The Space Between

Chapter 7: Awakenings

Zander pressed his fist against his mouth, trying and failing to keep the bubble of mirth from escaping. He watched with what could only be called glee as Juan silently twisted the cap of the salt shaker. His friend grinned at him and keeping an eye on the kitchen door, he picked up the sugar and began to loosen the top.

Zander shook his head with suppressed amusement. Juan was determined to make Elizabeth's life a living hell. He was convinced that she was the devil and nothing anyone said changed his mind.

Elizabeth marched out of the kitchen, pausing to look nervously around her. Juan leaned against the surface of the counter and waved at her. Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth barely suppressed the need to take a jab at Juan. He was driving her crazy. Always watching her. Like he knew what she had done.

Not that she had done anything. She wasn't the one who hurt those people. It wasn't her business to get involved.

Juan observed Elizabeth's face, taking note at how she tensed at seeing him. He wouldn't have bothered with her, especially since his mind had better things to worry about. But the fact his focus on what she did affected her so much made him think she felt guilty. She was more than nervous. It was as if she was terrified of something. Or someone.

"I'm busy Juan. So order or leave now."

He smirked at her, folding his hands on the countertop. "Is my presence here upsetting you, Lizzie?"

Flicking a look of annoyance his way Elizabeth responded. "Yes, Ricky Martin. It does."

"Oh. Good one, muffin face."

"Ok. That's the bell." Zander grabbed Juan's arm and guided him away from Ground Zero.

"I hate that girl."

"You've made that abundantly clear, friend of mine." They watched Elizabeth take a customer's order before disappearing into the kitchen once more. Zander brought his gaze to Juan. "You think maybe you're overdoing it a little."

Juan met Zander's stare and shook his head. "My gut tells me that little witch knows something important."

"What do you mean?"

Silence.

Zander's eyes widened and he leaned in, whispering harshly. "You cannot be serious."

Sipping his water, Juan shrugged nonchalantly, feeling anything but. "Well she did disappear for days after."

"She was visiting family Juan."

"So she says."

Zander raised his hand, shaking his head. "Okay. This is insane. What the hell makes you even think that?"

"Gut feeling."

Zander protested. "Or maybe you're hatred for her, which I do think is justified, is coloring everything."

Juan narrowed his gaze, smiling slightly as Elizabeth picked up the sugar that he's loosened to serve a customer. It spilled into the cup, knocking it over and onto the now livid customer. Zander even smirked as he watched Elizabeth try to pacify the man.

He and Juan began to laugh quietly. Feeling warm hands on his shoulders, Juan tipped his head back, puckering to receive a small kiss from his beautiful lady. "Hiya baby."

Shari grinned, looking at the commotion at the front of the diner. "Do I even want to know?"

"Best not to."

"Not really."

"That's what I thought. Babe, you need to get another hobby."

"That's what I'm saying." Zander joked.

Laughing at Juan's petulant expression, they looked up as Elizabeth stopped at their table. "Really cute Juan."

"Whatever do you mean?" Juan asked innocently.

"Just stay the fuck away from me, you little creep." Elizabeth snapped and turning sharply went to help some waiting customers.

"Charming." Shari eyed the waitress pointedly. "Has she always been that sweet?"

Juan grinned at her, taking a quick glance at his watch. Rising from his seat, he threw a few dollars on the table and grabbed Shari's hand. He turned to Zander, motioning to the door. "We should go or we'll be late."

"I wasn't the one who stopped to behave like a five-year-old." Zander stood up, stopping Juan's retort. "Vamonos."

Juan followed Zander and Shari out of the diner, stopping for a moment to stare at Elizabeth. No matter what Zander or Shari thought he knew Elizabeth was hiding something and he was going to find out what it was.

"Have the hospital fumes turned your brain into mush, Barbara?"

Bobbie rolled her eyes, trying to ignore Luke as he paced behind her. She tilted her head, studying the hunter green dress and silver heels she wore. Her eyes took note of the newest wrinkles under her eyes and she sighed deeply. As Lucas would say, getting older sucked. She tossed her auburn hair lightly over her shoulder and satisfied that she looked decent enough, she brought her attention to her brother.

"...and he's here visiting you and Lucas every day. I don't like that Barbara Jean."

Bobbie raised one eyebrow and directed Luke with a deadly look. "You aren't trying, by any chance, Lucas Lorenzo, to tell me what to do, are you?"

Luke managed to hear her tone over the roaring in his ears and he paused, holding his tongue in check. "I'm just worried is all."

Softening slightly, Bobbie hugged Luke. "And I appreciate it but Stefan isn't going to hurt me Luke."

"Where have I heard that before?"

Bobbie sighed. "Don't."

"Don't what? Don't say the truth. He's hurt you. More than once."

"That's all in the past Luke. People change."

Luke gazed at her sadly. "Some people never do, Barbara."

Lucas stopped outside the bedroom door, contemplating whether or not he should let his presence be known. He knew his uncle and his mother had been having this same fight for weeks now. He couldn't blame Uncle Luke. Stefan had hurt his mother badly when they'd been involved. He'd been just a kid but he remembered how much his mother cared for Stefan. Still did.

"You are impossible."

"He'll only do it again Barbara. And this time, it won't just be you he'll destroy."

"Stop it."

Hearing the distress in his mother's voice, Lucas raised his hand to knock on the door, determined to stop the argument before it was a full swing brawl.

"I won't let him hurt her like he did you."

Lucas paused, confused. Her.

"It's been over 25 years Luke. Don't you think it's time you let it go?"

"No. Not when I see that ripping you apart didn't satisfy him. Not when he thinks he still has claims on you and now on her."

Lucas shook his head. What the hell was going on? Pressing against the wall, he listened quietly.

Bobbie covered her face in exasperation. "You can't stop him Luke. He has the right to be worried."

"Right? He has the right?!" Luke bellowed, "He walked away, leaving you to face everything alone and he now has a right?"

"I don't want to talk about this right now Luke. I just want to go to my daughter's house and celebrate that she came back to us. Can we do that please? Can we for just a few hours forget about this?"

"Fine. But this is far from over. If you won't listen to me then I sure as hell will make sure that Count Vald does."

"Damn it Luke!"

"That's the last thing I say about it for now. Get your coat and let's collect LJ so we can go."

Lucas crept down the hall and descended the stairs swiftly. He glanced up as he reached the bottom, a thought emerging. He shook it off. It couldn't possibly be what he was thinking.

"It's been over 25 years Luke. Don't you think it's time you let it go?"

Lucas ran his hand through his hair. If what he thought was true, Luke wasn't the only one who was going to give Stefan a kick in the ass. He turned as he heard his uncle and mother walked down the stairs. Pasting a fake smile on his face, he meet them at the landing.

"Everyone ready?"

Bobbie glanced at him shrewdly and nodded. "Yep."

"Well then Spencers, let's shake it and roll..."

"What do you mean I cannot have that information?"

Tony's withering glance bounced off of Stefan as the doctor responded. "You know the rules better than anyone, Mr. Cassadine. Only immediate family is given access to patient's medical records."

"I am not asking for one of Mrs. Corinthos files, Doctor Jones. I just wish to know her status."

Tony rubbed his forehead and turned to face Stefan. "And I'm telling you that the only people who I'm allowed to talk to about Carly's condition are her husband and mother."

"I own this hospital."

"Congratulations."

Stefan frowned. "Are you mocking me Doctor?"

Tony shook his head and gathered his papers. "I don't know what you're sudden interest in Carly is, Stefan. But if you're intention is to hurt her I suggest you rethink it." He watched as the other man smiled slightly. "That was not a joke."

"Are you warning me away, Doctor Jones?"

"Yes. I don't think you want to cross Sonny."

"I'm not afraid of Corinthos. Besides I have no ill intentions toward Caroline."

Tony nodded. "I certainly hope not. Because maybe you can handle Sonny. But I very much doubt you could handle both Sonny and the Spencers." Tony brushed past him, turning for a moment to address him. "And if they don't finish you off, Carly will."

Carly tilted her head slightly as she studied the array of food lying before her on the table. Pasta of all kinds, enough vegetables to satisfy any health nut, four kinds of potatoes, a couple of casseroles arranged in a circle leaving a large space for what she assumed was the turkey Sonny had spent all day preparing.

She smiled widely and pausing sneaked a glance in the direction of kitchen. No Sonny.

Reaching her head over, she sampled some of the linguini. Popping the soft noodle in her mouth, she closed her eyes in ecstasy. Someone like her husband just could not be real. He was sexy, warm, loving and the boy could cook. She grinned and opening her eyes reached for a taste of the mashed potatoes.

Bright white light clouded her vision, her head thrumming with pain. She clutched at the nearest chair, plopping down on it.

Darkness...enclosed in a room...throbbing with pain and anguish...Sonny on the couch before her...pink dress...bandaged hand...sadness...so much sadness...

Her hand softly caressed his forehead...

"Now I see..."

"Sweetheart?"

Sonny's heart froze as Carly raised grief-stricken eyes to stare at him. He kneeled in front of her, taking her hands, panic lacing his voice. "Baby, what's wrong? What is it?"

Carly smiled in spite of the agony in her heart and head. She touched his face. "That's the first time you've called me baby."

Sonny shook his head. "Don't change the subject, Carly. What is it?" She was staring, her eyes tracing his face calmly, as if looking for something.

Running her hands over his hair gently she spoke in almost a whisper. "It still hurts, doesn't it?" She reached down to his right hand and opening his palm, softly traced the faint scar there.

Sonny's eyes widened and his heart jumped with elation. "You - you remember?"

Carly hesitated then shook her head. "Not exactly."

Sonny felt that spark of hope die, hiding his disappointment as he waited for her to finish. Tony had told him not to push her. That pushing would only makes things worse.

"I had a moment...I don't know. There was a flash of light and I saw these images of...us. Here, I think. I saw a pink dress...your hand bandaged...you on the couch." Carly turned her head to look at him. "But it was...the feeling that overwhelmed. That utter sense of loss and pain..." She reached out for him and he hugged her tightly.

"It's okay sweetheart. It was a long time ago."

She pulled away, contemplating if she ought to push or not. It wasn't the right moment. They had company on their way and she wasn't sure whether she was ready to know. The intensity of those flashes had almost frightened her. Smiling at Sonny, she took his face in her hands. "Can we talk about it later?"

Sonny nodded in relief. "Sure." He stood up, holding her arm as she steadied herself. Nodding that she was fine, Carly moved to nervously adjust the dishes of food.

"I'll go check on the turkey."

"Okay."

Hearing his footsteps start to go, she leaned against the table. Breathing in and out deeply, her heart began to calm and resume normal beats. She had an urge to throw her arms around Sonny and never let him go.

Carly pushed her hair back, holding it lightly at the nape of her neck. She knew those images she'd seen were important. For both her and Sonny. Her feelings had been amplified and all she had wanted at that moment was to make his pain stop.

"Stop it Carly."

She reached over for another fingerful of potatoes.

"Don't you dare."

She smiled despite the heaviness of her thought and peeked at him over her shoulder. "What?"

"Don't play innocent with me. You were about to stick your finger in the potatoes."

"My hands are clean." She coyly circled her finger slowly over the dish, inching closer and closer to the potatoes.

"Carly."

"Yes?"

"You touch those potatoes and I'll make you eat them all." Sonny paused, realizing the mistake he'd just made.

"Really?" Carly dipped her finger in and scooped the potatoes up, laughing at Sonny frustrated sigh.

"Come here."

Sonny moved slightly back as Carly descended toward him with her finger poised in a threat. "No. Carly, no."

"Just a little taste for me."

"I don't like mashed potatoes. Carly, stop." There was amusement in his voice mixed with a trace of desire. His wife advancing on him with that determined expression brought back too many memories. He halted and she was standing in front of him, her finger at his mouth.

"Just a taste."

Staring into her eyes, he noticed the awareness of what she doing there. Grasping her hand, he brought it to his lips, opening them and slowly suckling her finger. There was a gasp deep in her throat and before he could change his mind Sonny placed his hand on her waist pulling her against him.

"If you insist."

He leaned down, watching her face through half-slitted eyes as his lips brushed against hers. He kissed her once, twice lightly before cupping her face. His fingers caressed her cheeks until her eyes opened to meet his. "If you want me to stop..."

Carly shook her head unable to speak. He couldn't stop. This was the most right she'd felt since she'd woken up. This moment was all she wanted. "Don't...stop."

Growling deep in chest Sonny plundered her mouth. Small bites soothed by gentle kisses. Her mouth open slightly under his and she sighed as their tongues dueled in a lascivious dance.

Carly felt her hands running up and over his back and she pulled quickly at his jacket. She needed to feel him. Now...

Sonny pulled away and she stumbled from the sudden loss of his warmth against her. She opened her eyes. "What..." Then she heard it . The persistent knocking on their door. She glanced down at herself and saw her rumpled, half opened shirt. She started to giggle and watched Sonny's face break into a grin.

"Do we do this often?"

He shrugged proudly. "What can I say? I'm irresistible."

Carly laughed happily, her heart and body still humming with giddiness and wanting. "Get the door before we embarrass ourselves any further."

Sonny turned as he reached the door. "We're not done."

Shivers of desire ran down her back and not knowing what to say she concentrated on fixing her appearance. When she was sure she was decent, she nodded at Sonny.

He smoothed a hand down his face and breathing deeply opened the door. "Oh my god. You're back." He crushed someone in a hug and turned to her with a smile then stepped away from the door.

Carly stared at the man standing in the doorway.

He grinned at her. "Welcome back Carly..."