Serafina walked into the room with Jessie holding her hand, followed by Dom Sr. carrying a sleeping Billie in his arms. The minute Jessie saw her mother, Jessie ran over to Amanda. Her little face filled with relief.
"Mommy, you're okay!"
Amanda held Jessie tightly.
"Yes, baby girl, I'm okay." Amanda sadly smiled.
"And Uncle Sonny?" Jessie asked.
Amanda picked Jessie up and placed her on her lap. Amanda wasn't sure how to break it to her.
"Uncle Sonny is very sick, sweetheart," Amanda said.
"Can I give him a hug?" Jessie's voice trembled. "His hugs make me feel better when I'm sick."
Serafina and Dom Sr. move to the other side of Sonny's bed. They look at each other trying to hold in their emotions.
"I'm afraid it's a little more serious than that, Jessie." Amanda's voice quivered.
Dom Sr. walked around to Jessie and got down on her level.
"Your Uncle Sonny has a lot of boo-boos right now, princess."
Jessie's little face lit up with an idea.
"Then get him a princess band-aid, just like the one he put on my knee when I fell off my bike." Jessie smiled.
She pointed towards the ventilator, misunderstanding its purpose. "And get him a milkshake for his long straw!" She exclaimed.
"Sweetheart, that is a ventilator. It is helping Uncle Sonny to breathe. But when he gets better well get him a strawberry milkshake." Serafina corrected, her voice filled with tenderness.
Jessie's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"And a cannoli?" she asked.
Dom Sr. chuckled softly. He was impressed by the little girl's knowledge of his son's favorite treats.
"This girl knows Dominick well, doesn't she?" Dom Sr. asked.
Amanda managed a bittersweet smile, her heart aching for Sonny.
"She does. They are really close." Amanda answered.
The room fell into a somber silence as they watched as the machine breathed for Sonny. To break the tension and distract Jessie from the seriousness of the situation, Serafina came up with an idea.
"Jessie, why don't we go find a balloon for Uncle Sonny? We can decorate his room and make it a little more cheerful for when he wakes up." Serafina suggested.
Jessie's eyes lit up with excitement, eager to contribute to her beloved uncle's recovery.
"Let's find the biggest, brightest balloon we can!" Jessie suggested.
Serafina took Jessie's hand and led her out of the ICU room, leaving Amanda and Dom Sr. behind. Amanda watched as her little girl bounced out the door. Dom Sr. handed Billie over to Amanda. Billie was fast asleep and had no clue of what was going on. Amanda envied her. She wasn't going through the heartbreak everyone else was. Amanda turned to Dom Sr. her voice filled with concern.
"Do you think Jessie understands how serious this is?"
Dom Sr. took a deep breath "I think she's starting to Amanda. But she's also a resilient and perceptive little girl. She knows we're all here for Dominick, and that's what matters."
Amanda nodded. "You're right. We'll stay strong for Sonny and Jessie."
Dom Sr. placed a comforting hand on Amanda's shoulder.
"And for you Amanda. We'll make sure Dominick feels our love every step of the way."
"Serafina is holding onto hope with every fiber of her being, isn't she?" Amanda's voice trembled, the tears welling up in her eyes.
Dom Sr. took a deep breath. "Of course she is. Losing Dominick so soon would be devastating for her. We always knew the risks when he was in law enforcement, but as an A.D.A., we thought he was safer."
Amanda wiped the tears from her eyes. "He was not just a great partner, but he was always there for me. I fell in love with him, but I never found the right time to tell him. And on the day Jessie was born, he was right by my side, offering his unwavering support."
Dom Sr. smiled. He knew how much Sonny cared for Amanda.
"He has always spoken so highly of you. The way he talks about Jessie and Billie, you would think he was their dad."
Amanda didn't realize he talked to his parents about her girls so much.
"He has been more of a father to them than their biological father ever was," Amanda explained.
"Serafina shared the news about the baby with me. Even if Dominick doesn't make it, we want to be a part of your life and the baby's life. We will be here for you, just like Dominick has been." Dom Sr. sadly smiled.
Amanda wiped away her tears.
"I appreciate that!" Amanda cried.
Knowing that the Carisi's would be there for her, the girls, and the baby even if Sonny didn't pull through brought Amanda a sense of comfort and strength.
Olivia knocked before entering the ICU room, afraid of disrupting any conversations.
"How is he doing?" Olivia asked.
Amanda sighed "About the same, no changes."
Olivia was a little relieved. It could be a lot worse.
"That's good at least." Olivia offered a small smile.
Amanda nodded her head. She had hope for Sonny but so much uncertainty still loomed in the air.
"Can I borrow you for a minute?" Olivia asked Amanda.
Amanda gently handed Billie over to Dom Sr. before following Olivia out into the hallway.
"What's up?" Amanda asked.
Olivia's face turned serious, "We got a preliminary report on the accident. Carisi had alcohol in his system."
Amanda couldn't believe it. Sonny knew better than this.
"So, he was drunk and trying to kill himself," Amanda stated.
She ran her hand over her forehead, trying to process the information.
"Not quite." Olivia tried to calm her down. "They found another set of tire tracks. Carisi was run off the road."
Amanda stood in shock, why would anyone want to do this to Sonny?
"You're saying someone did this on purpose?" Amanda asked.
Olivia nodded. Amanda doubled up her fist and hit the wall.
"Johnny Perez, That son of a bitch! Why is he going after Sonny?" Amanda spat.
Olivia's voice was tinged with worry "Not sure, but we're afraid that if he finds out Carisi is still alive, he will come back and finish the job."
"Then put out a BOLO on him, have extra officers in the hospital. Don't let him get close to Sonny." Amanda demanded.
"We're going to have someone guard his room. We aren't going to give Johnny a second chance at Carisi." Olivia reassured her.
They needed that piece of trash in jail once and for all.