Part Twenty-Four

Chloe just stood there for a second. "You're going to think I'm crazy. Everyone does..............You remember that car accident I had a while back, when I got hit by a car?"

"Yeah." Sonny hoped she'd get to the point soon. He needed to be out looking for Carly.

"Well, I have a tumor in my brain, Sonny. Ever since I found out, I've been having these wierd dreams. They are so real. It's almost like I'm there."

"I'm sorry to hear that Ms. Morgan, really, but you said you knew something about Carly?"

"Well, I had a dream about Carly tonight. It was truly scary, Sonny."

"A dream? You came here to tell me about a dream?"

"I know she was kidnapped Sonny, in the park today. I saw it in my dream."

Sonny stared at her, shocked. There was no way she could've known that Carly was missing. "Why should I believe this?" He had to know if she was telling the truth.

"Sonny, I dreamed Stefan Cassadine's murder, too. I know in my heart that this is real. I think I can help you find Carly. I'd really like to try. You have to believe me, please?"

"What was Carly wearing Ms. Morgan?"

"She was wearing pink suede pants, and a cream-colored leather jacket. Is that right? You and Michael were playing in the sandbox, and Carly was sitting on a blanket under a tree?"

Wide-eyed, Sonny stared her down. He believed her now. "Who took her, Ms. Morgan?"

"Call me Chloe, and I don't think you're going to like what I have to tell you."

"Alright Chloe, please.............tell me anyway. I have to find her."

Johnny had been listening in to the conversation, and finally spoke up. "Come sit down, Chloe?" He continued, when she nodded her approval for the use of her first name. "Tell us what you know."

**********************************************************

Carly looked up at the man she once loved. "Jason......."

"What Carly?" he said, rather harshly.

"Why are you doing this? What happened to you? You used to be my friend." She looked into his eyes, willing herself not to cry. She would not show him her weak side.

"Well, Carly, let's see............Why do you think I left Port Charles in the first place? I couldn't stand to look at your lying face anymore. All the things you did to me, to hurt me. I hate you!"

"You hate me, huh? Well, that's all fine and dandy, but don't you think this is taking it a bit too far, Jase?"

The use of her nickname for him only served to enrage him more. "Don't you call me that, you slut! You don't have the right to call me anything."

"Oh really? But, let me see, you have the right to take me against my own will, and throw me in a room and lock me up? That doesn't sound right, now does it? What's wrong with you Jason? You're different. What happened to you after you left Port Charles?" "Well, I wandered around aimlessly for a while, drinking and just being free. Then one night I had a terrible accident. I wrapped my motorcycle around a telephone pole. They didn't know if I would live or not. I was all alone, Carly, all alone."

"I'm sorry Jason." Tears were floating down her cheeks as she thought of what he must've gone through.

"Oh, but Carly, then someone came. She helped me get through it all. She loved me and took care of me, and taught me all about who people really are. Who you really are. She taught me about tramps, and liars, and backstabbers. And she taught me one more thing, Carly...................Revenge."

"WOW!" Carly was ticked now. He'd insulted her too many times, and she wanted to go home. All previous sympathy vanished, and she just wanted to fight back. "Sounds like you found yourself quite a woman there, Jason! She's a keeper..........don't let that one get away!" She laughed a throaty laugh that enraged his temper beyond anything she'd ever seen.

"You shutup! She is the best thing that ever happened to me. A whole lot better than you'll ever be, you lying whore!"

"So Jason, who is this mystery woman?" She was curious to know who had caused this change in this once emotionless man now full of hatred and pain.

"Well Carly, it just so happens, it's your Grandmother."

"My WHO?" Carly almost laughed at the absurdity of the statement. "My Grandmother? Jason, my Grandma Benson lives in Florida, and is 85 years old. If you're getting it on with her...........boy, you're an even sicker puppy than I thought!" She did laugh then.

Jason just stared at her. He leaned down close to her face, and ran his gun along her cheek. "Carly................I'm talking about the Grandmother you never knew. The one you never knew because you're the illegitimate child of a prostitute and one of her many johns." He hit her where it hurt, and watched her flinch at his words.

"And just who would that be?" She said, through clenched teeth.

"Helena Cassadine." With that, he hit her across the face, and walked out of the room, leaving Carly Benson knocked out cold.

Part Twenty-Five

Carly's eyes opened wide, and she felt her head ache. She groaned, and put a hand over her now swollen face. How long had she been out? She sat up feeling a streak of pain shoot throughout her body. Why in the world did these things always have to happen to her? Her mind went to Sonny and Michael. She hoped everything was alright. She wished there were some way she could get a message to him. She wanted to tell him where she was, and that Jason, of all people was holding her captive. Then it came back to her. Helena Cassadine. Did Jason say that was her grandmother? He must've had some severe head trauma in that wreck, cause there was just no way she was a Cassadine......................was there? She reminded herself to get some more information about that when Jason returned. Her head was pounding, and she almost couldn't see straight. Why had he hit her? To prove a point? This was not the Jason she knew, and it was definitely one she didn't like.

"Sonny, Sonny..................where are you?" she whispered.

"He doesn't know where you are Carly," a voice came at her. She hadn't even seen anyone come in. She must really be out of it. Who was it talking to her?

"Who are you?"

"It's me, dear. You can call me Grandma."

**********************************************************

"Sonny, this is going to be wierd, but it's all very true...." Chloe started, as she sat down. "The thing about my dreams is...........I see through someone else's eyes. It's like I have a psychic connection with this person. I see everything that happens."

"Who is it Chloe?" Sonny wanted a face to put with his anger, and he wanted to get Carly back. At the moment, that was all he cared about.

"It's Helena Cassadine."

"Helena Cassadine?" Both Sonny and Johnny said at the same time.

"Yes."

"What does she have to do with Carly?" Sonny demanded to know. This was wierd, she was right.

"I don't know Sonny, I just know she's the one who's got her. There's something else........." Chloe was almost afraid to tell him this part.

"What?"

"I've been seeing someone else in my dreams recently. Someone very close to Helena. VERY close, if you know what I mean. He's also the one who took Carly from the park, as Helena looked on. It's.....................Jason Morgan." She said the last part very hesitantly.

Sonny looked as if he'd been hit with a ton of bricks. Jason? What was going on here? "Are you sure it was Jason? With Helena?"

"I'm sure Sonny. I'm so sorry......"

"It's not your fault Chloe, I just can't believe any of this!" He got up, and paced nervously. Why did Jason take Carly? He knew Chloe was telling the truth. She had to be. No one else could know the things she knew..........could they? No, he just knew she was telling the truth. He could feel it. Why would she lie to him?

"I know, it's a lot to take in Sonny, but I swear I wouldn't lie to you about something like this........." She got up and walked over to him. "I'm so sorry. I'll do whatever I can to help you find Carly. I always liked her when she lived with the Quartermaine's. Don't worry about her, she'll be fine. She's strong." Her sympathetic eyes looked up at him.

"Thank you Chloe." He looked over at Johnny, "Johnny, would you get Chloe a ride home. We've got some plans to make."

"If you don't mind, I'd rather stay here," Chloe broke in, "I want to stay until you find her. I'd never be able to sleep knowing she was missing anyway. Would you mind?"

"Alright, I could use someone to watch Michael. Would you want to do that? He's already asleep upstairs."

Chloe smiled, glad she could help. "Of course. I'll just go up and check on him."

She left, and Sonny turned to Johnny. "Ok, I want you send some men out to Spoon Island, and see what's going on out there, I want some men around town looking for Jason or anyone who's seen him, and you and I are going to Helena's yacht. We are going to bring Carly home."

"Ok Sonny. I'll go get the ball rolling on all this. The car will be brought around."

"Johnny........" Sonny said, as Johnny was almost out the door.

"Yes?"

"If Jason is found, I want him alive. I will deal with him later........myself." Johnny nodded his head, and left to get the car, and give the orders.

Sonny stood there, not quite believing what he'd just heard. What other choice did he have, though? She was the only lead he had, and could he really take a chance and say she was lying? Besides, he just had a feeling she was being honest with him. He looked around the room, and could feel Carly very much there. Everything in the room seemed to hold a memory of her. The ottoman.............Man, he missed her. He put his head in his hands, and told himself to be strong. He would find her if it was the last thing he did, and no matter what it took.

Johnny knocked on the door, and came in. "Sonny, everyone's been given their orders, and I posted a guard on the door with strict instructions that no one was to get in, and no one was to get out. I also told him to keep an ear out for Michael, just in case. Are you ready?"

Sonny nodded, and reached into his desk. He pulled out his gun, and his shoulder holster. When he had put it on, he walked out the door. "Come on Johnny. Let's go get Carly."

***********************************************************

"My grandma?" Carly asked, a hint of humor in her voice. "Grandma Benson, is that you?"

"Oh my dear, don't try your witty little comebacks on me. I can see right through them, and mine will always be better than yours. I'm a pro at this sort of thing." Helena let out a small patronizing laugh.

"Oh, but dear ..............Granny? Is that what I'm supposed to call you now? If you're such a pro, why'd you have to send Jason to do your job?"

"You may call me whatever you like Caroline, and I sent Jason because I can. He is mine to control and to do with as I please. And, it just so happened, that I pleased to send him after you."

"What have you done to him?" Carly asked, her disgust of this woman showing in her eyes.

"I've only done what anyone could've done. I've taken his memories and warped them to my liking. The man is completely under my will, and that's where he'll stay until his dying breath. Which, as we both know, won't be very long once your precious Sonny finds out who took you." She laughed out loud at the thought of Jason dying at the hands of his own best friend. Irony was a game she loved to play.

"So, tell me..........What makes you think you are my grandmother?"

"Well, my dear, I have my ways. I always figured you for a Cassadine. You've got too much spirit, and you've just got that look about you. I wanted to find out for sure, so I got your medical records. You see my dearest grandchild, your blood type matches my pathetic son Stefan's. I had them run a test on the two of you, and it's a match. You are definitely Stefan Cassadine's daughter."

"But how.........?" Carly was shocked. She was a Cassadine? Could this be true?

"Well, we all know your mother was a prostitute in Florida. That's how she got pregnant with you. Stefan was one of her customers. She knows exactly who your Father is, she just never told anyone. Face it darling, you are a Cassadine. Pure and simple."

"So what if I am? That doesn't give you the right to hold me prisoner here. What do you want from me?" Carly was fed up with this all. She didn't know who she was anymore, but she knew she wanted to be out of here. She needed to see Sonny and her son. Helena Cassadine was getting on her nerves.

"You know what I want Caroline. I want an ally, and I want a great-grandchild. You can give me both. You are my strongest weapon against my son, and his illegitimate sister. You will give me the upper-hand I need to take my rightful place in the Cassadine family."

"Well, you can forget it, you old bat. I'm not helping you, especially not after what you've done." Carly spat back at her.

Helena leaned close, and whispered to Carly, "Oh but darling, you will. You just don't know it yet." She laughed an evil laugh then, and Carly felt her anger grow by leaps and bounds. She rared back, and slapped Helena Cassadine across the face. It was a hard slap, and it knocked the evil one back to the floor. Her guard rushed forward to help her to her feet. She glared at Carly, and laughed her laugh again, "You'll get what you deserve, Caroline. You'll help me, or you'll regret it for the rest of your days." With that, she lifted her head up triumphantly and walked regally out of the room, leaving a drained Carly sitting on the floor, tears streaming down her face. Who am I?, she thought.

******************************************************

Sonny and Johnny crept closer to the yacht where Helena lived, but Johnny put a hand in front of Sonny to stop him when he heard a car coming. The limo stopped in front of the yacht, and they both watched as Helena Cassadine climbed out, rubbing her face. She walked onto the yacht, and both of them set toward her. They went to the door, and it was answered by a guard.

"We need to see Mrs. Cassadine," Sonny stated, as if he had business with her. "Tell her it's Mr. Corinthos. Sonny Corinthos."

The guard left, but returned a few minutes later, opening the door to let them in. They were led to a room, and they were told to wait.

"I wonder if she has Carly here?" Johnny asked as soon as the guard was gone.

"I don't know, but just act casual when she comes in, and pretend like you're my guard. Let me do all the talking." Johnny nodded.

"Well gentlemen, what a pleasant surprise." They both looked up as Helena walked into the room. "Mr. Corinthos, you're looking................well." She gave an appreciative glance up his body.

"Thank you Mrs. Cassadine, you are looking well, also."

"Please call me Helena." She smiled, and gestured for them to sit down. "Who is your friend Mr. Corinthos?" She looked at Johnny like he were a piece of meat, and he blushed under her intense gaze.

"This is my bodyguard, Johnny."

"Hello Johnny. What can I do for you gentlemen tonight?"

"Well, my........my Carly was taken this afternoon from the park. She was kidnapped."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Mr. Corinthos, but I really don't see what that has to do with me."

Sonny flashed her a smile, full of dimples, and continued, "Well, Helena, I was just wondering if you wanted to just go ahead and tell me where you're keeping her, or if you are going to make me do this the hard way?" He asked the question just as nonchalantly as he would've asked her about the weather.

"Why, whatever do you mean?" She didn't falter.

"Well, let's see. I know you have Carly, and I was just wondering if you wanted to lead me to her now, or if you would rather die." He swiftly pulled out his gun, and grabbed her, holding it to her head, just as Johnny went to grab her guard.

Helena's smile left her face, and she opened her eyes wide, in fear. "Mr. Corinthos, I don't have Carly. I really don't know what you are talking about."

"Ok Helena, I'm going to warn you one more time. Maybe you didn't know, but I'm not a man who takes his family's safety lightly, and I'm also not one to make empty threats. You tell me where Carly is, or I'm going to shoot you in the head........right here, right now. Which will it be, Mrs. Cassadine?" He calked his gun, getting ready to shoot her if she went against him. She was silent for a few minutes, and he said, "Okay fine, let's do this Johnny." He held her a little tighter, and acted as if he were going to shoot her in the head.

"Alright, Mr. Corinthos, you win........I will tell you where Caroline is." Sonny let her go, and she grabbed her neck.

"Where is she?" He demanded, harshly this time. He was through playing around.

She told him where to find Carly, and they took off. Once they were gone, Helena picked up the phone, and dialed.

"They know where she is."

UNDERSTANDING

Part Twenty-Six

Johnny and Sonny watched from their position near the entrance to the building where Carly was being kept. It nearly broke Sonny's heart to know that she was so close to him, yet he couldn't get to her yet.

"What are we going to do, Sonny?" Johnny asked anxiously, he too was ready to get Carly away from these people.

"We wait for a few minutes. I know Helena contacted Jason, so let's just see what he does. I want to make sure we know where he is. We will have the upper-hand in this situation." He tried to keep his cool, but he knew that deep inside the dam he'd built against his emotions was threatening to fall down. He had to get her out of there, and he had to stay strong......for her, just as she'd been strong for him in the past. She deserved his full attention, and he couldn't afford to be selfish enough to stop and break down. He hadn't done that since Carly had blown into his life and saved him last time, and he didn't want to do it again.

A car sped up to the building and halted. Jason climbed out, and both Johnny and Sonny tensed up. Chloe had been right. Sonny hadn't wanted to believe it until now. They watched him run swiftly into the building, looking anxious.

Sonny and Johnny crept closer to the door. Johnny snuck up behind the guard there, and knocked him out cold. They walked to the door, and slowly pushed it open. Seeing no one, they continued in. They could hear shouts coming from upstairs.

"Come on Carly........get a move on! We've got to go!"

"Wait Jason! Ow! You're hurting me! OOWW!"

At Carly's shriek of pain, Sonny took off running, with Johnny not far behind. He didn't want to yell for her yet, afraid that Jason might do something to harm her. He didn't think this Jason was anything like the one he'd called best friend for so many years. They heard another scream, and Sonny wondered if his feet could move any faster.

Upstairs

"Jason!!! What's going on? You're hurting me!" Carly screamed in terror. Why was he grabbing her arm so tight? Why was he moving her all of a sudden.

"Shutup Carly, we have to go now! Get up! I don't have time for your whining." He glared at her.

"Why do we have to leave?"

"You can blame all of this on your precious Sonny. He just couldn't leave well enough alone, could he? I guess he actually cares about you, but I don't see how he could after you killed his baby. You're such a tramp, Carly. Why can't he see it?"

Jason's words bring tears to Carly's eyes. There was a time when he was the only one who believed in her, and like everyone else in her life, he'd turned on her, too. She felt her heart break in two. He may not be the man she was in love with, but he was still her friend. Once, he was her best friend. She looked up into his eyes, so cold and distant, "Do you really think that Jason?" The tears were streaming down her face, and the pain was evident in her voice.

He sneered at her, giving her a look that told her the answer to his question. She reached up, trying to hit him, but he grabbed her arm, and twisted it behind her back. She screamed out in pain, and felt sharp pains shoot through her.

"I'm only going to tell you this once, Carly, so listen closely. What we had, in the past, was nothing. It was more than nothing. Your kind of love.........it only hurts, it only kills. I understand everything better now, and I know that I never loved you, not ever. You were merely someone I helped. Now.........LET'S GO!" With the last words, he pulled her arm hard, and jerked her body toward the door.

Carly screamed out, "NO! I don't want to go with you!" Her arms went flailing as she totally lost it. She was sobbing, and gasping for air, but her legs shot out, trying to kick him, and her arms went out trying to hit him. He tried to hold her still, but she would not have it. He wrestled her down to the ground, and slapped her across the face. She calmed immediately, and began to whimper. He straddled her, and leaned down close to her ear.

"Carly," he whispered, "are you gonna be good now? I'll let you up if you just be good, and come with me."

Carly whimpered Sonny's name, and nodded her head. Why didn't he come, she needed him. As if on cue, Sonny and Johnny busted through the door.

"Get off her!" Sonny shouted. His eyes were cold and hard as he looked at the scene before him. Jason straddling a crying and whimpering Carly. She was saying his name over and over, and he wanted to go to her more than anything in the world, but there was one thing he had to take care of first.

"Well, if it isn't the long lost best friend and champion backstabber! Good to see you, pal!" Jason's snide comments made Sonny even angrier, and he took a step toward him.

"Jason, I'm warning you. I don't want to hurt you, but if you don't get off of her, I will shoot you right here." Sonny spoke evenly, and everyone in the room knew he was dead serious.

"You know what, Sonny boy? I don't really care! She was mine before she was your anyway. I don't really like her, but I bet she's still great in the sack. Is she as good as I remember?"

Carly gasped, and Sonny clenched his fists at his side. "Get off her NOW Jason!" He'd had enough. He walked over, and grabbed him off, throwing him against the wall with all his might. Jason landed hard against the wall, but not hard enough to knock him out. Sonny drew his gun out, and Johnny ran forward to scoop Carly up and out of the way. "Get her out of here, Johnny!" Johnny nodded, and carried Carly away.

"No Sonny!" She screamed, but it did no good. She was being led away, and she looked back at the room that held her future. The room where her one time best friend, and her soulmate now fought each other. It was a battle, she knew, that one of them would not come out of alive. Oh god, she thought, and silently prayed for a miracle.

UNDERSTANDING

Part Twenty-Seven

Sonny and Jason stood there, staring at one another, Sonny's gun pointed at Jason.

"What are you gonna do, huh Sonny? You gonna shoot your so-called best friend?" Jason sneered at him.

"You are nothing like my best friend. You're a whole different person. What happened to you Jase? The man I once knew, who was like a son to me, would never have done something like this. And sleeping with Helena Cassadine?? Man, that's just sick!"

"You're right Sonny........I'm not the same man you knew. I'm better. I know the truth now. The truth about you, and the truth about that lying whore that once had me wrapped around her finger. I can see she's trapped you now. I thought you were smarter than that, Sonny. What happened to YOU?"

Sonny felt his anger rise once more at his disparaging remarks against Carly. "You know nothing about the real Carly, Jason. There was a time I thought the same as you, but I know her better now, and she's so much more than I ever imagined. I'm not trapped, Jason. I'm..................happy," he finished. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He'd never been happy a day in his life. But Carly had changed him, she'd turned his life around.

"Hah!" Jason laughed, "Sonny, you are never happy. Don't fool yourself. That woman's got a hold on you, man, and you're just too blind to see it. Oh well, I don't really care. Do what you want to do. You deserve each other."

"Jason, we used to be friends. What happened?" Sonny asked.

"I found out what you were really like Sonny. I know the truth now, that you are a backstabber, and a liar. I'm not the same guy with the brain damage that I used to be. I've grown up, and I know what scum you really are."

His words hurt Sonny, down deep. He'd always thought of Jason as a son, and he couldn't believe this change in him. He just stood there, the shock of Jason's hatred burning a hole in his heart. Jason took that weakness and used it to his advantage. "Sorry Sonny, it was bound to happen sooner or later. You couldn't keep your true self from me forever." He lunged for Sonny then, and knocked him to the floor, the gun hurling through the air, and landing across the room. Sonny punched Jason in the face, and Jason flew back. Sonny was on his way to get the gun when Jason jumped up and pummeled into him. Sonny felt pain as he hit the floor, but quickly knocked Jason off of him, and hit him hard in the chest. He got to the gun, as Jason struggled to gain control. Standing up, Jason lunged for Sonny again. They struggled for a few minutes, rolling around on the floor, both bleeding by now, and the gun in between them. Jason reached for Sonny's hand around the gun.

"Let go Sonny..........." he ground out.

"Never......." Sonny said, his teeth clenched from the sheer force he was using to keep his hold on the gun. He rolled himself back on top, and Jason reached down his leg to get the knife he'd kept hidden until now. When he got hold of it, he pulled it up to Sonny's neck, and Sonny had the gun to Jason's head.

"You'll never do it Sonny. You and I both know you will never pull that trigger. You think of me as a son, and you would never harm your child. But, you know what........I'm not the same as I used to be, and I'm not afraid to slit your throat right here, if that's what it takes." He let the knife run slightly across the skin on Sonny's neck, causing blood to run down. He laughed, and suddenly rared his hand back, and swung the knife. Sonny pulled the trigger, and watched as Jason's body went lifeless beneath him. Blood was everywhere...........why was there always blood? He hugged Jason close, and wept for the man he used to be, and the son he'd just lost. The son he'd lost because he'd shot him. Carly's face flashed through his mind, and he knew he had to go to her. He got up and walked out of the room, not looking back once.

***********************************************

Carly struggled with all of her might to break free of Johnny's hold when she heard the gun go off. "SONNNYYY!" She screamed in agony. Tears were flowing freely down her face. She kicked Johnny hard, and he let her go. "I'm sorry Johnny!" She screamed behind her, and ran as fast as she could to the open door of the building. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw someone in the doorway. It was Sonny.

"Sonny?" she called out warily, and then caught his eyes. She saw the hurt, anger, and love in them. All those emotions swirling in those deep brown eyes that she loved so much. She smiled a half smile at him, so happy to see that he was alive. He opened up his arms, and she took off running. She landed against him hard, and he folded her in a hug that left them both breathless with the sheer force of it. Her arms were wrapped around his neck so tight, he could barely breathe, but he didn't care. He could hold her like this forever. He lifted her body slightly, and she pulled back to look into his eyes. Tears were streaming down both their faces, and their gazes held each other captive. "Oh Sonny........." she whispered. She had missed him so much, and when she'd heard that gun go off, she'd almost died. He kissed her then, and the force of their love made them both shiver. He kissed her long and hard. It was a kiss filled with not only love, but passion, delight, and utter joy. When their lips broke apart, Carly looked down to where the blood was flowing from his neck.

"Sonny..............you're bleeding. Are you alright?"

"It's just a scrape Carly.........Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Sonny asked, his hands roaming all over her face, as if to make sure for himself that she was truly back with him, and she was alright.

"I'm okay, he just hit me a couple of times." She winced when his fingers brushed the angry bruise the butt of Jason's gun had put on her head the day before.

"You don't deserve to be hit...........It shouldn't have happened. I'm sorry Carly."

She looked him in the eye, "It's not your fault Sonny. It was Jason's..............Is he.................?" She let her words trail off.

Sonny nodded, and Carly buried her head in his neck, crying not only for the man she'd once loved, but for Sonny. She knew it had killed him to shoot Jason. He was like a son to Sonny.

"I love you Sonny." She said softly, feeling his arms tighten around her.

"I love you too, Carly. No one's ever gonna hurt you again. No ne. Let's go home," he said, as he kissed her forehead, and let her out of his embrace to walk beside him, his arm still around him. He wasn't willing to let her go yet. They walked over to Johnny, who was still wincing in pain at the injury caused by Carly.

"Johnny, I'm so sorry," Carly said, "I had to get to Sonny."

"It's ok, it just hurts..........REAL BAD." he winced again, but straightened up to look his boss in the eye. "What do you want me to do?"

"Clean it out, Johnny. No trace of anything."

Johnny nodded, and started off to do his task, but turned around to face Carly. "I'm so glad you're alright Carly, and that you're home.................where you belong."

Carly smiled, and Sonny's arm tightened around her waist. He was happy she was alright, too. "Thank you Johnny. It's good to be found, and back where I belong." She reached up and put her hand over Sonny's that was on her waist. They turned and walked off, leaving Johnny to do the dirty work.

UNDERSTANDING

Part Twenty-Eight

Sonny would not let go of Carly all the way home. He was too happy to see her. The thought that he'd almost lost her scared him more than he could say. As they walked into the penthouse, his hold on her did not relinquish until they saw Chloe sitting with Michael on the couch. Sonny had told her all about Chloe's help in the car, and she was grateful, but still confused. The woman had a psychic connection with Helena Cassadine?? What was up with that? Upon seeing them, Chloe jumped up and walked over to them.

"Carly, I'm so glad you're alright." She breathed a sigh of relief, and much to Carly's surprise, Chloe leaned in and gave her a big hug.

"Thanks Chloe...........for everything. I'd probably be dead now if it weren't for you..............and Sonny." She reached over to grab his hand, and smiled up at him.

"Carly, it was nothing, I'm just happy to see you." They shared an awkward moment until Michael ran up yelling for his Mommy.

"Mama! Unca Sonny!" Michael screamed in delight.

"Hey Mr. Man, what've you been up to?" Carly asked, as she hugged her son tight.

"Me pway with Kowee!" He replied in his baby talk.

"That's a good boy, did you have fun? Mama missed her little man. Did you miss Mama?" She walked over to the couch and sat down with her son, hugging and loving him. They talked to each other as Sonny talked with Chloe.

"Is she okay Sonny?" Chloe asked in a worried tone.

"Yeah, I think she's going to be okay. Thank you so much for helping me get Carly back."

"It's no problem. Are you alright?" she asked worriedly seeing the blood on his shirt, and the cut on his neck.

"I'm fine. How can I ever repay you Chloe?"

"No repayments necessary. I told you before, I like Carly. I better be going now," she said a little louder, "Carly, call me or something sometime and we'll do something. I'm so glad you're okay." She turned and headed for the door, leaving behind a shocked Carly. Someone was actually nice to her.

"If you need anything Chloe...............anything at all. Don't hesitate to call me......" Sonny said, and Chloe smiled, then left.

Sonny walked over to the couch and sat beside Carly and Michael. He put his arm around her, and drew her close to him. He just couldn't get enough of her.

"Sonny, I'm going to go put Michael to bed, then I'll be right back down...........ok?"

"Ok, but hurry back."

She smiled, loving the fact that he was so protective of her, and headed up the stairs.

Sonny sat there, his mind drifting back to that afternoon. He felt tears come to his eyes. He'd killed Jason. Yet another person he loved was dead, and it was his fault. He closed his eyes, but all he could see was the blood, and the look in Jason's eyes as the life slowly drained out of them. Poor Jason. He'd slept with his woman, causing him to run away, and then when he'd come back, he'd killed him. Why did it always have to be this way? He felt an ache in his heart as he remembered just how much Jason had meant to him. Tears started to fall down his face, and this is how Carly found him a few minutes later.

"Sonny?" She whispered to him, knowing he was thinking of Jason, "It wasn't your fault Sonny...............he was going to hurt both me and you..........."

Sonny slowly opened his eyes, looking at the angel sitting in his lap. How did she always know what he was thinking? "He was my best friend, Carly..................I killed my best friend."

"Sonny Corinthos," she said sternly, pulling his face closer to hers, "Why do you always insist on blaming yourself for everything? What you did today was self-defense. He was going to slice your beautiful neck open. You were protecting yourself and me, cause he surely would've come after me again."

"But Carly, Jason............."

"That wasn't Jason, Sonny. That was someone else. Someone I didn't even know. You don't even want to know the horrible things he said to me before you came. He was bitter and he was under Helena's spell. Couldn't you see it?"

"Yeah...............still........."

"I know Sonny, it's okay." She pulled his head to her chest, and he sobbed it all out. She stroked his hair and his back, and murmured reassurances to him until finally he stopped crying. He pulled back and looked at her.

"You're so good for me, Carly"

"I know..........that's why you love me so much!" She said, trying to lighten his mood. "Come on in here and sit at the table........let me look at that cut."

He followed her and sat at the table, taking off his shirt while she went to get the first aid kit. She came back, and her breath caught in her throat as she caught sight of his naked chest. She walked on and kneeled in front of him. She began tending to his neck, slowly cleaning it, and bandaging it. Sonny watched her while she worked and thought just how gorgeous and special she was. When she finished, she looked up at him, only to see his eyes dark with passion. They stared for what seemed like an eternity, then Sonny lowered his lips to meet hers.

"You are so amazing," he whispered into her mouth.

"Oh yeah, why is that?" she smiled.

"You were kidnapped and held hostage, and probably beat around.............yet here you are taking care of me."

"That's cause I love you, baby." She whispered, tears forming in her eyes. "What do you think of that?"

"I think..............I think I'm the luckiest man alive, to have you to come home to every night. You take my breath away." With that, he scooped her up and carried her upstairs, to thier bedroom, in their home, to make love to his woman, who was home...............finally home.

**********************************************

LATER THAT NIGHT

Sonny and Carly lay in their bed, limbs entwined, sheets rumpled, their hands linked.

"Sonny........."

"Hmmm?" His thumb ran over her hand.

"There's something I have to tell you." She bit her lip, hoping this would turn out okay.

"What is it babe?"

"Well.........I think.........what I mean is............there's a chance I might be pregnant." She held her breath waiting for his response.

"What?" He asked, not quite sure if he'd heard her right.

"I might be pregnant."

"Are you sure?"

"Well, I'm going to go get a test done tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure. I'm really late, and I've been getting sick in the mornings just like I did..............last time." Her last words brought their baby boy to mind. The baby they'd lost and grieved for together. "What do you think Sonny.......honestly?"

"Honestly...........I'm scared."

"Because of our baby boy?"

"Yeah........what if we are cursed Carly?"

"I don't think we are Sonny. If I'm pregnant, I'm going to do everything right this time. I'm going to protect this baby with my life. I promise you that."

"I know sweetie, I know. You'll love our baby, and so will I. It's just scary. Whatever happens, we'll face it together. You and me against the world." He kissed the top of her head, and Carly drifted off to sleep. Sonny stayed awake.........worrying.