The Space Between

Chapter 8: Visitors

Carly stared at the man standing in the doorway.

He grinned at her. "Welcome back Carly."

Before Sonny could stop him Lucky pounced at his cousin locking her in a bear hug. Her back stiffened, her arms remaining at her sides and he pulled back meeting her eyes. His joy evaporated as he stared at her scared, confused eyes. Taking a step back, he glanced quickly at Sonny, realizing from his stern expression that he was missing some information.

"Carly, this is Lucky. Your cousin."

Relief flooded through Carly and she smiled at the young blonde man in front of her. "Hello." She held her hand out, frowning when he didn't shake it. She looked at Sonny for reassurance and received it in the form of a dimpled smile.

Their connection was gone.

Lucky felt the loss all at once, the sudden grief causing him to lose balance and he wobbled. "I'm sorry." He could feel daggers at his back coming from Sonny and he choked down pain and bitterness, smiling stiffly at Carly. "I'm sorry." He finally took her hand and shook it firmly. "I was out of town. I didn't know...Sorry."

Sonny came to stand next to him placing a comforting hand at Lucky's shoulder. He could feel sorrow rolling off of Lucky in waves. This was difficult for all of them but it had to be hardest for his friend. Carly and Lucky had shared a special bond. "Hey. Why don't you go get the boys so they can see their cousin?"

Carly rolled her eyes. "You know I lost my memory not my intelligence, Sonny. I know when someone wants to get rid of me." Her tone was light but Sonny could see that her interaction with Lucky and his reaction was disconcerting. He watched as she ascended the stairs, checking to make sure she wasn't within earshot. Sonny turned to Lucky when a movement caught his eye. He eyed the brunette that stood uncomfortable in his doorway.

"Lucky, who the hell is that?"

Lucky glanced over at Sonny, then at the door noticing that Vanessa was still there. Her face seemed paler, strained and he frowned. What was wrong with her? "That's Vanessa. Vanessa Roberts. She gave me a ride home." Walking over to his companion Lucky touched her arm, surprised when she jumped in response. "Hey Nessa? Are you okay?" he asked, smiling kindly when she focused on his face.

"Um...yeah...I'm sorry...I...can I sit down please?"

"Sure. Maybe you should take deep breaths or something? Or you know, put your head between your legs. They say that works, right?" Vanessa's unexpected reaction to his family briefly distracted him from the knowledge that the one person he counted on didn't even know him anymore.

Sonny watched Vanessa and Lucky, his eyebrow raising at the attention that his cousin seemed to be paying the girl. He cleared his throat. "Can I get you water?"

Vanessa shook her head refusing to meet Sonny gaze. She felt dizzy and taking Lucky's suggestion, she placed her head between her long legs. This was not happening to her. She did not just walk into this situation. "I'm alright. Thank you." she responded, meekly, her mind racing to find a way out of this.

Fast.

Fortunately she didn't have to wait long.

"Lucky, could we have a minute?"

Lucky took his eyes off Vanessa looking over at Sonny and nodded. He patted her back once before making his way to the other end of the room. He smiled weakly at Sonny, his eyes blank and spoke sadly. "So we didn't get her back then?"

Sonny grimaced. Those had been his thoughts as well, at first, so he couldn't blame Lucky for saying the same. He pulled on his ear, stalling, needing to find the right words. "It's still Carly. It is." he insisted when Lucky sent him a sharp glance. "She just doesn't know who Carly is."

Sighing, Sonny covered his mouth with his hand, formulating an explanation for what had happened. His eyes darted to the couch, his gut telling him that whatever had caused that woman to lose it had to do with Carly. His attention reverted to Lucky and then the stairs as he heard Carly approaching.

Lucky observed Sonny seeing that calculating expression that was such a part of Sonny and smiled despite his earlier attitude. "It's not hopeless then." He grinned, though it didn't quite reach his eyes, when Sonny's eyes met his, flashing with annoyance.

"When have you known anything that had to do with my wife being hopeless." Sonny stated, his tone biting.

Lucky nodded, the coldness that had enveloped his heart since that night thawing some. "Never."

"I don't care what your reasons are Barbara Jean. That man is not allowed anywhere near Carly. Not now. Not ever." Luke glared at his sister, hands clenched tightly inside his pockets. There was a thick silence after his comment and he pretended to study the numbers in the elevator as it ascended to the penthouse.

"He has more right then you do Luke."

The cut was quick and thorough as it was meant to be. Luke flinched visible, hiding the pain quickly, masking it with what he always did: anger."Since when?" Refusing to look at Bobbie, his gaze fused to the rising numbers. "He never loved her. Ever. Don't think he did Barbara Jean."

"And you did?" Bobbie snapped. Luke was hitting to close to her own thoughts. He always managed to try her patience. Especially when there was a chance he was right. "You've treated her like she was slime for years! What gives you the right now to say anything about this?"

Luke sneered. "Don't. No matter what happened between Caroline and myself, I've always loved her. From the moment I held squirming, complaining form in my hands."

"You've had a interesting way of showing it."

The doors opened, cutting off their argument instantly. They stepped out, both coming up short as they ran into a dark-clad figure. Bobbie smiled widely, trying to contain her delight. "You came!"

"Of course I did." Stefan ignored Luke's glare and held his arm out to Bobbie. "Shall we go in Barbara?"

"Let's." She giggled as she took his arm.

"Christ almighty, spare me." Luke slide by them, knocking loudly on the door. "Corinthos let me in before I blow chunks out here."

The door opened suddenly and Lucky grinned at his father. "Now why would you do that Dad?"

"Cowboy!" Luke rushed at his son, gathering him in a warm embrace. Lucky returned it and they stayed that way for some time. It felt good to be home again and Lucky wanted to enjoy it for as long as it lasted.

"Lucky!" Bobbie pushed his brother out of the way and gave her nephew a hug followed by an equally enthusiastic kiss. After releasing him, she brought her hand down on his arm. Hard. "Where the hell did you disappear to? Do you have any idea how worried we were? Sonny had people looking for you all over this state."

"I told Nikolas I was leaving. Didn't he tell anybody?"

"I don't think they found your 'I'll be fine. Don't worry about me.' satisfying, little brother."

Lucky looked beyond Stefan, who he noted with surprise seemed to be nervous, something he was sure he'd never seen the Count be, at his brother in the doorway. "How the heck are you little Prince?"

Nikolas grinned. "Much better now that I won't have half of Port Charles asking me where you are. Thanks for that by the way."

"Anytime."

Zander appeared behind Nikolas towing a laughing Emily, Shari and Juan in his wake. His eyes widened as he saw Lucky. "Spencer!" All four charged at him, distributing handshakes, hugs and kisses.

Carly watched from the stairs. This was her family. She could sense that. Maybe she couldn't remember it but she felt it. Sonny's arms embraced her from behind and she jumped slightly. He loosened his hold but she held his arms in place. "They look happy."

"They are. Mostly. You're here with all of us now."

Carly rolled her eyes. "Someone can't be that important Sonny. Not in so many lives."

"Trust me baby. You are." He kissed her forehead. "Come on. Let's go introduce you to your family."

"Elizabeth."

He watched her jump at the sound of his voice and turn to look at him, her blue eyes tinged with fear. He smiled at that. He liked that he scared her.

"How are you?" His smile was feral, predatory. He wanted to play and he wanted it to be her.

Elizabeth realized she was trapped. Something was wrong with Jason. She wasn't sure what or when but he wasn't the same man he once was. When he'd first come back, seeking revenge, she had thought...She wasn't sure what she had thought. She had been anger, alone and vulnerable.

That didn't excuse anything though. She had helped Jason cause all the tragedy he had. Perhaps she hadn't helped him pull the trigger but she hadn't stopped him.

She would pay for that. She knew it.

But if she could figure some way to stop him now, maybe, just maybe, she would have a chance to make up for what she had done.

"Hi Jason."

He grinned, his eyes remaining cold and lifeless. "Is that all you have to say? I've been calling for days now. Why didn't you answer any of my messages?" He came to her side, reaching under her chin to caress the exposed skin on her neck and shoulders. His other hand clamped onto one of her wrists, pressing hard. "You know I hate to be kept waiting." He was fairly certain he had lost Elizabeth sometime after the attacks. He had planned on killing her eventually. After he was done with her.

Elizabeth cringed, refusing to show her repulsion to his touch. She prayed she could fool him long enough to undo her mistakes. If that was even possible anymore. Taking a deep, silent breath, she turned into him, her hands snaking up his chest. "I know. I just wanted to make you beg."

Jason relaxed slightly as he brought his arms around her. "I'll show you begging..."

Alexis closed her apartment door firmly. The sounds of the party floated across to her and she smiled in spite of everything. It was nice to have Carly home. It normalized the world around her. She liked when things were as they should be.

Making sure her door was locked, she patted her pocket for her key and feeling it was there, she started the short walk to Sonny and Carly's house. The elevator doors opened and she paused to let whoever it was get off.

Johnny stepped through and her heart tripped over itself. He was so concentrated on the business at hand that he hadn't noticed her yet.

"No Benny. I think he needs to take care of it tonight. Send Max. He's been wanted more responsibility and he's proven that he can handle it. It has to be quick. We can't have anyone-"

"Um...I think you should stop there."

Johnny turned in surprise and stared at her for a moment. His eyes clouded over with anger. Alexis felt her defenses rise and prepared for what she was sure would be his accusations. "Benny, I'll call you back." He closed his phone, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her. "Is there a reason you're eavesdropping on my conversations, Counselor?"

Alexis leaned to one side, arms crossed, the earlier happiness she'd felt at seeing him vanishing. "Seeing as this is the floor where b my /b apartment happens to be I should be asking you if there was a reason that conversation couldn't have taken place somewhere else."

Johnny shook his head. "This isn't a joke Alexis. Whatever you overheard could..."

"Don't even say it. I work for Sonny. Did you forget that? I'm not stupid. I know how much I can hear and what I don't want to know. That was why I let b you /b know I was here."

Johnny ran shaking fingers through his already mussed hair. It had been a long day and he didn't have the resources it took to deal with Alexis. "Fine. Next time I'll make sure no one is listening."

"Fine."

She brushed past him, her perfume filling the air around him, and his hand reached out to touch her arm. Alexis halted, eyes closing at his touch. "Please let go."

"What if I can't." Johnny caressed her skin, moving his hand up her arm and pulling her closer. "I know I should. But, damn it...I miss you Alexis."

She pulled her arm away, anger washing away her want and need. He had no right to play with her the way he was. "You made your choice Johnny. You said we weren't meant to be anymore then we were." She wrapped her arms over herself. "I accepted that. I'm marrying Ned. That's the end of it." She reached for the door handle and froze at his next words.

"You'll never love him. Not the way you do me."

"Maybe not. But I can sure as hell try to." She entered the penthouse, leaving Johnny staring at the empty space where she had stood...