| Part 2 She tried, but couldn't break his hypnotic gaze. ''Or maybe you don't want to'', a voice in her taunted. She tried to draw in a breath, but couldn't. How ironic, she thought. The man who was always telling her to breathe had made it impossible. Finally, she shook her head, as if trying to rid her face of a stray hair, instead of trying to rid her head of things she knew weren't true. Couldn't be true. He was looking at her like he had in her dream. Honestly! ''I must have hit my head harder than I thought'', she muttered, getting to her feet. Sonny immediately rose up, his hands brushing and searching through her hair. ''Johnny didn't tell me you hurt your head. Why didn't you say something?''He was gently probing, looking for any bump or scrape. The feel of his hands, raking through her hair, like in her dream was more than Alexis could bear and she quickly pushed his hands from her head. ''I'm fine Sonny'', she assured, walking over to shuffle some papers on her desk. Sonny still looked concerned, ''but your head, you said-'' ''My head is fine. You know how I ramble when I'm nervous.'' Realizing things were getting out of her control, she turned the focus on him.''Tell the truth Sony, why are you here?'' Walling over to the desk, he placed his hand dangerously close to hers. ''You really want to know?'' he asked quietly. Again, he locked his gaze with hers. She drew in a breath and tried to be flip. ''I asked, didn't I?'', but he didn't answer, just kept looking her with those eyes. ''A staring contest-that's one we haven't tried before'', she was desparately trying to lighten the mood. Itwasn't working. ''Sonny, hello!'', she snapped her fingers in his face. That did the trick. He blinked and shook his head. ''Where were you?'' He looked surprised. ''Someplace I- never mind.'' He couldn't tell her, not yet. ''Ok, let's try this again. Why are you really here? And tell me the truth, please.'' ''Please, huh? You must really want to know'', he teased. ''I wouldn't have asked otherwise.'' ''OK, I'm here because I didn't want you to be alone tonight.'' She was surprised and touched. ''Sonny, I'm fine. It's just a broken wrist.'' ''That's not what I'm talking about.'' ''Then what-'' ''Alexis, who made you think that it's not ok to be scared? To think that it's wrong to need someone. I'm not condemming you, I've made it an art form. But I chose to be this way.'' ''So did I,'' this conversation was unnerving her. When had he gotten to know her so well? ''No you didn't. You resigned yourself to it.'' ''Sonny please'', she wasn't up to this, not tonight. ''Did Helena do this to you? Did she tell you need was a sign of weakness?'', his voice rising. ''Stop it Sonny. You're wrong.'' ''Am I?'', he taunted. ''Who said I wanted to be alone?'' ''You sent Ned away.'' ''I-'', she looked away. ''I had my reasons.'' ''Care to elaborate?'', his voice low. ''Since it really has nothing to do with you, no I-,'' ''Dammit Alexis! This has everything to do with me!, she flinched as his palm smacked the desktop. She knew he was blaming himself and she tried to reassure him. ''Sonny, don't-'' ''Don't what? Blame myself? If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be standing here with a broken wrist, trying to show the world how tough you are.'' He paused as a new thought struck him. ''You know what? For months, people have been telling you to leave me alone. That if you continued our friendship, you would get hurt- or worse. And you wouldn't listen. Tonight, I caused the hurt. I won't cause the ''worse''. Goodbye Alexis.'' His voice sounded dead and he turned to leave. ''Where are you going?'', her voice was full of panic. He was scaring her. ''I'm not going to be the reason you're alone. Not anymore.'' He looked at her, then at the floor. ''You should call Ned.'' He turned once more to go. The words left her mouth before she could stop them, she was just so drained. ''I don't want Ned. I want you.'' It took a moment for the words to sink in, but as they did Sonny felt his heart begin to sing. He turned to look at her and had to stifle a smile. She looked like a deer trapped in headlights. Clearly, these feelings were as new to her as they were to him. He knew he had to act carefully but quickly, or she might retreat back to that place where no one could reach her. Covering the space between them in the blink of an eye, he gently but firmly pulled her into his arms as his mouth descended on hers. She kissed him back, hesitantly at first, but as the kissed deepened, her good arm snaked up to cup his head and pull him closer to her. Finally, they broke apart, but kept their foreheads pressed together as their breathing returned to normal. Then, ''Do you want me stop?'', even as his lips began to explore her neck. She knew that what happened next could affect the friendship she valued above all others. But she also knew that for tonight, for this moment, what happened next was right for both of them. For two people who had had a lifetime of healing alone, this night they would heal together. |