GATEHOUSE

"So Joanna, how are things going on your end?" AJ asked. He had been trying to wait on her to contact him, but ever since his run-in with Carly he had been wondering what was taking so long. He wanted Carly and Corinthos to pay, and soon.

"That's what you called me here for??" Joanna asked incredulously. "Someone could have seen me come here easily and told Sonny. Everything would have been lost then. You called me saying you needed to see me, and when I get here, you say How are things going? Are you crazy AJ, or just plain stupid?" This made her angry. He was going to mess everything up.

"Hey, there's no need to get upset. You're the one who won't even call me and tell me what's going on. The fate of my son's life is resting with you. Don't you think that entitles me to a little knowledge?" He got up in her face. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be able to do what you're doing now, so you better calm down a little, girl."

Joanna could smell the alcohol on his breath and felt her stomach starting to churn. "Woof AJ, had much to drink?" She backed up quickly. "Next time you get in the face of a girl, you might try a breath mint. Now if you'll excuse me, I must be getting back. You know all you need to know for now. Don't do this again AJ, I'm warning you. There's a whole lot more at stake here than your petty revenge. I won't think twice about taking care of this problem if it persists. Why don't you get some coffee, man. You look terrible." With that warning, she was out the door.

AJ stood there staring after her. How dare she talk to him like that. He was so sick of everyone telling him what to do. First Sonny telling him, and now Joanna giving him orders like he was some sort of puppy dog. Maybe it was time to take matters into his own hands. He poured himself another drink and started to form his own plan.

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PH4, Sonny's Bedroom

Carly lay there thinking. She was laying beside Sonny, curled up to his side, her head on his chest, his arms around her, and her arms around him. She thought of what made this man so special to her. Maybe it was the fact that he had been her savior recently. He was there for her, and instinctively knew what she needed. That night he had just held her tight, as they lay on the bed. He had let her cry softly, all the time talking about how sorry he was that this was happening, and how he promised he would take care of her. When she had finally stopped crying, they had talked of Michael, and how much they both loved him. He shared some of his funny stories of Michael with her, and she with him. He knew just how to cheer her up, and as if the fact that she were in his arms, talking about her son weren't enough, he had kissed her. The kind of kiss that makes your toes curl. The kind of kiss that made you weak at the knees. She had a feeling that if she hadn't been laying down already, she would've fainted from the sheer tenderness and sexiness of it. That was probably the other reason he was so special to her. When they had sex, it wasn't like it had ever been with anyone in her life before. With Tony, well, ew, she didn't even want to think of that. With Jason, it had just been purely sex, nothing more. He had loved Robin at the time. With AJ, it had been for Michael, when they were married. That had made her sick to her sick to her stomach. But with Sonny, she felt like she were really wanted, and that he really cared for her. She felt like she were the most beautiful woman alive. He made her feel alive, and wanted, and loved. Loved. Did he love her? She couldn't be sure, but she knew without a doubt she loved him. How could she not? He was the one who held her together, he was the one she could never fool. He was just the same as her. Smiling, she lifted her head and gazed up at his face. He was still sound asleep. She scooted up and held her face right in front of his. She reached up with her hands, and started to trace a finger down his cheek. She traced the outline of his lips, and reached forward to press her lips to his softly. She felt tears well up in her eyes, "I love you Sonny," she whispered so softly she barely heard herself. She lay her head so that her face was in his neck, breathing in his scent. She closed her eyes, and let out a soft sigh.

Sonny's eyes fluttered open when he felt her close her eyes. Had she really said what he thought she had? He had barely heard it, but he thought that was what she said. I love you, Sonny. His heart soared, and he tightened his arms around her. He hoped he'd heard right. This woman was his life now. He loved her with all his heart, more than he'd ever thought he could love anyone. He could see into her soul, and she into his. It had never been like this with anyone before. He pulled back from her, and when he saw that she wa asleep, he whispered, "I love you Carly." He just stated it simply, knowing it was true. He made a silent vow to himself to find out who was torturing her. He wanted to keep her safe, and he would go to any lengths to do so.

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Johnny stood outside the penthouse in his usual spot, watching and waiting for the lying nanny to return. He knew that Miss Benson and the boss were upstairs, and he knew that Mr. Corinthos was taking care of her. He would do his part and take care of this woman. He saw her walk up, and stopped her as she tried to open the door.

"I have strict orders not to let anyone in tonight, Miss Lorenzo."

"Johnny, you can let me in. I live here, remember."

"No, not tonight. You can stay at the other penthouse for tonight."

"Johnny, don't make me get Mr. Corinthos."

"Look Miss, if you get Mr. Corinthos, it's going to be on your head. Do you think I just stand out here and make decisions about Mr. Corinthos' life? If I say something, it came directly from my boss. You can't stay here tonight, and I won't tell you again. You can stay in the other penthouse, or go somewhere else for the night." He pried her hand off the doorknob, and removed her from the doorway.

Joanna was ticked now. "Who do you think you are?"

"I'm the bodyguard, babe. Get outta here." He didn't like her, and he didn't care if she knew it. She was not going to go in there and mess things up again. He watched as she turned to go. When she got on the elevator, he called downstairs. "Yeah, she's leaving. Follow her, and be discreet. She better not know you are there." Giving orders makes him feel good. He was glad the boss had decided to let him take care of this. It made him want to take her down all the more. She had better look out, the bodyguard was coming after the nanny.

PH4, Sonny's Bedroom

Sonny rolled over to find Carly gone. Where had she gone? He heard the water running, and smiled wickedly. Well, she thought she'd just leave him in bed, did she? He got up and walked to the bathroom.

"Carly dear," he called out sweetly.

"Yes," she called out just as sweetly.

"What are you doing?" He wanted to tease her this morning. She needed a little fun after the horrible night before.

"I'm eating breakfast, what does it look like?" she said sarcastically, smiling to herself. He was trying to play with her. Okay, if that's what he wanted, that's what he'd get.

"What are you eating?" he asked, standing next to the closed shower door.

She reached out and grabbed him, pulling him inside the shower with her. She placed her mouth inches away from his and whispered, "That all depends on what's being served, honey." She kissed him then, running her hands through his hair. "I'll take some of this." she said as she kissed him again. "And some of this." She trailed her lips over and placed kissed all over his face, and landed back on his lips, " And I'll have a little more of this."

"Had enough yet?" he asked, his eyes fogged over with desire.

"Never." she said, and he took her in his arms, and gave her a breakfast she'd never forget.

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Later that morning, PH4

Johnny stood at his post, waiting for news of where Victoria had gone. She walked up just then.

"So, can I go in now, Johnny, or you gonna remove me again?"

"Oh no Miss Lorenzo, you can go right on in."

"Well, you can be sure I'll tell Mr. Corinthos about this."

"Honey, I don't know what makes you think you're any better than me. You're the nanny for crying out loud. Actually, I think that makes me above you on the totem pole."

"Oh, you think so, huh? Well, we'll see what happens."

Johnny just smiled, "Yeah we will. We most certainly will."

He opened the door for her, and she walked inside.

Sonny was sitting at his desk, and he looked up when Victoria came in. "Hey," he said nonchalantly.

"Mr. Corinthos, would you mind explaining to me why I couldn't come in the penthouse last night? I had to just walk around the city."

"Well, you could've stayed in the penthouse across the hall. I don't have to explain anything to you. If I say you can't come in, you can't come in. Didn't Johnny tell you that?"

Joanna smiled, and walked over to him. She rubbed her finger up his chest and looked at him, "Well, I really wanted to stay here last night." She used her most seductive look, and her most sultry voice.

Sonny raised his eyebrows like, is she crazy?

"Victoria," he asked, looking down at her, "What are you doing?"

"I'm just saying hello, Sonny."

"Well, you can say goodbye honey, cause you're about to be outta here!" They both turned as Carly started screaming from the top of the stairs. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I was just, um.........."

"Yeah, you were just um, huh? Who do you think you are coming into my home and touching my man?" Carly bounded down the stairs coming to stand in front of Victoria.

"Well, this is all a big misunderstanding, Miss Benson." she stammered on.

"A big misunderstanding huh? Girlfriend, let me tell you a little something about Miss Carly Babes Benson. You don't know me all that well, so I'll let you in on a little secret. What's mine, I keep. And I don't just keep it a little bit, I keep it well. You see this man right here?" she pointed to Sonny, and then turned her finger to point it in Victoria's face, "He's MINE! All mine. I know him better than anyone, and just between you and me, he knows me better than ANYONE, inside, and oh yes, OUT! You keep your dirty, grubby, slutty hands off my man. No one touches him like that but me." She was going to stop there, but for some reason, all the bad feelings that had been building up for this girl were threatening to explode on her, so she just let them. "And furthermore, little nanny, you can march your butt upstairs right now, and pack your bags, cause I'm through with you. You're easily replaced." She turned around and took a few steps away.

Joanna felt all the hatred for Carly well up in here. "You Witch!" She screamed and ran after her. She grabbed her by the hair, and Carly whirled around.

"HOW DARE YOU?" She screamed, this girl had pushed her too far. She smacked the girl in the face so hard it knocked her to the floor and left her clinging to her face. Carly stood over her and smiled triumphantly. All of a sudden Carly ran up the stairs and into Victoria's room. She grabbed a suitcase and put all the stuff she could find in it, and ran back down the stairs. She found Victoria still sitting on the floor, clutching her face, which was already starting to get bruised and puffy. Sonny was just standing there, too in shock to move. Carly opened the door, and threw the suitcase out the door.

"Johnny," she said, a smile big on her face, "Show little nanny girl the way out, please."

Johnny laughed his head off seeing Victoria sitting there, almost in tears with pain. He pulled her up, and said, "Way to go, girly! You sure showed me." He threw his head back in laughter as he carried her to the elevator, and threw her in. When the doors closed, he said, "Good riddance."

Carly went back inside after watching her go. She closed the door and leaned up against it, feeling more like herself. How refreshing to know that little slut was gone! She laughed out loud.

"Well, that was something Carly!" Sonny said. He looked at her, and she looked at him.

"Are you mad at me?" she asked, suddenly afraid he was going to yell at her.

"NO!" he said, he began to smile. Then his smile turned to laughter. He walked over to stand in front of Carly. "Maybe I should fire Johnny and hire you!"

"Yeah, Maybe!" she said, and they both collapsed into a fit of giggles.

"I didn't know you had that in you Carly. I mean I knew you were a fighter, but that, that was a sight to behold."

"Well, maybe it was that breakfast of champions I had this morning!" she laughed and looked him in the eye. She threw her arms around his neck, and hugged him tight.

He hugged her back, and thought, WOW, this woman was amazing.

Just then, Johnny knocked on the door.

"Yeah?" Sonny asked after he opened the door.

"I need to talk to you sir." Johnny needed to tell the boss what Francis had just informed him of.

"Okay, I'll be right back Shera," he said to Carly as he stepped out into the hall and shut the door.

"Boss, when I sent Victoria away last night, I had her followed, just because I had a gut feeling. Francis followed her to her destination."

"Where did she go?"

"Sir," Johnny lowered his voice, "She went to Sorel's, Francis saw her run straight into his arms."

Sonny let out a huge breath. "Man."

Part 15

HALLWAY, PH4

Sonny stood there, not believing what he just heard. He should've known it was Sorel. Why hadn't he seen it before? He had known there was something weird about Victoria, if that was even her name, when he first saw her. Carly had known it too. Carly. He wondered if she had been the one torturing Carly. He was almost positive she was. He'd let it happen.

"Boss, are you alright?" Johnny asked, seeing that dark look start to come into Sonny's eyes.

"Yeah, Johnny. Find out who she is. Find out who she's working with. Tail her, and make sure you get all the information. I want this thing resolved." He looked at Johnny to make sure he knew he was serious, and turned to go back inside.

Carly was sitting on the couch waiting for him. She looked up and smiled at him, looking more beautiful than he'd ever seen her.

"Hey Rocky," he said, smiling at her. It was amazing how she'd just beaten down the nanny, and not a hair was out of place and she looked totally relaxed. She was so amazing.

"Hey you," she said, and he could tell by her voice that she was thinking of breakfast again. He went over to her, still thinking of Sorel.

Carly saw the light go out of his eyes, and knew something was wrong. "Sonny, what is it?" she asked as he sat down beside her. She raised her hand and started to run her hands through his hair, caressing him softly.

"Oh........it's just business Carly, nothing for you to worry about."

"Sonny, you can tell me. What's wrong, maybe I can help. Need me to beat anybody up for you?" she asked, trying to lighten his mood. He looked at her, and smiled.

"If I let you do that, then how would Johnny earn his paycheck, huh? Besides, they might mess up your face. I like your face the way it is." He reached up and touched her face, smiling. She smiled at him. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Carly," he said truthfully. The thought had just come to him, and he'd just said it. She looked deep into his eyes.

"Sonny..............." The rest of her sentence died on her lips. She just leaned over and kissed him. She wanted him to know that she wasn't leaving him. She pulled back and said, "Sonny, you mean so much to me. I'm not going anywhere. There's nowhere else I want to go. I have the best of life here, with you."

She looked deep into his eyes, willing him to believe her. He let out a sigh, as if a burden had been lifted off his shoulders. "Promise?" he asked, still a little wary.

"I promise Sonny. You and Michael are my family, my home. I'll never leave you." She kissed him again, this time with all the force she could muster. She wanted him to know she was for real.

Sonny kissed her back, matching his intensity with hers. He held onto her, and decided right then and there that he would never let her go. He was going to tell her that he loved her. He would do it. He wasn't afraid anymore. If you don't take chances, then what kind of life can you have? He would have to wait till the Sorel thing was cleared up. That had to come first right now.

When they broke apart, they saw the hunger and need in each other's eyes, and without a word, he grabbed her hand, and led her up the stairs, where he would show her he loved her, even if it wasn't time to say it yet.

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DOCKS

Joanna stumbled to the docks, still feeling a little dizzy from the blow she had taken. Her face felt like a balloon. She pulled out her cell phone, and when it was answered on the other end, she cried out, "Daddy!"

Francis lurked in the shadows. Well, he thought, so daddy was coming to rescue little miss nanny. Alright, this should be interesting. He leaned back into the corner and got comfortable for the show.

Joanna went up and looked at her reflection in the water. Her face was swollen, her hair was all scattered, and her shirt was a little ripped. That witch, she thought. She will pay for this. If it's the last thing I do. How dare that trash knock her in the face? If she only knew who she really was, she'd be too scared to even look at her.

"Well Carly, don't worry," she said to herself in the water, "you'll get what's coming to you, and so will your MAN!" Francis looked on in amusement. This girl was freakin' crazy. There was no way she could get to Sonny or Carly. A lowly nanny, please.

"Joanna, what are you doing?" The voice on the stairs was loud and full of concern. "Oh man, what happened to you?"

"Daddy," she said, and ran up the stairs to throw herself into his arms. "I was so scared Dad, that woman hit me. She hit me hard, and I've been kicked out of Corinthos' penthouse." She cried into her father's chest.

Francis strained to see who her Father was, and when he finally could see, he gasped. This little nanny was Sorel's daughter? Oh man, this definitely raised the stakes a little. He decided to wait and hear what Sorel had to say.

"Who did this to you, Joanna? What woman? Corinthos' girlfriend? I will kill her."

"Good." Joanna sniffled. What a brat, Francis thought!

"We need to go home and get you cleaned up, then we'll figure out a plan. The lady is going down, and she's going to take her boyfriend with her."

Joanna smiled beside her Father. She knew he would take care of it. That's the way it had always been. Just then, her cell phone rang.

"Hello." she answered, still walking off with her father. "No AJ, I can't talk to you right now. I will call you back later. NO! Don't do that, the plans are changing as we speak. I'll call you tomorrow with the details."

As she hung up the phone, Francis called his backup to tail them, and headed back for the penthouse. Boy, did he have some information to tell Sonny. Maybe if they worked hard enough they could head them off at the pass. He took off.

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PH4 HALLWAY

Johnny is standing in the hall at his normal post, waiting for Francis. When the elevator opens, Francis comes out. He is clearly distraught, and rushes over to Johnny.

"I need to see Mr. Corinthos right now, Johnny," he said. They needed to get started on their defense as soon as possible.

"Let me see if I can get him." He stuck his head inside the door, seeing that no one was down there. They were probably upstairs, he chuckled to himself. It seemed they were always there these days. "Can it wait until later Francis?"

"No Johnny, we have to tell him now. Victoria, she's Sorel's daughter." As soon as he heard that, Johnny got out his phone and began to dial.

UPSTAIRS

"Sonny............" Carly said dreamily as she lay in the crook of his arm. She was content to just be there with him. Her heart was swelled with love, and she was pretty sure both he and she had been saying that word during the course of their lovemaking. She knew she could barely choke the words back when he did the things he did to her. She wanted him to know.

"Hmmmmm," he said, sleepily rubbing her arms, as he dozed off.

"There's something I want to tell you........" she said, still a little afraid to say it out loud.

"What is it baby?" he asked, eyes still closed.

"Well..........." RING!! "Darn that phone, Sonny!" She screamed at the interruption. "If I could I'd rip it out of the wall, and throw it out the window."

He chuckled and reached over to grab it. She reached for it playfully, trying to grab it to throw.

"Hello." he said, his voice still husky. All of a sudden she felt his body go tense, and she got worried. "I'll be right down," he said. He hung up the phone. "I'll be back hon, soon."

"MMMM," she groaned, getting off him. "Promise??"

"I will," he said. He threw on his robe and walked out the door.

She had known better than to ask him what was going on, but she knew it must be pretty bad from the way he was acting. She lay down, and went to sleep.

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HALLWAY

"What is going on, guys?" Sonny asked. He was worried now.

"Well, sir, I was following Victoria the minute she left here this morning." Francis started out.

"Yeah.......?" Sonny asked, motioning him to go on.

"She went to the docks, and called her father. That's not the bad part. The part of the story is who her father is."

Sonny, getting impatient now, said, "Who?"

Francis took a deep breath, "Sorel......."

"What?" Sonny almost yelled. "Sorel's daughter has been living in my house?"

"I know sir, we don't know what their next move is, but I did hear both of them mention Carly, and killing her seemed like a odd plan to them."

"We need to step up security. I want this whole house checked for bugs or anything like that. Every inch. Tomorrow morning, I'll take Carly and Michael out for a few hours, and I want it done then. Also, Johnny, you and one other guard are to be on Carly and Michael at all times. You better not leave her side, unless she is in this penthouse. She better not go to the bathroom without you there. I don't care what it takes, or how hard she tries to resist. You got me?"

"Yes sir." They both said, and nodded.

"Alright then guys, good work." Sonny said, getting ready to dismiss them.

"One other thing, boss..............." Francis said, "As they were leaving, Joanna, that's her real name, got a phone call. It was from AJ."

"AJ's in on this?" Sonny was really angry now. That weasel was pushing his luck. There was only so far you could push him until he finally pushed back. This might be the last straw. "Find him." Sonny said, "Follow him."

When they left, Sonny looked around the room. They better not try to mess with his family. He looked toward the stairs, thinking how they led to everything he ever wanted out of life. He hoped he didn't fail the ones he loved again. Not this time. He would do anything to keep them safe.