Somebody Told Me … Only After Someone's Gone, You Can See Where You Went Wrong
You lose someone or something and only then, you realize how much they meant to you. We all know this fundamental fact, yet we do nothing to appreciate the things or people we have in our lives. Sonny and Alexis were no different, but maybe they were slowly learning.
Sam had taken up diving as a substitute for her salvage work. She had plunged herself back into work taking all sorts of undercover assignments to keep her busy. But top on the list was finding the Bauers and more information about TPTB. Dante was also pursuing several avenues when he thought of an old friend and Sam had decided to tag along to New York City.
They had gone to a local bar that his friend frequented in the hopes of finding this elusive friend of Dante's by the name of Peters. Peters was like Luke Spencer, he knew everything about everyone. Dante couldn't figure out why he didn't think of him earlier.
"Falconerri, this your new girlfriend?" a man with a cheeky grin asked looking at Sam. He had seen her walk in with Dante. She was beautiful.
"Lay off Peters! She is my … father's daughter's…she's my sister's sister?" Dante was trying very hard to try to explain who exactly Sam was to him. Within a matter of months, he had gained a whole new family and apparently, he was still getting used to it. Dante remembered why he didn't think of Peters now; the man had a big mouth with an eye for the ladies.
"Huh, she's your sister? Since when?"
"Can we get down to business, please?" Sam asked impatiently.
"She and I share a sister, alright."
"Andy Peters, at your service," he answered with a devilish smile.
"Andy and I worked on a case together. He is in the private sector now," Dante said by way of explaining Andy Peters.
"So, you single?" Andy boldly asked Sam.
"Not interested, Mr. Peters. We need some information."
"Please call me Andy. All my friends do."
"I am not your friend," Sam replied.
"Not yet," he replied without missing a beat.
Kristina's Room, GH:
After Jason's death, Sonny had spent increasingly more time with Kristina in the hospital. He wasn't quite ready to see Alexis or deal with the kids. Jason's death had been quite a blow. It was unexpected and he had nothing to do with the business. It was just a freak accident. He wasn't sure what to make of it. He had always expected that he, Jason and others in the business would die in a hail of bullets. This was different.
He had spent his time talking about his childhood, his mother and happy memories. They were few and far in between. He wanted Kristina to wake up, no, he needed to Kristina to wake up and he was ready to do anything. He needed some good news. Today, he was talking to Kristina about Alexis, "I remember the first time she represented me…she asked me a dollar and all I had was a 100 dollar bill and she took it and told me she was on retainer, " Sonny smiled remembering his meeting with Alexis at the PCPD all those years ago. "That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship as Molly would say from that movie with Humphrey Bogart, what's it called?" he asked looking over to Kristina, hoping she would say something. There was no response. "Anyway, I can't remember what it was, but we started something beautiful then, just friends. How she made me work at it? I was very stubborn and arrogant then; I believe the word your mother used was chauvinistic. She made me ask for things not demand, she made me laugh, she showed me how to, it was Casablanca!," Sonny exclaimed with a smile on his face. "The name of the movie. She reminded me a lot of those women in the old Hollywood movies. She was beautiful and all business. She schooled the entire prosecuting team," he smiled thinking of her rapid fire dialogue with Mac and the then DA. "She told me she never wanted to see or hear from me again. She called me a pain in the butt. Actually, she called me far worse things," Sonny smiled at that, "but I broke her down. She became my friend. Everyone thinks Jason or even Carly were my best friends, but you know, baby girl, your mother, she was it, she was my best friend. She told me it was okay to need someone. She made me smile; she could always make me calm down," he spoke thinking of some of the dark places he had ventured into with AJ, Sorel, Courtney, Alcazar etc.
After a while, he continued, "She was the love of my life and I ruined it. He wiped a few tears and reaching for Kristina's hand, he said, "Kristina, I loved your mother and she loved me… you were born out of love and I want you to know that. I know I should have been more open to you and maybe, this would not have happened. But I am telling you now. Kristina, please wake up, if not for me, at least for your mother. She needs you now. I need you. We all need you. Please." Sonny pleaded with his daughter.
No answer. Nothing.
He was getting used to that. But, he would not give up.
Kelly's Diner
After Sam finished her meeting with Dante and that guy, she stopped by Kelly's for a quick lunch where she found Michael deep in a book.
"Hey Michael, how are you holding up?"
"I am so sick of that question. How many times are people going to ask me that," Michael replied testily.
"Sorry," Sam replied knowing too well what he was talking about, "I should have known better. I don't know what I was thinking. I am pretty sick of that question myself."
"No, I am sorry, I shouldn't have snapped at you," Michael apologized.
"So?"
"So, what?" Michael replied.
"I don't know, what are you up to? What are you reading?" Sam asked.
"Nothing."
"You?"
"Nothing much," Sam replied in turn.
"Anything on Keifer?"
"We are working on it."
They sat in companionable silence for a while until Sam said, "You know, I am here if you want to talk about anything."
"I know and I appreciate it, but I am fine," Michael replied gratefully.
"Michael, if you don't want to talk to your parents or Alexis or me or Dante, please talk to someone,"
"I am," Michael replied cryptically.
Kristina's Room, GH:
Alexis had come to check on Kristina and spend some time with her, but was met with a heartbreaking sight. Sonny resting in a hospital chair with his eyes closed and holding on to Kristina's hand. He looked like a broken man. She wanted to leave them alone, but Sonny sensed her presence and called her in.
"Hey, come on in" Sonny greeted her and was about to leave when Alexis stopped him.
"You don't have to go, you can stay," Alexis replied with a smile, reaching for Kristina's hand. Sonny stayed behind and pulled up another chair. There was no change in Kristina's condition. They were coming up to four weeks now since she slipped into a coma.
"I am sorry for what I said about Jason earlier," Alexis started but Sonny interrupted her before she could finish, "It's okay. You were angry. I was angry and maybe we both said things we shouldn't have. I am sorry I didn't tell you about getting out of the business and not being there these last couple of days. Thank you stepping in and helping with Michael and Morgan…"
"Have you noticed all we seem to be lately is sorry about this, that and everything in between?" Alexis asked curiously, "I don't even know what we are apologizing for anymore."
"I know; maybe we are asking for redemption, or bargaining for her to wake up," Sonny replied morosely.
"Or just making up for past mistakes," Alexis countered.
"Yeah, I have been thinking about it a lot lately," Sonny offered. Seeing Alexis confused look, he clarified, "The past. I have been thinking about the past. Our past."
"Yeah, me too. It seems like such a long time ago and sometimes, it just feels like it was yesterday."
"Puerto Rico feels like it was yesterday," Sonny replied thinking of the time he and Alexis went to Puerto Rico for some business that turned out to be the best holiday he had ever had. Dancing, drinking and gambling. He had first caught a glimpse of a side of her that was hidden.
"But, it wasn't. Are you forgetting all the other stuff that happened?" Alexis, always the first to come down to reality.
"As much as I try, I can't forget, Alexis. It's easier to remember the good times," Sonny replied truthfully.
"I know what you mean, Sonny. We did have good times and some of the worst times as well," Alexis said sadly.
"You know, I finally understood what you felt for Zander and how much you did for him. Jason's death taught me that." Alexis was clearly surprised by the sudden change of topic to Zander of all people. They hadn't talked about him in a very long time, almost since before Kristina's birth. She was even surprised that Sonny was opening up about Jason, But, Alexis let Sonny continue, "I know you wanted Zander to turn his life around, go to college, get off the path he was going down and I came in the way as usual. Jason was that for me. I know I brought him into the business…"
Noticing Sonny falter, Alexis comforted him, "You gave him a purpose and as much as I disagree with that purpose, I know what you felt for Jason. You are right, I wanted to make a difference in Zander's life; he had so much potential and so did Jason."
"Always honest, Alexis. That's why I need you."
"You got me." It was out of her mouth before she even thought about it. She had said that, years ago and now here they were again. She had missed him all those years, their connection, their conversations, their fights, their support for each other. He seemed to remember that too because he suddenly went quiet for a few minutes.
"The funny thing is that he didn't die from a bullet, but a motorcycle accident. It could have been anyone…I feel like if I had made the decision to get out a long time, this wouldn't have happened," Sonny replied, trying to come to terms with Jason' death.
"Sonny, why are you talking so much about the past?"
"Because everything seems to lead back to it, Alexis, everything. These last two weeks, all I have thought about is the past, you, me, Kristina, Michael, Carly, Jason, Zander, Alcazar, AJ," Sonny said.
"Sonny, Jason is dead, Zander is dead. But they left two happy and healthy boys behind. Jake and Cameron. Stop thinking so much about the past and focus on the present," Alexis reasoned to be interrupted by Sonny.
"The present? Kristina is lying her in a coma. Her bastard boyfriend did this and I couldn't stop it. Who knows what the future will hold?" Sonny asked calmly.
He didn't wait for an answer, "I like remembering the past because you liked being friends with me then. You promised "friends to the end." I know I haven't been the best person, but maybe, now –"
Alexis stood up, took him in her arms and said, "Friends to the end."
It was a peaceful moment that was shattered by erratic beeping sounds in the background.