her brow and stared at him, making no move to leave. "So that's it?"
"You did say you were looking for the kitchen right?" He asked and she nodded but still remained rooted in her spot. "Well I'm not going to carry you if that's what you're expecting."
"No," Claudia said with a chuckle at what she took as him making a joke. "I meant...I know you know about what I did to Michael. So I guess I'm wondering why you're not trying to kill me."
"You didn't do anything to Michael," Jason stated plainly stunning Claudia a bit. "Sonny made the first move by taking your brother, and then you retaliated. I get it, I live it, so I understand it. Michael was an unfortunate casualty. If I were to blame anybody it would be myself. I brought Carly and Michael into this life." Claudia simply nodded.
"So down the corridor on the left?" She asked scrunching her face up a bit.
"On the right," Jason corrected.
"Right, thanks." She said and then left the room.
He awoke from his nightmare, where he was choking Claudia's lifeless body as a baby's scream surrounded him. He bolted upright in the bed, as sweat dripped from his body and his chest heaved up and down as he gulped for air, trying to catch his breath. He realized immediately that he was alone in the bed and seemingly alone in the room.
"Claudia?" He called out but got only silence in reply, which prompted him to throw back the covers and leap from the bed and rush from the room.
When he entered the study he found Jason, Max, and Milo standing around talking, with Jason and Max drinking coffee, while Milo munched on a muffin.
"Morning, Boss." Milo said with a mouth full of muffin which flew from his mouth. Sonny gave him a brief look before focusing on Jason. Jason could see the panic radiating from the man before him, even though Sonny held a calm, cool, and collected demeanor.
"In the kitchen, she came down about half an hour ago." Jason said answering the unasked question and Sonny nodded in reply and then exited the study heading the kitchen. As he neared the open door of the kitchen, Sonny, could make three distinctive voices, Claudia's, Consuela's, and Dr. Rivera.
"Ella siempre actuó como si fue mejor que nosotros." Consuela stated. "Carly nunca entró en la cocina con los empleados."
"She exaggerates. The old Mrs. Corinthos wasn't so bad once you got to know her." Dr. Rivera said as he sipped at his coffee. Consuela simply 'Hmph' at his words.
"Well growing up in my father's house, the hired help were the only ones who treated me with any kind of respect. I feel at home in the kitchen with you Consuela and I can cook so you don't have to worry about me burning down the kitchen." Claudia said as she took another bite of her bacon.
"I knew I liked you the moment I laid eyes on you." Consuela confessed. "Oh, good morning Mr. Corinthos." Consuela said and all eyes turned to the doorway.
"What the hell are you doing?" Sonny asked and both Consuela and Dr. Rivera stiffened a bit, both having witnessed firsthand an angry Sonny Corinthos. Claudia however simply rolled her eyes and then threw him a hard glare.
"I'm eating breakfast what the hell does it look like I'm doing?" She said causing both Consuela and Dr. Rivera to look at her with a new found respect at the way she stood up to Sonny.
"You should have told me you were hungry and I would have gotten you something. Sonny said his voice and demeanor softening.
"I didn't want to wake you, and you looked like you needed the rest. Besides I'm quite capable of getting my own food."
"You're supposed to be on bed rest."
"Ok were both there when Dr. Rivera said the baby and I are both fine and that it was ok for me to get up and move around. Right dr. Rivera?" Claudia said and then turned to the doctor who stood staring at them like a deer caught in headlights.
"Well ah…"
"I'm sure he didn't mean bounding down two flights of stairs." Sonny stated before the doctor had a chance to reply to Claudia's question. "Right Doc?"
"I…" Again Dr. Rivera tried to speak only to be cut off again by Claudia.
'I didn't 'bound' down the stairs Sonny I walked carefully and I even used the railing." Claudia threw out with a smile as she batted her lashing teasingly at Sonny, and he couldn't stop himself from smiling at her.
"Fine, let's go I'm taking you to bed." Sonny commanded but Claudia made no move to comply.
"No, I'm not finished eating besides Dr. Rivera hasn't ok'd that particular activity yet." She said as she picked up the tea cup beside her glass of milk, and took a sip.
"I'm not taking you to bed for sex, and that better not be coffee, because that's not good for the baby."
"God Sonny chill out it's just herbal tea. Why don't you come sit down and enjoy this delicious breakfast Consuela and I made."
"Wait you were standing on your feet, over a hot stove cooking?" Sonny asked as he threw accusatory eyes at Consuela.
"You think she listens to me better than she listens to you?" Consuela asked as she leaned against a counter.
"Don't jump on Consuela, she offered to fix me breakfast, but you know I'm not use to being waited on."
"Claudia!" A male's voice called from the corridor.
"I'm in the kitchen John." Claudia called back to her brother and within seconds he appeared in the doorway beside Sonny, slightly out of breath.
"I went to your room to check on you and you weren't there, you scared the hell out of me. What the hell are you doing down here?" John asked.
"Come on not you too John, and where are your manners?"
"Sorry, buenos días Consuela and Dr. Rivera."
"Buenos días señor Johnny," Consuela greeted.
"Buenos días," Dr. Rivera added.
"Aren't you supposed to be in bed and is that coffee?" Johnny continued his rants.
"No and no," Claudia answered as she rolled her eyes. "I really don't think I can take both of you in my face for the next 30 something weeks."
"Men they think they know so much about being pregnant, what's best for us." Consuela threw out. "When they start actually giving birth, then you listen to them." Claudia nodded her head as she giggled.
"That was good, gracias Consuela." Claudia said as she sat back in her seat with a sated sigh.
"De nada," Consuela replied with a big, pleased smile.
"So you're full, you've eaten all you want?" Sonny questioned and Claudia nodded with a satisfied smile on her face. "Good," He said as he moved to where she sat, leaned down, he swiftly, effortlessly scooped her up in his arms.
"Sonny, what…" Claudia began to protest only to have Sonny cut her off.
"I'm taking you back to bed." Sonny stated as he moved to the exit.
Good," Johnny threw out and Claudia rolled her eyes again and bit her tongue as she settled comfortably in Sonny's arms. She then focused on Dr. Rivera.
"Dr. Rivera, you're going to do another ultrasound before you head back to the main lands, right?"
"Si, señora Claudia," He answered with a warm smile.
"John I want you there to see your niece or nephew."
"I'll be there, just go to bed and stay there please."
"Yeah, yeah," She tossed over her shoulder as Sonny ushered from the room.
