Chapter 2

After visiting the victim, Sonny tried to get back to work. But no matter how hard he tried to focus on his cases, he couldn't have anything done so he decided to go home and rest. The day after, first hour in the morning, Sonny went straight to the station to work on the different cases of burglaries or prison releases. Normally Sonny loved working on this type of cases. He loved being useful to the society and he put himself in work 100%. But still today, his mind was somewhere else. All his officers noticed it but again didn't make any remarks. They all knew how invested in his job Sonny was and they never dared saying anything. Only Melissa could say anything to Sonny without fear of being fired or reprimanded.

During one of the many meetings Sonny had to participate today, Melissa noticed that he wasn't even listening to the speech Officer Johnson was doing about the last robbery at a jewelry store. Usually, Sonny couldn't even listen to a speech entirely without trying to intervene to give his opinion; today he was looking outside not even trying to pretend he was here.

Melissa tried poking lightly Sonny in the ribs to put him back into the conversation, whispering "Boss, Boss, Johnson is talking".

Sonny: Okay end of the meeting! If someone needs me I'll be in my office. Nobody disturbs me without a very good reason!

He went out of the meeting room leaving his officers stunned by his demeanor.

Officer Johnson: I didn't even have the time to finish my speech. Melissa, do you know what's wrong with the boss?

Melissa: I heard his partner left him yesterday without taking his phone with him. So since yesterday, he has no news of him.

Officer Johnson: It must be hard for him! But I thought they were going to get married in 3 weeks.

Melissa: Well I guess the wedding is off for now… I'm going to see him!

She went to Sonny's office and knocked lightly on the door then she entered the room. She find herself faced to the back of the big chair.

Melissa: Boss?

Sonny: What?

Melissa: I just wanted to know how you were!

Sonny (still sat in his chair, back to Melissa): I think I made myself clear when I said I didn't want to be disturbed without a good reason!

Melissa: Well I have a good reason. Your mind is somewhere else and I'm worried about you and I'm not the only one. You didn't even let Johnson finish his report. If you don't feel good, you can take another day off. We will manage without you for one day.

Sonny: Thank you but I'm fine!

Melissa: Excuse my bluntness sir but no you're not fine. You look like crap and you were the same yesterday. You need to rest.

Sonny: You know I could fire for less than that!

Melissa: Yes but you won't because you know I'm right. You're worried about your partner and I get it plus with the horrible accident of yesterday… Please take another day off!

Sonny: Fine! But I trust you to call me if something really important happens.

Melissa: Didn't I always call you?

After apologizing to his officers, Sonny got out of the station and wondered what he could do now that he had a day off. He decided to return to the hospital. He felt himself drown to the victim, wanting to know if he was better than yesterday. He got in his car and drove to the hospital. In the elevator, he thought about Will. He wondered if he was okay, if he arrived at his grandma's safely and if he missed Sonny as much as Sonny missed him. He made himself a promise that as soon as Will was at home; Sonny would do everything in his power to be as much with him as possible.

Finally arriving at the 6th floor, Sonny got out of the elevator and was welcomed by the doctor who took care of the victim yesterday. The doctor took him to the waiting room and began asking questions.

Doctor: Mr Kiriakis, the nurse told me you visited the victim yesterday right?

Sonny: Yes. She told me I could. Did something happen? Did I do something I shouldn't have done?

Doctor: What exactly did you do?

Sonny: I talked to him for about 15 minutes. I had heard it was good to talk to people in light coma. Was it wrong?

Doctor: Actually no it wasn't wrong at all. We recorded a brain activity around the time you were with him. Did he try to talk to you?

Sonny (shocked): No! But if he tried if he did, I didn't hear him. It's a good thing right? That means he will be okay?

Doctor: In fact as soon as you were gone, the brain activity stopped and he returned to his comatose state.

Sonny: Oh okay. But what does it mean?

Doctor: It means that when you talked to him, he woke up and found enough strength in himself to try to talk. When my nurses tried to talk to him, none activity was detected. It happened just with you.

Sonny: You mean he just reacted with me? How is it even possible?

Doctor: I don't know at all. But I have something to ask you.

Sonny: Ask!

Doctor: Do you think you could come here every day to talk to him? Maybe it could help his recovery and you could easily determine his identity.

Sonny: Absolutely! If I can help, I will.

Doctor: Thank you Commissioner! But please, don't stay too long with him. We don't want him to tire too easily if he makes efforts to talk.

Sonny: I get it. But how is he physically?

Doctor: As we told you, he's burnt but it's not as serious as we thought yesterday. But he has to keep his bandages for at least 3 weeks. So it will still be impossible for a physical recognition.

Sonny: Got it! Can I see him now?

Doctor: Yes he is in room 605. Again thank you Commissioner! We will study his improvements thanks to you!

Sonny: I'm glad I can help and if it means he can go to his family faster, then that's great.

Doctor: Did someone remark his disappearance?

Sonny: No. Nobody reported a missing person, we are still waiting.

Doctor: Okay. So I'll let you go to his room, I have patients. Goodbye Commissioner!

Sonny: Thanks Doctor, goodbye!

Sonny went through the corridors and finally found the room 605. He opened the door to be welcomed by the beep beep oh the heart monitor like the day before. He sat on the chair next to the bed and took the man's hand still covered of bandages.

Sonny: What a company you have! I don't know how you can support these noises all day! So it's me again, Sonny Kiriakis. I was here yesterday and apparently it helped you a little. I'm going to come every day now that I'm alone at home. I really don't know how it is possible that you react just to my voice but I'm not going to complain. If I can help you, I will. The only thing I don't know is what I'm going to talk to you about. Today I'm going to talk to you about… The weather. I know it's pretty lame but that's the only idea I can have.

So Sonny began talking to him about the sun shining, the birds singing in the blue sky, the green of the grass and the multicolored flowers. He told him that summer had always been his favorite season because you can walk in the street in just T-Shirts and shorts, you can enjoy an ice cream with your friends in the park or you can walk around your eyes trying to watch your shirtless boyfriend and enjoy the view he offers you.

Sonny: You know my fiancé and I, we are totally opposite to each other. He used to tell me that his favorite season has been winter since he met me. He always told me that he loved to cuddle with me on the couch because I could warm him up. He also loved to watch a fire in the fireplace, wrapped in my arms, a steamy hot chocolate mug in his hands. I don't know if it's wrong to tell you that, I don't want to complain because of your situation. But I miss him so much, that's why you need to recover because I'm sure that your girlfriend or boyfriend is waiting for you…

Suddenly, the heart monitor began to speed up and the beep beep became closer to each other. The doctor and nurses rushed into the room, demanding Sonny to leave the room. Sonny complied scared to death, and ran to the corridor and sat on the ground, his head between his hands. He heard the doctor shouting "Stronger or we are going to lose him". A nurse went to close the door and no noise was heard anymore. Sonny began to think about the worse.

Sonny: Oh my god, I killed him. What have I done?

Too much in his thoughts, he didn't notice the doctor and the nurses going out of the room. The doctor went to him and put his hand on his shoulder.

Doctor: Commissioner?

Sonny: How is he? Is he… ?

Doctor: No he's fine. He really is a miracle. His heart stopped at one moment then began to beat again. He's safe. But I would like to know what happened.

Sonny: I don't know. I was talking to him and suddenly I heard the monitor and you rushed in.

Doctor: Okay, Sir it is not your fault. Just so you know, we detected a mini brain activity towards the end so you have to come back tomorrow for more talking.

Sonny: But what if it happens again?

Doctor: We won't know unless we try! You have to talk to him about the basics, don't talk about relationship or love because it may cause something like that. What were you talking about?

Sonny: I was talking about the weather and the seasons. Then I may have talked about mine and my boyfriend's favorite season. You think it could have caused that?

Doctor: Probably! So from now, you talk to him about the flowers, the birds and the nature but no more than that.

Sonny: I get it, I'm sorry!

Doctor: You can go now. I expect you tomorrow at the same time.

Sonny: I will be here.

And Sonny was here the next day, and the day after, and the week after. He spent all his ends of afternoon in the victim's room. It was still impossible to make DNA test because he was always bandaged. Sonny told him what was happening in the USA; he recounted the last gossips about his neighbors or about Salem's citizens. But he never mentioned Will again. The doctors noted improvements from the patient but it was far from being enough. His brain was working normally but his activity was not like it was during the two first times Sonny was talking.

For Sonny, life was a little monotonous. He has had the same daily routine for two weeks now. He would go to the station to work on some cases and at 4pm, he would leave and go directly to the hospital. He lived by this routine to try to get his mind off of Will from whom he still didn't have news. From the day Will left, Sonny tried to avoid Will's family and his family because he knew they would ask tons and tons of questions. When he announced the wedding was called off, the two families were more than shocked and they began asking why, where Will was… But Sonny didn't find the strength to tell them everything so he just said that Will was away and he never answered their calls and he isolated himself.

He was very busy trying to solve the different cases and he always wanted to be informed if there was something new on the accident's case. He was very surprised that no one reported a missing person and began wondering if the man still had family.

One day, he found himself going to the Brady's Pub to have a drink after the visiting hours were over. Today he was informed that the man was slowly recovering from his burns but he still needed to have his bandages. But the day after, they could be able to take the bandages off and practice the DNA test. He even risked himself talking about Will's absence but not too much and when he went out of the room, the doctors showed him that the brain activity just reached a peak.

Sami: Sonny? Oh my god, it's been such a long time since I last saw you! How are you? Do you have news from Will?

Sonny: Hello Sami. I'm sorry I have been very busy. I don't have any news from Will; I was hoping you would have some…

Sami: No I don't and it's worrying me! He never did something like this! I know he told you where he was going so please tell me!

Sonny: He told me he was going at his grandma's and he didn't want me or anyone else to call him.

Sami: What happened between you two? You never fought and after one fight, he goes to his grandma's in the north…

Sonny: Well yes it's totally my fault, I neglected him… Wait what did you say? In the north? No, he told me he was going in the south!

Sami: What? No, it's not possible. We don't have any family in the south.

Sonny: So he lied to me?! Could you give me his grandmother's number?

Sami: Yes of course, take it! But don't you think you should respect what he asked you?

Sonny: He lied to me so no I don't think I should respect that.

Sonny took the piece of paper with the number from Sami's hands and excused himself before going outside. He tapped the number on his phone and it began ringing…

Marlena: Hello?

Sonny: Marlena, it's Sonny.

Marlena: Oh Sonny, what a joy to hear you! How is my grandson's fiancé and my favorite grandson?

Sonny: I would have hoped you could tell me.

Marlena: What do you mean? I haven't seen him for four months. I just talked to him 2 weeks ago.

Sonny: But he told me he was going to see you. He took his car and he left…

Marlena: Yes he told me you two had been fighting and he wanted a break. He asked me if he could come here if the situation got worse but I never heard from him after. So I thought you two managed to reconcile. But Sonny, I'm sorry, he's not here.

Sonny: Okay I have to go find him. I'm sorry for having disturbed you. Goodbye Marlena, take care!

Marlena: Bye Sonny, you too take care!

Sonny entered the Pub and went straight to Sami who was hanging up her phone, not seeming good.

Sonny: Will is not with Marlena. I just had her.

Sami: He's not with Kate either. Sonny, I know you are used to being calm in this kind of situation but I'm starting to freak out.

Sonny: With honesty, I'm starting to be scared too…

Suddenly Sonny's phone went off; he took it and answered without looking at the caller's ID.

Sonny: Will?

?: No sorry Commissioner, it's not Will. It's Doctor Jones from Salem Hospital

Sonny: Oh hello doctor, what's going on? Is the patient okay?

Doctor Jones: Actually yes he's fine. He just woke up from his coma and is stubbornly asking for you.

Sonny: For me? But why? Is it possible he listened to me when I talked to him? Is it possible that he knows me?

Doctor: Absolutely. In fact, I think he reacted to what you said today. I think it touched him. What did you talk to him about?

Sonny: Humm…

Flashback: 2 hours ago

Sonny: Well, you know today was our first rainy day since 1 month and a half. I usually never say that but I missed the rain a lot. Or maybe it's just the memories of our last day under the rain that I miss. You know that day, exactly 45 days ago, we were out with Will. I never saw him this happy; he looked like a child discovering the rain. He jumped from one puddle to one other. And we ended up hugging each other very tightly and rolling together on the wet grass, still wrapped in each other. How I miss this moment!

Back to the present…

Suddenly everything made sense in Sonny's mind. He remembered that every time the heart monitor went crazy, Sonny was always talking about him and Will and how much Sonny loved and missed Will. Plus with the new info he got from Marlena about never hearing from Will plus the fact that he was going to the north and not the south plus Sonny being the first person the victim wants to see when he wakes up, everything came together...

Sonny (dropping his phone to the ground): OH… MY… GOD… It's him!

to be continued...

Thank you to those who commented this story.

There will be at least one more chapter added to it... :)