It had taken AJ near an hour to reach GH because of the accident downtown…the accident his wife had been involved in. The traffic downtown had been at a standstill for about thirty minutes with crews trying to get the bus turned right-side-up again. AJ had almost gotten out of his car and walked, but he had know that walking wouldn’t have gotten him here any faster.Now as he roamed the ER, he wondered exactly what he was supposed to do…who was he supposed to contact…how would he get information about Carly’s condition. As he turned another corner, he ran right into his mother.
“AJ? It’s a surprise to see you here? What brings you to GH today?”
“Mom, Carly was in some accident. It was all over the news, didn’t you see? Where can I find out about her condition or see her?”
“Carly as in Carly your wife?”
“Mom! She could be bleeding to death as we speak!”
“I’m sorry son. Here, come with me. We’ll go to the admitting desk in the ER and see what we can find. What accident?”
“I don’t really know. She ran out into the street and was hit by a car. It was all over the news because a city bus was also involved. “
“Are you sure this is real? You know Carly would do anything for attention…”
“I hardly think she has the means to get a news broadcasting station to play a live feed of some made-up accident. And anyways, I’m coming from the office downtown. The traffic was horrible, they’re still trying to clear it.”
“Here…right here. Hold on and let me see what I can find out.”
As Monica talked with a nurse at the station, AJ turned to survey the room he was standing in. There were a lot of people from the accident in the room, waiting to be checked on and released. Others were just there because they were…
AJ and Sonny’s eyes met at the same time. Sonny rolled his eyes and turned to walk away, but AJ would not let it go that easily.
“Hey! Corinthos! What are you doing here?”
“None of you business Junior. Now if you will excuse me, I have more important things to do than chat with you.” Sonny signaled to Johnny that they were leaving, but AJ would still not let it go. He stepped into Sonny’s path, and looked him in the eye.
“You have something to do with my wife’s accident Sonny? Is that why you’re here?” AJ asked seething. The look on Sonny’s face only confirmed his suspicions. The man looked as guilty as sin.
“What’d you do, push her out into the street? Huh? Stay away from my wife Corinthos. If you know what’s good for…”
“I’m sorry, was that a threat Alan Junior? Because…I don’t really like it when people threaten me.”
“Oooooh…I’m shaking in my shoes. You really scared me there Sonny. What did you do to Carly? Huh? Were you the ‘someone’ she was running from?”
Yeah, I was Sonny thought. But he kept the stone face on. He would not give this man the satisfaction of thinking he was better than himself. Ever.
“Why don’t you hop in your little red car and go back to work Junior. I’ll take care of your wife.”
. AJ took a step towards Sonny. “Like hell you will! You won’t go near Carly. So why don’t you hop in your bullet-proof hearse and drive off into the sunset.”
“You know AJ, it would be very easy for you to disappear. Very. So take a step back. In fact, take three steps back.”
AJ held his ground for a few seconds, then stepped back. The last thing he wanted was to get into a fight with Sonny Corinthos in a crowded hospital Emergency Room.
“Maybe your scare tactics work with others, but they have no affect on me Sonny. Get out of here. NOW!”
“You know what Johnny, I think we will stay to see how Carly is.” Sonny gave AJ one last threatening look, then walked away over to a magazine rack to look busy.
What an idiot! he thought to himself. The guy really needed a drink. Or four.
Right then, Bobbie walked back to the main desk. Upon seeing her, Sonny moved over to talk to her. “How is she?” Sonny asked.
AJ was fuming. How dare he come here and question my wife’s health!
“That’s none of your business Sonny!” Turning away from the angry mobster, AJ reiterated the same question to Bobbie. “Have you seen her? How’s she’ doing?”
Sonny rolled his eyes. Again.
“Look, gentlemen, or should I say boys for the way the two of you are acting. Really, you would think two grown men could act civilized in a public place such as this! Carly is fine. She’s finished getting her arm set, and I was coming to check on her transport up to a private room. Now if you’ll both…”
“Can I…can I see her?” Sonny asked. He didn’t know what he would say, what he could say. The accident had been his fault. But still, he just had to know for himself that his child was okay.
“No! You cannot see my wife! I’m her husband, if anyone will see her, it will be me!”
“No one asked you Quartermaine!”
“And you’re not welcome Corinthos! Why don’t you leave? Carly is fine now. Thanks for the help!”
Sonny’s fist came up to punch AJ, but Johnny stepped in to act as a barrier.
“Whatever.” Sonny said, and turned to leave. He would see her. Maybe not now, since AJ was in his way. But he’d be back.
Staring after the retreating Sonny, AJ shook his head. Something was going on here, and he’d probably be the last to know what. Turning back to Bobbie, he asked her if he could see Carly.
“Well, she’ll be transported in a few minutes. Why don’t you wait until she’s settled in a room, huh? That will be better for everyone.”
AJ nodded in concession. He would get to the bottom of whatever was going on and find out what role Sonny played in it.
White ceiling. White walls. White tiles on the floor. They really need some decorating tips here Carly thought, looking around the plain, white room. No color whatsoever! Geez!There was a brief knock on the door, followed by a creaking as the rusty hinges moved to allow the person to enter.
AJ.
Great! Just what I need.
Putting a saccharine sweet smile on her face, Carly tried to prop herself up to look more presentable, but it was a lot more difficult than she had thought, what with her arm in a cast and all.
“Hey, don’t ware yourself out over me. I spoke to the doctor and he said you needed a lot of rest.” AJ moved to the bedside, where Carly had stopped trying to play ‘the perfect wife’. According to Dr. Michellson, his ‘perfect wife’ had a lot of explaining to do.
AJ pulled up a chair and took seat, making himself comfortable for the upcoming show. “So Carly. I guess we should start with why you were down on Broad this morning instead of at the Shopping Galleria. Got any answers to that?”
Carly just stared at him, unsure of what to really say. Well AJ, I was just walking around, trying to abort my child, but then I got corned by the town criminal and I escaped into the path of a speeding car. Any more questions?
That would never fly over.
Carly’s ruminations on what to say were interrupted by AJ. “Or, how about why you ran into a busy intersection? Huh?”
God! Why couldn’t I just have died like a normal person?
“Or better yet dear wife of mine, how about answering this question: Who’s baby is it you’re carrying?” AJ’s pleasant voice and demeanor had both take a swift turn towards dark and dangerous. Carly wiggled about in her uncomfortable bed, not really sure what to say. She knew AJ would have found out by now because the doctors in the hospital gave a squat about Doctor-Patient confidentiality. Blowing the hair out of her face, Carly sank lower into her bed.
She opened her mouth to speak, but the closed it. Really and truly, she was speechless.
“What Carly? Have nothing to say? No denials? No excuses? No brilliant plans?” AJ was now fuming. Having not slept with his wife for the past four months, he knew this child could in no possible way be his. But he had a very good feeling he knew who was the father.
With Carly’s continued silence, AJ continued. “When did you and Jason sleep together, huh? Was it when you were supposedly at a PC Guild meeting? Seeing your mother? Shopping? Huh? Did you just see him on the street and you two decided to go do it in a back alley?”
Carly sat up at this. “You know AJ, you can just…”
“I’m not finished Carly!”
Sinking back down into the bed, Carly listened.
“I mean…what more can I do? What more can I give, huh? You have the Quartermaine name. You have the Quartermaine money, the power, the prestige. Everything Carly! The world…it’s at your fingertips. All you had to do was open yourself to loving me…”
“I will never love you AJ. Never.
“Oh, well we all know that now right? Huh Carly? You’re carrying Jason’s child! My brother’s child for God’s sake! You couldn’t even try…pretend to love me. No! ‘I love Jason.’ ‘Jason is the only one for me.’ ‘Jason and I are going to be a family.’ ‘Jason is Michael’s real father.’ Where is your precious Jason now, huh? Left before you could even tell him about junior there in the oven. Ah, well too bad I guess. Because now, all you’ve got is me.”
Carly raised one eyebrow at AJ.
“What Carly? Were you expecting me to be angry? To flip my lid so to speak? To throttle you?”
Carly crossed her arms across her tummy, in effect trying to protect her child. The same child she had been trying to abort only hours earlier. What was I thinking? No matter who the father of her child was, the mother was still the same – her. And as the mother, she had an obligation to protect her child. Care for her child. Love her child. Tears came to Carly’s eyes at the realization of this. Of all the times to have an epiphany, this was probably the worst.
“What do you want me to say AJ? I’m sorry. It will never happen again.” Carly brushed the tears from her eyes and continued. “How about you just give me that divorce, then Michael and I will be on our way. Out of your life. Forever.”
“Oh. So you think I’m just willing to throw a relationship with my son away? Just hand him over to you?”
“What do you care anyway, huh? You play with Michael for a total of 15 minutes each day. You only see him for about 30! All he is to you is a possession. A ‘something’ not a ‘someone,’ much less your son! Let us go AJ. I won’t even take you for anything, okay. No money. No alimony. If you want to provide for your son, I won’t stop you. But I can’t live like that. We can’t live like that. If you divorce me, then maybe someday, you’ll find someone who can actually stand you and will want to marry you.
AJ clapped his hands together, slowly. “Great performance Carly. Really, it touched my heart.”
“AJ why don’t you just go to hell!”
“Now what fun would that be without Sataness herself?”
“You know, maybe you should just leave AJ! You know where the door is.” Carly turned over onto her left side, her back facing AJ now. What a jackass!
“Fine. I’ll go. I’ll be back tomorrow morning to pick you up. The doctor said you should be ready for release by then. Rest up dear wife. And take care of my child too.” AJ stood to leave as Carly turned back to face him.
“What do you mean AJ? You know this isn’t your baby!”
“I know. You know. But I’ll be damned if anyone else in the town knows that you slept with my brother and got knocked up by him! This child will be my child. It’s the least I can do for my dearly departed brother. He did take care of Michael for me for over a year. I’ll raise his child. And you will try your very hardest to be the perfect Quartermaine wife to your husband. No divorce. No leaving. Nothing. Things are gonna change Carly. Starting tomorrow, get ready for your new life. You probably won’t like it but you’ll have to live it. And pretend you love it if necessary. Goodnight sweetheart.” And with those parting words, AJ left the room.
Carly settled back into the bed, his words running through her mind.
“Now what?” she whispered to herself.