| Part 1 Sonny stepped onto the elevator, pressed the button for the penthouse, and waited for the doors to slide shut before laying his head on the cold metal veneer.God, he was tired. This latest showdown with Sorrel had been another in a series of close calls in his life and he had a feeling that he had used the last of his nine lives tonight, as Alexis liked to say. Alexis; he hadn't realized how deeply under his skin she had gotten until tonight, but when he walked into the penthouse and saw her there along with Zander and Carly, he'd been surprised to feel something inside him shift. Maybe it was the imminent trust and faith he saw in her eyes, as though she knew he would do whatever it took to get them out safely. Maybe it was the way she sat there on the floor, cradling Zanders' head in her lap, covered in his blood, yet staring defiantly at Sorrel as though she was more indignant than frightened, which Sonny knew wasn't the case; it was just that she would rather die than let him see it. Maybe it was because he, and he alone knew that she was probably thinking this was just another horror that she was going to have to endure alone. On that count she was wrong. Right then he made a promise to himself and her, that this time, she wouldn't be alone. Now that time was at hand. He had extricated himself from Carly's clinging hands as soon as possible, and was now ready to make good on that promise. The elevator doors opened,and as Sonny stepped off the, Johnny gave him a small nod by way of greeting. ''Boss, you're back sooner than expected''. ''I could only take so much of Carly's histrionics, plus she was upsetting Michael. Bobbie finaaly convinced her to get some sleep'', he explained. Nodding his head in the direction of Alexis' penthouse, ''She home yet?'' ''About 20 minutes ago'', Johnny answered. ''How is she?'' Sonny asked, his face full of concern, and something Johnny couldn't quite put a name to. ''She-she has a broken wrist'', Johnny stammered, knowing the berating Sonny would put himself through. ''Also, she's very worried about you. Like she won't believe you're ok until she sees you with her own eyes. ''Dammit! I never wanted her to get hurt!'', Sonny dragged his hands angrily over his eyes.''Is she alone?'' ''Ashton brought her home, but she wouldn't let him in. Said something about recovering in her own way.'' Of course, Sonny thought, alone she means. Sometimes he wondered if she thought being alone after the bad stuff was just the way it was supposed to be. Well, she was about to find out it wasn't. Johnny broke into his reverie. ''He didn't seem too happy about it, but she was adamant'', he offered the last bit like he was proud of her. ''I don't want to be disturbed the rest of the night, you got it?''Sonny asked as he went to the door, not waiting for an answer. He knew Johnny would comply. ''Raising his hand, he briskly knocked on the door. ''Alexis? It's me'', he called. He heard the sound of running feet and before he knew it, the door flew open and there she stood, her eyes wide as she took him in, afraid to blink in case he might be a mirage. ''Sonny? she whispered disbelievingly. ''Are you alright?'' ''Of course, although I think this was life number nine'', he joked, trying to lighten the mood, if only for a moment. As she studied him, he was the doing the same in kind. Her left arm was encased in a cast and sling and he felt guilt pouring through him, but he pushed it aside. This wasn't about him, only her.Her clothes were torn and dirty, and there were slight remnants of soot on her face. Sonny thought she had never looked more beautiful. ''This is not the time to distract me with a lame show of your annoying cockines,'' she retorted, refusing to play their favorite game of lightening the moment by making it seem less than what it was. ''Come on Alexis, I'm fine. See? No permanent damage, I promise'', he tried to reassure her as he held up both hands and turned around slowly. When he turned back, he was taken aback to see her wiping tears from her eyes. Closing the door so Johnny wouldn't see, he gently pulled her into his arms, taking care not to jostle her arm. ''I'm sorry'', she whispered, trying to control herself. ''I don't know what's wrong with me''. He made shushing sounds as his hands gently ran up and down her back.'' I just kept imagining all sorts of horrible things, images that are really too grotesque even for those slasher movies Zander likes to watch. Honestly, I don't know what he sees in them; all that blood and gore- plus they're so degrading to women-'' ''Alexis, breathe'', came the all too familiar command that had long ago become their own private joke whenever she began to ramble out of nervousness or fear. She couldn't tell him that this time it wasn't just the events of tonight that were making her nervous, it was also the lazy circles he was tracing on her back. She probably wouldn't even notice it weren't for that dream she'd had.Damn that dream! It had made her aware of him in a new way that she hadn't yet grown accustomed too, and wasn't sure if she ever would. ''Let's go sit down'', he suggested, and led her over to the couch where he pulled her down next to him. ''Shouldn't you be with Carly?'', she asked as she tucked her feet beneath her. ''Nope'', Sonny answered, as he stretched out his legs to rest them on the coffee table. ''I need a quiet place to recover, and a house with Carly and a six year old-even Michael- is not the place. Nope,'' he continued as he locked his gaze with hers,'' this is the only place I need- or want- to be tonight.'' |