Chapter Twenty
"See you were worried for nothing, and because I picked out just the right items and colors nothing has to be returned," Sonny said beaming as he and Claudia entered their sitting room. "Hey you ok?" Sonny asked in a concern. Claudia had been eerily quiet since they left the doctor's office.
"Yes…no…I honest don't know. I'm beginning to think going to find out the baby's sex was a very bad idea. Sonny," She looked to him with slightly frightened, slightly excited eyes. "We're going to have…" Her words were cut short as Johnny entered the room.
"Hey sorry to just barge in like this," Johnny began.
"You know you're welcome here John, right Sonny?" Claudia said as she looked to her husband for approval.
"Yeah sure, it would be nice if you'd call first." Sonny said and Johnny nodded.
"Sorry but this was important and I thought you'd want to know. Remember I told you I'd make some calls to Sicily; see if I can find out anything about why Corelli is still in town."
"Yeah did you find out anything?" Claudia asked with interest.
"Just what we already know, Corelli came to America for his bride. They're preparing a huge celebration in his hometown back in Sicily. It's a wedding party. One of my contacts got their hands on a wedding invitation." Johnny continued as he pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket. "'You are cordially invited to the wedding of Mr. Michael Luigi Corelli and Ms. Claudia Antonia Zacchara on January 1st 2010.' My contact faxed this to me." Johnny said as he handed the paper over to Sonny who read it over again, and then he angrily crumpled it up and threw it across the room.
"I don't understand, we've both made it very clear that I'm not going to marry him," Claudia said.
"Well it looks like he plans to have you whether you want to or not." Johnny said. "You need to get her out of town the Corelli's are a very powerful and influential family. Take Claudia back to the island." Johnny directed to Sonny.
"No, I'm not running. Michael Corelli will just have to learn what no means. We all know daddy's behind this, and I will not allow our father to banish me from my home and from you John, not again, not ever again."
"This is different Claudia and I'll go to the island with you if you want." Johnny offered.
"No," Sonny spoke. "I'm not going to send my pregnant wife away because some punk thinks he's going to take her from me." He then moved around his desk and picked up the phone. Both Claudia and Johnny watched silently as Sonny made a phone call. "Jason, I need you to send a dozen guards to the house, take them from the docks. Only the ones you trust the most and only the best. Also I want you here. I'll explained everything when you get here. Sonny then hung up the phone and focused onto Johnny. "Do you have people in town that you trust?"
"Yeah I can probably get about 30 trustworthy guys, use to work for my father but they've always been more loyal to me and Claudia then our father." Johnny answered.
"I want this placed locked down like Fort Knox, and you're not allowed out of this house unless you're with me or Jason or Max, I don't want you out of our sight. I won't initiate a war with Corelli, but if he comes after me and mine I'm going to cut his fucking head off." Sonny declared.
30 weeks
He entered the room and was instantly in a panic when he didn't find Claudia where he had left her. "Claudia," Sonny called out to her, and after several long seconds of waiting for her to reply she did from behind the closed door of the bathroom.
"Uahhhhh," She gurgled out, spewing the huge breakfast Sonny had made for her, down the lavatory. Sonny knew the sound for over the past several week morning sickness was a constant companion for Claudia, and Sonny couldn't understand why it was called 'morning' sickness when Claudia stayed sick virtually all day. He moved to the bed side table where she kept a pack of graham crackers and then moved the bathroom door.
"You ok," He called out. He knew it was probably a dumb question but it was the only one he could think of to ask. After a few more seconds he heard the toilet flush and then water running in the sink, then he heard the lock release on the door and he took a step back as Claudia emerged from the bathroom. "Hey I got your crackers and I brought you up some milk," He said as he grasped the hand she held out to him, and supported her full weight as he helped her to the bed. He settled her on the bed comfortably.
"No, no milk," She said frowning as she shook her head. "And the crackers don't help, it's just something that my stomach can push back out."
"Are you taking the pills Dr. Lee gave you, you know to help with the nausea?" Sonny asked as he set down on the bed beside her and stroked her silky black hair, which had grown down her back almost to her waist.
"Yes but it doesn't help, nothing seems to help," Claudia replied and then grimaced and clutched one hand to her lower back, while she used the other hand to support her weight against the bed. Sonny quickly moved to her and helped her lean forward and then he began to massage her lower back. "Mmmm, God that feels good."
"We're nearly there right?" Sonny said attempting to make her feel better.
"10 weeks. 10 weeks before I get my body back, and I don't think I'm going to make it Sonny," She whined.
"You'll do fine, you're without a doubt the toughest broad I've ever met, and I'm from Bensonhurst, which has the baddest broads on the planet, and I'd bet money you could take any of them out," Sonny said with a smile as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her temple. Claudia chuckled at Sonny's words.
34 weeks
"Come on Mrs. C please don't cry I'll drive you," Max spoke out anxiously as he followed closely behind Claudia as she entered the sitting room.
"Iaahdonwanyoutodri…*hiccup*…veme," Claudia wailed as her entire body shook and tear poured from her eyes.
"What the hell happened?" Sonny asked as he leaped from the sofa where he had been sitting reading the newspaper. He swiftly moved to Claudia and wrapped her securely in his arms, and then threw and angry glare at Max.
"Well," Max began to explain. "We were taking Mrs. C to the Metro Court boutique…"
"Yeah I know that much Max, you left outta here no more than 2 minutes ago, what the hell happened between here and the car. What did you say to upset her?"
"Nothing boss honest, we got in the car like always, she'd drive and I'd ride shot gun while Milo was in the backseat. This time…well…uh," Max stalled his words.
"Imfaaaaaaaaaat," Claudia answered for him, with her face buried against Sonny shoulder.
"What?" Sonny asked looking to Max.
"She couldn't fit…behind the wheel. You know her belly…" Max explained and Sonny rolled his eyes closed as he threw his head back a bit and then nodded.
"Go, keep the car out front, well be out in a moment," Sonny ordered and with a nod Max left the room, closing the door behind him. "Hey," He gently coaxed her and pushed her back a bit, so he could see her face, which was puffy and blotchy from all the crying she was doing. "Come on, don't cry," He wiped at her wet eyes. "You're not fat."
"Yes I am," She replied through hiccups as she clung to his arms.
"No, you're pregnant, this is all natural and normal," Sonny removed his hands from her arms, and placed them on her largely swollen belly. "You're beautiful," He continued as he kneeled before her and placed a kiss on her belly. "What you're carrying inside of you is the most precious gift ever given by God, the most precious gift ever given to man." She smiled down at him as she watched him cradle his head against her belly. She then reached out and raked her fingers through his silky jet black hair. "Thank you, for giving this to me."
36 weeks
"I'm tired of waiting, Anthony,"
"Michael, Michael patience is a virtue, and we can't make a move until Claudia pops. The person I got on the inside at GH told me that I'm going to get my grandson, you just follow the plan as I've laid it out for you and we'll both get what we want."
38 weeks
"We have our 20% cut coming in from the Vega's and the Wu's, the cut from the Vega's is larger than expected, I want that moved through your garage," Sonny directed to Johnny who sat on the sofa beside him, while Jason sat in a seat across from them. The three men had spent most of the night going over mob business. "And the rest divide that up between the usual spots."
"Ok," Jason nodded. "And don't forget we have that shipment coming in, in a week from the Puerto Rican casinos."
"Right," Sonny replied.
"Sonny," Claudia's voice called from the stairs and the meeting instantly paused as all eyes fell to the stairs. Sonny and Johnny jumped from their seats and moved to the staircase to help her down.
"Claudia, you know you're supposed to be on bed rest," Sonny said as he bounded up the stairs to steady her as she came down them. "What are you still doing up, its 3 am and where's Maritza?"
"Sonny my water broke, I'm coming down because we have to go to the hospital, and Maritza's getting my over-night bag for me," Claudia stated, answering all of his questions calmly. Her words got the attention of Sonny, Johnny, and Jason who stood and moved closer. They each stood stock still, watching her, and then a contraction hit. "Uhnnnngahhhhh!" She groaned and then screamed and clutched at both Sonny and Johnny's hands as they supported her on both sides. Claudia stood puffing and panting out air through her mouth as she waited for the pain to subside.
"Oh God, are you ok?" Johnny asked as fear gripped at his heart. "What do we do?"
"Yeah I'm ok, I'm ok," She spoke in a winded voice. "But I need you to call General Hospital have them page Dr. Lee, let them know we're coming," She instructed and Johnny swiftly stepped away pulled out his cell and began dialing. "And Jason could you have the car brought around please," With a nod Jason left out on his task. "Sonny, you…you just stay with me ok."
"Yeah, yeah I'm not going anywhere." He said as he lovingly reached out and stroked her dampening hair from her face, just as Maritza descended the stairs with an overnight bag.
"I got that," Jason said as he reentered the room and grabbed the over-night bag. "The car's out front I'll load this," He then headed back out again.
"Dr. Lee knows you're on the way and she's getting the OR ready," Johnny said as he put his cell back in his coat pocket and grasped Claudia's hand again for support. "It's a good thing the hospital re-opened in time huh?"
"Umhm," Was all Claudia could get out as another contraction hit her, although it wasn't as intense that the other one had been.
"Wait the OR, why is she preparing the OR?" Sonny asked nervously.
"Don't worry it's perfectly normal, in case I have to have a C-section. Remember Dr. Lee explained this to us," Claudia said. "I know this is all new for you. This will be the first time you're actually been there for the birth of one of your children."
"Yeah, I didn't know Carly when Michael was born, I didn't know Kristina was even mine when she was born, and my one of my enemies delivered Morgan, I only arrived in time to accidentally shoot Carly in the head." Sonny said as he helped walk Claudia out to the car. Claudia smiled kindly at him and then reached inside his coat, and pulled his gun which was hidden against his back. She then handed it to Johnny.
"We don't want history repeating itself," She threw out with a smirk and Sonny leaned in and quickly kissed her temple. "Uhaaahhhh!" Claudia cried out as another contraction hit her hard.
"OK let's get you to the hospital," Johnny said and helped her into the waiting car.
"Why are we meeting here?" Michael Corelli asked as he looked around the darkened, cold room.
"Because it's time, Claudia's upstairs as we speak, giving birth. I have all my people in place, so all we have to do now is wait," Anthony Zacchara replied.
"I mean, why are we here in the morgue?" Michael said.
"Because this is where Claudia will be brought after she gives birth," Anthony said as if it were enough explanation.
"Why would she be brought to the morgue?"
"Because I'm going to finally have her killed," Anthony answered with a broad smile.
"Ahhhhh!" She screamed as another powerful contraction washed over her. "Where's Sonny, where's my husband and my brother Johnny?" Claudia asked through pants to the nurse who entered her room.
"They're just outside consulting with the doctor." The nurse said as she pulled a needle from the back pocket of the scrubs she wore. "I'm going to give you something to take the edge off, before you're taken to the OR. When you get to the OR you'll be given an epidural," The nurse injected the contents of the needle into Claudia's IV.
"OK there's still no change," Dr. Lee spoke through the mask she wore, a mask identical to the one everyone else in the OR wore, except Claudia.
"Is there something wrong?" Sonny asked from his spot at Claudia side, where he held her hand. His frayed nervous teetered on the edge as he watched the others in the OR began setting up a screen and setting out medical tools.
"Yes, even though your wife's full dilated and having intense contractions, the baby's head hasn't dropped into the birth canal yet, and it's already been nearly two hours. Normally I wouldn't be too concerned but the baby's heartbeat has slowed which is a sign that the baby's in distress. Also Claudia's heartbeat has become erratic, so I'm going to perform an emergency c-section."
"You did everything exactly as I instructed? It's important that you gave my daughter the drug at the right time, its imperative."
"I gave her the drug at the exact time that you gave me Mr. Zacchara,"
"Good and how is the labor progressing?"
"They're doing a c-section as we speak."
"Excellent, bring me my grandson as soon as he's born," Anthony said and the nurse nodded and then left the morgue.
"OK here we go," Dr. Lee said as grasped the small foot and pulled it from Claudia's uterus. "Wow, we have a big boy. Say hello to your son," She said as she held the baby for Sonny and Claudia to see, before handing him off to a nearby nurse, who took the squalling baby to a nearby table to weigh him.
"6 pounds even," The nurse holding the baby yelled out before rushing the baby from the room.
"Did you see him he's beautiful," Sonny spoke softly to Claudia with tears in his eyes as he placed a gently kiss against her head. "You did great. Is he ok?" He then asked Dr. Lee.
"I'm sure he's fine the nurse will do a full assessment in the nursery, so don't worry about him. Right now we need to stay focused because we have another baby to delivery and here she is," She held out the baby and again a nurse came up and took the baby to weigh it.
"7 pounds 12 ounces," The nurse called out and then handed the swaddled baby back to Dr. Lee.
"Congratulations, you have a beautiful son and daughter," Dr. Lee said as she moved to the side of the bed and placed the quiet baby on Claudia's chest. Claudia looked down into the face of her daughter who stared back at her with a look of recognition, but remained quiet.
"She's not crying is she ok?" Claudia asked as tears of joy rolled from her eyes.
"Yeah some babies don't make much of a fuss, we'll know more when we do a full assessment, but I'm sure she's fine," Dr. Lee answered as she reached down and grasp the small bundle.
"Sonny, she's so beautiful and perfect," Claudia said as more tears of joy spilt from her eyes. "They're both so beau…" At that moment Claudia's heart monitor began beeping sporadically and then flat lined. Dr. Lee quickly handed the baby off and moved to check Claudia's pulse.
"She's crashing I need the crash cart over here!" She screamed as she leaned over Claudia and began chest compressions.
"What's happening to my wife?" Sonny asked but everyone else in the room was too business to answer him. "What's happening to my wife," He asked again more softly as he stumbled back away from the commotion. Sonny watched in confusion as everything around him seemed to go in slow motion. He backed himself into a corner where he stood for what felt like an eternity, phasing the world out until Dr. Lee's words pulled in back to reality.
"I'm going to call it. The time of death is 6:15 am," She looked down at Claudia's pale face and then turned to the shocked face of Sonny Corinthos who still hovered in the corner. "I am so sorry…It will take Dr. Jones a few moments to close and then you can spent some time with her before she's taken down to the morgue."
He stood staring at her for a few moments, while stroking her hair. She looked peaceful much like she did when she slept. Her face was pale and her lips already started to turn blue. He kneeled down beside her and laid his head atop her chest. "Please come back," He said softly as the tears welled up n the brims of his eyes. "Please," His resolve crumbled and his shoulder began to shake as he body became racked with his sobs.
"NO!" Johnny yelled from the corridor where Dr. Lee had been speaking to him, he rushed into the OR to find Sonny with Claudia. He instantly crumbled to the floor is despair at seeing his sister lying still and staring up with vacant eyes, her skin virtually white as snow. He raised his hands to his face and cried, sobbing loudly.
hrcenterSometime later/centerhr
"This was not our deal Anthony," Corelli said as he stood over Claudia's body, watching Anthony make coo noises at the tiny baby he held, while three of Anthony's guards kept watch by the door. "I don't want a corpse."
"Chill out Corelli, she's not really dead, she just looks dead. I had her injected with some meds that slows everything down so slow nothing registers on any of the hospital's equipment. In a couple of hours inject her with this," Anthony handed Corelli a syringe. "Now you don't have to worry about Sonny coming after you. He won't search for Claudia if he thinks she's already dead.".
"And what of her funeral? Won't he find it a bit suspicious if there's no body in her casket?"
"Don't worry about it, Sonny's going to be more worried about his missing son than his missing wife, whom he never really liked to begin with. All you need to do is get her body out of here, and I'll have my people take care of the rest. Now if you'll excuse me, my grandson and I have a plane to catch, yes we do." He started cooing again as he walked out of the morgue with the bundled up baby. Corelli looked down into Claudia's vacant eyes as he caressed her cheek, tears spilt from her eyes.
"Don't worry, la mia moglie. I will take good care of you and give you more children to love. Soon you will forget all about Sonny Corinthos," He declared. "Take her to the car, and call ahead and make sure the jet is ready, we're heading straight to the airport."
"What are you saying?" He asked as he stared at the three people before him.
"We don't want you to get upset…" One of the women said.
"My wife just died giving birth to our children, and now you're telling me you've lost my son…and you don't want me to get upset?" Sonny asked looking even more deadly as he glared at the people in front of him with wet eyes with brims red as blood.
"Dr. Quartermaine, we have a problem," Epiphany spoke as she walked up. She pulled the doctor to the side and spoke softly to her, when Epiphany finished Dr. Monica Quartermaine threw her head back, closed her eyes and took a deep breath before stepping back to where Sonny, Dr. Lee, Jason, and Elizabeth Webber stood.
"Sonny, we have another problem," Monica began and Sonny looked at her with panicked eyes.
"Please don't tell me you've lost my daughter too." Sonny closing his eyes and shaking his head a bit.
"No, no, your daughter's fine she's still in the nursery." Monica assured.
"I want you there," Sonny directed to Jason. "Don't let Sophia out of your sight," Jason nodded and then took off for the nursery.
"It seems that your…uhm…wife's body is missing from the morgue," Monica finally stated.
"What?" Johnny finally spoke out as he took a step closer to them from the corner he had been crouched in still in shock over the evening's events. "First my nephew and now my sister, what the hell kind of hospital are you running here?" Johnny roared in anger.
"Mr. Zacchara, calm down," Epiphany said in her stern, deep voice.
"Calm down, calm down," He laughed out as he raked his fingers through his hair. "We brought my sister here to have her babies, and she dies and then you lose one of her babies and…and her body. But you think I should calm down? I gotta get outta here before I hurt someone." He said and then turned and stormed to the exit.
"I'm so sorry Sonny," Monica apologized as she focused on Sonny who stood with his head bowed a bit as he covered one hand over his red eyes, while the other hand rested on his hip. "I know that so much has happened that you've suffered so much in such a short period of time. Please know that we are currently do everything we can to locate both your son and your wife's body." Sonny only nodded his head and then turned and moved back to the waiting area where he took a seat. Both Monica and Epiphany watched him baffled, because they had expected him to react even more loudly and irately than Johnny had.
"Careful with her," Corelli instructed the guard who toted Claudia's body which was bundled up in sheets. The guard gently placed her in the back seat of the limo, and then closed the door and moved to the driver side, getting in behind the wheel and starting the car. After a brief look around, Michael Corelli hopped into the back of the limo which then sped off. Johnny Zacchara who had gone down in the underground parking to get his motorcycle, watched with interest from the shadow, as the limo sped away. He then turned and raced back towards the hospital entrance.
"Sonny," Carly called out as she and Olivia rushed up to him, having heard that Claudia was at the hospital having their twins. Sonny stood at hearing her and when she stood before him he instantly pulled her into a desperate embrace. "What's wrong? What happened?" Carly asked having seen in his eyes just how distraught he was.
"They're gone," Sonny mumbled out as tears fell from his eyes and wet the shoulder of Carly's blouse.
"Who's gone honey?" Olivia asked the question before Carly could.
"Claudia…she died." Sonny replied as he moved back from Carly's embraced. He didn't bother wiping away the tears still in his eyes.
"Oh my God, Sonny, I'm so sorry, and the twins?" Carly inquired.
"A healthy boy and girl, our son Steffano John Corinthos was 6 pounds, and our daughter Sophia Adela Corinthos was 7 pounds 12 ounces. But they've lost my son." Sonny said in a defeated tone.
"What?" Carly squeaked out.
"They say he never arrived at the nursery, and they've also lost Claudia, her body's missing from the morgue," Sonny added.
"I don't think the hospital lost anything, I think they both were taken." Johnny's voice spoke out and all eyes fell to him.
