Hi all. So sorry for the four month delay. I hope you're still interested. Just a warning, this one is the saddest of the upcoming chapters. Things will get better for the Morgan and Corinthos clans. I'll be doing my best to wrap this up in the next couple of months.
Just a reminder. Sonny, Anna, Alexis and Jason were enjoying a night out in Manhattan on Sonny's birthday when they got a call that they needed to get to Michael.
Stronger Than Pride – Chapter 15
Though Max had broken speed limits in multiple New York counties it was all in vain, by the time Alexis, Jason, Sonny and Anna arrived at the hospital where Michael resided, it was already too late. Although he was still on life support, Michael's brain activity ceased hours before. Michael's parents and Jason finally had to make the decision that no parent should have to make: to terminate life support. Alexis's heart broke as she watched everyone she loved struggle in total agony. Poor Carly was hysterical and ultimately she needed a sedative to calm her. She could tell Jax felt the same sense of helplessness that she felt herself. Jason did his best to be the rock everyone counted on him to be, while Sonny simply appeared to be slipping into some other place.
At nearly 6 a.m., she, Jason and Sonny returned to Harborview Towers. She'd watched Anna try in vain to convince Sonny that he shouldn't be alone, but ultimately, he'd gotten his way and she returned to her home. Back at her Penthouse, the three had the unenviable task of explaining to Kristina that her brother was never coming home. Kristina clung to Sonny in a way that made him understand that he could not shut her out, no matter how much as he might want to retreat to his own world.
Kristina insisted on staying with Sonny. And Molly blissfully unaware of the tragic circumstances surrounding her, insisted on staying with Kristina. Though she was not entirely certain it was the best idea, Alexis agreed to let the girls spend the day with Sonny, which left her and Jason alone. "I'm so sorry, honey," she whispered as she pulled him into a hug.
His words shocked her, "Maybe it's for the best."
She listened quietly.
"Michael had already started handling guns. He shot Kate in the head earlier this year. If he had grown up around me and Sonny, maybe he would have become just like us."
Although Sonny was out of the business, she knew what Jason meant. Though Sonny was out of the business, she could tell he missed the power and the rush of adrenaline that came with his former occupation. Worse yet, Sonny had overindulged Michael, much like he had done with all his children. Left unchecked, Michael would have succumbed to that lifestyle. Even still, she knew Jason would have taken a bullet before he let Michael follow in his footsteps. "You wouldn't have let that happen."
"At least now, he's safe. He won't turn into some kind of monster. And he'll never look at me or Sonny and hate his life because of us." He stared off into the distance.
She wrapped her arms tightly around his torso. "Jason, I know how much you loved Michael. And I know you're trying to make some sense out of this, but sometimes things don't make sense." She noticed the formation of tears in his eyes and she stroked his cheek. "One thing I know," she said as she fought back her own tears, "Michael's life was better because you were in it."
Jason pulled her tightly against his body and kissed the top of her head.
Later that day, they moved about the Penthouse each recalling a fond memory about Michael. She reminded Jason that Kristina couldn't have asked for a better big brother. Soon after learning of her birth, Michael had become immediately protective of her little one. Jason had too many memories to settle on just one.
Jason finally fell asleep on their bed at about 11 p.m. She knew it was purely from exhaustion. Alexis spread the comforter over his body, which he'd curled into a ball. She brushed his hair back with her fingers. It was rare that she thought of the age difference between them, but now as he slept, with all of his defenses destroyed, he reminded her of a boy. Placing a kiss at his temple, she left their room and headed across the hall.
Sonny answered the door with a hollow look in his eyes. He simply stared at her with those big brown eyes that regularly broke her heart.
"Can I come in?"
Leaving the door open, he stepped back into the darkened Penthouse. Without invitation, she entered and closed the door behind her. From the silence, she assumed the girls were sleeping in their rooms. He moved to the bar and took out two glasses. He poured a glass of water for her and a glass for himself. She was pleased to see he wasn't drinking, which meant he was probably still taking his medication. She knew better than to inquire about his current emotional state given that he couldn't be doing well. Even who Jason was generally a rock and he wasn't doing well either. "How's Kristina?"
"Trying to be strong for her old man…but she's talking." Kristina had experienced much trauma in her young life, from her mother's cancer to seeing her sister shoot and kill a man, which shook her enough that she'd stopped speaking for several months. "Plus, Molly can tell she's sad and even though she can't quite understand why, she's glued to her side." He released a breath of air as he joined her on the sofa.
She did her best to read him. Something was off, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was. He was too calm; maybe he was even in shock. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Can you find the person who did this?" He paused, before he lowered his voice. "Jerry's already dead, so I'll never know who actually pulled the trigger."
Alexis averted her eyes. She knew Claudia was partly responsible, even if she hadn't pulled the trigger. Still, she knew the only thing that would come from the revelation that Claudia was involved was her death and more violence. "Killing the man that killed Michael won't bring Michael back."
"It would bring me some peace."
She touched his face. "You and I both know that's not true." Her eyes steeled on his eyes. Her voice was soft, "What can bring you peace is knowing that you loved Michael as much as a father could love a son. And he adored you. You fought for him and you did your best to keep him safe."
"But I failed. If I hadn't brought Michael to the coffeehouse that day…"
"If you hadn't brought Michael to the coffeehouse…if Jax hadn't wanted his brother in town…if I hadn't given Jerry a reason to stay…then Michael might have been hit by a drunk driver or he might have been stricken with some rare childhood illness. All you can do is your best Sonny. And you tried with Michael. Please don't let this destroy you." Kristina and Molly entered her thoughts. "There are two little girls upstairs that need you in their lives."
As his head came to rest on her shoulder, she was surprised as she watched the tears begin to flow. She slipped her arms around him as she thought of how many times he had been the one to comfort her in sadness. He'd held her after she'd been kidnapped by Helena and Stavros, in the hospital when her sister died and when she'd finally thrown Ric out. He'd been by her side throughout her ordeal with cancer. He'd been her best friend once and somehow, it helped her to help him now. She would stay here until he was able to sleep and then she'd head back home to the man she loved.
Hours later, she was awakened by the sound of the door opening. She wondered when she'd fallen asleep. As a soft light illuminated the room, her eyes adjusted and she soon saw Jason's figure standing near the door. "Hey," her voice scratched. She maneuvered herself from beneath Sonny's sleeping frame. When she was able to stand, she arched her back in an attempt to stretch out the stiff places on her body. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you alone. I thought I'd be home after an hour or so, but I guess I drifted off."
"You don't have to apologize."
The last thing she wanted was for him to get the wrong idea about her relationship with Sonny. "Once he fell asleep, I didn't have the heart to wake him."
Her eyes followed him as he closed the distance between them. "Lex, I'm not upset. I woke up without you and I thought you might be here." With his hands, he smoothed her hair. "I want you to come home now, so you can rest. You've been taking care of everyone else and now we need to take care of you and our baby."
Inwardly, she marveled that he was able to worry for her in the midst of his grief. He was so different from the other men she'd loved, which may have been the reason she could overlook his occupation on most days. Taking a step forward, she felt a sharp jolt in her abdomen. Instinctively, she bent her as bit as her hands rushed to the location of the jolt.
"Lex, are you okay? Is it the baby?"
"Yes," she exhaled deeply before she smiled. "The baby is fine. Apparently, he or she thought Daddy needed to know how much we love him." She moved Jason's hand to the spot where their child had kicked. She'd felt the baby flutter in her stomach for a few weeks now, but the baby had never kicked hard enough for Jason to feel…until now. Soon, his eyes widened as he felt their baby.
"Wow." His eyes focused on her belly. A glimmer of happiness broke through their grief. "I never felt Jake kick. Elizabeth didn't want me to know." He kissed her forehead. "I love you."
"Love you, too."