SEVERAL WEEKS LATER

Joanna squeezed her eyes shut, and tried to drown out the voices. It didn't really matter if her eyes were open or shut anyway since everything around her was dark. She could hear her father talking, just like she always could.

"I can't believe I let Joanna do this. I knew she wasn't ready. She'll never be ready for this. How could I have been so stupid? She's not cut out for mob life. She's just too weak."

Oh, it played over and over in her head. She didn't know if it was real, or if she was imagining it all, probably the latter she decided. It was driving her insane. She heard the disappointment in her father's voice. She'd only wanted to please him. Finally, the voices stopped, but Joanna wasn't fooled, she knew they'd be back, just as they always were. She opened her eyes, and focused in on the nothingness that had surrounded her for the eternity she'd been locked in this room. She remembered the way Johnny had shot that man, and it terrified her. Soon after that, they'd come and taken her away. She'd been afraid they would kill her, but they just brought her to this room, her prison. No windows, no nothing. Just a bed, and darkness. Someone would always come eventually, and they would bring her food, but then as soon as she ate, she was left alone again. She had no idea how long she'd been there, just that it was hell on earth. Shortly after she'd gotten there, she had begun hearing her father. She now believed it, she was a weak creature. She had failed her father in every way imaginable, and she was a disgrace to the family. She knew that when, no if, she ever got out of here, she would never be able to be that same little daddy's girl, never be able to be Joanna Sorel, and that thought scared her, almost more than the death that she was sure was soon to come.

Oh God, here it came again................."I can't believe I let Joanna do this................." She put her hands over ears, and tried to block the voices out. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop it. It didn't really matter anyway, every word was already repeating over and over in her head. She gave up and began to cry, almost wishing for death. It was too much to hope for.

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Johnny looked at the monitor that showed him what went on in Joanna's room. It's working, he thought. Cool. He was kind of excited. This was his first real responsibility, and he was thrilled to be able to report that she was cracking to Sonny. He was doing better now, and soon it would be time to end all this. He loved his new role in the business. His cell phone rang, and he answered it, "Hello."

It was Sonny. "Yes Sonny, everything is fine here. Ms. Sorel is reacting just as we'd hoped....................AJ?" Johnny turned to look at the other screen, and saw the shaking, broken man on the screen. "Yes, he's doing the same. As expected............Yeah, I know it's almost time. We're almost ready........................Alright, Bye." He hung up the phone, and stared at his two little captives, and he almost felt sorry for them. Then he remembered what they'd done, and all sympathy vanished away. They deserved everything they got.

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Sonny hung up the phone, and turned to find Carly coming down the stairs, with Michael. "Uncle Sonnyyy!" Carly called out. Michael ran toward him, and threw himself in his favorite man's arms. Sonny hugged him tight, and ruffled his hair.

"Hey Michael, what are you doing today, buddy?"

"We're going to the park, aren't we Michael?" Carly answered, "We were wondering if maybe Uncle Sonny would like to go with us??" Carly looked up at him expectantly, smiling.

Sonny looked at the two of them, and he couldn't resist. "Okay, let's go."

Carly looked surprised, but she was happy. She put her arm around Sonny, and the three of them stood there, holding on to each other. Sonny looked down into Carly's face, and she looked up at him. "I love you, Carly."

"I love you, too Sonny." She smiled.

Michael looked at the both of them, and he leaned closer to Sonny, and kissed him on the cheek, "Daddy, " he said, and Sonny turned to him, amazed. Carly's eyes filled with tears, and she realized nothing could be closer to the truth. Sonny looked back to Carly questioningly, his eyes about to brim over. he smiled that it was alright. Sonny kissed Michael on the cheek, and said, "I love you Michael."

"Love you Daddy, " Michael said, and Sonny felt his heart swell with pride like he'd never felt.

"C'mon, let's go to the park," he said, and the three of them took off. Sonny holding Michael, his arm around Carly, and hers around his. They were chatting away, just like a family. Finally a family.

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Sorel watched from afar as Sonny, Carly, and Michael left for the park. He looked at them, so happy. It's a shame, he thought. He wanted his daughter back, and he could think of only two ways to get through to Corinthos. They were walking right beside him. The only trick was, which one to use.

Part Twenty-Two

AJ lay on the bed, his whole body shaking. Oh God, he needed a drink. He'd been too long without one. Alcohol had always been his escape, the one thing he could turn to when things got rough. Well, things were rougher than rough now, and he had nothing. It seemed he'd been sitting in this room forever. He could barely remember what his life had been like before. He didn't know how long he'd been here, but he knew that he was feeling the effects of it. He kept his eyes closed, trying not to see what was all around him. The walls were covered with pictures. Pictures of Michael, Carly pregnant, Jason, his family. They were everywhere, looking at him. All the people he'd hurt. The biggest picture in the room was the worst of all though. It was a picture of Sonny Corinthos, holding his son as tight as he could. Michael was kissing him on the cheek, and looking at him with love, and Carly was standing on the other side of Sonny with her arm around him. He'd memorized every inch of that picture. He hated that picture, the picture that showed his worst enemy with everything he'd ever wanted in his life. He realized it now, the fact that he was useless, he was less than nothing. He did nothing but hurt people, and there was not one person who liked him. Tears began to roll down his face, and he ached for a drink. The door opened and someone came in with a tray of food for him. They set it down, and he hungrily began to eat it. He looked at his silverware, and silently cursed them for not giving him a knife. He'd gladly take his life now, for surely death had to be better than what awaited him.

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Sonny and Carly sat on the blanket watching Michael play in the sand. Sonny sat with his back propped up on a tree, and Carly sat in between his legs, resting on his chest. They were holding hands, and talking softly with each other.

"Sonny, I never knew life could be so good." She sighed, and snuggled herself closer to him. He leaned his head down, and kissed her on the cheek.

"I know baby." He said, as he put both of his arms around her. "Look at Michael. He's having such a good time. He seems so happy lately."

"You know why don't you?" Carly asked.

"No, why?"

"Because of his Daddy." Carly said softly, and she felt Sonny's arms tighten around her.

"I can't believe he called me that," Sonny whispered incredulously. "I mean, I'm happy that he did, but it was just a shock."

"Sonny, I can believe it. You're the only father figure he's had in a year. He loves you, and you are so good with him."

"Well, that's only because I love him." Sonny watched as Michael tried to build a sand castle. He got up and went to help him.

"I know." Carly said softly, as he walked away. The best thing she'd ever done was give Sonny to Michael. Well, maybe she hadn't done it on purpose, but it was her mistake that had brought them to Sonny, and even though she was sorry they'd hurt Jason, she'd never, ever be sorry of what happened. If it hadn't have gone the way it had, she wouldn't be here, and be so happy now. She watched her two boys, and her heart felt full. She thought of the baby they had lost. Closing her eyes, she reached a hand down to touch her belly. It had once been filled with their child. Hers and Sonny's. She had a feeling it might be full again, but she didn't want to tell Sonny yet. She was only a few days late, but she was almost never late. She smiled as she thought of how amazing it would be if she had Sonny's baby within her once again. Maybe she was being given another chance. A chance to make right all the mistakes she'd made. Oh, she hoped so. This time, she promised herself, this time she would do it right.

As Carly sat there, eyes closed, hand on her stomach, she felt a hand come up and clamp over her mouth. Her eyes flew open, and she saw Sonny standing not so far away, but he couldn't hear her, and his back was turned to her. The hands yanked her back, and she struggled against him for all that she was worth, but his strong hands held her still. She didn't have a chance. Tears began to roll down her face, and as she was carried away, she watched Sonny playing with Michael, and prayed that he would find her.

The man put her in a car, and drove away.

Sonny heard tires squeal, and his head shot up. He watched the car roll away, and he looked over to where Carly had been sitting. His stomach sank as he saw that their blanket was empty. He grabbed Michael up, and began to yell frantically.

"CARLY!! CARLY, are you here??" His eyes roamed the park quickly, and he saw nothing. He already knew she wasn't there. His heart told him she was not around. He took out his phone, and rang Johnny. "Johnny............come to the park, HURRY!! It's Carly, she's been kidnapped!"

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Chloe Morgan bolted upright in bed, screaming, "CARLY!" She put a hand to her throbbing head. Oh God, she thought, not again. She quickly got out of bed, and put on some clothes. She had to get to Sonny. He was the only one who could help Carly now. She knew she had to go to him, and tell him how to find her. She was the only one who could. She ran out the door, and headed as quickly as she could to the penthouse.

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Carly screamed in pain as she was all but thrown into a room. She cried as hard as she could. Why? Why did bad things always happen to her? She was beginning to think she was cursed, when she heard a voice come out of the darkness.

"Carly, how are you?" The man said. Carly shivered, his voice was oddly familiar.

"Who are you?" she managed to croak out, the sobbing still obvious in her voice.

"You know who I am. You know why I came for you, don't you Carly? What am I going to do with you? I think you know the answer to that question too, huh?" He laughed, a venomous, snarling laugh that made Carly's very blood curdle.

"I don't know who you are!" She screamed! "Just turn on the lights so I can see you!" She'd had enough. She didn't want to play his game.

She heard footsteps come toward her, and she almost ran, but she couldn't see where she was going. She saw the light come on, and shut her eyes tight, trying to block out the very sight of her captor. She wanted to know who he was, but she didn't want to see his face. This reminded her too much of her time in Ferncliff. I've got to do this, she thought, Be strong Carly! You need to know who this is! Slowly, she opened her eyes, and looked at the kidnapper's face. Her eyes grew wide, and she screamed, "NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She started to whimper, and said over and over again, "No, not you. Anybody but you." He left her like that, with a promise that he'd be back soon, and she knew what was coming then.

Part Twenty-Three

Johnny ran frantically into the park. "Sonny!" He called the name out loud, but heard no answer. Thinking the worst, he started looking everywhere for him. He turned the corner, and there sat his boss. He was sitting on a bench, holding on to Michael, and he was talking on the phone.

"I don't care what it takes, Benny. You find out what you can, you hear me?" Sonny sounded desperate and afraid. He hung up the phone, and looked at Michael. "It's going to be alright, buddy. I'm going to find your Mama. We can't lose her now."

"Boss!"

Sonny looked up at hearing Johnny's voice, and said, "She's gone, Johnny..................and it's my fault." He turned away to hide the tears that threatened to fall down his cheeks.

"Boss, I know it's bad, but we gotta find her now. We don't have time to worry about her now. We gotta put everything we've got into finding her." He hoped he wasn't out of line.

Sonny nodded, and stood up, pulling himself together. "Let's go."

They got in the car and headed toward the penthouse to drop Michael off before the hunt began. Neither one spoke during the drive. They were both lost in thoughts of Carly, and what their lives would be like without her.

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Helena Cassadine looked up from what she was doing to see her new boy toy walk through the door. She smiled her most wicked smile, and walked over to him. "Is she here?"

"She is," he replied, a faint smile on his face.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling his arms go about her. He was just the person she needed to carry this plan out. The only one who could have the effect on her captive that she wanted. "Good darling. How are you feeling today?" She pulled back and put her palm on his cheek.

"I'm fine Helena, thanks to you," he replied, his eyes unreadable. That was the only thing she didn't like about her new conquest, he always stared. She hadn't quite gotten used to it yet.

"Well darling, did she recognize you?"

"Of course she did. How could she not?"

"Good, now we can move onto the next part of our plan. You know what to do." She kissed him on the lips then, and ran her hands over his chest.

When she pulled back, he said, "I know what to do." With that, he sifted his hand through her hair, and over her face, and left the room. Helena watched him go, and appreciated the view. He was no Jasper Jax, but he would do in a pinch. Yes, Carly Benson was in for the surprise of her life. The man she thought she'd loved was here to wreak havoc on her happy home. Her grand-daughter would bend to her will. She needed another ally in this family, even if it was the illegitimate child of her weak son Stefan. She smiled to herself, thinking of how much fun this would all be.

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Chloe Morgan ran as fast as she could into Harborview Towers. She ran to the elevator, almost frantic until she heard it open at the top. She ran straight into a bodyguard. "I'm Chloe Morgan........I need to see Mr. Corinthos."

"Mr. Corinthos isn't accepting visitors right now," Rick said, looking into the face of this beautiful, but scared woman.

"Oh Please...........it's so important. Will you tell him I'm here and that I need to see him.......about Carly." Her eyes pleaded with him, and when he heard her mention Carly's name, he immediately went to the door. He came back out, and ushered her inside.

She stopped in the doorway, and looked straight into the eyes of Sonny Corinthos. Beautiful, sad, and tortured eyes. Her heart went out to him, and she went in. "Sonny........."

"What do you need to see me about Ms. Morgan?"

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Carly couldn't believe this. What had she done that was so bad lately? She couldn't remember anything terrible. Maybe this was still payback for all the rotten things she'd done in the past. No, God's not cruel, she told herself. She sighed and leaned her head against the wall. She had to pull herself together, for the baby that could be growing inside of her right now. She would not lose another baby, no matter what it took. She knew Sonny would find her, she just had to be strong. She looked around her very sparse room, and longed to be back at the penthouse, holding Michael, and leaning on Sonny. She closed her eyes and pretended she was back there. But the thoughts kept raging through her head. Why was he back here, and why would he do this to her? Revenge, maybe? The Jason she knew would never be this vindictive, but then again, when he'd finally come into the light, and she'd seen his eyes, she'd known he was different. There was something cold there, and it all seemed directed toward her. She closed her ees again, trying to pray that she'd make it through this, and she could get back to her family. She whispered to no one, "Sonny...................where are you?" Just then, the door opened, and in walked a nightmare. She tried to prepare herself, but she just didn't know if she was ready for this game to begin. No time like the present to find out.