Chapter 11

Sonny watched as the terrifying scene unfolded in front of him. The girl in the picture that Jason had called Jessi had come barging in. She seemed very upset as she curled herself into a ball on the floor. His heart went out to her as he watched Jason try to ease her pain. Something made the girl scream and faint. He wasn't sure what, but he hoped she was okay. When the child's mother came into the room, his heart about stopped. It was Brenda. His Brenda. She had a daughter. She probably had a husband and many kids by now. He was probably a distant memory for her. Wait, what was he doing feeling sorry for himself? Brenda's daughter was in trouble. He wanted to help, but he had no idea what he could do. And when Brenda looked up and her eyes met his eyes, he couldn't move or speak. She looked so beautiful. He could only nod an answer to her question. She looked so scared that all he wanted to do was to go to her and pull her into his arms and tell her everything was going to be fine. His mind was telling him not to, she doesn't need her life complicated right now. He heard the roar of the sirens in the background.

Luke, Laura, Lois, Ned, and Julia entered the scene. They say Jessi, Jason, and Brenda on the floor. They tried to hover around thinking they were helping, but Jason yelled at them to stay back, the EMTs needed to get in.

Brenda had gone back to pleading with Jessi. She knew that she had just saw her dead husband and her forever disapearing uncle, but her mind wouldn't let her deal with it right now. She needed to deal with her daughter. She was aware that her friends had joined her in the hall, but she didn't talk to them, not even when Julia leaned down to try to comfort her. She barely noticed. She watched as the EMTs strapped Jessi onto the gurney and wheeled her to the ambulance. As she climbed in after Jessi, Jason told her that they would meet them at the hospital. "Sonny, too?" She asked. "Yeah, Sonny, too" He answered. The ambulance doors shut and they headed to the hospital.

Jason walked back into the club. He felt like he was in the twilight zone. Everything that was the unexpected happened today. He wasn't too surprised when he walked back into the offiice to see Lois hyperventilating, Ned trying to calm her down, Julia glaring daggers through her eyes at Sonny, and Luke hugging Sonny and Laura getting emotional about the whole deal. What he would give right now for some of Robin's advice. J: "Everyone listen up. I promised Brenda we would meet her at the hospital. I'm leaving now, so I guess I'll meet whoever comes there. Sonny, she specifically asked that you come to."
S: "She did? I'll leave with you, then."
Ju: "Someone tell me what is going on. Why isn't that man dead? And what happened to my niece?"
J: "Jessi, fainted, fell and hit her head. As for Sonny, ask him. At this point I don't care. There's a little girl in the hospital that needs her family.
Lu: "Jason, Sonny you go on ahead. We'll meet you when we can." Jason and Sonny leave. Clive and Renaldo follow behind them. " Lois, Ned I'll see if Lucky and Emily can watch Brooke, Eddie, Lu and Lindsey. Julia do you need a ride to the hospital?"
Ju: "Yeah, I came with Brenda and I don't have a key to her car."
Lu: "Fine you can come with us."
Lois who is breathing normally now, thanks Luke,a nd goes to find Brooke to tell her what is going on. Ned follows her. Laura goes to find Lucky to explain the situation. He agrees to do all he can to help. Julia goes to gather Brenda and Jessie's coats and Brenda's purse.

Luke, alone in the office reaches for the phone. He dials a number. The other end answers, "Recovery Room, Mike speaking." Lu: Mike it's Luke.
M: Recognizes the seriousness of Luke's voice. "What's wrong Luke?"
Lu: "You need to get to the hospital quick. Jessi was just rushed there."
M: "What? What happened?"
Lu: "I'm not sure. She fell or something. She left here unconscious."
M: "I'll be there as soon as I can. Tell Brenda that everything will be fine, and that I'll be there as soon as I get this place closed."
Lu: "There's something else that you need to know." Luke was too late. Mike, in a panic to get to the hospital, had already hung up the phone.

At the hospital Brenda is pacing the waiting area by the ER. She was relieved that Bobbie was the nurse on duty so that Jessi would have someone in there that she knew. As she was pacing someone came up behind her and put their hands on her shoulders. The electricity of the touch startled her and she turned around to face Sonny. She knew he was really there, but it seemed so unreal. She wanted answers, but later when she didn't feel like falling apart at any minute. Her dream and her nightmare had come true in less than an hour. Her world was spinning out of control and she didn't know what to do. Right now she just wanted to feel his strong arms around her body giving her strength to get through this crisis.
S: "Brenda, I….."
B: Interrupted him. "Sonny, shhh. Just hold me, please."
Sonny wrapped his arms around Brenda, who in turn leaned into him. He wrapped his arms tighter around her as she started to cry. They were cries of sorrow and joy. Sonny let her tears fall as her grip on him got tighter. They both knew that it felt so right being in each other arms, but they couldn't forget the world around them. Brenda worried about her daughter, and Sonny worried about Brenda and her daughter. Brenda looked up at Sonny with tears in her eyes and said, "I'm sorry Sonny, I didn't mean to hurt her."