AJ slammed the phone down on the receiver making the papers scattered atop of his desk rumble gently. Richard Barnes, President of Barnes Shipping Company, had just called to back out of the deal that would have surely put AJ in the highest of esteem with his grandfather. That deal would have made ELQ millions of dollars…but now…now…“Damn!” AJ reached for the knot in his tie, loosened it, and slid it off his neck. Balling it up, he threw it across the room, landing limply against a corner wall. It seemed no matter how hard he tried, no matter what he did, he could never do enough, never live up to Ned’s greatness, Jason’s greatness, his grandfather’s greatness. He was always falling short, always just missing the opportunity…and frankly, he was sick of it.
Pushing away from his desk, he got up and walked to the wet bar conveniently located in his office. Sure there was a lot of alcohol, but that was mainly there because he often entertained clients at meetings and such. For himself, the bar was stocked with the most expensive bottled waters, sodas, and juices.
But just this once…AJ wanted something more…something to ease his failure. He’d been sober for almost two years now. He hadn’t gone to his AA meetings, but he’d kept away from the bottle. The same bottle was now seemingly chanting his name.
What could one small drink hurt anyway? he asked himself as he reached for a glass. Ready to go for a bottle of Bourbon, a knock sounded at his door.
”Who is it?” The loud tone of his voice bounced off the empty walls of the office, scaring himself into dropping the ice thongs.
“Sir, it’s Denise. I think you should come out and see something.”
AJ angrily set the glass back on the counter. As if his day wasn’t already royally screwed, now this.
He stormed over to the door, threw it back open, and stared at the now cowering secretary. “Denise, whatever it is can wait. Surely you can handle it for another five minutes.” Standing back to close the door, Denise spoke up.
“Ah, Sir, there’s been an accident…I…I think your wife was involved in…”
AJ brushed by Denise, making his way to the small television he knew his secretary kept behind her desk.
…we don’t really have much information except from reports of people who were simply pedestrians standing-by when the accident occurred. The police are not releasing any information except that a woman stepped into the street, causing a car to brake, which caused a city bus to overturn upon hitting it. There are a few reports of bruises and scrapes from some of the bus’ passengers…and we don’t…hold on…I’m getting some information here…
AJ looked to his secretary, a frown creasing his brow. “You said Carly was involved…I don’t hear anything that…”
“Just listen.” Denise said, pointing to the television set.
…yes, Robert. We have just learned the identity of the woman who caused the accident. Carly Quartermaine, wife of AJ Quartermaine, CEO of ELQ, was the woman. Witnesses say she was running from something…or someone – we don’t know which – and she crossed into the path of the oncoming car. Our witness reports do say that Mrs. Quartermaine did not see…or even look to see where she was going…Let’s pan the camera to get a better look at the scene now…
As the camera moved, AJ saw people being escorted by police officers and paramedics off the turned bus. The camera panned into the car that had braked, it’s back half totally destroyed now. It seemed that crews were working to get someone out…but whom AJ didn’t know because it looked to him as if the driver was not in there.
…a witness here…Can I get your name sir?
Um… Evin Donelley.
And what did you see?
Well, I was coming out of a store across the street, when some lady screamed. I looked over to see what the fuss was all about, and this woman was standing right in the middle of the street, a car coming and everything! I think the driver tried to stop, but it was sort of too late, and she just got hit. And then the bus driver, he just plowed into the back of the car, and the whole thing tipped over. It all happened very quickly…
The woman, would you have an insight to any of her injuries?
Well, I would say she’s probably pretty hurt because of the speed at which that car hit her. I don’t know, she was still pinned under, half of her anyway, the last I saw…
AJ turned briskly and walked to the elevator. “I’m going down to General Hospital!” he yelled to Denise, not really caring if she heard him or not.
God! Could this day get any damn worse?
“Bobbie, come over here. I think they’re talking about Carly!” Amy said as moved closer to the television in the lobby. The newscast had interrupted her favorite soap opera, “Constantly Changing,” and she had been pretty ticked because two of the main characters were just about to admit their love for each other. She never missed CC.“What are you talking about Amy? Carly?” Bobbie walked up behind her friend, craning her neck to see what was so important of the television. It was a commercial.
“I don’t really know what the correlation between Carly and Tide is except for maybe she uses it, but I wouldn’t even go as far as to say she does laundry!” Bobbie laughed, but Amy did not share in the joke. Her attention was fixated on a news anchor that was talking about some accident.
“I have things to do Amy…”
The woman, Carly Quartermaine, has just been extricated out from under the vehicle that run her down. The paramedics seem to be working on her, but I am guessing that they will be transporting her to General Hospital. Once again, the reports are that Mrs. Quartermaine ran into the street, causing the car make an abrupt stop, which caused a PC Bus to turn over. No major injuries reported there, but they are transporting all passengers to the hospital to be seen. This is Wendy Richarde live from the scene. We will keep you updated on this Robert.
Thanks Wendy. We will now return to…” “Bobbie? Are you alright? Sit down honey.” Amy pulled her frozen friend into one of the lounge seats. She had never seen Bobbie like this and it was beginning to scare her.
“Bobbie, sweetheart you need…”
“I need to get down to the ER! Oh my God! Carly!” Bobbie stood quickly, the tears already streaming down her face.
“Just calm down…”
“Calm down? Calm down? My daughter could be dead and you want me to calm down?” Bobbie couldn’t comprehend what Amy was saying.
Oh Carly. Please, please hang on. My baby…
Dani had heard the sirens and seen the lights, even from the fourth floor. Her curiosity getting the best, and that fact that she didn’t have her next client until 3:15 that afternoon, she had gone down to see what was all the fuss. It had been difficult to see anything because others had crowded the sidewalk just in front of her building.After making a threading her way through what seemed like a hundred people, she had come upon the scene of the accident. A bus had overturned! The passengers, about 20 or so, hadn’t seemed that injured, but nonetheless, they were being transported to the hospital to be looked at. What seemed to be the main concern of the Fire Fighters and Police men on the scene was the cause of the accident.
A black sedan had been devastatingly wrecked, but the driver, an older man it seemed, had looked to be okay. It wasn’t until she looked at the front of the car did she see her. Carly Quartermaine. Her initial shock wearing off, she had tried to go and help the woman somehow…maybe comfort her, but an officer had held her back. All she had seen was Carly loaded onto the Ambulance and being driven away.
And she had prayed – for both her and her unborn child.
The car had come out of nowhere. One minute she was standing there, the next she had disappeared. The driver…he was going at least 40…maybe even more…in the city no less…and Carly…she had just run out…It had all happened so quickly, but the scene had played slowly in front of his eyes. Over and over again he’d seen it…replaying it…re-living it as if it would offer some sort of soothing effect to his frayed nerves. He hadn’t even done it himself. She’d used her own stupid mind…her own two damn legs…her own will. There would be no dragging of the PC Lake…no search for a body. The body would be there for all to see…as if anyone would want to. He’d known he’d make her pay and he did.
With her life.
The car…it had been trapped on her for at least ten minutes while crews had worked to free her. All the people milling about…all the injured…they had seemed like ghosts to him. He had only looked at her still body on the ground. And even through his remorse…he had felt a small iota of satisfaction. The world would be a better place with people like Carly. He had inadvertently done everyone a favor – Jason, Michael, the Quartermaine’s…himself. She would never again hurt anyone, betray anyone, lie to anyone…
“Sonny? Maybe we should leave?” Johnny half asked, half stated. They had been in the waiting room for about 25 minutes. He didn’t have to ask what his boss was waiting for. He already knew. He’d seen the look in Sonny’s eyes. Part disbelief. Part amazement. A small touch of remorse. But a lot of satisfaction. As soon as they announced Carly’s death, they could leave. Sonny wouldn’t look back. He wouldn’t care. If he wanted to be cold…if he wanted to be heartless…he was. And that was exactly how he was acting right now. Cold. Heartless.
“No Johnny…not until…not until we know something…”
As if waiting for those words, a man in green scrubs hurriedly approached them.
“Ah…Mr. Quartermaine.” The doctor stated more than asked, looking at his chart rather than at Sonny and Johnny.
“Your wife is in stable condition. Her injuries were much less critical than they appeared at the scene of the accident. She had a few cuts that have been treated in the emergency room. Her right sided was pinned by the vehicle and it seems most of the injuries were to her right arm. We’re getting x-rays done right now, but it seems as if it’s broken…maybe in two places…she was complaining about it. Her right leg…”
“What? She’s awake? She was just hit by a car!” Sonny couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Well she was very lucky. As I was saying before, her right leg seems fine. It will probably start to ache and hurt later, but we’ll give her some pain medicine for that. Nothing too strong though, because of her pregnancy. That too. It’s amazing her child wasn’t hurt, but like I said before – she was lucky.” The doctor flipped closed his chart and finally looked up to stare into the face of Sonny Corinthos.
“Um…I thought you were Mr. Quartermaine…I only saw the suit, not the face. I’m…I…” The resident didn’t seem to have anything more to say, seeing that his arrogance had apparently just enabled him to give out private patient information to a reported mobster.
“Run that by me again kid?” Sonny spoke through clenched teeth. He had seen her under the car. She had been still…lifeless…dead! Now she was awake? And complaining? And pregnant?
“I’m s-s-sorry Mr. Corinthos. I can’t give away patient information to anyone but the family. I a-a-apologize for my earlier blunder.” The man made a quick turn to leave before he stuck his foot any further up his mouth, but a strong hand seized his arm and whirled him back around.
“Where is she? What do you mean she’s pregnant? She can’t even be alive much less pregnant! What’s your name? Are you a real doctor?” The questions shot out of Sonny’s mouth. The wheels of his mind were turning even faster.
If he’s telling the truth…IF she’s still alive…still pregnant…It can’t be! She got the abortion…
But right then, words that Carly had spoken early came back to him.
I...I didn't have the abortion! There, are you satisfied! I didn't do it! I didn't kill your precious baby…
He’d thought she’d been lying. Just trying to get herself out of another tight space…but now…
“Tell me damn it!” Sonny barked at the man. It seemed his patience had been running low all day long – he sure as well didn’t have any right now. If Carly was still pregnant…if her baby was still alive…
My baby.
"Repeat everything you just said Doctor..." Sonny glanced at the man's id tag. "Doctor Michellson. And go slow this time."
And he did. Everything he had said before, he said again. Faster this time, as if wanting to get out of Sonny's presence before he was shot dead. When he finished, he quickly excused himself and left the room.
"She's still pregnant. She was still pregnant back..." And then it all hit him.
I almost killed my child. Again.