Chapter 8:

Somebody Told Me…Don't Worry, Be Happy

I grew up believing that. I guess it was easy for me…I had a wonderful family, loving parents, great siblings…a normal childhood. The rest of my family didn't, but they were slowly starting to believe.

Sonny had returned with the kids to find Alexis sitting with Kristina. Patrick was also there checking up on Kristina.

"Alexis, you have every right to obtain a second opinion, but they will tell you the same thing. It is not a hopeless situation. Being in a coma can be good thing, it will give Kristina's body a chance to heal. She has a suffered a serious trauma to her head and body, not to mention the psychological repercussions."

"When will she wake up?" Sonny interjected.

"I don't know yet. It's hard to tell. We will wait for a few more days and then do an MRI," Patrick replied.

"I read that people in a coma know what's happening around them, they can hear us, feel us. Is it true?" Molly asked, entering the conversation. Before Patrick could respond, Michael answered, "Its' true, when I was in a coma, I could hear bits and pieces of what was being said and what was happening and sometimes, I didn't know what was happening."

"Really, Michael ! That means Kristina knows we are here. She knows what's happening, we can talk to her and tell her to wake up," Morgan said in all his innocence.

"Michael is right, people in a coma do know what's happening around them and they do understand what is being said to them sometimes. But, it's not always the case," Patrick replied and after noticing the crestfallen look on Molly and Morgan, he added, "It wouldn't hurt if you talked to Kristina and asked her to wake up. It might help knowing that her family is right beside her waiting for her to wake up."

Alexis and Sonny walked Patrick out and asked him a few more questions away from the rest of the children,

"Is she in any pain?" Alexis asked.

"It's hard to tell, but she is on the pain medication, which will help," Patrick replied.

"How long will the coma last? Sonny asked

"Most comas last a couple of weeks. Sonny, Alexis, this is different from Michael's case. We have reason to believe that Kristina will wake up, I have to go, call me if anything happens," Patrick replied trying to offer some hope.

"Alexis we need to talk," Sonny said and noticing Alexis' wary look, he added, "It isn't about last night, but I wanted to ask where were you? Are you okay? This morning you said Sam and Dante stayed with Kristina last night."

"Sonny, I don't want to talk about last night. And, by the way, where did you go?"

"I was somewhere."

"Well ! So was I."

The proverbial stalemate.

"I don't want to fight with you, Alexis, so fine, let's talk about the kids then. Are we going to tell them how this happened? Michael already knows and Morgan and Molly were asking, I said I would ask you."

"I don't know what to tell them. They used to hang around Keifer too. I don't want to scare them any more. They are already glued to Kristina's side."

"I think we should just them tell the truth, Alexis. They should know what happened. They are older now and stronger. They have dealt with enough crap in their life already. It's time. We will help them deal with it."

Alexis looked up surprised at Sonny's words. It was the first time in a long time he was being the reasonable one, "Sonny, I don't think, I, myself can deal with it."

"So, what do we do, lie to them, hide it from them. You yourself said it, Alexis, they are older now, they know more. They will be able to handle this. We have to trust them," Sonny responded.

"Who are you and what have you done to Sonny Corinthos?" Alexis asked tersely.

Sonny gave her a helpless look and she knew he was right, "Fine, we'll tell them together."

Alexis and Sonny proceeded to tell Morgan and Molly about Keifer and Kristina's accident. They weren't surprised by it for some reason. They knew Keifer was no good for Kristina. It seems everyone knew except Alexis and Sonny.

The evening turned into night, Dante and Sam came back to the hospital and it was time for Morgan, Molly and Michael to head home. They were given a reprieve from school for the next day, but they still needed to be in bed. They had simply refused to go home and leave Kristina alone at the hospital. The fact that Alexis was going to stay with her for the night did nothing for them. If Alexis and Sonny were stubborn, their kids gave it a whole new meaning.

After much deliberation and cajoling, it was decided that they would have a sleepover, which seemed to entice Morgan and Molly. However, they had a condition of their own; they all wanted to be together, so everyone had to be a part of the sleepover. Alexis had guessed the true reason behind that … keep everyone in sight so nothing happens to anyone else. Who could blame them after everything that had happened? So, they all agreed.

They finally decided that Molly, Morgan, Michael, Sam and Dante would stay over at Alexis's house for the night while Alexis and Sonny would stay with Kristina. They decided to stay at Alexis' house because that was where Kristina's room was, so they would still have Kristina there, sort of, or at least that's how Morgan and Molly saw it. Sam, Dante and Michael had their objections but decided to put it aside for the sake of Morgan and Molly. Alexis and Sonny themselves didn't want to leave Kristina alone. They both wanted to stay with her since they had missed being with her the previous night.

Before they left, Sam grabbed her mother's hand and led her away from everyone else, who were left with surprised looks. Alexis had one of her own too, "Sam, what is going on?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to have a word with you privately."

"Honey, what's wrong?"

"Mom, I could ask you the same thing? What happened last night?"

"Sam, it was nothing, I just needed some time alone."

"Mom, we couldn't contact you, we didn't know where you were. What if something had happened to you?" Sam asked, her voice breaking.

"Honey, I am sorry, sorry that I worried you. I just needed to be alone with my thoughts."

"Mom, I know that this is hard for you, but I was so scared and worried, with what happened to Kristina and everything, I don't know…I am such a wreck."

"Honey, we are all scared, but we are in this together, if today is any indication of things to come," Alexis said taking Sam in her arms. "And one more thing, honey, you don't have to be strong all the time, we'll get through this."

"That's what we do," Sam replied wiping her tears, "So, what's up with you and Sonny? Where was he?"

"I don't know, but don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

"Mom, you don't have to be strong, all the time too, you know," Sam replied mirroring Alexis' previous advice

"I know. Thank you for taking care of Kristina yesterday and you did wonderful job today with the kids," Alexis said placing a kiss on Sam's forehead.

"Dante and I are quite the team. I think we are going to need that team spirit to get through the sleepover."

"Just take care of each other."

"That's what we do. Don't worry."