"Alexis please open your eyes." Sonny begged taking her hand in his and using his other hand to stroke her cheek. Kasey watched them both from Johnny's arms silently. Finally Alexis' eyes opened and Sonny felt his heart begin to beat again. "Thank god," he whispered.
"Sonny?"
"Hey beautiful," he greeted her grinning from ear to ear.
"What happened?"
"You passed out," he told her obviously still concerned. "I need you to put your arms around my neck, I'm going to pick you up and take you to the hospital."
"No." There was a panic in her voice that scared him.
"Alexis you're not well, you need to see a doctor." He said in what he hoped was a calm soothing voice.
"I can't," she answered not looking him in the eye.
"Why not?"
"I just can't, trust me."
"Alexis I trust you with my life, but you need medical attention."
"I can't go to the hospital." Her tone left no room for argument and so he decided to concede.
"Fine I'll bring a doctor here."
"You can't."
"Why the hell not?" He yelled frustrated by her stubborn refusals.
"Because any doctor would have to report a gunshot wound." She told him in little more than a whisper not wanting Kasey to hear.
"You've been shot?" The blood drained from Sonny's face and he felt a terror wash over him. She had been shot. The woman he loved.
"It's okay Sonny it's not that bad." She assured him quickly.
"Mommy?" Alexis looked up and smiled at the sound of her daughter's voice.
"Hi baby, I'm sorry did I scare you?" Kasey nodded solemnly. "I'm fine sweetie," she assured her.
"I huwt Mommy?" She asked.
"No baby, not at all. Come here." Johnny gently handed Kasey to Sonny who was sitting on the edge of the sofa.
"Have you been having fun with Daddy?" Alexis asked wanting to reassure her daughter that everything was fine.
"Yes, we go to pawk."
"Sounds like fun..." Alexis looked around and noticed her surroundings for the first time. "Sonny what did you do, knock over a Petals and Pots? There must be a thousand gardenias in here."
"One thousand ninety six " He agreed wondering if the number would have any meaning to her.
"One thoudand ninety six" she repeated softly. Alexis couldn't believe it. He toohad been counting the days?
"Um, you know what would make Mommy feel better?" Sonny asked, his daughter. "A piece of cake. Why don't you and Johnny go pick a piece and then you can bring it upstairs to her, okay."
"You stay?" Kasey asked Alexis. It broke her heart that her daughter was worried that she would disappear if she left her sight. She would somehow restore her daughter's trust.
"I promise I'm not going anywhere," she told her.
"Oh and Johnny, take your time picking out the perfect piece."
"Sure thing boss," he replied taking Kasey into the kitchen.
"I need you to put your arms around my neck," Sonny said as soon as they were alone. She did though he noticed she was really only holding on with her left, her right was barely raised. He carefully picked her up and carried her up the stairs. Suddenly his mind flashed back to the last time he had done so. The night their daughter had been conceived. Going straight to his door he walked into the room and laid her on the bed. He began to undo the buttons on her shirt.
"Sonny?"
"I need to see." He needed to see the wound in order to help her, they both knew that but for Sonny it was something more. He needed to see, to know what she had gone through, the things she wouldn't or couldn't tell him. Easing the shirt from her shoulders he saw her wince. "Did I hurt you?" He asked stopping all movement at once.
"No." It was a whisper but as Sonny again moved the shirt he realized it was the truth. The wince had not been of pain but of anticipation. She knew what he would look like when he saw her and she turned her face, not wanting to see his pity. Sonny eased the shirt from her body never wavering in his movements. He hated the shame in her eyes and knew she did not want him to see her like this. Focusing his attention on the wound just below her right shoulder he tried to put the other marks out of his mind. If he actually thought about them, about what had caused them he would kill someone. There were actually two wounds, an entrance and exit. Sonny silently thanked god. He didn't think he would have been able to remove the bullet if it was still in the arm. He couldn't bear to hurt her, even to help her.
"I'll be right back," he told her going to grab the first aid kit. Taking out some supplies he began to clean the wound. She winced slightly and he drew back his hand at once.
"Sonny..." She waited until he looked at her. "It's okay." He began to work again being as gently as he could. Finally he finished washing and wrapping the wound just as there was a knock at the door.
"Just a minute," Sonny called. He grabbed a pajama top from his drawer and helped her put it on. Come in he called and Johnny opened the door. Kasey was standing at his side, he was holding a tray which held a cup of tea, several scones and of course a piece of cake.
"Thanks Johnny, for everything."
"Sure boss," he replied before setting down the tray and leaving Sonny alone with his family.
"Come on sweetie," Sonny said grabbing Kasey and putting her in the bed beside Alexis and then sitting down beside her.
"Hungry?" He asked Alexis.
"Not really but the tea will be nice."
"I hungwy Daddy," Kasey said a small pout on her lips.
"Well I think I have just the thing for you," he said taking the piece of cake off the tray and placing it in front of her.
"Sonny she can't have cake for supper," Alexis admonished.
"I'm not a complete pushover." He denied though when it came to their daughter they both knew that's exactly what he was. "She already had supper while we were waiting for you."
"Oh sorry."
"No problem."
"Mommy look this is Popcorn," Kasey said holding up her tiny hedgehog.
"Wow, he's pretty impressive," she stated trying not to laugh.
"How can you tell she's your daughter? What did you do wean her directly onto popcorn?" he asked not bothering to hide his laughter. Kasey looked up from on parent to the other, she didn't understand why they were laughing but her Mommy and Daddy were together and they were happy and she was eating pink cake in bed. Yes for Karina Davis Corinthos the world was pretty much perfect. She soon fell asleep worn out from the day's excitement. Alexis looked down at her daughter, snuggled against her Daddy, Popcorn in her arms and she felt the tear run down her cheek.
"Alexis?" Sonny whispered.
"I'm okay, just happy to be home."
"We need to talk about what happened," he began.
"No we don't."
"Alexis I understand it's hard but I need to know if Helena did this to you. I need to protect you, and our daughter."
"Helena won't hurt Karina," she told him.
"You don't know that Alexis, I mean she's capable of anything."
"No Sonny she's not." Her voice was cold, distant as though it was not hers at all. "Helena can't hurt anyone anymore, never again."