Chapter 82
Luke’s was packed and the house was rocking for the grand opening and Brenda’s party. Even Edward Quartermaine had to admit that it may very well be the party of the decade. Every one was having a great time, everyone that is except Brenda. The party had been going on for over an hour and she still had seen
Sonny. He had made it seem as if this party was the most important thing in his life, she couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t show up. Stone was wondering around looking for Robin, when Brenda grabbed him and pulled him to a quiet corner of the club. She has her hair pulled up in a twist and she is wearing a long ice blue silk dress and silver sandals. In her hair she has several miniature blue roses that are tipped in silver. They are small versions of a bouquet of 12 blue and silver roses that Sonny had sent to the house before she left for the party.
Brenda: Please tell me you have seen Sonny or heard from him.
Stone: Not since this afternoon.
Brenda: I’m worried Stone, something must have happened to him.
Stone: I’m sure he’s fine Brenda.
Brenda: Than he just doesn’t want to be here, to celebrate my birthday?
Stone: No, that’s not what I meant. Of course he wants to be here. He knows how much tonight means to you, Brenda.
Brenda: Yeah, tonight was supposed to be special and yet he isn’t here. I’m here alone having to fend off half the guys in town who keep looking at me like I’m a big juicy steak and it’s feeding time at the zoo!
Stone: Sonny will be here.
Brenda: I hope he gets here soon, because I don’t like the way that Jax is looking at me. I still don’t know what this surprise gift his that he has in store for tonight. I only hope that it doesn’t involve a airplane trip.
Stone: Don’t worry, my present to you is a parachute.
Brenda: Cute, Stone, really cute.
She look to the door, hoping that Sonny will walk through it and save her from this social nightmare
Robin walks up to the bar, which is being tended by Luke.
Luke: Hi there sweetie pie, what can I get you?
Robin: I guess champagne is out of the question?
Luke: Normally I wouldn’t care, but tonight the place is crawling with cops and police commissioners and other law enforcement types. I think that you had better stick with this.
He pours something from a bottle that looks like champagne.
Robin: What is it?
Luke: It’s sparkling grape juice, but it look just like the real stuff.
Robin: Can I have two glasses?
Luke: Two?
Robin: I’m real thirsty.
Luke: What ever you want, darlen.
Robin: Thanks Luke.
Robin takes off to find Brenda and Stone. She sees them across the room, she also sees Jax headed towards them from the other direction.
Jax: Happy birthday Brender.
Brenda: Thank you Jax, but you already wished me a happy birthday this morning.
Jax: You’re right, but you can’t get too many birthday wishes, especially on such an important day.
Brenda: I guess.
Jax: Where’s your champagne? We can’t have the birthday girl empty handed.
All night Brenda was having to get rid of champagne by dumping it in plants and leaving it places. Only three people in the room knew that she was pregnant, herself, Robin and Lois. It was going to be very hard to hide it from other people. A waiter passes and Jax takes a glass of a tray and hands it to Brenda. She smiles, but doesn’t drink it.
Jax: Would you care to dance, Brender?
Brenda: I’m a little tried right now, maybe later.
Her eyes drift back to the door, that Sonny isn’t walking through. Jax sees that she is preoccupied and wonders off to find Ned, the only friend he has at the whole party. Robin walks up to Brenda.
Robin: Still no sign of Sonny?
Brenda: No, I guess I’m not that important. He has other things to do.
Robin: Brenda, that isn’t true.
Brenda: Then where is he? I’m supposed to raise a child with him, and he can’t even show up to my birthday party. What about when he misses our baby’s first birthday or her 16th or whatever?
Robin: Are you still worried about Sonny accepting this baby? I thought that you had decided that he needs to know about it as soon as possible. Have you changed your mind?
Brenda: I don’t know, some times I think that we can be a happy family and then he pulls something like this and I wonder what his true feelings are for me. He knew tonight was important to me. I wanted to spend it with him, dancing with him and celebrating with him. It makes me wonder if he threw this party for me because he loves me or so that he could get out of spending the evening with me.
Robin: Brenda, how can you even think that way?
Brenda: I don’t know, maybe he figures that if he threw me a big enough party I wouldn’t notice that he wasn’t here!
Robin: I’m sorry.
Brenda: It’s not your fault, I guess it’s mine for falling in love with a man like Sonny. What I really wish is that people would stop trying to get me to drink champagne!
She pours the liquid into a plant behind her. This does not go unnoticed by Luke.
Robin: Here drink this.
She hands Brenda a glass of the grape juice.
Brenda: Not you too!
Robin: It’s grape juice.
Brenda: Thanks.
Laura has just walked up to the bar.
Luke: Did you see what Brenda just did?
Laura: No, what did she do.
Luke: She just poured a glass of the clubs best champagne into a plant. She’s been doing it all night. Now why do you suppose that she would be doing that?
Laura: Maybe she wants to keep a clear head?
Luke: I don’t think so. Robin just gave her a glass of grape juice.
Laura: That reminds me, can you fill mine up?
Luke: That’s it, there is only one reason why Brenda would be avoiding alcohol, either she is carrying a child or nursing one.
Laura: That’s two reasons. Why don’t you just ask her? Here she comes.
Brenda walks over to the bar.
Brenda: Hi Laura!
Laura: Hi Brenda, are you having a good time?
Brenda: Yeah, the club is great. The only thing missing is Sonny.
Laura: I’m going to go check on Lucky.
Once Laura is gone.
Brenda: Luke, did Sonny give you any indication of where he was going?
Luke: I’m not even sure he knew, but he did plan on being back here tonight.
Brenda: Yeah right!
Luke: He loves you Brenda and the last thing that he would want to do is anything to disappoint you.
Brenda: he has a strange way of showing that.
Luke: What about the ring that he gave you?
Brenda: He told you about it?
Luke: he was beaming from ear to ear. Let me refill you’re drink.
Luke starts filing her glass.
Brenda: No, Luke it’s fine I’ve already had all I can drink.
Luke: Don’t worry darlen, it’s grape juice. There is no way I’m wasting more champagne a pregnant woman!
Brenda: How did you figure it out?
Luke: Well, for one thing I’ve been watching you water the plants all night.
Brenda: Can I ask you a really big favor?
Luke: The worst that can happen is that I’ll say,”No.”
Brenda: Can I ask you not to tell Sonny about the baby?
Luke: I really think that you should be the one to tell him.
Brenda: I will tell him, eventually.
Luke: Don’t wait to long. Sonny wants to protect you and to do that he needs to be able to see the whole picture.
Brenda nods her head in understanding.
Sonny could hear the sounds of the party from his apartment above the club. He stood in front of a full length mirror and finished adjusting his tie. His hair was still wet and curly from the quick shower he had taken. He looked calm and collected, nobody would ever guess that he had just spent the afternoon being given a personal evaluation by one of the most notorious crime lords ever to hit the east coast. Sonny had passed the evaluation with flying colors. Frank Smith, Sonny’s boss, approved completely with Sonny’s plan for handling Hernando Rivera, the latest threat to Franks east coast territories. Frank had Sonny in the hot seat all afternoon, until he finally let him go just in time for Sonny to rush back to Port Charles before the end of the party. Sonny knew that the interrogation that Frank Smith put him through was nothing compared to what Brenda was liable to do to him for missing the first 2 hours of her party. She deserved to be angry at him, after all he had promised that this birthday would be different from the last 20 that she had in her life. This one was going to be special, she wasn’t going to be alone. Then Frank Smith demanded that Sonny meet with him, and regardless of how much Sonny hated the man, he still worked for him. Sonny made one last check in the mirror and grabbed a bunch of white orchids off of the bed. They were Brenda’s favorite flowers, he had them flown in from Puerto Rico especially for her. He hoped that it would partially make up for his not being there for the start of the party. He took one last look at the bed and thought about how he would rather be in it with Brenda, then he headed down the back steps to the club.
Brenda is standing outside the club looking up at the stars when Sonny comes down the steps. With the moonlight softly lighting her face and reflecting off of her hair, she looks absolutely breath taking. He almost doesn’t want to interrupt her, but he can’t help himself, he has to touch her to make sure that she is real. Brenda feels Sonny even before he reaches the bottom step and a smile appears on her face. He steps up behind her and places his lips on the nape of her neck and feels her body quiver, as he wraps his arms around her waist tightly.
Brenda: *Teasing* I told you, not in public, Jax.
Sonny turns her around until they are face to face and leans in and kisses her passionately.
Sonny: *Pulling away* Is that really what Jax feels like?
Brenda: *Kissing him again.* Not even close. You’re late!
Sonny: I’m sorry. I brought you these.
He hands her the orchids and she smiles.
Brenda: My favorite, did you go to Puerto Rico?
Sonny: No, I had them flown in for you.
Brenda: You already gave me the blue and silver roses.
Sonny; Those were for everybody else to see, these are just for you and me.
He pulls back to look at her and lets out a breath.
Sonny: I had no idea.
Brenda: *Looking puzzled.* You had no idea about what?
Sonny: That you were the goddess of the moon, you look mythically beautiful.
Brenda: You bought the dress, and sent the flowers.
Sonny: But the rest is all beautiful you.
He pulls her to him again and gives her a deeper, more intense kiss. Minutes later they break apart, both out of breath. He holds her in his arms and they both stare up at the stars. Sonny gets a puzzled look on his face.
Sonny: Brenda, baby, have you been drinking grape juice?
Brenda: Yes.
Sonny: Why?
Brenda: Well, Robin was drinking it and I didn’t want her to feel alone.
Sonny: It’s you 21rst birthday you should be drinking champagne. Not just any champagne, only the finest will do for my baby!
Brenda: Later, I just want you to hold me.
Sonny: What’s wrong baby, aren’t you having a good time at your party?
Brenda: Now that you’re here I am, but Sonny I didn’t think that you were coming.
Her eyes start to fill with tears.
Inside the club, Luke is looking around for Brenda.
Luke: Now where did the birthday girl go?
Robin: She was here a minute ago.
Luke: Well, I can’t wait for her to show up. I have to introduce All 4 One.
Outside, Brenda still has tears in her eyes.
Sonny: I’m sorry, I never wanted to hurt you. I love you Brenda and I got back here as soon as I could.
Brenda: I thought you didn’t want to be with me tonight.
Sonny: Nothing could be farther from the truth. There is nowhere that I would rather be tonight than right here celebrating your birthday and the opening of Luke’s.
Brenda: Really?
Sonny: Well , there is actually someplace I’d rather be.
Brenda: I knew it. Don’t spare my feelings, just tell me where you would rather be and with whom?
Sonny: Upstairs with you, making love.
All 4 One starts to sing, “I Can Love You Like That.”
Sonny: That will wait for later, for now though, may I have this dance?
Brenda: Out here?
Sonny: Why not? Just me the stars and the goddess of the moon.
He holds out his hands to her.
Brenda: When you put it like that, how can I refuse?
She takes his hands and he pulls her into his arms and holds her tightly as they dance beneath the stars.
Brenda: Sonny, you were right, this is the best birthday ever.
Sonny: This is only the beginning, Brenda.
She leans her head on his shoulder and all the problems of the world melt away.
Chapter 84
The party was still going strong when Sonny and Brenda made there way to the back stairs leading to Sonny’s apartment. The night had been a huge success, but they had both had more than their share of socializing. After All 4 One’s first song, Sonny and Brenda had gone inside the club. The band had played several other songs before Jax had sprung his present on the group. It turned out that Jax was good friends with the singer Prince and Jax had remembered Brenda asking Sonny to try and get Prince to come to her party. Wanting to upstage Sonny, who had booked All 4 One, Jax convinced Prince to come and play a few sets for Brenda. Brenda was estatic, which made Sonny a little jealous, but it was her birthday and so he remained good natured about the whole thing. Even when Jax insisted on dancing with Brenda to the song, “The Most Beautiful Girl.” Prince hadn’t been the only surprise guest, both Damian Smith and Hernando Rivera showed up and both were quietly escorted out. Before his removal, Rivera made a not so veiled threat against both Sonny and Luke. Sonny and Brenda stop at the bottom of the stairs.
Sonny: Did you have a happy birthday, sweetheart?
Brenda: I did after you got here.
Sonny: I’m sorry about that.
Brenda: Sonny, where were you?
Sonny: *Ignoring her question.* I know what we forgot, champagne!
Brenda: Sonny, your avoiding my question. I was worried sick about you, then I thought that you just didn’t want to spend tonight with me.
Sonny: Nothing could have been farther from the truth. I can’t think of anyplace I would rather be.
Brenda: Do you mean that?
Sonny: Of course I do. That was nice of Jax to get Prince to come sing for you.
Brenda: Yeah, I guess.
Sonny: I wish I could have done something really great like that for you.
Brenda: Sonny, you’re the best present I could have gotten. Next to having you here with me, all else tonight pales.
Sonny: Yeah, but you have to admit that diamond pin the Q’s gave you was pretty nice.
Brenda: It’s expense, but kind of ugly.
Sonny: You said it, not me.
They both laugh.
Sonny: Have I told you how beautiful you look?
Brenda: I could stand to hear it again.
Sonny: You look so beautiful, you take my breath away, baby. I have wanted you all night, do you know what I mean?
Brenda: *Smiling* Yeah, I think I do.
He leans close to her and starts to kiss her neck. He sends a surge of pleasure through her whole body.
Brenda: Sonny, why are we still down here?
Sonny: I have no idea!
He scoops her up in his arms and starts kissing her as he carries her up the stairs. They make up the first few steps when Brenda starts to panic, what if he drops her and hurts the baby?
Brenda: Sonny, put me down! Please put me down, now.
Sonny is bewildered by her sudden outburst, but he quickly sets her down on the stairs. She is still in his arms when she starts to cry.
Sonny: Brenda, sweetheart, what’s the matter?
He wipes tears from her cheeks.
Brenda: I just was afraid that you might drop me.
Sonny: Sweetheart, have I ever dropped you?
Brenda: No, it’s just.
Sonny: Baby, I would never do anything to hurt you.
Brenda starts to pull out of Sonny’s arms.
Brenda: I have to go
Brenda pulls out of his embrace and runs up the stairs. Sonny looks after her, confused. He gets up and follows her. Joseph opens the door and Brenda runs in. Sonny stops in the kitchen and grabs a bottle of aspirin. He notices that the light is blinking on the answering machine. He ignores it and follows her to the bedroom. She is standing with her back to him. He goes to her and wraps his arms around her waist. Tears are flowing down her cheeks. He starts to kiss the back of her neck. A smile spreads across her face.
Sonny: I want you so much.
Brenda: Make love to me.
She turns around in his arms until she is facing him. Their lips join and they share a passionate kiss that doesn’t show any sings of ending. They back up until the back of Brenda’s legs touch the side of the bed, still continuing to kiss, Sonny lowers her gently onto the bed. He slips off her dress and she undoes the buttons on his shirt and slides it off his body. They kiss and make love, until they fall asleep in each others arms.
Chapter 85
Several hours later, Sonny wakes up to find Brenda sobbing. He reaches over and turns on the light, and reaches over to touch her shoulder. She pulls away from him, and sits up and puts on her robe.
Sonny: What’s wrong, baby?
Brenda: It’s nothing, I’m very tired and I can’t sleep.
Sonny: You’ve been crying. Please, tell me what’s bothering you?
Brenda: I’m just tired. It has been a long day.
Sonny: Have I done something to upset you?
Brenda: I told you I’m tired.
Sonny: It has to be more that , talk to me. When I left you this morning you were waiting for the results of a test. Is that what this is about?
She starts to cry harder.
Brenda: Yes!
Sonny: If there is a problem, something to do with your health I want to know. I need to know.
Brenda: *Sobbing* Not tonight, please I don’t want to talk about it tonight.
He turns her around until she is facing him. He sees fear in her eyes, fear that he is afraid is caused by him.
fear that he will reject her, but why?
Sonny: Brenda, are you afraid of me?
Brenda: No, never.
Sonny: You are afraid of something though?
Brenda: Yes.
Sonny: What are you afraid of, Brenda?
Brenda: *She lies, by saying the first thing that comes into her head* Rivera. He was there tonight at the club, wasn’t he?
Sonny: Yes, he was. He won’t hurt you Brenda, I won’t let Rivera touch you. I’ll do anything to protect you.
Brenda: Is that why you are sending me away?
Sonny: *Lying* I’m not sending you away.
Brenda: You gave me an all expense paid trip to New York. That feels like you are sending me away.
Sonny: I want you to be safe, and I thought that you would like to spend some time with Lois and Robin.
Brenda: I want to be here with you.
Sonny; You can’t help me, let me take care of this and I promise that we won’t ever be apart again.
Brenda: What choice do I have?
Sonny: You always have a choice, Brenda. You can walk away from us or I can walk away.
Brenda: You mean end it between us.
Sonny: It would be the safest thing to do.
Brenda: It’s to late for that Sonny.
He reaches over to the night stand and picks up a glass of water and takes five aspirin.
Brenda: Is your head still bothering you?
Sonny: Only sometimes.
Brenda: Like when I’m being stubborn?
Sonny: No, mainly at night. I don’t mind you being stubborn, that is one of the things that I love about you. You are strong willed and you fight me, your my equal, Brenda.
Brenda: You still think your right, though.
Sonny; This time I know that I’m right.
Brenda: Okay, I’ll go to New York with Robin and I’ll spend time with Lois.
Sonny: Good, now I want to know what that test was about, I want to know what has you so scared?
Brenda: Not tonight, please. I want tonight to be perfect, I can’t stand the thought of anything ruining it.
Sonny: I almost did ruin it though, didn’t I?
Brenda: I was frightened when I didn’t know where you were.
Sonny; I didn’t mean to scare you.
He was right she was scared, she didn’t want to loose him. She was afraid that if he found out she was pregnant he might think that she did it on purpose to trap him.
Sonny: You know that you can tell me anything, right?
Brenda: I know that, there is something I need to talk to you about.
Sonny turns to her and pulls her closer to him, which she doesn’t resist.
Sonny: Lets talk.
Tears start to form in her eyes, he seems so sincere and so loving that she almost tells him. She opens her mouth to talk, but she looks into his eyes and sees so much trust that her fears stop her. The words don’t come out. She doesn’t understand her mixed up feelings. One moment she wants to tell him and the next moment she is to afraid to say the words and the next moment all she wants to do is make love to him and loose herself in his kiss and touch. Her silence is worrying him.
Sonny: Brenda, I wish that you would say something. Your frightening me, baby.
She takes his hands in hers and looks into his eyes.
Brenda: I love you, Sonny.
Sonny: I love you too.
Brenda: You know that I would never expect you to do something that you didn’t feel in you heart was right? I would never expect you to do something or except something just because some code of ethics ,written in the Victorian age, says that you should.
Sonny: Of course not, and I would never make you do anything that you didn’t feel was right either. Brenda, have I hurt you in some way?
Brenda: No, that’s not it at all. This is just hard for me to say.
Brenda feels a wave a nausea engulf her.
Brenda: I can’t do this!
She rushes from the room and into the bathroom, slamming the bathroom door behind her. She turns on the shower, so that he can’t here her throwing up. She sits on the cold tile floor and waits for the sick feeling to pass. Tears start to fill her eyes and spill out onto her cheeks. Sonny goes to the bathroom and finds the door locked. He hears water running, but calls out her name anyway. He can feel her on the other side, she is scared and confused, he can feel it. When he doesn’t get an answer he leans against the door. Her behavior confuses him, but more importantly it scares him half to death. He can stand the thought of loosing territory, power, even respect, but he can’t even imagine ever loosing Brenda. He leans against the door and slowly sinks to the floor in despair.
Sonny: Please don’t shut me out, Brenda.
Chapter 86
Another wave of Nausea overwhelms Brenda.
Brenda: On top of everything else, I don’t need this.
She reaches into a drawer and pulls out a cellular phone that Sonny has hidden away for emergencies.
Brenda: This is definitely and emergency!
She dials the number for the Port Charles Hotel, where Lois is staying. Ned answers the phone.
Ned: Hello?
Brenda: Hi, Ned, can I please speak to Lois?
Ned: Sure, she is right here. Is everything all right?
Brenda: It’s just girl talk.
Ned hands the phone to Lois.
Lois: What’s wrong, Bren?
Brenda: You know that little problem that I told you I was having?
Lois: I don’t think of it as a problem, more like a blessing.
Brenda: Yeah, well it’s not happening to you, is it?
Lois: No, I guess not. Have you told Sonny yet?
Brenda: I tried, but I can’t.
Lois: You have to, he needs to know.
Brenda: I tried to tell him, but then I got scared and now I’m sick!
Lois: That happens, where are you?
Brenda: Locked in the bathroom of the apartment. What do I do?
Lois: Tell Sonny!
Brenda: No, about the morning sickness?
Lois: Ride it out, I guess. I have heard that crackers help, or mint tea.
Brenda: Thanks, for nothing. I just wish it would all go away.
Lois: Brenda, tell me that you don’t mean that.
Brenda: I don’t really, I’m just confused and scared.
Lois: I know you are sweetie, but you don’t have to go through this alone. Do you want me to come over there?
Brenda: No, I guess not. I’m feeling better, I guess I just needed some one to talk to and kind of air my feelings out.
Lois: No problem, now you can go out there and tell Sonny.
Brenda: Lo, I can’t tell him, I just can’t.
Lois: You can’t keep it from him.
Brenda: I will tell him, just not tonight, I’m too tired tonight.
Lois: I can’t make you tell him, even though I really think you should.
Brenda: Thanks Lo, your the best. So, Ned is with you?
Lois: Yes, Eddie is staying the night.
Brenda: Isn’t he afraid that the Q’s will wonder where he is?
Lois: Are you worried about the Q’s knowing that your spending the night with Sonny?
Brenda: *Smiling* I guess some things are worth a Quartermaine grilling.
Lois: Yeah, some things are worth just about anything, love is one of those things.
Brenda: Well, don’t stay up too late. We have a long day tomorrow.
Lois: Are you going to feel up to flying to New York in the morning?
Brenda: I wouldn’t miss it.
Lois: Are you going to be all right?
Brenda: *Weary* Yeah, I’ll be fine.
Lois: Leave the bathroom, Bren, before you worry Sonny to death.
Brenda: I’m going now, get some rest.
Lois: You too, see ya in the morning.
Brenda hangs up the phone and sighs.
Sonny is siting on the bed with his eyes focused on the door. In the bathroom, Brenda brushes her teeth and rinses with mouth wash to get the vile taste out of her mouth. She opens the door and sees Sonny sitting on the edge of the bed.
Sonny: Brenda, something is really wrong here. I need to know what’s wrong with you.
Brenda sits on the edge of the bed.
Brenda: You’re right I have learned something that could change our lives, or mine at least.
Sonny: Please tell me what it is.
Brenda: I will tell you, but you are going to have to give me time.
Sonny: How much time?
Brenda: I don’t know, but just know that I love you. Nothing has changed as far as that is concerned.
Sonny: I love you too, and I trust our love. Whatever this thing is, you don’t have to tell me about it tonight.
Here eyes start to fill with tears again.
Brenda: You are so good to me.
Sonny: Your the best thing that has ever come into my life, Brenda. When you’re ready to talk, we’ll talk.
Brenda: Can you just hold me, tonight?
Sonny: That I can do, tonight and every night for the rest of our lives.
He wraps his arms around her and holds her tightly against his chest until he hears her breathings grow steady as she drifts off to sleep.
Chapter 86
The next morning, Brenda wakes up to find that Sonny is already gone. On a tray beside the bed is a vase with a single red rose, a plate of sliced fruit and several fresh baked muffins. There is also a note from Sonny.
Note: Good morning sweetheart. I had to leave early for a meeting at the Spencer’s. You were still asleep when I left, but I knew you would need to eat and I didn’t want you to be rummaging around in my kitchen. I hope that I get a chance to see you before you leave for New York, don’t forget you still owe me a heart to heart talk. Love you, baby.
Brenda put the note down and picked up one of the muffins. They were delicious, she had expected no less. She ate some of the fruit and then went to shower.
Sonny paced around the living room of the Spencer house, unable to be calm until Luke emerged from the kitchen with Jason Quartermaine in tow.
Jason: Tell me again, why we are meeting here and not at the club?
Sonny: It is safer for you not to be seen at the club. I’m sure Rivera has someone watching there, but we should be safe here for the time being.
Luke: Did anyone follow you, junior?
Jason: I really wouldn’t know if someone was following me. I did what Sonny said to do. I left the house this morning and went to class as usual. Half way through anatomy, I ducked out the back door and came straight here. I’m missing the lecture on the pancreas, so this had better be good.
Sonny: I’ll have one of my guys get you the notes from class, but I think this meeting will be more interesting than any anatomy lecture, even one on the pancreas.
Jason: Rivera was at the club last night, wasn’t he?
Sonny: Yes he was.
Jason: I knew it. Does he know that I saw him?
Sonny: Probably not, you’re our secret weapon for now, but he is going to make a move soon and I just wanted to give you fair warning.
Jason: You and Luke have a plan to take him down, right?
Luke: We’re working on one.
Jason: I want in on it.
Luke gives Sonny a worried look.
Luke: Look, Jason, you wouldn’t see Sonny and I asking to sit in on one of your premed classes.
Jason: Of course not, you would be in over your head.
Luke: My point exactly, so why don’t you stick to what you know and let us handle the rest?
Jason: Because Rivera’s plan concerns me and my family. He is not just threatening your new club, or Sonny’s territory, he is after my family and ELQ. The two of you have a plan that will protect your families and your business and you just want me to sit back and act passive while Rivera consumes my family and my business?
Sonny: That was why I called you here, so that you would at least know what was going on. You are going to have to trust Luke and me to protect your interests.
Jason: Why should I trust you?
Sonny: You are just going to have to do it.
Jason: Why would you help me, what do you get out of it?
Luke: Spoken like a true Quartermaine.
Jason: It’s the way the world works, nobody does anything without expecting to get something in return.
Sonny: That’s not the way my world works. In my world, you do things for people because they are your friends. I like you Jason, you are one of the few Quartermaines that didn’t slam the door in my face just because of who I am. You thought enough of me to ask for my business advice and you’ve helped me out in the past by giving me information on Damian Smith and Jasper Jax,, you’re also Brenda’s friend. In my world, those are reasons enough for me to help you now.
Jason: I think that I could grow to like your world.
Sonny: I don’t think that I would want you to do that.
Jason: Why not?
Sonny: I don’t think that you would survive for very long.
Jason: I want to try, Sonny I want an active part in taking down Rivera.
Sonny looks to Luke, for help.
Luke: It’s your call, my friend.
Jason: If you don’t let me in on your plan, I’m going to find my own way to get to Rivera.
Sonny: Okay, you can join us, but you have to do as we say.
Jason: *Eagerly* No problem.
Sonny: If you ever have any doubts or things get too heavy for you, tell Luke or myself right away.
Jason: I got it. What do I do now?
Sonny: Go back to class and wait.
Jason: What?
Sonny: We have to wait for Rivera to make a move. The best thing for you to do is act as if nothing has changed.
Luke *Ushering him out the door* We’ll be in touch.
A bewildered Jason leaves the house.
Sonny: Please tell me that I didn’t just make a huge mistake.
Luke: I wish that I could.
Sonny: What could I do? The kid was threatening to go off on his own.
Luke: Do you really think he would have tried to take on Rivera?
Sonny: Who knows. I do know that he wouldn’t have lasted one round if he had gone up against Rivera. The old man would have eaten him for lunch and then washed it down with a glass of rum. At least this way we can keep an eye on Jason.
Luke: You really care what happens to him?
Sonny: That surprises you?
Luke: He’s a Quartermaine.
Sonny: Like I said earlier, he treated me with respect when the rest of the family was frowning at me and slamming doors in my face and he has helped me out a time or two. He can’t help that he was born into the Quartermaine mansion.
Luke: It was born into to the Quartermaine mansion. I don’t really think that this is a secret, if it is the whole town is in on it, Jason was the product of an affair between Allan Quartermaine and Susan Moore.
Sonny: I didn’t know about that. How did the Q’s end up with him, what happened to him mother?
Luke: Somebody knocked her off and Allan ended up raising Jason. That’s how he ended up a Quartermaine.
Sonny: I knew that there was something different about Jason. He is a Q in name but not in spirit.
Luke: If you say so.
Sonny: Was there anything else that we needed to discus?
Luke: Actually, we never got a chance to talk about your trip to see Frank. You arrived late for the party and left early, and between that time Damian Smith and Rivera showed up.
Sonny: Sorry about skipping out on you, but I wanted to spend some time alone with Brenda.
Luke: I understand completely. Did you two get a chance to talk?
Sonny: Not really, something is bothering her only she won’t talk about it. I think that she might be angry at me for missing most of the party. Also, she won’t talk about the kidnapping and she found out something from a doctor that she won’t share with me. All and all, I would say that our lines of communication have closed down. She is building a wall around herself and I’m not sure how to get around it.
Luke: You can’t,” get around it,” You got to tear it down piece by piece.
Sonny: Maybe this time apart will help.
Luke: Do you really believe that?
Sonny: Naw, I’ll miss her like crazy while she is in New York. I miss her right now and she hasn’t even left yet. At least she’ll be safe and out of this Rivera mess.
Luke: Yeah, that is the important thing. I sent Laura and LuLu and Lucky away this morning. It was the hardest thing I have had to do in a long time. Lucky didn’t want to go, but I convinced him that I needed him to look after his mom and baby sister.
Sonny: Some times I don’t know how you do it?
Luke: They make it all worth it.
Sonny: Yeah, I used to do everything for me, because I wanted it. Now, everything I do is for Brenda. I don’t know what I would do if I ever lost her. I can hardly stand being away from her even for a minute. We have to take care of Rivera fast. I have to make it safe for Brenda to come back.
Luke: Once Rivera is taken care of, that is the end of the threat for you, right?
Sonny: Pretty much, Brenda should be safe after Rivera is gone.
Luke: That won’t end it for me, my family won’t be safe until Frank Smith is in hell where he belongs.
Sonny: I wish I could help you, but he’s my boss. You know that I would do anything for you Luke, but I can’t kill Frank.
Luke: I know that you have to stay loyal to him. I’m not asking you to be the one to put the built in him, just tell me what you can about the meeting you had with him.
Sonny: There isn’t much to tell. I told him about Rivera and he gave me permission to use what ever means is necessary to take care of Rivera.
Luke: What can you tell me about the location?
Sonny: It was warm and I think we were on an island.
Luke: Do you know where you were?
Sonny: No, the plane didn’t have any windows.
Luke: That must have been hard, I know that you don’t like closed in places.
Sonny: It was almost intolerable, I kept my eyes closed the entire time. Lucky for me it was a short flight.
Luke: How short?
Sonny: Couple of hours at the most, that is about all I know.
Luke: That is better than nothing. Yet me ask you this, if you knew that I was going after frank Smith would you be under obligation to stop me?
Sonny: I wouldn’t want to.
Sonny’s cell phone rings.
Sonny: Hello?
Brenda: Hi.
Sonny: Hi beautiful. Where are you, at the apartment or have you left for the airport?
Brenda: I’m in New York. Ned let us take the ELQ jet, so we left earlier. We figured that way we could get in a few more hours of shopping. I hope you don’t mind.
Sonny: No, except that it means I don’t get to give you a proper goodbye.
Brenda: Oh, I’m sorry.
Sonny: I’ll survive. Are you feeling better today?
Brenda: Yes, there is much that shopping can’t cure. Did I tell you how wonderful last night was?
Sonny: Uhu.
Brenda: Breakfast was wonderful too.
Sonny: I’m glad that you enjoyed it. I think that you owe me a talk though.
Brenda: Yes I do, there is something that we need to talk about.
Sonny: I’m listening.
Brenda: It’s not something I want to talk about on the phone. We will talk though, as soon as I get back.
Sonny: I’ll hold you to that.
Brenda: When can I come back?
Sonny: Soon, I’m just not sure when. When you do come back, I’m never letting you go again.
Brenda: I’ll hold you to that.
Sonny: I’ll just hold you, forever.
Brenda: I love you.
Sonny: I love you too.
The each hang up and Sonny turns to Luke.
Sonny: I want Rivera, now!
Luke: I want the same thing.
Sonny: We have to get our families back, soon.
Chapter 87
Sonny paced the floor of the hospital waiting room. He couldn’t believe that he was here again, waiting for word on Brenda. Stone rushes in, with Robin in tow.
Stone: How’s Brenda?
Sonny: I don’t know, Allan won’t tell me a thing.
Robin: I came as soon as you called, Sonny.
Sonny: Robin, she was supposed to be in New York with you and Lois. She was supposed to be safe, what happened?
Robin: She missed you and insisted on coming back.
Sonny: This is all my fault. If Brenda dies it will all be my fault.
Robin hugs Sonny and they sit down on the waiting room couch.
Robin: She won’t die.
Sonny: I don’t know that for sure. I don’t anything, they won’t tell me anything. I don’t know if she is already dead.
Tears start to form in his eyes. Robin tightens her embrace and rubs his shoulder, trying to comfort him.
Stone: Robin, why don’t you go and see if they will tell you something about Brenda’s condition.
Robin: Good idea, Brenda is like a sister to me, I’m sure Allan will talk to me.
Robin goes to find Allan and Stone sits down beside Sonny.
Stone: What happened?
Sonny: I’m not sure, I wasn’t at the apartment. I guess that Rivera ordered a full force hit on me and got Brenda by mistake.
Stone: Brenda was at the apartment?
Sonny: Yeah, she was in the shower. She was shot in the shower, or shot at or something!
Stone: Why was she there?
Sonny: I don’t know, she was supposed to still be in New York. I guess she came back early and was waiting for me at the apartment. Only I wasn’t there because I knew that if Rivera did anything he would do it there. I should have known she was back and protected her.
Stone: How could you know?
Sonny: I should have been, that is all there is to it. If she dies I’ll never forgive myself!
Brenda opens her eyes and becomes instantly aware that ever part of her body stings. She recognizes her surroundings at once, she is in the hospital. Her eyes adjust to the light and she sees Ned siting in a chair beside her bed.
Ned: How do you feel?
Brenda: My skin stings.
Ned: You have a lot of tiny cuts all over your body, other than that you are fine.
A horrible thought crosses Brenda’s mind.
Brenda: What about the baby?
Ned: The baby is fine.
Brenda: You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?
Ned: Not about that, Dr. Anderson was in here earlier and he checked you over. You are very lucky Brenda.
Brenda: If you say so.
Brenda reaches up to her neck and gets a look of panic on her face.
Brenda: Where is my locket?
Ned: They took off all of your jewelry when they brought you into the emergency room. It is right over there with your other belongings.
Brenda: I was afraid that I had lost it. May I have it?
Ned walks over to a small box and finds a small gold locket in the shape of a heart. Sonny had given it to Brenda on Valentines Day. It had been there first date and he had taken her to the lookout tower, where they had watched the moonrise over Port Charles. It was not the most expensive gift that Sonny had ever given her, but it was the most precious. When he gave it to her he told her that he was giving her his heart and that she had better take care of it.
Ned: Your neck isn’t too cut up, so it shouldn’t hurt you to wear this.
He helps her latch the locket around her neck.
Brenda: Thank you, Ned.
Ned: Brenda, Can you remember what happened?
Brenda: I’m kind of tired, can we talk about that later?
Ned: Sure.
Brenda: Is Sonny all right?
Ned: Sonny is fine, as usual. After all that you have gone through, I can’t believe that you would still care about him.
Brenda: Does he know?
Ned: You mean about the baby? I don’t think that Allan or Dr. Anderson have told him one word about anything. Frankly, I think it’s for the best. You must see now how dangerous he is.
Brenda: This wasn’t Sonny’s fault. I wasn’t where I was supposed to be.
Ned: Brenda, you can’t take the blame for this. People don’t expect to be shot at when they are in the shower. You were lucky this time, but sooner or later Sonny is going to get you killed.
Brenda: I don’t want to fight with you, Ned. Can we just agree to disagree about Sonny?
Before Ned can answer, Robin comes into the room.
Robin: You’re awake.
Ned: Yes, she is very much awake. I’m going to go call the rest of the family and let them know.
Brenda: I appreciate you staying with me Ned.
Ned: No problem.
Ned leaves and Robin takes his seat.
Robin: What happened after you left New York?
Brenda: I came back here because I knew that I had to tell Sonny about the baby.
Robin: I’m glad that you finally came to your senses. Did you tell him?
Brenda: No, I didn’t even see Sonny. I went to the apartment, but nobody was there. Not even Joseph or Pete or any of the guys. At least if they were there I didn’t see them. The club was also closed up.
Robin: The club was closed on a Friday night?
Brenda: Yeah, that was kind of strange. I should have figured out that something was wrong, but instead of using my head and leaving, I went up to the apartment and waited for Sonny. You know how I like to wash my hair when I need to think?
Robin: When in doubt, wash your hair.
Brenda: I had just gotten into the shower and turned the water on, then I felt like something was wrong. I knew that there was someone out there and I just ducked. That was when the bullets sprayed the shower. Glass flew everywhere and the sound was indescribable! I thought that the sound that I heard when Sonny saved me from the kidnapers was the most horrible sound I would ever hear, but this was so much louder.
I must have passed out, because I don’t know what happened next or even who found me.
Stone and Sonny are still sitting in the waiting room.
Stone: Who found Brenda?
Sonny: Joseph and Renaldo and some of my other men had been watching from across the street. They Saw Rivera’s men go into the apartment. By the time they got across the street, and into the apartment, Rivera’s men had already shot at the shower. Brenda was lying on the floor, out cold. The guys who shot at her either thought she was dead or my guys just scarred them, because they ran down the inside stairs and out through the club.
Stone: Did your guys catch any of them?
Sonny: No, my guys were more concerned about Brenda. Serves me right for hiring sensitive guards.
Stone: What about the police?
Sonny: They’ve been here in swarms. I was able to keep the kidnapping quiet, but this has been a different story.
Stone: What did you tell the police?
Sonny: Luke has owned more clubs in this town than I have, so he and I worked out a story about an old rival out of Luke’s past. This rival found out about the success of Luke’s new club and chose now to settle an old score.
Stone: Did the cops buy your story?
Sonny: They don’t have to buy it, they can’t prove that anything else happened. They can’t link me to Rivera, and Donley won’t go after Luke.
Stone: Why not?
Sonny: I’m not sure, but Luke knows something about our esteemed police commissioner’s past that keeps him in line.
Stone What do you plan on doing now?
Sonny: My plan is the same as it has always been. Get rid of Rivera and let Spencer handle Frank Smith and then find a way to get out.
Stone: What do you mean, “get out?”
Sonny: My plan has always been to take care of Smith and Rivera and then tell Brenda exactly who I really am. If she still wants me than, I’m going to find a way to leave the mob.
Stone: Can you really do that, and would you really do it even if you could find a way? Think of all the power and position that you would be giving up. You are Frank Smith’s right hand man. You’ve worked your whole life to get that.
Sonny: The power and position used to be important, when I chose this life I never thought that I would have anything important in my life. Now I do, and all I want is Brenda.
Stone: Why can’t you have it all. Brenda loves you, she will love you no matter who you are.
Sonny: Maybe that is true, she could love me for a while and accept my lifestyle choice, but then it would wear her down. I can’t have it all, so I choose her.
Stone: So, you’re going to tell her the truth?
Sonny: Yes, but not until I know the way out. I want to offer her a future. I want to show her that I am more than a two bit gangster. When I can give her that, I’ll have it all.
Back in Brenda’s room.
Brenda: I have top face the fact that Sonny is nothing more than a two bit gangster. Those guys that held me in the warehouse told me that I should be afraid of Sonny and that he would get me killed. They were right.
Robin: You aren’t being fair, Brenda, you haven’t even talked to Sonny.
Brenda: He’d only lie to me. I mean, what am I supposed to do walk up to him and ask him is he is a mobster ? He’d probably have to kill me.
Robin: Sonny would never hurt you, he loves you.
Brenda: You were the one that didn’t trust him in the first place, why are you one his side now?
Robin: I’m not trying to be on any side, but I’ve seen how Sonny is with you and with Stone. He treats Stone like an equal.
Brenda: Yeah, but an equal at what?
Robin: He treats Stone like a brother. Sonny also adores you, Brenda, you’re his life.
Brenda: I can’t be anybody’s reason for living. I also can’t ignore the fact that in less than a month I’ve watched a plane load of people explode, I’ve been kidnapped from my job and shot at in the shower. Besides, it isn’t just about me anymore, now I have a child to worry about as well.
Robin: Is the baby okay?
Brenda: This time it is, but from now on my child has to be my first priority. I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect it.
Robin: It’s Sonny’s child as well. Don’t you think he’ll do everything he can to protect you both?
Brenda: He hasn’t protected me so far. What happens the next time someone takes a shot at me. What about when one of Sonny’s associates or enemies or whatevers decides to kidnap my child or take a shot at him or her?
Robin: If you don’t think that you can trust Sonny to protect your and his child, then what are you going to do?
Brenda: I’m going to have to leave Sonny. I have to, he and I have no future together.
Chapter 88
Robin couldn’t believe what Brenda had just said to her.
Robin: Brenda, I know that you are scared and confused, but you can’t tell me that you really believe that you and Sonny don’t have a future together?
Brenda: I can’t be with him, not when doing so would put my life and the life of my child in constant danger.
Robin: I thought that you loved him.
Brenda: I do love him, with all my heart. No other man has made me feel the way that Sonny does. He makes me feel loved and respected, like I’m special. He is the only man in my life that has ever made me feel like I’m worth any thing. He also makes me happy.
Robin: Why would you want to give that up.
Brenda: I need to feel safe, as well. I don’t get that feeling of security when I’m being kidnapped and shot at in the shower.
Robin: I believe that you and Sonny can work this out.
Brenda: It’s too late.
Robin: It’s never too late, but the most important thing right now is for you to take care of yourself and your child.
Brenda: That is my main concern right now.
Robin: I passed Dr. Anderson in the hall and he told me that the baby is healthy. He called down to the pharmacy and requested some pre-natal vitamins for you. He would like for you to start taking them now.
Brenda: Can you go down to the pharmacy and pick them up for me?
Robin: Sure, I’ll be right back.
Robin leaves the room and Brenda becomes lost in her own thoughts. She doesn’t know what to do, she isn’t sure that she wants to live without Sonny. However, at the same time she is not sure how long she will live if she stays with Sonny. Her thoughts are interrupted by the arrival of another visitor. Sonny stands just inside the door of her room for about a minute, just drinking in the sight of the woman that he loves, the woman that is his world. She looks scared and he can see several small cuts on the exposed areas of her body. Despite all that she has been through, he still thinks that she is the most beautiful creature that he has ever laid eyes on. In fact, he actually sees her as more beautiful than when he last saw her, a week before.
Sonny: I’m so glade that you’re safe.
Brenda: I guess I am, for the time being.
Sonny: Of course you are.
He moves towards her bed. He suddenly is overcome with a strong desire to kiss her and hold her and make her feel safe, she doesn’t give him the chance to even try.
Sonny: Do you know how much I’ve missed you?
Brenda: If it’s half as much as I’ve missed you, then I think I can make a fair guess.
As he leans over her bed and moves to kiss her, she pushes him away.
Brenda: No!
Sonny: Brenda, I’ve missed holding you and touching you. I need to kiss you.
Brenda: Don’t touch me!
Sonny: I don’t understand.
Brenda: I can’t think straight when you kiss me. I need a clear head to say what I’m trying to say.
Sonny: Baby, you’re scaring me.
Brenda: Good, now you know how I’ve felt for the past month. I’ve lived in fear ever since the day that you left for Puerto Rico. Fear that you were seeing another woman, then fear that someone was trying to kill us, and fear that I’d die in some warehouse or that you’d leave me.
Sonny: I know that the past month has been rough, but all of that is going to change, I give you my word.
Brenda: Your word means nothing to me, Sonny. You gave me your word that you would love me and protect me. It has all been lies, you haven’t protected me. What else have you lied about. WAS OUR LOVE A LIE? WAS IT A LIE WHEN YOU GAVE ME THIS RING AND BRACELET? WHAT ABOUT THE LOCKET, WAS THAT A LIE TOO? DID YOU THINK YOU COULD BUY ME WITH TRINKETS?
Sonny is shocked by how angry she is. He doesn’t understand where it is coming from. He tries to reach over and comfort her, but she pulls stiffly away from his touch.
Sonny: I never lied to you, especially not about how much a love you. I gave you the locket, the bracelet and the ring as symbols of my love. I never meant for them to be bribes, I never wanted to buy you off with anything. Every time that I told you I loved you or made love to you, it came straight from my heart.
Brenda: You are such a liar!
Sonny: What do you think that I lied about, besides loving you?
Brenda: Rivera, for starters. You told me that you weren’t involved with him.
Sonny: I’m not.
Brenda: You’re denying that Rivera was the one that ordered the hit on the apartment?
Sonny: We don’t know for sure who did. The best that Luke and I can figure is that an old rival of his was trying to settle an old score.
Brenda: Lying right now is not helping your case Sonny!
Sonny: What do you want me to do, Brenda?
Brenda: How about telling me the truth, for once.
Sonny: About what? What do you want me to say, that I never loved you? That I was just using you for a cheap thrill? Because, if I said any of that, I really would be a liar. I could say that you mean nothing to me and that I don’t ache for you in this moment with my whole heart, body, and soul, but that just wouldn’t be true. So what do you want me to do in order to make things right between us? Say the word and I’ll do it.
Brenda: I want you to answer one simple question. Can you do that?
Sonny: I can do that.
Brenda: Sonny, are you a mobster?
It wasn’t a question he was prepared to answer, at least not at the moment.
Sonny: What kind of question is that, why would you even think that?
Brenda: The men who kidnapped me said that you killed people for a living. Is it true? Is the man I thought I was in love with a cold blooded killer.
Sonny: What do you mean, “the man you thought you were in love with?”
Brenda: You aren’t answering the question. Are you a hood for hire? Do you kill for a living? ANSWER ME!
Sonny: I can’t believe it, I thought you knew me better than that.
Brenda: Answer The Question Or Get Out!
Sonny: Fine, Yes. I’m A Mobster! Are you happy now, is that what you wanted to hear? That is the life I chose and I don’t regret it. In Fact I Love It, I Love The Feeling Of Power That It Gives Me!
Brenda: Get Out!
Sonny: No, because as much as I love that life, I LOVE YOU MORE! I’m not leaving.
Before she can stop him, he leans over and gives her a long, passionate kiss. She digs into his shoulders with her nails, but she only causes him to kiss her harder. She wants to scream, push him away and do anything except admit that he set her whole body on fire.
Sonny: *Pulling away from her.* Why should I leave, when that kiss proves that you feel the same way about me that I feel about you!
Brenda: You should leave, because you owe it to me!
Sonny: I owe it to you, how do you figure that?
Brenda: Because of what I lost.
Sonny: What are you talking about?
Brenda: I’m talking about the child I was carrying, our child.
Sonny: *Stunned* You’re pregnant?
Brenda: I was, *she lies.* Until the shower attack.
Sonny is too shocked to speak, finally he chokes out some words, while holding back tears.
Sonny: I didn’t know, baby. I killed our child?
Brenda: Will you please leave now?
Sonny: I just want you to know that I’ll never forgive myself.
Brenda could see the absolute pain in his eyes, and for a second she regretted what she had done, but she couldn’t turn back now. Not when the safety of her child was at stake.
Brenda: *Softly* Can you just go.
He nods his head.
Brenda: The ring and bracelet are over on that table, take them with you.
She starts to take off the locket.
Sonny: I’ll take the rest, but not the locket. I don’t want it back.
She latches it around her neck. As Sonny picks up the ring and the bracelet. He looks at her with a sadness in his eyes that breaks her heart.
Sonny: I’ll go now. I will always love you, Brenda, and I hope someday you can forgive me for what I’ve done.
He walks out the door, causing her to look after him.
Brenda: I hope someday you can forgive me too.
She held back tears of her own, determined not to give into her own pain at loosing Sonny.
Sonny is so distraught that he doesn’t see Robin coming up the hall. He doesn’t see her at all, until she speaks to him.
Robin: Sonny? You look awful, is something wrong with Brenda?
Sonny: No, something is wrong with me.
Robin: Are your headaches getting worse? Because Dr. Jones told me that they can run a test to figure out what’s wrong with you.
Sonny: My head is probably hurting, only I can’t feel it. I can’t feel anything at all. I’m completely numb.
Robin: You’re scaring me. What happened?
Sonny: I killed my own child. Brenda was pregnant with our child, and now it’s dead because of me.
He continued to walk away from Robin, leaving her very confused. She looked down at the small paper bag in her hand. In the bag were the vitamins that Dr. Anderson prescribed for Brenda. Somebody was either confused or lying, and she was going to find out which it was. She forcefully opened the door to Brenda’s room.
Robin: Here are your vitamins!
She threw the bag at Brenda, who opened it and started reading the pamphlet that came with the vitamins.
Brenda: Thanks for getting them for me, I want to start taking them as soon as possible.
Robin: *Disgusted* I can’t believe you! I saw Sonny in the hall and he said that you had lost the baby!
Brenda: So, I lied to him. Turn about is fair play.
Robin: There is nothing fair about what you did. He was devastated, and he blames himself.
Brenda: I only wanted to protect my child, I didn’t mean for Sonny to blame himself.
Robin: Well he does. Brenda how long do you think that you can keep this baby away from Sonny?
Brenda: I only need to keep him from finding out until I can finish this semester of school. That will only be a month. And then I’ll leave town and have the baby.
Robin: Sonny will find out sooner or later that you lied and when he does he won’t ever forgive you!
Brenda: You’re right! What have I done, and how do I fix it?
Robin: I’m not sure you can fix it this time. You may have lost Sonny for good.
Chapter 89
It had been two days since Brenda had broken up with Sonny and completely destroyed his heart. He had walked out of the hospital that morning and kept on walking, nobody had seen or heard from him since that day. At first Brenda had been relieved, she wasn’t sure what she would do when she saw him. She was afraid that he would be able to look into her eyes and see the truth, see that she really loved him and that she had lies to him about loosing the baby. However, after he had been missing for a day, her relief turned into worry and fear. Stone and Robin were worried as well, they all felt that if Sonny didn’t turn up soon it could only mean that something horrible had happened. Luke was the only one that wasn’t worried, he understood the need to get away from the world at times and never doubted for one moment that Sonny could take care of himself. For that reason, Luke was not surprised to walk into the club and find Sonny sitting at the bar with a half empty bottle of scotch in front of him and a half full glass in his hand.
Luke: I knew you’d turn up.
Sonny: I’ve only been gone for two days.
Luke: You look like hell, my friend.
Sonny: Life will do that to you.
Luke looks down at an empty bottle of aspirin on the bar.
Luke: I think we had better get you to the hospital.
Sonny: Why is it that I’m the one that has been drinking, yet your the one that isn’t making sense?
Luke: If you took a whole bottle of aspirin, I think that you need a trip to the ER and a visit with Barbara Jean.
Sonny: There were only four aspirin left in that bottle.
Luke: What a pity, there is nothing that makes my baby sisters day as much as pumping a stomach.
There were only four left?
Sonny: That’s when I turned to scotch to dual the pain.
Luke: Is it helping?
Sonny: Not really, I got these though.
He pulls out the bottle of prescription pain killers out of his pocket. Luke looks at the bottle.
Luke: My doc bro in law prescribed these?
Sonny: Yeah, Dr. Jones gave me the prescription right after the accident.
Luke: They should be good, Tony is usually right.
Sonny: I can’t take them though, or rather I won’t take them.
Luke: Why not?
Sonny: I’ve seen too many people go down on this stuff.
Luke: They’re prescribed for pain, Sonny.
Sonny: I’d rather live with the pain.
Luke: Tony said something about a test that he could run to find out what is causing the pain, why don’t you just get that done?
Sonny: Maybe I will, once I take care of Rivera.
Luke: So where have you been? You’ve had half of the town worried sick.
Sonny: I didn’t know that many people carried, or worried about me. Were you worried?
Luke: I wasn’t, because I know you can take care of yourself. You had Stone, Robin and Brenda worried.
Sonny: Brenda was worried about me?
Luke: She calls about once an hour to see if I’ve heard from you. They have been looking all over for you.
Sonny: They didn’t look for me at church.
Luke: You have been at church for two days?
Sonny: Yep, at Queen of the Angles, praying for my the soul of my baby.
Luke: I didn’t think you had to pray for their souls, don’t all babies go straight to heaven and become angles?
Sonny: Maybe, but I think that you have to be baptized in order to get into heaven and you can’t baptize a child that you never knew about until after it is dead.
He tops off his drink.
Luke: I’m sorry, this must be really hard for you to deal with.
Sonny: I have had a lot of bad things happen to me in my life, but this has got to be the worst. I killed my own child, and almost killed it’s mother as well. I can never forgive myself for doing that.
Luke: Is there anything that I can do to help?
Sonny: Have a drink with me?
Luke: Sure.
A young woman has just walked in the door. She is tall and thin with short blond hair, that fits together into a very pretty picture.
Woman: I didn’t realize that we opened the bar this early.
Luke looks up at her, and doesn’t act a bit surprised to see her.
Luke: We aren’t, but this is my silent partner Sonny Corinthos, the bar is open to him anytime day of night.
Sonny just stared at the woman for some time. She could probably be considered a knock out by any average guy, and many had probably lost their hearts to her over the years. However, Sonny wasn’t an average guy and he wasn’t about to loose anything to this girl, because he was already lost. Sonny was a man whose heart was hopelessly lost to Brenda Barrett. While this was going through his mind, the woman was checking him out from head to toe. She liked what she saw, especially when her eyes came to rest on his hand and she didn’t see a wedding ring.
Luke: He conveniently has an apartment upstairs.
Woman: I think I’m going to really enjoy working here.
Luke: That’s the spirit I like to have in my employees.
Sonny: Excuse Me, what do you mean employee?
Luke: This is our new waitress, Sara Mae West.
Sonny: Mae West?
Sara: My parents had a peculiar sense of humor. You can call me Sara.
She holds out her hand to him and he takes it in his. She shakes his had with a firm grasp and looks straight into his eyes. She is coming on to him in an undeniable way, but he hardly seems to notice.
Luke: Why don’t you go into the office and find a Luke’s Place tee shirt that fits you?
She gives Sonny one more flirtatious smile and heads to the office.
Luke: I think that she likes you, Corinthos!
Sonny: Since when do you hire employees with out my consent?
Luke: Ever since you disappear for days on end. Besides, I think that Sara could be good for the place. She seemed really eager in her interview, I think she would have done just about anything to secure the job.
I couldn’t take advantage of her eagerness, since my darlen Laura has ruined me for ordinary women. However, I don't see why you couldn’t have a little fun with her.
Sonny: Okay, how about if I point out to you why I can’t, I’M IN LOVE WITH BRENDA.
Luke: She doesn’t even want you anymore and Sara does. Besides, Brenda is just a child and Sara is closer to your own age, she looks like she could teach you a thing or two. Waiting for Brenda is going to drive you crazy!
Sonny: I thought that you of all people would understand how I feel about Brenda! Maybe I’m already crazy, because I love her and I want her back. Someday I’m going to find a way to make up for what I’ve done and get her back. Until that happens, I think that you’re the crazy one if you think that I’m going to hit the sheets with some blond bimbo just because you say that she is eager to please!
Luke: Wait a minute, I do not hire bimbos!
Sara proves him wrong by coming out of the office at that moment in a tee shirt that is about two sizes too small.
Sonny: Laura is not going to take this sitting down.
As if to prove him right, Laura walks in at that very moment. She takes one look at Sara and gives Luke a killer look. Luke just smiles innocently.
Luke: Hi, baby doll, what are you doing here?
Laura: I came to let you know that the kids and I were ready to leave town again and go back into hiding.
Sonny: When did you come back?
Laura: Yesterday, but I think I need to stay around for a few more days.
She is giving Sara a dirty look now.
Sonny: Whatever will make you the safest, that is what is important, that is all that maters.
Laura: Sonny, I’m sorry about the baby and about you and Brenda.
Sonny: *Softly* Thank you, but I’m fine.
Laura: Luke, who is this woman?
Luke: This is Sara, the new waitress that I told you about. Sara why don’t you go with my beautiful wife Laura and let her help you find a uniform that fits a little better.
Laura practically drags the poor girl to the back office. Sonny can hardly contain his laughter.
Luke: Laugh it up Corinthos!
Sonny: I told you Laura wouldn’t take it siting down!
Luke: Just pour me a drink!
They both laugh as Sonny pours Luke a glass of scotch. They are really enjoying themselves when Detective Alex Garcia walks into the club.
Garcia: It’s about time you resurfaced, Corinthos.
Sonny: Did you miss me, Garcia?
Garcia: I have a warrant for your arrest.
Luke: On what charges?
Garcia: Possession and possible distribution of narcotics.
Luke: Come on, Garcia, you know that Sonny doesn’t use drugs, much less distribute them.
Garcia: May I see the contents of your pockets?
Sonny: Sure, I’m a simple business man.
He takes out his wallets, a huge roll of cash and the bottle of pills.
Garcia: What simple business man carries around this much cash?
Sonny: I don’t like banks.
Garcia: What about these pills?
Sonny: They’re prescribed.
Garcia: By a mob doctor, no doubt!
Luke: No, by Dr. Tony Jones.
Garcia: We’ll see about that. Besides, I’ll bet that when our lab runs a test on them, they’ll see that they are several times stronger than the bottle indicates it should be.
Garcia bags the bottle and Sonny’s money.
Sonny: This is a mistake, detective!
Garcia: If it is, I’ll be making it downtown!
He slaps cuffs on Sonny and gleefully hauls him out, as Luke looks on. Luke starts to casually polish glasses. Laura and Sara come from the back office. Laura has found Sara a tee shirt that is too big, if it is anything at all. Sara looks around and is disappointed when she doesn’t see Sonny.
Sara: Where did your partner go?
Luke: He had to go downtown.
Laura: Is he going to be okay?
Luke: I sure hope so.
Chapter 90
Luke is polishing glasses and Sara is setting candles on the tables, when Brenda rushes in out of breath. She is closely followed by Joseph, who has been like her shadow, ever since she broke up with Sonny. She goes straight to Luke.
Brenda: Where is he?
Luke: Where is who?
Brenda: Don’t give me that innocent act. You know who I mean.
Luke: What makes you think that he was here today.
Brenda: Because I finally talked Joseph into calling Pete, who said that he was here all morning!
Luke: You just missed him!
Brenda: Where did he go?
Luke: What are you going to do if you find him, Brenda?
Brenda: Probably yell at him for worrying all of us!
Luke: That is what I thought, you don’t know what you want do you?
Brenda: Just tell me where he is, please Luke?
Luke: Since you asked so nicely, your buddy detective Garcia hauled him down to the station!
Brenda: Why didn’t you say so in the first place, on what charges?
Luke: *Lowering his voice* Possession and trafficking of narcotics.
Brenda: That’s a lie, Sonny doesn’t do drugs and he most certainly doesn’t sell them! Has Sean lost his mind?
Luke: I don’t know how much Donley has to do with this, but Sonny was in possession of the drugs in question.
Brenda: What do you mean?
Luke: Sonny filled a prescription for some pain killers, that is what he was arrested for, only Garcia claims that they are not the strength prescribed by Tony Jones. If the police lab can prove it, they can put Sonny away for a long time.
Brenda: That won’t happen, will it?
Luke: No, because even if they do get the goods on Sonny, he won’t last more than as month in prison
A look of shock crosses Brenda’s face.
Brenda: *softly* I know he won’t. I have to go, I have to go to him.
She rushes out of the club as quickly as she came in. Sara looks after her.
Sara: Who was that?
Luke: That was a walking, talking contradiction!
Sonny is only in the holding cell however, yet he feels like he has been dropped in a dark well. A small, dark well where the walls keep closing in inch by inch. He couldn’t breath and his head felt like it would explode at any moment. All he could do was keep moving within the tiny confines of the cell. The walls start to close in at an even faster rate and childhood memories start to flood his mind, biting at his sanity. Brenda is in the next room, arguing Sonny’s case with the police commissioner and she can feel his pain and frustration.
Brenda: Sean, you have to let him go!
Sean: I know I will eventually have to let him go however, the longer I can keep him off the street the better for the people of Port Charles.
Brenda: You can’t just keep him locked up without charging him with something, he isn’t a serial killer.
Sean: Brenda, he was in possession of a high dose prescription pain killer.
Brenda: Tony prescribed them for him, Sean.
Sean: So he claims, but we haven’t been able to verify that with Tony.
Brenda: Call Tony and he’ll tell you.
Sean: I’ve tried, but he has been in surgery all morning.
Brenda: So, you have been keeping Sonny here, until you can talk to Tony?
Sean: Even is Tony does verify that he prescribed the pain killers, that still doesn’t change the fact that the actual pills in that bottle were several times stronger than the prescription indicated they should be.
Brenda: There must have been a mistake made by the pharmacist, why don’t you arrest him?
Sean: We did arrest the pharmacist, this morning. In fact, we have been watching him for sometime. He has been running a pretty tight drug operation for sometime now.
Brenda: Then, all that Sonny is guilty of is bad judgment concerning where he got the prescription filled.
Sean: Maybe you’re right and in this case Sonny is innocent. I’m surprised that you would defend him, after he nearly got you killed in the shower.
Brenda: That wasn’t Sonny’s fault, I’m sure you have been told, the attack on the club was against Luke. It was about some old score that an enemy of Luke’s was trying to settle.
Sean: That seems to be the official story that Luke and Sonny are spinning. I guess he even has you lying for him now. You don’t know him Brenda, when are you going to see that?
Brenda: I do know him, probably better than most other people. I want to see him, Sean.
Sonny tried to close his eyes and breath deeply. He laid down on the small bed and shut his eyes tight. It almost worked, he was even almost able to fall asleep. Then the images came, the ones that he had been having since Brenda was attacked. The ones where Brenda was riddled full of holes right in front of his face and he is powerless to stop it from happening. Sonny’s eyes snap open as he hears the loud clang of the guard opening the cell door to bring in a tray of food.
Sonny: Brenda!
Guard: I don’t think so, unless that is what you call lunch.
Sonny: I don’t want it!
Guard: Too bad, there are rules that say we have to feed you.
Sonny: I said I don’t want to eat that slop!
Guard: I don’t care what you do with it or what you call it.
Before the guard can set the tray down and close the cell door, Sonny lunges at him and pins him up against the bars.
Sonny: You think just because you wear a uniform you can tell me what to do?
Guard: No, I think you’re nothing but a two bit thug and for that reason, I WILL tell you what to do!
Another guard sees that commotion and comes to his coworkers aid.
Guard 2: You animal, you’re going to pay dearly for that!
The two guards pin Sonny back against the bed and the first guard starts to punch Sonny in the stomach. Much like the time in the alley outside the warehouse, Sonny finds that he is unable to fight back. He falls back on an old trick that he learned when he was taking numerous beatings as a child, and allows himself to black out as the guard continues to pound him.
Guard: That is how we treat “Bad boys.”
Guard 2: We’re going to teach you a lesson that you ain’t never going to forget!
They continue to take punches at Sonny. At that moment, Sean and Brenda enter the holding area. Nothing could possibly prepare Sean for the sight that he sees. The one guard is still beating on Sonny as the other guard looks on. Brenda rushes into the cell and starts screaming hysterically.
Chapter 91
Brenda: Stop it! Sean, please make them stop!
Sean: Stop that this instant!
The guard had already stopped when Brenda rushed in, the order from Sean was just to clarify the commissioner’s intolerance of the situation. Sean was not a fan of Sonny’s by any stretch of the imagination, but even he realized what the guards were doing was brutal. Brenda had already rushed to Sonny and was cradling him in her arms.
Sean: Is he okay, Brenda?
Brenda: I don’t think so, he seems to have blacked out!
Sean: I’ll get a doctor!
Sean reaches for a phone and requests the jail doctor.
Sean: He’ll be right down, in less than a minute.
Brenda: Do you hear that Sonny, you have to hold on the doctor is on his way. Please hold on!
Sean turns and addresses the guards.
Sean: I’m going to make sure that the doctor arrives and then I will deal with the two of you in my office!
Guard: The prisoner was out of control, he had me pined against the bars.
Sean: I don’t care if he was, “out of control!” I will not stand for this kind of barbaric behavior!
I’m going to review the video tape of the holding cell and if I feel that your behavior was in any way unjust, you will face dire consequences. The doctor quickly walks in the door and goes straight for Sonny. Brenda is stilling holding him in her arms. The doctor checks his pulse and other vital signs.
Sean: Is he all right, doctor.
Doctor: His vital signs are fine.
Sonny slowly opens his eyes, causing Brenda to hold him even tighter.
Doctor: How do you feel, young man.
Sonny: Like a freight train just ran over the lower part of my body.
He looks up at Brenda and smiles at her.
Sonny: Have I died and gone to heaven? Because this angel looks an awful lot like the woman that I love.
He reaches up and caresses her cheek.
Sonny: Feels like her as well.
He moves his hands to the sides of her face and impulsively kisses her.
Sonny: If this is heaven, I like it.
Brenda has to recover from what he has done.
Brenda: He is fine, doctor.
She pulls away from him and lets him slip onto the bed.
Doctor: It is possible that he has some broken ribs, I would take him to the hospital and get him x rayed.
Sonny: Not necessary, you heard the lady, I’m fine.
Doctor: At least spend a few days resting.
Sean: At home, you’re also free to go. I thought that I was keeping the streets safe by keeping you locked up. However, I can’t keep you safe if you are in here. So, I’m letting you go for now.
Brenda: Thank you Sean.
Sean: I’ll send someone down with the paper work. I’m sorry, Brenda, this should have never happened.
Brenda: Don’t apologize to me, Sonny is the one you should be telling.
Sean looks at Sonny, who is sitting on the bed. His hair is tossed and he is holding his sides, obviously in pain from broken ribs. He looks back at the commissioner, with pain and defeat in his eyes and watches Sean turn and leave without saying a word.
Sonny: Right!
Brenda: Would it have killed Sean to have apologized to you, to have said he made a mistake.
Sonny: Probably, he doesn’t care about my feelings.
Brenda: Well he should, your a human being Sonny.
Sonny: To him I’m just job security. Brenda, why are you here? When you kicked me out of you hospital room, I figured that you wouldn’t want to have anything to do with me. Yet, here you are saving me again?
Brenda gives him a sad, soulful smile.
Chapter 92
Sonny and Brenda have left the police station and she is driving him home in her car.
Sonny: Brenda, you never answered my question about why you came to the police station.
Brenda: I knew that you needed me.
Sonny: How?
Brenda: It is just something that I knew, kind of like the night you were shot. Besides, Sean listens to me and I thought that I could help you by talking to him.
Sonny: You did help, you probably saved my life. Sean wouldn’t have come down there on his own and those guards wouldn’t have stopped beating me if the two of you hadn’t come in.
Brenda: What happened, why did you let them do that?
Sonny: For one thing, they out numbered me! Also I just shut down, I couldn’t fight back.
Brenda: Sonny, you’re a passionate fighter. What do you mean about shutting down?
Sonny: That is how I cope, I don’t like being in small places where someone else has power over me.
Brenda: You mean you’re claustrophobic?
Sonny: Is that what it’s called?
Brenda: It means that you don’t like enclosed spaces, such as elevators.
Sonny: Or jail cells with abusive guards?
Brenda: Yeah, but if you’re claustrophobic, you have a chronic case. Have you ever tried to find out what causes the attacks?
Sonny: I don’t have to, I know the cause.
Brenda: What is it?
Sonny: When I was 5 my father left me and my mom. Not long after, we got Deke.
Brenda: Deke, your stepfather?
Sonny: He was a cop, which meant he could do anything that he wanted and nobody would stop him. He had a badge and uniform to protect him, kind of like those guards today. Not being able to stay in small places is just one of his many legacies to me.
Brenda: Deke hit you?
Sonny: Regularly, but it's in the past. It doesn't matter, besides a little case of claustrophobia, I’m fine.
Brenda: *Grips the steering wheel a little tighter* It does matter, Sonny. It explains so much about you, I just wish you would've told me sooner.
Sonny: It’s not something that I like to talk about.
Brenda: I understand now why you lash out at people, especially authority figures
Sonny: I don’t like being backed into a corner.
Brenda: I did that to you, on occasion, didn’t I?
Sonny: No, you never did.
Brenda: Yeah, I did. Like when you were going to Puerto Rico and I wanted to go.
Sonny: Maybe you did pressure me a little. On rare occasions.
Brenda: I’m sorry, if I had known.
Sonny: Don’t apologize for something that you didn’t know about. Brenda, I just want you to know that when we were together I never would have hurt you, not ever.
Brenda: I know that you could never hit me, Sonny.
Sonny: I saw what Deke did to my mother around and what it did to her. I swore that I would never do that to a woman I love.
Brenda: I know, Sonny, it’s okay *Tears start to form in her eyes* No child should ever be abused, physically, mentally of emotionally. I’m so sorry that you had to go through that.
Sonny: Don't feel sorry for me, baby. It only hurts in the beginning, then I learned to shut down the pain. Kind of like I did today in that jail cell. They were pounding on me and belittling me, and I blocked it out and shut down. I had to learn to do that in order to survive.
Brenda: You still do that Sonny, I’ve seen you just shut down and push away those that care about you. Kind of like you did a few days ago, you just ran off.
Sonny: I’m sorry about that.
Brenda: You had us all worried.
Brenda pulls the car into the garage and parks.
Sonny: I guess it is a good thing that I’m not going to be a father any time soon. Between my birth father that ran out on me and my stepfather that beat me, I sure had some great paternal role models. What child of mine would ever stand a chance with me as its old man.
His pain almost breaks her heart, she looks down at her stomach and thinks about the life that grows within her. A life that she and Sonny created together, but one that she is too afraid to share with him.
Brenda: *through tears of guilt* That isn’t true, Sonny, you’ll make a wonderful father someday.
Sonny: No I won’t.
Brenda: Yes you will, someday you’ll find a perfect woman……
She has to pause because she can’t hold back the tears any longer.
Brenda: When you do, you’ll have the most perfect children in the world.
Sonny: I already found the most perfect woman. When I think about having children or who I want the mother of my children to be, all I can see is you, Brenda! Now I know that isn’t going to happen, and I can accept that we aren’t going to have a family or grow old together.
He reaches up and wipes her tears from her face.
Sonny: Thanks for coming today, Brenda.
Brenda: It was the least I could do.
Sonny: Can you come up to the apartment?
Brenda: Just for a minute to get you settled in. You should really get some rest, you don’t look like you’ve slept for days.
Sonny: *Getting out of the car* I haven’t, not a wink since we broke up. I can’t sleep or hardly even close my eyes. I need to ask you a favor, tough and I would rather not be down here when you say, “No!”
Brenda: What makes you think that I’ll say, “no.”
Sonny: Just come on up and you’ll find out.
Brenda follows Sonny up to the apartment.
Chapter 93
Sonny opened the apartment door and Brenda follows him in. He turns on the lights and sits down on the couch and puts his head in his hands. Brenda sits down beside him and starts to put her hand on his shoulder, but she pulls it back before it touches him.
Brenda: Where does it hurt, Sonny.
Sonny: Everywhere.
She tilts his head up until she can see his face.
Brenda: They didn’t hit you on the face or head?
Sonny: I don’t think so, I wouldn’t have known if they had.
Brenda: Are you still having headaches?
Sonny: That was this whole mess was about, these damn pills!
He takes them out of his pocket and throws the bottle on the coffee table.
Brenda: I told Sean that you didn’t use drugs, but he said that the police lab showed the pills to be stronger than they were prescribed.
Sonny: The police will do anything to set me up, Brenda.
Brenda: I know, I believe you.
Sonny: I won’t even take the things when they are prescribed for me and I’m in pain.
Brenda: How long have you had them?
Sonny: I got them right after we broke up. I was walking around the street and my head hurt so bad, everything hurt so bad. I came around a corner and there was a pharmacy. So I went in and filled the prescription.
Brenda: Did you know that the pharmacy that you went to was running an illegal drug operation?
Sonny: I had no idea, otherwise I would have shut the guy down myself.
Brenda: Sonny, it’s not your job to keep Port Charles drug free, that’s the police’s job.
Sonny: That’s a joke, the police are too busy trying to catch me doing something wrong. They were probably following me when they caught that pharmacist.
Brenda: Maybe, what are you going to do now?
Sonny: I’m not taking those pills, I can’t.
Brenda: Because of what happened to Karen and Crystal?
Sonny: Partly, but there is more to it than that. There is something that I haven’t told you about a young boy that I knew that became addicted to pills just like these, his name was Tommy and he was only 12.
Brenda: What happened?
Sonny: He died of a drug overdose. He was just a kid, Brenda.
Brenda: I’m sorry. I know that the more I say that the less the words mean, but I am sorry.
Sonny: You caring about me could never be meaningless, Brenda.
Brenda: I understand why you don’t want to take the pills, but you’re obviously in a lot of pain. Sonny, there are tests that they can run to try and figure out what is causing your headaches.
Sonny: I can’t do that.
Brenda: Why, is it because you’re afraid? You wouldn’t have to do it alone.
Sonny: I know, it’s just, never mind.
Brenda: Okay, fine! I can’t make you take care of yourself. Wasn’t there something that you wanted to ask me to do, some big favor that you thought I would deny?
Sonny: Yes, Brenda when you were in the hospital I told you some things. I passed on some information that could cause me some trouble if it fell into the wrong hands. I need your word that you’ll keep it to yourself.
Brenda: Is this about you being a mobster?
Sonny: Yes, it would be best if you forgot what I told you.
Brenda: I can’t do that, Sonny, because that is the whole reason that we aren’t together right now.
Sonny: I know that and believe me if I could change it I would.
Brenda: What would you do, go back to the way it was before when you were lying to me?
Sonny: No that isn’t what I meant. Commissioner Donley would do anything to get enough information to put me behind bars, if he knew that you had that kind of knowledge, I’m not sure what he would do to get information out of you and that scares me.
Brenda: Don’t worry Sonny, your secret is safe with me!
Sonny: I don’t care about my secret. I know that you would never intentionally betray me, but I’m afraid that Sean might try to get to me through you and that would kill me. I can’t stand the thought of my actions hurting you. I have already hurt you more than enough.
Brenda: You look tired, you really should get some rest.
Sonny: I can’t sleep, every time I close my eyes I see something terrible happening to you.
Brenda: You have to try and get some rest
Sonny: Can you help me to the bedroom?
Brenda: I’ll get you settled into bed, but then I have to go.
Sonny: Can’t you stay just a little while.
Brenda: I don’t think that is possible.
Sonny: Have I thanked you for saving me, again?
Brenda: *Smiling* Yes, you did, but Sonny you have to start taking better care of yourself.
Sonny: That’s what I have you for.
Brenda: Sonny I don’t know how much longer I can stay here in Port Charles.
Sonny: This is your home.
Brenda: I know, but I can’t help thinking that we both would be better off if I went someplace else for
awhile.
Sonny: I would never stop you from doing something that you really wanted to do. I just want you to know, if you left I would miss you terribly.
Sonny walks to the bedroom, holding his ribs as he goes. Brenda follows him. He sits on the edge of the bed and moans as he tries to unbutton his shirt. Brenda reaches over and helps him.
Brenda: If I find out you are faking all of this just so I’ll feel sorry for you, you’ll be in trouble!
Sonny: Brenda, I’m in pain.
If she had any doubt that his pain was sincere, it quickly evaporates as she helps him take off his shirt. Both of his sides are cover in bruises.
Brenda: Oh my God, Sonny! You have to go to the hospital and have them run x rays.
Sonny: I’m fine, just a little sore.
Brenda: You might have broken ribs!
Sonny: They’re just bruised, I know how broken ribs feel. If I went to the hospital, what could they do?
Brenda: I don’t know, but this is wrong. I’m going to make sure that Sean punishes those guards.
Sonny: Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.
Brenda: You didn’t deserve this, you were already in so much pain.
Sonny: I don’t want you to think about it. Promise me you won’t give those guards another thought, because they don’t deserve your energy.
Brenda: I want to do something to help you. Tell me what I can do?
Sonny: I know that it may be asking a lot, but could you just put your arms around me and stay here until I fall asleep?
Brenda: Sonny, I don’t know if that is such a good idea.
Sonny: I’m not asking you to make love to me, Brenda. All I’m asking is to have your arms around me when I fall asleep. Maybe then I won’t dream.
Brenda looks down at him, he really looks like he hasn’t slept in day. She reaches around him with her arms and holds him. He rests his head on the fold of her arm and closes his eyes, feeling a sense of peace wash over him.
Brenda: Sonny?
Sonny: You don’t have to say anything.
Brenda: I was thinking about what you said about causing me enough pain. I feel the same way, I’ve caused you more than enough pain. Sonny, you have carried around guilt over the baby for long enough. There is something that I need to tell you. Sonny?
He has fallen asleep in her arms and she almost breathes a sigh of relief. In an impulsive moment she almost told him that she didn’t lose the baby, but fate intervened and her secret is safe for a little while longer. She looks at him peacefully sleeping, and wonders what went wrong with them?
Brenda: We had it all, Sonny, and now we don’t.
She places his head on the pillow, pulls the cover up around his sleeping form and quickly leaves. She finds herself being drawn to him again. She fears that she could easily fall back into his arms and life, that scares her and she literally runs down the inside stairs and into the club.
Luke: What ’s your hurry?
Brenda: Take care of Sonny, please. He is in a lot of pain and he is so stubborn. I can’t do it any more!
She runs out with tears in her eyes and A smile spreads across Luke’s face.
Luke: I think that I know exactly what Corinthos needs.
Next chapter: Luke thinks that he knows what is best for Sonny, could he be right? When Brenda feels she is being pulled back into Sonny’s world she considers a drastic move. Will Sonny let her go that easily?
Chapter 94
Brenda storms into the Out Back looking for Robin. The two make eye contact and Robin can tell that something is bothering her friend. Robin goes over as Brenda angrily slams her purse on a table.
Brenda: I am so stupid! How did I get to be so dumb?
Robin: You’re not stupid, now sit down and breath.
Brenda sits down and takes a deep breath.
Robin: Good, now tell me what has you so upset. Is this about your accounting practice set?
Brenda: Oh my gosh, I completely forgot about that! See what he does to me?
Robin: This is about Sonny?
Brenda: Who else?
Robin: Did you find him?
Brenda: I didn’t have to, he just kind of showed up and got arrested!
Robin: Where is he know?
Brenda: I left him at his apartment, after I got him out of jail and stopped some guards from beating him up
Robin: Is he all right?
Brenda: He is a little bruised, but other than that he’s fine.
Robin: What about you, are you all right?
Brenda: I don’t know, it was all really weird. There I was at the police station defending him, I even lied to Sean about some things. Then we went down to the holding cell and the guards were beating him senseless.
Robin: That’s awful.
Brenda: They stopped as soon as we got there, but seeing him like that almost made me sick. All I wanted to do was hold him and take all the pain away instead I drove him home.
Robin: How do you think that makes you stupid? Sonny is your friend and the man that you love, why wouldn’t you want to help him?
Brenda: That’s the problem, I can’t just be his friend, because I love him. Yet, at the same time, we can’t be more. While I was driving him home he really opened up to me. He told me some things that make me better understand him. Then when we got to the apartment, I saw the full extent of what the guards had done to him. Robin, he had bruises up and down his sides.
Robin: I can’t believe that Sean would allow this to happen. I know that he doesn’t like Sonny, but he is fair and just most of the time.
Brenda: Not even Sonny thinks that this was Sean’s fault, but he does believe that Sean wouldn’t have come down there on his own.
Robin: What made you think to go down there?
Brenda: It’s hard to explain, I just know when Sonny is in danger. I can feel when he needs me.
Robin: It isn’t hard for me to understand, you and Sonny have a connection that transcends the physical world and operates on a emotional level.
Brenda: All I know is that I can’t bear to see him hurt, like he was today. It just breaks my heart to see him so vulnerable and broken in spirit. Especially, since I know that I am partly to blame for his pain.
Robin: Because you lied about the baby?
Brenda: He is carrying around a lot of guilt about that.
Robin: You can fix that by telling him the truth, tell him that you are still carrying his child.
Brenda: I almost did that today, then I found out that he was asleep. He claims that he hasn’t slept since we broke up, but I held him in my arms and he fell fast asleep.
Robin: Who’s with him now?
Brenda: I asked Luke to take care of him.
Robin gives Brenda a skeptic look. Meanwhile, at the club, Stone can hardly believe something that Luke has just told him.
Stone: What do you mean, you sent Sara up to take care of Sonny?
Luke: I figured that she was just what the doctor ordered!
Stone: What doctor would that be? Perhaps you are referring to Dr. Kavorken? Because you realize that Brenda is going to kill you when she find out that you are trying to throw Sonny and Sara together!
Luke: Brenda doesn’t scare me.
Stone: What about Sonny? He isn’t going to be too happy with your match making. Besides, what do you have against Brenda?
Luke: Nothing, I just prefer her without my partner.
Stone: Sonny loves her. Of all the people in this town, I would think that you would understand that.
Luke: Why does everybody assume that I don’t understand love. I’m doing this to save a relationship!
Stone: Obviously not Sonny and Brenda’s!
Luke: No, my own! Listen, I want Laura to go back into hiding. She won’t do it as long as there is any chance that Sara maybe interested in me. So, I figure that Sonny is in need of a little TLC of the female kind and Sara is very available. So I solve two problems at one time and save my little butt in the process.
Stone: Okay, but if your plan goes bust, you may end up busting your little butt in the process!
Luke: The worst that could happen is that Brenda will see Sonny and Sara together and get jealous. Then maybe she will see the obvious, that her and Sonny belong together.
Stone: Now I’m confused, just a minute ago you were saying that you didn’t want Sonny and Brenda together.
Luke: It serves my purpose, right now, for them to be apart. However, in the long run they will have to end up together. Those two are soul mates, they’re destined to be together. In the end, my plan can only help.
Stone: I sure hope that Sara understands the complexity of your plan, otherwise she is in for a hard fall.
Sonny continues to sleep, in what he believed was Brenda’s arms. Sara tightened her hold on him and watched him with loving eyes. Back at the Out Back, Robin still didn’t aprove of what Brenda was saying.
Robin: You just left, Sonny?
Brenda: I had too leave. I could feel myself falling back into his life. It would be so easy for me to give in and try to get back to what we had before the breakup.
Robin: What’s wrong with that? Isn’t it what both of you want?
Brenda: Yes, I know I still want it on some level, but I also want a safe environment for my child.
Robin: How are you going to keep it a secret from Sonny?
Brenda: I told him today that I might go away. I’ll go stay in Brooklyn with Lois. In fact, I was thinking about dropping my classes and leaving right away.
Robin: You can’t drop your classes. How much more do you have in the semester?
Brenda: Three weeks.
Robin: Finish out the term and then if you still want to leave you can go, with my blessing. At least wait that long, who knows, maybe something will change in three weeks.
Brenda: I don’t see how much could change in three weeks!
Robin: You never know what might happen!
Chapter 95
It has been about a week since Sonny was in jail, his headaches are getting worse and he hardly ever leaves the apartment. Sara has been spending a lot of time with him. She is nice enough company, and he was enjoying being with her. The only problem is that Sara isn’t Brenda, he doesn’t feel comfortable opening up to her and he can’t imagine ever having any kind of physical relationship with her. He just wonders how long Sara will be happy with just being friends. Sonny is alone in the apartment feeling sorry for himself, Stone and Sara are both down at the club, when there is a soft knock on the door.
Sonny: Pete?
Pete: *Sticking his head in the door* Ms. Barrett to see you, boss.
Sonny nods and Pete lets Brenda in. Just seeing her walk in the room lifts Sonny’s spirits. She is wearing a short lavender suit with a fitted jacket and matching high heel shoes. Her hair is pulled back with a light purple chiffon scarf and has a tote bag over her shoulder, she is also carrying a ceramic bowl. She looks absolutely breath taking, almost good enough to eat. He notices that Pete can’t take his eyes off of her, and Sonny doesn’t blame him one bit.
Brenda: Thanks Pete.
Pete: No problem, Ms. Barrett.
Sonny: Where is Joseph?
Brenda: At the bottom of the stairs. You don’t need to have a guy watching me all the time, Sonny.
Sonny: Yes I do, especially when you look that good! I want you safe, Brenda, just knowing me puts you in danger. Don’t worry though, Joseph doesn’t report to me about what you do or who you see or anything. He isn’t my spy, Brenda.
Brenda: I know he isn’t, that job belongs to Renaldo!
They both laugh and Sonny finds that his whole outlook is brightened. The pressure in his head even seems to partly go away.
Brenda: How are you doing?
Sonny: I’m good, for the most part.
Brenda: I was out doing some errands and I thought I would drop by and bring you some chicken soup.
Sonny: The last time you did that was right after I was shot.
Brenda: You remember?
Sonny: It was the best chicken soup I ever had. I’m glad you thought of it, because I haven’t felt like cooking lately.
She walks into the kitchen.
Brenda: *Calling back to the living room.* That was what Stone said, I figured I would have to wade through Chinese take out containers in order to get to the kitchen.
Sonny: It hasn’t gotten that bad, yet.
He hears her open the refrigerator door.
Brenda: I thought you said that you hadn’t felt like cooking?
Sonny: I haven’t.
Brenda: This frige is loaded with food, who’s been cooking?
She walks out and gives him a puzzled look.
Sonny: *Slightly guilty* Sara has been making me and Stone food.
Brenda: *Upset* Oh, I see. Some of it looks pretty good.
Sonny: * Softly* She is a good cook.
Brenda: We’ll you know, I have to go, there really isn’t room in there for my soup. So, I’m just going to take it and go.
Sonny: Brenda, please don’t. I love your chicken soup. If there isn’t room for it, then I’ll eat it right now.
Brenda: It’s isn’t even mine, Ruby made it, I got it from Kelly’s.
Sonny: You didn’t have to make it, you took the time to bring it to mean and that is what is important.
Brenda: I’ll leave you the soup, but I have to go.
She puts the bowl down on a table by the door.
Sonny: Are you mad about Sara?
Brenda: *Lying* No, of course not. I’m glad you have someone, besides Stone, to take care of you.
Sonny: Then why are you running off?
Brenda: I have to get to an accounting lab to get to before 5:00, and it is all the way across town.
Sonny: Why are you going to a lab?
Brenda: It is like a tutorial, some place we can go if we are having problems.
Sonny: If only they had such places for the problems of everyday life.
Brenda: Well, I don’t know about the problems of every day life, but I’m having trouble with my accounting practice set.
Sonny: What seems to be the problem?
Brenda: There is one column that I keep adding up and it won’t balance.
Sonny: I could take a look at it and maybe save you a trip across town.
Brenda: *Her face brightens* You wouldn’t mind?
Sonny: It would be my pleasure.
She takes the practice set out of her tote bag and sets it on the coffee table in front of Sonny. His eyes scan the columns of numbers.
Sonny: Wait, I found it! You just transposed some numbers.
Brenda: *Surprised* Where?
Sonny: Come here and I’ll show you.
She bends over by him and scans the columns, running her finger down the paper.
Brenda: I don’t see it.
Sonny: Right here.
He takes her hand and directs it to the column that has the mistake. The instant that their hands touch a surge of electricity runs through both of there bodies. The look up at each other with longing in their eyes. They are about to kiss, when the front door swings open. They both turn to see Sara standing just inside the door. Brenda realizes that her hand is still being held by Sonny, and she yanks it away.
Sonny: The numbers should balance now.
Brenda: *With an almost icy voice.* Thank you.
Sara just stares at Brenda for a long time, not sure of what to make of her. The tone in Sonny and Brenda’s voices indicated the situation was casual however, their body language screamed that the opposite was true.
Sara: I know you, you’re the Deception Perfume girl.
Brenda: That’s right, and who are you?
Sonny: This is Sara. Sara, meet Brenda Barrett.
Sara: Oh, Sonny has told me a lot about you. I always wondered what kind of shallow, self absorbed, princess would be a model. I guess, now I have my answer!
Brenda: At least I was never a bar maid! I hope you feel better Sonny, but I guess now that Sara is here you have everything that you need, I have to go.
Sonny: Thank you for the soup, Brenda.
She takes on more look at Sara and leaves. Sonny follows her out with his eyes. There is a look of longing in them that Sara can’t ignore. The minute the door closes behind Brenda, she bursts into tears. She stops at the top of the stairs and cries. In less than a minute, Stone, Pete and Joseph are all at her side.
Stone: Brenda, are you okay?
Joseph: Is there anything that I can get for you?
Pete: Do you want to sit down?
All the attention only causes Brenda to cry harder. She sits down on the steps and buries her face in her hands. The three guys exchange worried glances.
Brenda: *Sobbing* He doesn’t need me!
Stone: Do you mean Sonny?
Brenda: I always thought that he would need me to take care of him, but he doesn’t.
Stone: Did Sonny say something to you?
Pete: Do you want me to beat him up for you?
Brenda stops crying and looks up at him, and realizes that he is serious.
Brenda: You’d do that for me?
Pete: Sure.
Joseph: Me too.
Stone: Even I’d do it if I thought Sonny was acting like a jerk.
Brenda laughs.
Brenda: Pete and Joseph, you guys work for him, and Stone is like his brother.
Joseph: We’d just have someone else do it for us.
Pete: Yeah, I know people who would beat him up just because of who he is.
Brenda: It’s nice to know that so many people would defend me, but I don’t want Sonny beat up.
Stone: What happened up there?
Brenda: Nothing that I didn’t bring sown on myself. I broke up with Sonny, so I guess I should let him get on with his own life.
Stone: Brenda, I know that you and Sonny aren’t together, but to think that he doesn’t need you is just wrong. Sonny needs you, maybe now more than ever. I don’t want you to ever feel like you can’t come around here or that you aren’t welcome here.
Brenda: Thanks, Stone, that means a lot. Joseph, are you ready to go?
Joseph: Whenever you are.
Brenda: Can you drive me someplace.
Joseph: Sure, where do you want to go?
Brenda: Harbor View Towers.
Stone: What is at the Harbor View Towers?
Brenda: Police Commissioner Sean Donley’s penthouse.
Stone and Pete exchange worried looks.
Meanwhile, in the apartment Sonny can’t take his eyes off of the door.
Sara: Is there something outside that interests you?
Sonny: I’m just worried about Brenda, did she seem upset when she left here?
Sara: Not really, what did she want?
Sonny: She is my friend, Sara. She came to check on me and bring me some soup.
Sara: Yeah, I’m sure. You have plenty of food that I cooked.
Sonny: Brenda didn’t know that.
Sara: Well, now she knows. You don’t need her food, I’ll take care of you from now on. If you’re hungry I can get you some real food.
Sonny: Leave the soup, Sara. We need to get something straight, you don’t own me, you don’t tell me what to eat or who to see and you don’t insult my friends! Is that clear?
Sara: Crystal clear ! I’m finally realizing that you have a real problem. You’re the one that told me that Brenda broke up with you, she ripped out your heart and left you devastated. I can help you move on with your life, but if you would rather pine away for something that isn’t going to happen, why should I stop you?
She turns her back to him and leaves slamming the door behind her. As she leaves, Stone comes in.
Stone: What did you say to Brenda?
Sonny: Not you too! I didn’t say anything to her, nothing happened!
Stone: So, nothing made her cry?
Sonny: Brenda was crying?
Stone: The minute the door closed she started to bawl her eyes out.
Sonny: I don’t get her at all. She calls it quits and then says she wants to be friends. So she comes over here and brings me food and sees that Sara has been cooking for me. So, what does Brenda do? She freaks out!
Stone: She said that she wanted to take care of you.
Sonny: I don’t want her to, she can’t keep coming around like that, because my heart breaks every time she leaves.
Stone: You don’t want to be her friend?
Sonny: No, I want to be her everything! I want things back the way they were. Maybe it is because I can’t have her, but I swear she gets more beautiful every time I see her. Am I crazy, Stone, or was she radiant today?
Stone: I wouldn’t say that you are crazy, you’re in love. However, you’re right there was something different about her.
Sonny: I even caught Pete checking her out. I should have jumped on his case for doing it, but I knew how he felt so I let it go.
Stone: Why can’t you just work things out with her?
Sonny: Because she knows the truth about me and she made the choice not to be with me.
Stone: What do you mean, “she knows the truth?”
Sonny: I told her everything, about being in the organization. I always told myself that if she didn’t want to be with me after I told her the truth, than I would respect that.
Stone: Was it safe to tell her?
Sonny: I didn’t have a choice, but she told me she wouldn’t betray me and I believe her.
Stone: Sonny, how mad was she?
Sonny: She was hurt mainly, I think she felt like she was being replaced by Sara.
Stone: That is exactly the way that she felt. Are you trying to replace her?
Sonny: Yes and no. I like Sara, I like spending time with her and she is almost as good a cook as I am. In the past week there have been times when I just needed someone’s arms around me, and Sara has been there.
Stone: Are you in love with her?
Sonny: No and I don’t think that I ever could be, because then I would have to stop loving Brenda and I don’t want to stop loving Brenda. I don’t get the same feelings with Sara that I do when I’m with Brenda. My feelings for Brenda have always been so intense, ever since the first time I kissed her, or rather she kissed me, it has been the strongest force in my life. Do you remember that night that I was having dinner with her at the Grill and I had to cal you to come rescue me?
Stone: Yeah, you were afraid of your feelings for her, because they were so strong. How did you put it?
Sonny: I was afraid to loose myself in her. I was afraid to fall in love with her, and now my biggest fear is that I won’t be able to be with her and I’ll have to love her forever from a distance.
Stone: Is she that scared of you?
Sonny: She is afraid of the world that I live in, and who can blame her? It cost us the life of our child. She deserves better than that. She deserves to feel safe and to raise a family in a secure surrounding.
Stone: Does she want the same for you, does she want you safe?
Sonny: I suppose she does, why?
Stone: How far would she go to make sure that you were safe? Does she think that you would be better off in jail?
Sonny: Why are you asking this?
Stone: When Brenda left here she was pretty upset and I’m just wondering why she would have told Joseph to drive her to the police commissioner’s penthouse!
Sonny: She won’t betray me, I have to trust that, I do trust her, Stone!
Stone: I hope that you’re right, for both our sakes. I like Port Charles, I’d hate to have to leave.
Brenda gets off the elevator on the 11th floor of Harbor View Towers and finds penthouse 4. She paces the hall for a few minutes, before she finally knocks on the door.
Chapter 96
Last chapter Brenda found out that Sara was taking care of Sonny. This made Brenda feel like Sonny didn’t need her anymore. When Sara insulted Brenda it caused her to leave in tears. Sonny confided to Stone that he enjoys Sara’s company, but he could never stop loving or wanting Brenda. Stone expressed fear that Brenda may use the information that she knows about Sonny against them. Sonny told Stone that he trusts Brenda not to betray him. Brenda headed to the police commissioners penthouse. *Authors Note: The penthouse that the police commissioner lives in is the penthouse that Sonny eventually moves into*
Brenda knocked on the door of penthouse 4, in the Harbor View Towers apartment building. It was the home of the police commissioner, but it was also the place where Brenda’s friend Robin was staying while her uncle was out of town. Robin opens the door and is slightly surprised to see Brenda and Joseph standing in the hall.
Robin: Hello, this is a surprise.
Brenda: Are you busy?
Robin: Not at all, come in.
Brenda: Is Sean here?
Robin: No.
Brenda: *Relieved* Good, I’ve been trying to avoid him ever since Sonny was arrested.
Robin gives Brenda a hug.
Robin: I’m glad you came, I’m so lonely.
Joseph: *To Brenda* I’ll wait out here.
Brenda follows Robin into the living room and looks around. The penthouse is decorated in a modern style with lots of metal and glass and fabrics in cool shades of gray and white. Brenda is looking around in wide eyed wonderment.
Brenda: Wow, this place is so amazing!
Robin: Do you want to sit down?
Robin indicates the couch.
Brenda: No way, I want to look around.
She walks to the large window and doors that lead to the balcony.
Brenda: The view is spectacular, I’ll bet it is to die for at night.
Robin: Yeah, I guess it is pretty nice.
Brenda: It’s more than that. I would kill to live in a place like this.
Robin: I don’t live here, I’m only staying with Sean and Tiffany while Uncle Mac is out of town.
Brenda: Still, you must feel like a princess.
Robin: Yeah, locked up in an ivy covered tower.
Brenda: Is Mac still giving you grief over you and Stone?
Robin: Uncle Mac doesn’t think that there should even be a Stone and me.
Brenda: So while he is out of town he locks you up in the tower?
Robin: Don’t get me wrong, I love Sean and Tiffany.
Brenda: It’s just nice to be trusted.
Robin: You got that right! Can I get you anything to drink or do you want to see my room.
Brenda: You have a room?
Robin: I don’t sleep down here on the couch, come on it’s upstairs.
Robin leads Brenda upstairs.
Brenda: How many bedrooms does this place have?
Robin: 3 up here and another downstairs by the kitchen. There is also a cot in the secret room.
Brenda: Secret room?
Robin: That is a really long story.
They stop in front of a door.
Robin: Here’s my room.
Brenda: What was that big room that we passed on the way here?
Robin: That is the master bedroom and bathroom. It has it’s own balcony with a Jacuzzi.
Brenda: Sounds romantic, can I take a look?
Brenda heads for the door, but Robin cuts her off.
Robin: absolutely not! Sean and Tiffany would kill me!
Brenda: Come on Robin, this is probably the only time I’ll be in a penthouse!
Robin: Actually, you might be able to see the whole place really soon when Sean and Tiffany put it on the market.
Brenda: Sean is selling this place?
Robin: I think he is very close to resigning as police commissioner.
Brenda: Why?
Robin: For a number of reason. For one thing, Tiffany is going to have a baby and I don’t think he wants to be in the line of fire anymore.
Brenda: This could be important, does Sonny know about it?
Robin: Sonny doesn’t even know that you’re pregnant, why should he care about Tiffany and Sean?
Brenda: Very funny, but seriously Sonny needs to know if there is going to be a changing of the guard at Port Charles Police Department, and he needs to know soon!
Robin: So, there’s a phone over there for you to call him. I know you are dying for any excuse to talk to him
Brenda: I can’t call Sonny, I just came from his place and things didn’t go very well.
Robin: What happened?
Brenda: Stone told me that Sonny didn’t feel like cooking, so I took him some food. Once I got there I found out that there was tons of food all over the place.
Robin: Yeah, Sara has been cooking for them.
Brenda: You are okay with this?
Robin: Sure, Sara works at the club and she is a pretty good cook from what Stone has told me. Oh, now I understand, you found out that Sara has been taking care of Sonny and you threw a fit!
Brenda: Only after she insulted me.
Robin: What happened?
Brenda: Sonny was showing me my accounting mistake, when Sara barged in and started being rude and accusing me of being shallow and self centered.
Robin: Well, she is kind of right.
Brenda: What does that mean?
Robin: Keeping this baby a secret from Sonny is a little self centered.
Brenda: I’m trying to protect my child besides, Sara doesn’t even know me.
Robin: She probably only knows what Sonny has told her.
Brenda: You’re a real esteem builder. So, that means that Sonny thinks that I’m a shallow brat?
Robin: Sonny knows that you have flaws, but he still loves you. That has to really confuse Sara.
Brenda: You mean Sara wasn’t telling Sonny anything he doesn’t already know?
Robin: Probably not, she wasn’t trying to hurt you or destroy the image that Sonny has of you, which is untouchable. You say that Sonny was helping you with your accounting.
Brenda: Yes, he had my hand in his and was pointing out the numbers that I had transposed.
Robin: And what else was happening when Sara came in?
Brenda: We might have been about to kiss, okay we were about to kiss.
Robin: Sara wasn’t trying to insult you, she was trying to hurt Sonny. Did he defend you to her?
Brenda: I don’t know because I left in tears.
Robin: I’m sorry that it happened, but Sara has a lot to learn about Sonny.
Brenda: How is he really doing?
Robin: He won’t really even talk to Stone. I think his head is still bothering him and he is having to deal with all kinds of outside forces and I know he is carrying around a lot of unnecessary guilt about the baby.
Brenda: I don’t want to fight about that, Robin.
Robin: You asked me about Sonny, my point is he isn’t doing well at all. He hardly leaves the apartment and he won’t cook. Stone and I are taking him on a dinner cruise around Spoon Island on Saturday.
Brenda: *Sarcastically* Spoon Island, how romantic.
Robin: It’s going to be fun, it’ll give us a chance to get out. Why don’t you come with us?
Brenda: Is Sonny going to take Sara?
Robin: Probably, but I’d still like for you to come along. You haven’t been out since your birthday.
Brenda: Fine, I’ll bring Jax.
Robin: You don’t even like Jax.
Brenda: That is not true, besides if Sonny is taking Sara there is no way that I’m going alone!
Robin gives her friend a disappointed look, before reluctantly agreeing.
Robin: Fine, I’ll make the reservations for 6, but don’t blame me if Sonny fights with Jax!
Brenda; Then you can’t blame me if I toss Sara overboard!
Chapter 97
If Robin Scorpio had to describe the social disaster of the 1990’s she would have to say it happened on the dinner cruise. As soon as Brenda told Jax about the evening he was volunteering his friends yacht to host the event. The idea was that the three couples would dine and dance at a private party and then spend the night on board. Jax offered because he was desperate to impress anyone that he could. Brenda accepted because she figured the more Jax primped and preened in her presence, the more it would upset Sonny. After a great deal of convincing Robin had finally agreed to the evening. It took far more arm twisting to convince the guys that spending the night dancing and dining on a fancy yacht was better than eating a prefab meal on a small public boat circling Spoon Island. In the end, it came down to the fact that Stone had never been on a yacht before and Sonny was curious about Jax and Brenda. Robin wasn’t sure what she expected out of the evening, defiantly not that her and Stone would end up together. Brenda had made sure of that when she assigned the rooms. Brenda and Robin shared one, as did Stone and Sonny. Jax and Sara each had a single room. It turned out that not only had Stone never been on a yacht, the only boat he had ever been on was one that was in port unloading cargo. He spent the first part of the evening very seasick. After that, the whole evening seemed to fall apart before Robin’s very eyes. Now, her and Stone sat at the table alone. Jax and Brenda were dancing, Sonny was standing at the bar glaring at them, and Sara was nowhere in sight. Sonny had been unable to keep his eyes off of Brenda all night. She looked absolutely breathtaking in a long beaded purple dress that clung to her body in all the right places. Her hair was up in a twist that exposed her neck and the plunging back to her dress. Of course, Sonny thought that Brenda looked god in anything that she wore or, as he preferred her, in nothing at all. Robin looked over and Sonny and could tell that watching Brenda with Jax was killing him.
Robin: Are you feeling better?
Stone: Much, that stuff Jax gave me for my seasickness seems to be working.
Robin: Do you want me to see if the chief will bring you out some dinner?
Stone: No, I’m not that hungry.
Robin: Well at least Brenda seems to be having a good time.
Stone: Yeah, but she is doing it at Sonny’s expense.
Robin: At least we got him out of the apartment.
Stone: What good did it do him, he could have sat around the apartment drinking and sulking about Brenda, that’s all he has done here tonight.
Robin: What are they supposed to do? They both want to be together and they’re not.
Stone: Right, Sonny and Brenda should be together and they’re not. For that reason, all of nature is out of balance. We should be on the look out for tidal waves and earthquakes and swarms of locus.
Robin: This is serious, Stone.
Stone: I was only half joking, something has to break and change between them soon, otherwise a lot of people are going to get hurt.
Robin: If only they would realize that. This is all my fault!
Stone: You can’t blame yourself for Sonny and Brenda’s problems, they have to figure things out for themselves. Where did Sara go?
Robin: Probably went up on deck to throw herself into the sea and escape from this evening from hell! That is what I’d be doing right now if I were her.
Brenda is flirting shamelessly with Jax and Sonny looks like he is going to explode at any moment. Jax whispers something into her ear that causes her to laugh. Robin looks over at Sonny, feeling very bad for him.
Robin: I’m not sure how much more of this Sonny can take.
Stone: I’m not sure how much more he should have to take.
Robin: Why don’t you see if you can get him to go up on deck for some air.
Stone: Good idea, I know I can use some.
Stone walks over to Sonny and Robin can tell that it takes some persuading before Stone gets Sonny to leave the room. Robin continues to watch Brenda and Jax, as Sonny and Stone leave. Sonny takes one last look at them as well, and with a sad shake of his head and follows Stone outside. Brenda looks over Jax’s shoulder and watches Sonny leave with sadness in her eyes as well, then she turns back to her dance partner. Stone walks to the edge of the deck and looks over.
Stone: Oh my gosh! Why did you let me come on this thing?
Sonny: To quote Robin, “It’ll be fun.”
Stone: It’s been everything except fun
Sonny: Don’t let a little thing like seasickness ruin your whole evening.
Stone: That’s not it at all.
Sonny: You mean Brenda? Don’t let her ruin your evening either.
Stone: Why, she has ruined yours.
Sonny: Not on purpose.
Stone: I wouldn’t be so sure, does she have even a clue what she wants.
Sonny: That, my friend, is the million dollar question. Have you seen Sara?
Stone: Not for some time, Robin thinks that she might be upset.
Sonny: I’ve probably blown it with her as well, she probably won’t even want to be friends anymore.
Stone: Sonny, she wants more than just to be your friend. Did you see how upset she was to hear that you and I would be sharing a room tonight?
Sonny: I was pretty upset as well, you snore!
Stone: I don’t either!
Sonny: Yeah you do, you sound like a hibernating grizzly bear, I don’t know what Brenda was thinking by putting us together!
Stone: I think we both know what Brenda was thinking, she was trying to keep you as far away from Sara as she could. She doesn’t want you guys to sleep together.
Sonny: Yeah, I think that it is kind of cool that she knows that we aren’t. It shows promise.
Stone: Do you think that she knows that you aren’t or does she just hope that your not?
Sonny: She knows that I’m not, just like I know that her and Jax aren’t.
Stone: Are you sure that it isn’t just wishful thinking?
Sonny: When somebody is a much a part of you as Brenda is a part of me, you just know.
He gets a far away look in his eyes.
Stone: Are you still worried about the tests that you are going to have on Monday?
Sonny: Naw, what is the worst that can happen? They can tell me I’m dying, but without Brenda I already feel like I’m dead. So, I have very little to loose.
Stone: I’m glad you finally decided to have them done.
Sonny: I figured that there is so much pain in my life that I can’t do anything about that I might as well solve some of the pain I can do something about.
Stone: I should really go back and find Robin. Do you want to come?
Sonny: No, I’m afraid that I would probably have to hit Jasper if I went back in there.
Stone: If it helps any, Robin doesn’t even think that Brenda really likes him.
Stone pats Sonny on the back as he leaves.
Sonny: See ya.
In the dinning room, Brenda and Jax have joined Robin at the table.
Brenda: I don’t think I’ll ever be able to dance again, let alone walk.
Robin: I told you not to wear those shoes.
Brenda puts the pair of silver high heeled shoes on the table and rubs her sore feet.
Brenda: I’m not going to be able to wear them for much longer.
Jax: I knew a dancer once that wore 4 inch heels until the day they wheeled her into the delivery room.
Brenda: These shoes used to be a size too big for me, if that is any indication of this pregnancy I’m not going to be getting close to anything with a 4 in it for a long time.
Robin gives Brenda a shocked look. Just then the chief comes up to the table.
Chief: Mr. Jacks, I need to speak to you about the breakfast menu.
Jax: Yes of course, excuse me ladies?
As soon as Jax is out of ear shot, Robin lets Brenda have it.
Robin: I can’t believe that you told him about the baby!
Brenda: Yes I did, why are you yelling at me?
Robin: Why is it okay to tell Jax and not to tell Sonny?
Brenda: Jax isn’t the father of the baby and he isn’t in a dangerous line of work. Besides, I had to tell Ned and Jax would have just gotten it out of Ned anyway.
Robin: Why did you have to tell Ned?
Brenda: Because I’m going to go stay with Lois and I didn’t want her to have to lie to him.
Robin: First of all, I didn’t even know that Lois and Ned knew each other. Second of all, you won’t let me tell Stone and you are telling the biggest lie to Sonny. The guilt that he is carrying around is killing him!
Brenda: I’m sorry about that.
Robin: No your not or you would tell him the truth! If you don’t tell him before you leave for New York I will.
Brenda: You won’t do it.
Robin: Tell him, Brenda! You can’t keep it a secret forever. Monday is your first prenatal check up?
Brenda: Yes.
Robin: You know that Joseph or Pete, or whoever has that shift, is going to follow you to the doctors office.
How are you going to explain that to them? They’ll go straight to Sonny with the information.
Brenda: I’ll figure it out, I’ll tell them that it’s personal. Now my feet are killing me, so I’m going down to the pool deck and soak them.
Robin: Fine, I need to go find Stone. We can talk more later.
They both walk out of the dinning room, then Brenda heads for the lower deck and Robin heads for the lower deck. On her way Brenda passes in front of Sara’s cabin. At that moment she walks out.
Sara is dressed in a short, tight, black dress and very high heels.
Brenda: Hello Sara, do you like your room?
Sara: You did this on purpose?
Brenda: What?
Sara: Put me in a room as far away from Sonny as possible, you are such a witch!
Brenda: Just once, I’d like to hear you say one word to me that isn’t an insult.
Sara: How long to you think that you can play these little games and keep me out of Sonny’s bed?
Brenda: What makes you think that Sonny wants you in his bed?
Sara: Well you aren’t keeping him warm or company. Face it, you threw him away. Now he is fair game.
Brenda: There are names for women like you that go after men who are in love with another woman.
Sara: There are names for women like you that tease and use men. How long do you think that Jasper Jax will let you toy with him and how long do you think Sonny will put up with it before he sees you for the tramp that you are?
Brenda: Oh, then you think that he’ll let you seduce him?
Sara: Sonny is a man, he has needs that are being filled any other way. I could have him tonight if I really wanted him.
Brenda: Now who’s the tramp? Sonny would never betray our love in that way.
Sara: He has come close several times, I had to push him away. You know half the thrill is the chase. I knew he wasn’t frustraied enough just yet.
Brenda: You’re lieing!
Sara: Oh really, shall I tell you what it feels like to have his arms around me, kissing my mouth. How he moves down my neck to my shoulders. How he almost makes me loose control when he presses his body aginst mine. Do you know how hard it’s been for me to stop him from making love to me? I’m not sure how much longer I can hold him off, he wants me so bad.
Brenda can’t stand to hear it anymore and slaps her.
Brenda: Shut up!
Sara: Make me!
Brenda: I don’t have to listen to this.
She turns on her heel and leaves the deck and walks down the stairs to the lower deck. As soon as she reaches the bottom step she sits down and sobs uncontrollably. She is scared to death that at least part of what Sara has told her is the truth. Maybe Sonny does want Sara and will end up with her. Sonny comes around the corner just in time to see Brenda leave, but not in time to hear any of the exchange of words between the two women.
Sonny: Was that Brenda?
Sara: Yes and she was just horrible to me!
Sara throws her arms around him and buries her head in his chest. He stokes the back of her hair and tries to comfort her as she cries crocodile tears.
Chapter 98
By the time that Sonny found Brenda on the recreation deck she has stopped crying . She has her shoes off and her feet in the water of the swimming pool. Her hair is down now, loosely falling across her bare back. Sonny had been drinking pretty steadily all evening, and by the time he finds her, he is a little less than sober and a little more than angry. Sonny stands behind her and watches her for a good while. Brenda knows that he is there, she felt him the minute he walked into the room. Something seems to happen every time her and Sonny are in the same room. There is a heightened sense of awareness that neither one of them can describe or explain. It is almost as if some unseen force bonds them to each other. So she knows he is there, but she doesn’t turn around or acknowledge him in any way. She lets him watch her. His eyes trace her hair as it falls in soft cascades across her bare back. Her gorgeous hair, and beautiful back, he has to stop himself from reaching out and running his fingers through the cascade of curls and trailing kisses up and down her back. He has to remind himself that he is angry at her. He had watched her during the evening, laughing and hanging all over Jax, pretending that she was having the time of her life. Sonny knew it was all a show. For one thing, Jax was boring and pompous and didn’t offer much promise of long term happiness, Sonny knew that Brenda realized that, so she had to be using Jax to make him jealous. The mere idea drove Sonny crazy, he hated games and he hated even more that her particular game was working. More than once during the night he had to stop himself from beating Jax to a bloody pulp.
Sonny: You want to tell me exactly what is going on here?
Brenda: Right this minute? I’m soaking my feet in this warm water. They hurt from all the dancing I’ve done tonight. Shouldn’t you be with your date?
Sonny: I’m sick of this game, Brenda!
Brenda: *Looking up at him* What game?
Sonny: I don’t even know what game. What are you trying to do, drive me crazy?
Brenda: I don’t know what your talking about.
She stands up and starts to put her shoes back on. Sonny waves his arms in the air as he speaks.
Sonny: You can play with me all you want, Brenda, but leave Sara out of your game. She was really hurt by the things that you said.
Brenda: Is that what she told you? She left out a detail or two, Sonny.
Sonny: This, all of it is just some big joke to you?
Brenda: Sonny, your paranoid ,drunk, or maybe both.
Sonny: No, I’m finally figuring things out. Only I don’t understand why you’re doing all of this. Why did you go to all the trouble to get Jax to show off this fancy boat, wine us and dine us and sweep you off your feet?
Brenda: Jax wanted to do this to be nice and he didn’t sweep me off of my feet. I don’t let that happen anymore. Ever since I let you do that, my life has been filled with one misery after another.
Sonny: That is what you keep saying, but if life with me was so horrible then why are you trying to make me jealous now? Are trying to drive me crazy?
Brenda: *With mock offense in her voice* I’m doing no such thing!
Sonny: You’re lying, Brenda, I can tell when you’re lying. I just don’t get it, you break up with me and tell me we are finished and for good reason. I don’t blame you for not wanting to be with me, after all I killed our child!
Brenda: Please Sonny, I don’t want to think about this right now. We had a nice evening, lets not ruin it now.
Sonny: Maybe you had a nice evening, but all I did was watch the woman that I loved pretending to enjoy herself in the arms of another man! HOW AM I SUPOSSED TO FEEL ABOUT THAT!
Brenda: Maybe the same way I feel when I see you with Sara. I feel like my heart is being ripped out. That’s partly why I’m leaving Port Charles, so we can both get on with our lives.
Sonny: You are my life, Brenda.
Brenda: Don’t say that.
Sonny: It’s true, at least you are the best part of my life.
Brenda: We have to let go. This move that I’m making will be good for all of us.
Sonny: Leaving town isn’t going to make me stop wanting you, Brenda, it’s just going to make me miss you.
Brenda: I don’t want you, Sonny.
He inches a little closer to her.
Sonny: Yes you do.
She backs away from him, and steps a few inches closer to the pool.
Brenda: No, I don’t want you.
Sonny: Stop lying Brenda, you want me at least as much as I want you. I can see it in your eyes.
Brenda: I really don’t want you.
Sonny: You do, because you love me, just like I love you.
She shakes her head, “No,” as he shakes his head in the opposite way. He locks her eyes with his and uses his gaze to melt her resistance. He moves close to her again, and this time with without warning he kisses her. It is a slow burning kiss that catches Brenda completely off guard, and she finds herself giving in and kissing him back with fervor. All of his anger quickly dissolves into passion for the woman that he loves. At first they are only kissing with there mouths, but soon they throw there whole body into the moment and both lose there balance and fall straight into the pool. Even though the water is slightly cool, his touch warms her whole body. He continues to kiss her as he backs up the pool steps and out of the water. They are completely consumed by their passion for each other and Sonny starts to slip her wet dress off of her shoulder, but Brenda pushes him away.
Brenda: I won’t do this, can’t!
Sonny: Why not, Brenda?
Brenda: Because it’s wrong.
Sonny: No, nothing has ever been so right. I love you and want you. I finally realized tonight that we have been running in circles because neither one of us really wants to let the other one go. We aren’t finished, can you honestly tell me that you don’t feel the same thing?
Brenda: Your confused Sonny, you don’t want me at all. You want Sara!
Sonny: What would make you think that I want Sara?
Brenda: *Tears from in her eyes.* She told me so.
Sonny: No baby, your the only one that I love. Your the only one that I want. Sara is the one that is confused. I’ll straighten it out with her later, but right now I need you.
Brenda: I’m so confused, I don’t know what to think. She knew so much, about the way you kiss and touch.
Sonny: She must be good at guessing. Brenda, I haven’t even kissed her.
He reaches up and caresses her face. His touch is so gentle and loving that she could almost get lost in it. One look into his eyes tells her that he isn’t lying. Brenda knows for sure that she is the only one that he wants. She isn’t sure what to do, if she gives into her desire for him she might very well loose herself in their love. Nothing has changed in the past month, she is still carrying their child and he is still leading a life of danger. Her response to his touch is to panic and pull away. The look on Sonny’s face is one of heartbreaking rejection
Sonny: Brenda?
She turns and runs into the nearest room, which happens to be the steam room. She takes a robe that is hanging on a hook and slips off her wet dress and puts on the robe. Then she leans against the door, out of breath and out of sorts completely confused by what has just happened. She can’t deny anymore that he is the one she wants, and she can’t stand the thought of him being with Sara. Sonny leans against the door to the steam room, completely sobered by the dip in the pool, he now knows that the woman that he wants is on the other side of that door. He can practically feel her heart beating and his first impulse is to rush into her arms, but he knows that she has to want him too. He would never force himself on her, no mater how much he wanted her, he had to know in his heart that she wanted it as much as he did.
Brenda keeps watching the door to the steam room, wondering what is taking him so long.
Brenda: *Disappointed* He isn’t coming after me!
Sonny: *Disappointed* I’m not going after her!
Another few seconds pass, during which both Sonny and Brenda almost reach a breaking point, finally Sonny does.
Sonny: The hell I’m not going after her!
He throws open the door and almost knocks Brenda over. There eyes meet and they both freeze. Neither is willing to make the first move. Finally, Brenda can’t stand it anymore and she rushes into his arms and kisses him passionately. That is enough proof for Sonny that she wants him as much as he wants her and he kisses her back. It has been a month since they have been together, but he quickly relearns how she feels against him. Brenda enjoys the safety of his muscular arms around her, the feel of his mouth against her neck and the smell of his cologne. Sonny revels in the feel of her hair brushing against his face the smell of her perfume and hearing her breath quicken as he holds her tight.
Brenda: I can feel your heart beating
Sonny: It is the one heart that we share that you can feel beating.
Brenda: Make love to me.
Sonny: There is nothing I would rather do in this moment.
Brenda lifts her head up and kisses him. Softly at first and then harder. Their kisses become more intense. He reaches up and runs his hands through her hair. He kisses her neck and then moves down to her shoulder, slipping the robe off of her body. She reaches up and starts to unbutton his shirt. He moves back up to kiss her mouth once more. Between kisses Brenda sighs with pleasure. He lowers her body gently onto the floor of the steam room and they make love. In a few timeless moments, they forget the problems of the world around them and indulge in each other on a level that only true soul mates can achieve.
Chapter 99
Sometime during the night Brenda gets cold. She reaches down to pull up blankets that aren’t there and suddenly remembers where she is and what has happened. Sonny’s arms are wrapped tightly around her and he is sleeping soundly. She disengages herself from his embrace and quietly gathers up her clothes. She slips the robe on because her dress is still wet. Sonny notices the minute that she is gone and misses her. He has spent the last month waking up every morning without her. Somehow the feeling that he has now it much worse. The feeling of emptiness To have her leave without saying a word after he held her in his arms for half the night makes his heartache. He gets up and puts on his wet clothes and goes up to his cabin. Brenda opens the door to her cabin very carefully, hoping that she won’t wake Robin. She is startled to find a shape sitting on the edge of the bed.
Robin: Where have you been?
Brenda: I was with Sonny.
Robin: I knew who you were with, Stone told me that Sonny was gone as well. It didn’t take a college education to figure out that you were together. I asked where you were?
Brenda: We were in the steam room.
Robin: Please tell me you weren’t doing what I think you were doing?
Brenda: We made love.
Stone was shocked by what Sonny told him, even though he suspected it all along.
Stone: What do you mean you made love?
Sonny: I’m not going to go into details.
Stone: You were angry at her when you went to look for her.
Sonny: I know, she was driving me crazy! I found her by the pool and we fought, I was angry because she was playing games with me and just generally confusing me. Then suddenly none of that mattered, because I realized that we were both in pain because we still cared about each other so much. Every thing that she did and every reaction that I had was because we loved each other. All of the anger that I had melted away and all I felt was my love for her. I gave into that love.
Brenda: I love him, I don’t know how it happened.
Robin: Was it safe?
Brenda: Of course, Sonny and I wouldn’t do it any other way.
Robin: I mean for the baby. Is it safe for you and Sonny to be together while you’re pregnant?
Brenda: I didn’t even think about that! What if I hurt the baby, what kind of mother am I?
Robin: I’m sure that it will be just fine. However, you should probably ask the doctor when you have your check up, especially if you and Sonny are going to be together from now on.
Brenda: What makes you think that we are going to be together?
Robin: I assumed that last night changed things between you.
Brenda: I don’t know if that is true. Making love with Sonny felt right at the moment, but I don’t know if last night really changed anything.
Stone: Did you and Brenda talk about what happened and how it changes the status of your relationship?
Sonny: Brenda left without saying a word. I know that it changes my feelings, I am more determined than ever to have a future with Brenda. Last night also made me realize that I have to find out what is wrong with my head. Do you know that when I hold Brenda, and kiss her my head stops hurting for a while.
Stone: Brenda is like some kind of miracle cure for your headaches, how does that work?
Sonny: Well, first of all, I have to be in physical contact with her. Even if we were back together, I doubt that she would agree to be in physical contact with me 24 hours a day. My best bet is to let Dr. Jones run his tests and let modern medicine figure out what my problem is. Then, as soon as I can get rid of Rivera, I can start to build a future with Brenda.
Stone: That reminds me, Robin says that the police commissioner may be resigning.
Sonny: When is that going to happen?
Stone: She isn’t sure, but she’ll keep me updated.
Sonny: If he does, there will be a period of chaotic turn over. If Rivera is going to make a move, then would be the best time for action.
Stone: I’ll keep you updated as soon as I learn anything.
Sonny: How did Robin know to tell you about this?
Stone: Apparently she told Brenda, who then figured out that it was information that you needed to know.
Sonny: She never stops amazing me.
Stone: Brenda is smart.
Sonny: No doubt about that. She also knows how to get results without opening her mouth. Maybe she makes a better mobster babe than I ever thought she would.
Stone: Mobster babe? Some how I can’t see Brenda wearing a pinstripe suite and carrying a machine gun.
Sonny: Thanks for the image. I’ve got to get a few hours of sleep before we have to eat breakfast with Jasper and Sara. Not to mention, Brenda and Robin.
Stone: *His eyes brighten* Yeah, Robin. Now that is a thought that I can sleep on.
Sonny: You’re hopeless!
Stone: Look who’s talking!
Sonny: *Sarcastically* Good night, Stone.
Stone: Good night man.
The next morning, at breakfast, the tension between Sonny and Brenda was thick enough to slice. Sonny kept trying to catch Brenda’s attention, but she wouldn’t meet Sonny’s gaze. Stone and Robin kept exchanging knowing glances. Only Sara and Jax seemed unaware that anything was going on. Brenda finished her food as quickly as possible and excused herself. Sonny waited didn’t want it to look like he was going after her, he waited just long enough after he left before he followed her. He found her on the upper deck, the wind blowing her hair and dress. The sun reflecting in her eyes and surrounding her in a celestial glow. He squints his eyes until they adjust to the light then he walks towards her.
Sonny: Brenda, are you sure that you aren’t a goddess born out of the sea?
Brenda looks up at him and smiles.
Brenda: Why would you think that?
Sonny: Because you always look so breathtaking with the ocean behind you.
Brenda: Thank you for the compliment.
Sonny: We need to talk about last night.
Brenda: *Tacking in a breath* Last night was-
Sonny: *Finishing her statement* Last night was beautiful.
They both smile.
Brenda: Yes it was, but my dress will never be the same thanks to our dip in the pool.
Sonny: Neither will my suite. Then again, neither will I. It happens every time we make love, I find myself being reinvented by our love.
Brenda: Nothing’s changed between us, Sonny.
Sonny: *In a low whisper* Everything has changed. Last night I realized that you mean everything to me.
Brenda: I don’t know what to say.
Sonny: Don’t say a thing, just listen. You are my everything, Brenda. You’re my lover, my friend and my soul mate. I know that we have some problems, but we can get past them together. If you don’t want to live in Port Charles anymore, I’ll build you a house on the land that I bought for you. If that is still to close, I’ll buy you land somewhere else and build for you there. I would go to the ends of the earth for you, baby.
Brenda: We could go to the ends of the earth and our problems would still follow us. I don’t feel safe when I’m with you. People around you get hurt and die, I don’t want to live that way! Sonny, that last time in the shower was partly my fault because I didn’t do what you wanted. If I had stayed in New York like you wanted me too, I would have been safe. I changed when I was shot at in the shower. I don’t know if I can ever go back to who I was before that night.
Sonny: This is about our child that you lost? I wouldn’t be surprised if you never forgive me for killing our child, but I still believe that we can get through it. We can always have another child, please say you’ll try.
Brenda: Sonny, we can’t raise a child when our lives may be in danger.
Sonny: What if I could promise you that I would remove the danger?
Brenda: How?
Sonny: I’m not sure how, I just need some time. Will you give me that, Brenda?
Brenda: My classes end next week, I can’t promise more than that.
Sonny: I need more time.
Brenda: Just promise me that we won’t fight any more, I’m so tired of fighting.
Sonny: I promise.
He leans toward her and gives her a soft, sweet, kiss. They quickly pull apart when they hear Stone and Robin’s voices approaching. Robin notices that Brenda’s cheeks are slightly flushed and Sonny is staring at her with a very eager look in his eyes.
Robin: Are we interrupting something?
Brenda: No, not at all.
She takes a step away from Sonny.
Stone: Jax sent us up here, since we are about to dock.
Robin: Apparently, it is bad luck to be bellow decks when a boat docks.
Sonny: I thought that was what he told us when we were leaving the dock?
Robin: I guess it works both ways. He and Sara are on their way up.
Robin wasn’t sure if she added the last part just for Sonny and Brenda’s information or as a warning that they should pull themselves together. Sonny passes behind Brenda, as he does he whispers in her ear.
Sonny: Say that you’ll give you and me one more chance.
Brenda: I’ll give you time to work things out.
Sonny: You won’t regret this.
He steps to the other side of her, as Jax and Sara come on deck. Sara goes straight for Sonny and wraps his arms around her.
Sara: *Announcing to no one in particular* This sea breezes can be chilly.
Sonny gives Brenda a desperate look, as if to ask the question, “What can I do.”
Sonny steps a little bit away from Sara, still sheltering her from the wind, but not embracing her. Sonny was first and foremost a gentleman. He had invited Sara on the cruise, and Brenda realized that he felt responsible for her. Brenda was convinced that if Sara was given the chance she would exploit Sonny’s good nature and charms. As if to prove her right, the boat bumps as it docks and Sara uses it as an excuse to fall into Sonny’s arms. Brenda takes one look at he maneuver and feels sick. She suddenly losses her balance and slips to the deck, unconscious.
Chapter 99
Brenda’s fainting spell on the yacht had caused quite a stir. Jax and Sonny had fought over whether she needed space and air or if she needed to be carried inside to lie down. She had finally convinced them that she was fine and just needed to get off the boat and go home. She was embarrassed that everyone had made such a fuss and scared to death that Sonny would put two and two together and figure out that she was pregnant. He hadn’t, Sara had actually unwillingly helped Brenda. Brenda had over heard Sara telling Sonny that she was sure that Brenda had pretended to faint just to get attention, and Sonny half way believed her. Normally Brenda would have torn Sara apart for even suggesting such a thing, but this time Sara had actually helped Brenda keep her secret from Sonny. Sonny was worried about Brenda, he knew that she was lying about being fine and he didn’t really buy Sara’s explanation about why Brenda fainted.
He hoped and prayed that there wasn’t anything seriously wrong with Brenda. His own failing health was all the medical tragedy that he could handle at one time.
Brenda had just finished her first prenatal appointment and was leaving the doctors office. She was followed closely by Joseph, who she had lied to about the visit. She had insisted that she was just having a physical, which Joseph knew his own wife had to have once a year. Brenda had no idea how she was going to explain her next appointment. Brenda walks down the hall and is surprised to see Stone in one of the waiting areas.
Brenda: Hi, Stone.
Stone: Hi, Brenda. I’m so glade that your here. I wasn’t sure that Sonny would tell you about the tests, but he needs all the support he can get.
Brenda: Where’s Sara?
Stone: She is working, I’m not even sure that Sonny told her about the tests.
Brenda: What tests are you talking about?
Stone: You mean, Sonny didn’t call you?
Brenda: I haven’t talked to Sonny since yesterday on the yacht.
Stone: I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.
Brenda: You already did say something. What kind of tests is Sonny having?
Stone: He is having neurological tests for his headaches.
Brenda: *Her voice stars to shake* Why didn’t he tell me?
Stone: I guess he didn’t want to worry you.
Brenda: I’m worried, please tell me, what’s going on?
She has a pleading look in her eyes that Stone can’t resist.
Stone: You know the headaches that Sonny started having after the accident?
Brenda: Yes, I know that he has had problems for a while, but I thought they were under control?
Stone: They have been getting worse.
Brenda: How bad are they?
Stone: Sometimes they are so bad that he can’t function. He just stops moving, so Dr. Jones gave him a pain killer. Only Sonny won’t take it them.
Brenda: He has several good reasons not to take any kind of narcotic.
Stone: He told you about Crystal?
Brenda: I already knew about that, he told me about Tommy and Deke, everything.
Stone: I’m a little surprised, Sonny doesn’t usually open up like that. He really trusts you, Brenda.
Brenda: I guess so, but not enough to tell me about these tests. Hasn’t he known about these for awhile?
Stone: Dr. Jones has been trying to get him to take the tests for over a month. He wouldn’t take them, I think that he is afraid that there is something seriously wrong with him.
Brenda: That sounds like Sonny, if you ignore it maybe the problem will just go away or leave you alone.
Stone: He does the best he can with what he has. Sometimes Sonny just doesn’t know how to do the right thing.
Brenda: I know, and he hates asking for help. What changed his mind about having the tests done?
Stone: I think he had a couple of reasons for wanting to have them done. For one thing, he told me that he always thought that scotch could dull just about any pain in the world. Then he found two types of pain that drinking didn’t diminish. He figured that if he couldn’t do anything about the pain of loosing you, he would try and take care of the pain that he could do something about.
Brenda: Did he tell you about what happened between us on the yacht?
Stone: He told me that the two of you were together.
Brenda: Did that have anything to do with his decision?
Stone: He already had the tests scheduled, but I think it made him want to go through with them.
Brenda: He thinks that we have a future?
Stone: I’m not so sure that he believes that he has any kind of future, these headaches have robbed him of any kind of medical optimism. However, if he does have a future, I know that he wants it to be with you.
Brenda: I’m not sure that our futures can be together. He made me some promises on the yacht, and I agreed to give him some time, but I’m not sure either one of us can fulfill those promises.
Stone: I know that you care about him, or you wouldn’t be here.
Brenda: Of course I care, we are friends and despite everything I do love him. I just wish that he had told me about this.
Stone: He didn’t want you to worry about him.
Brenda: You mean he doesn’t want me to feel sorry for him!
Stone: Probably true, Sonny has a lot of pride.
Brenda: Yeah, so much that he doesn’t want to ask for help from anyone. He can be such a stubborn fool sometimes!
Their conversation is interrupted by the sound of Sonny’s voice coming from the other room.
Sonny: No, I won’t do it! You can’t make me do it!
Sonny comes out of the room with his hands held high in protest. A nurse is following him, holding out a hospital gown.
Nurse: Sir, it’s hospital policy for you to wear the gown.
Sonny: No, you know what? You wear it!
Sonny walks away from the nurse and notices Brenda standing there with a grin on her face.
Brenda: I think that you would look kind of cute in the gown.
Sonny: Hey, what are you doing here?
Brenda: I had to have a check up.
Sonny knew that she was lying, but he wasn’t sure why.
Sonny: Is everything okay?
Brenda: It has never been better. I hear that you aren’t doing so well though.
Sonny: I’m holding my own.
Brenda: *Softly* Sonny, don’t. Don’t lie to me and tell me you are all right, when I know your in pain.
Sonny just shrugs and tries to avoid her eyes, eyes that can see right through him straight into his soul.
Brenda: You’re scared, aren’t you?
Sonny: I was a little scared, then Dr. Jones started talking to me this morning and telling me everything that could be wrong with me. Now I’m not scared, I’m terrified!
Brenda: I understand, but you don’t have to face this alone. You have people that care about you, let us help you through this.
She goes to him and embraces him tightly, he puts his head on her shoulder and absorbs the feel of her arms around him. He draws life from her touch. Stone steps back and lets her comfort Sonny. Tony has walked up and is talking to the nurse.
Tony: What seems to be the problem?
Nurse: The patient won’t wear the gown.
Sonny looks up at Tony.
Sonny: Look, I don’t think I can go through with this.
Tony: You don’t have to wear the gown if you don’t want to.
Sonny: That is a start, but I can’t let you put me in that machine, it is too closed in.
Brenda: Sonny is claustrophobic.
Tony: A lot of patients are, that doesn’t mean that we can’t perform CAT scans on them. We can give you a sedative.
Sonny: Never!
Tony: Okay, there are other things that we can do to relax you. We can try aromatherapy, that works for some patients.
Sonny: You aren’t serious?
Tony: If you don’t think that will work, you could try taking some one in with you. Sometimes a familiar voice or someone to hold your hand can do wonders.
Sonny: Could it be Brenda, I might be able to go through with it if I had her in there with me.
Tony: I don’t have any problem if she agrees to go with you.
Brenda: Yes, of course I will. I’m willing to help in any way I can.
Tony: Okay, I’ll get the papers for you to sign. You will be exposed to small levels of radiation. As long as you aren’t pregnant, there shouldn’t be problem.
Brenda’s face has turned white and she doesn’t notice Doctor Anderson has walked up behind her and heard the whole conversation.
Dr. Anderson: Mrs. Barrett is my patient and I will not have her or her unborn child exposed to any level of radiation!
Tony: Brenda, I didn’t know that you’re pregnant!
Sonny: She isn’t.
Brenda gets a guilty look on her face.
Brenda: I’m sorry, Sonny.
She runs from the waiting room. It takes a few seconds for the information to affect Sonny. His first thought is that she has been lying to him. Then his second thought is that maybe it isn’t even his child.
Tony: When is she due?
Dr. Anderson: 7 months
Sonny does the math quickly in his head and realizes that they were still together when the child was conceived and it is his child, the one that she told him she lost. He feels like what remains of his heart has been torn out. Sonny storms out after Brenda. Robin passes him on the way in. She finds Stone in the waiting area.
Robin: Did Sonny finish his tests?
Stone: *Angry* Why didn’t you tell me that Brenda was still pregnant? How could you let Sonny believe that he had killed his own child?
Robin: Oh my gosh! Sonny knows about the baby?
Stone: How could Brenda lie to him about something this important?
Robin: Was he angry?
Stone: Yes, he has every right to be angry! He went after Brenda, heaven help her when he finds her!
Tony: I hope that Sonny is smart enough to come back here. I think I know what is causing his headaches. If I’m right, going after Brenda could be the worst possible thing he can do for his health. In fact, it might just kill him!
Robin looks towards the door, scared and feeling guilty, she wonders how Sonny and Brenda will get past this crises.
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