Chapter 2:
Somebody Told Me…Being a Parent is the Toughest Job
But they weren't always parents. I know, shocking! But I should have known better. He was a man and she was a woman; he was a scared little boy and she was a scared little girl; he fought hard to become powerful and successful and she fought hard to become independent and mistress of her destiny. They never had the chance to be children but they fought hard so that their children would have that chance.
Kristina's Room, GH:
Alexis walked in and saw her little girl lying motionless on the bed. She saw the bruises, the scratches, the bandages, tubes and machines. And all she wanted to see was Kristina's smile and her big brown eyes. Alexis walked over, sat on a chair beside the bed and gently grasped Kristina's hand.
"Oh Kristina. What happened?
Alexis was at a loss of words. She held Kristina's hand and silently cried and prayed that her daughter would be fine. She sat there gazing at her middle born for how long she knew not and she would have sat there forever, willing Kristina to open her eyes if it had not been for Elizabeth who stopped in to check on Kristina's vitals.
"Any change, Elizabeth?"
"Nothing yet, Alexis. But she is hanging in there. Can I get you anything?"
"No thanks. I just want her to wake up."
"I know how hard this must be for you. "
"Thank you Elizabeth. You know you spend your whole life protecting them from every little knee scrap and every little heart break and then something like this happens and you know don't know to do or what you did wrong."
"You've done a great job. We can't always protect them. I am starting to learn that lesson with my boys. " Elizabeth replied, her heart going out to Alexis.
"It's a hard lesson to learn and even now it doesn't seem like I have learned it." Alexis responded, gently placing a kiss on Kristina's hand within her own.
"Alexis, you are great mother and there is no need to apologize for that. You do what you have to, to protect your children."
"We all do," Alexis replied thinking of Elizabeth and her two boys. Alexis always had a soft spot for Cameron since he was Zander's son. Despite her best intentions, Zander had veered down the wrong path and ultimately paid the price. But he had left something behind, a beautiful baby boy in Cameron and with every passing year, Cameron seemed to look just his grandfather. On top of that Elizabeth, had been involved with Jason, which resulted in Jacob. They would always have a connection to Jason and by extension to his business and all that entailed, just like Alexis with Sonny and Kristina.
"Kristina is a fighter and she will pull through. I'll be back later. I have to go check on my other patients."
"Thanks Elizabeth."
When Elizabeth left, mother and daughter were left alone, one reliving happy memories of her daughter and the other asleep.
"I love you baby and I need to you to fight."
GH, 6th Floor Hallway:
Sonny walked towards Dante and Mac, who were just coming out of the elevator.
"What happened to Kristina?" Sonny demanded.
"We don't know yet. We are still investigating. How is she doing?" Mac answered.
"Not good at all."
"She's a fighter. Have you seen her yet?" Dante said.
"Alexis is in with her."
"So, what do you know?" Sonny asked Dante as Mac walked away to take a call.
"Nothing much. The last Kristina was seen was with her boyfriend, that Keifer kid. "
"What about your guards? Where were they?"
"I don't know. Kristina doesn't want any of the guards with her especially when she is in school and with friends."
"And you listened to her. That's a first."
"We are not here to discuss my relationship with my daughter."
"What relationship?" Dante fired back.
"What's your problem?"
"My problem? My problem is that if what happened to Kristina was because of your "business," I won't responsible for any of my actions."
"She's my daughter. Don't you think I know what my business has done or can do."
"I hope you know now. How many people have suffered because of your precious business…your own children? Isn't that enough?" With that, Dante left with Mac.
Sonny was left there to think of what his son said, all the while thinking of his daughter who was fighting for her life.
He walked over to Kristina's room and saw Alexis and Kristina together and it broke his heart to see Kristina beaten like a common thug. He was angry and took every ounce of his strength not to punch the glass window. Anger was taken over by pain, pain at seeing his daughter hurting. How many times did they have to go through this? Wasn't once enough?
Alexis turned, their eyes met and he calmed. She beckoned him over and he crossed the threshold into the room and stood behind Alexis. He placed his hands on Alexis' shoulders for strength, reassurance, anything to help him bear this.
"So, any change?" Sonny asked Alexis
"Nothing, yet," she replied without taking her eyes off Kristina.