Starting Over
a fanfic by SonnyandAlexisGal
Chapter Seven

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Kristina sits in the hospital waiting room, staring across at Alexis fidgeting in the chair before shooting to her feet to resume pacing. She’s been watching as Alexis has alternately stood to pace, only to plop back down in the chair to sit uncomfortably - the look of deep concern never leaving her face.

“You know,” Kristina begins, “yoga would be perfect for you right now. You could sit cross-legged on the floor in the Lotus position – completely serene in the knowledge that Sonny will be fine.”

“Yoga?” Alexis questions. “Well, sitting cross-legged on the floor is one thing but those positions are something else. I’ve never quite figured out how twisting and contorting the human body into the shape of a pretzel could be the least bit calming…”

Kristina laughs.

“Well, it works. You should try it sometime.”

“Maybe I will – sometime,” Alexis dismisses before catching sight of Dr. Bechet walking by, followed by the on-duty nurse. “Doctor?”

Bechet hears Alexis’ call and stops just outside the waiting room as Alexis rushes over to where he stands.

“Miss Davis?”

“Ms Davis,” she corrects. “Nevermind…Are you on your way to see Sonny? Is he conscious yet?”

“We were just on our way to find that out,” he answers. “Miss Crawford here just informed me that Mr. Corinthos had begun to stir a bit. He may very well be working his way back…”

“Oh, good,” Alexis says. “Then you carry on. I’ll wait here but I would appreciate it if you’ll let me know…”

“Of course,” Dr. Bechet says before he and Miss Crawford continue in the direction of the recovery room.

Kristina bounces over to Alexis.

“There now, you see? Sonny’s about to wake up.”

“So it would seem. Can you do me a favor, Kristina? Mike should be in the cafeteria somewhere, getting that cup of tea for me. Can you go find him and let him know that Sonny may be waking up?”

“Sonny’s waking up?” Carly says as she approaches. “That’s what you said, right – Sonny’s waking up?”

“Dr. Bechet just went to the recovery room to check. Apparently Sonny’s been stirring and they think that he might be regaining consciousness.”

“Oh, thank God…”

“I’ll go find Mike,” Kristina says. “Will you be alright?”

Alexis smiles, knowing exactly what Kristina means now that Carly has joined the immediate party.

“I’ll be fine,” she reassures. “Just go find Mike, okay?”

“Okay,” Kristina answers before reluctantly leaving her sister alone with Carly.

Carly notices Kristina’s hesitation and smiles.

“What does she think I’m gonna do to you, Alexis? You really need to let her know that I’m all about Sonny right now and that you don’t have to worry.”

“I’ll mention that to her,” Alexis says as she resumes pacing. “So…where’s Bobbie?”

“Her shift ended about an hour ago. She went to check on Michael for me. I don’t want to see him myself – not until I know for sure that Sonny’s gonna be okay. I need to have good news to tell him…”

“That’s understandable…”

“I know you don’t know anything about having kids -”

“Carly,” Alexis interrupts, “I’m sure I’ll be as maternal as my baby needs me to be so - ”

“Look,” Carly begins, “all I’m saying is that it’s a surprise when there’s this tiny baby lying in your arms, looking up at you and depending on you for everything. No matter how prepared for it you think you are, you’ll be surprised at how much you’ll put yourself through just to protect that baby…”

Alexis lowers herself into the chair and smiles at the thought – especially when she remembers that protecting her unborn baby is the very reason why she moved out of The Penthouse – even though leaving Sonny broke her heart.

“No matter how hard you think it is, you end up wishing it was that easy…” she muses. “I remember that line from a movie – ‘Terms of Endearment’ I think it was. The character was telling someone else that no matter how prepared you think you are before, it ends up being so much harder…”

Carly sits on the sofa.

“That’s true,” she agrees. “I mean, I’m sure it’s not exactly a secret but…I can be a little selfish sometimes…”

Alexis lets Carly’s pause pass without comment, knowing that she’s just waiting for one of Alexis’ patented wisecracks.

“Nobody was more surprised than I was at everything I was willing to give up just to keep my son safe. It was like all of a sudden nothing else mattered – just Michael. He depended on me to take care of him and that’s exactly what I intended to do – no matter what and no matter who I had to go through to do it.”

“That’s how I feel about this baby,” Alexis says quietly. “I want everything to be absolutely perfect for her when she gets here…and I already know that I’ll walk through fire to make sure that she’s safe…”

“Alexis,” Carly begins, “I know that Sonny’s life isn’t the kind of a life that you might want to bring a baby into. I mean there are all kinds of risks and threats and dangers…But no one is going to love your baby more than Sonny. That thing you said just now – about walking through fire to keep your baby safe? Well, that’s exactly what Sonny was doing for you. He put himself out there where he was almost killed – just to keep you safe. I know he’d do the same for Michael and me and Mike and anybody else he loves…I know you want to keep your baby safe and everything but…your baby will be losing a lot if you make Sonny stay away…”

Alexis listens and nods, knowing that Carly’s right. No one will be more devoted to this new baby than Sonny – her father.

“I know…” Alexis says quietly.

Just then, Sonny’s nurse – Miss Crawford walks into the waiting room.

“Miss Davis?” she says.

Alexis sees her and shoots to her feet and over to where she standing, Carly at her side.

“Yes?” Alexis answers anxiously.

“Dr. Bechet wanted me to let you know that Mr. Corinthos is regaining consciousness.”

Alexis lets out a deep sigh of relief.

“So I can see him?” she asks.

“Well, Dr. Bechet is finishing up his examination but he wanted me to let you know that you can go in after that – just for a moment.”

“Thank you,” Alexis says sincerely. “I think I’ll go over and wait around outside…” She notices that Carly has wandered over to the window, her back turned. She knows what’s going through her mind. “Carly? You coming?”

Carly shakes her head no. She takes a deep breath and wipes her eyes before turning around.

“You’re the one he’s going to want to see,” she says. “You go. I’ll stay here.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” she says. “Go on…”

Alexis follows Miss Crawford down the hall and into the corridor and out of sight.

Carly sits in the chair as a tear escapes her eye. Sonny’s coming out of it. He’s opening his eyes and that means he’s going to be alright. She holds onto that hope as hard as she can.

Sonny’s going to be alright.

“Carly?” Mike says as rushes over, Kristina right behind him. “What’s happening? Where’s Alexis?”

Carly stands.

“Well, the nurse came and told Alexis that Sonny’s waking up. Alexis went to the recovery room to be there when he opens his eyes. You should be there, too, Mike.”

“You’re not coming?” Mike asks.

“Don’t worry about me,” Carly insists. “Go be with Sonny.”

Mike looks at her, feeling instantly proud at that moment. He kisses her cheek and then heads for the recovery room.

Kristina sees that Carly’s eyes are moist.

“Are you alright?” she asks.

Carly sniffs and wipes away another tear before it can fall.

“I’m fine,” she insists. “I’m just fine.”

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Dr. Bechet finishes examining Sonny’s vital signs and is pleased as Miss Crawford pulls the bedsheet up around Sonny’s chest.

“Everything sounds good,” he tells a fully conscious Sonny. “Now let’s keep it that way.”

“I’ll try, Doc,” Sonny manages in a hoarse whisper.

“Do that,” he answers. He glances over at the door and motions at Alexis to come. “There’s someone here I think you might want to see – but only for a moment. You need your rest.”

“Whatever you say…”

Sonny closes his eyes for a moment and swallows as hard as his painfully raw throat will allow. When he opens his eyes, Alexis is standing over him.

“Hi,” she says quietly.

He’s relieved to see her there. He lifts his hand and she wraps her small cold hand around his.

“You okay?” he manages.

Alexis smiles as the tears fill her eyes.

“I’m good,” she whispers. “Now that I can look into these brown eyes and now that I can talk to you and you can talk back…I’m fine.”

Sonny looks up into Alexis’ eyes and studies her face for a moment, happy to feel her hand holding his once more.

“You look tired,” he says.

“Probably because I am,” she admits.

“You should go home…”

“Oh, no,” she says. “Not this time. I did that before – remember? I listened to you and I listened to Kristina and, against my better judgment, I went home and…” She takes a deep breath and exhales. “Well…suffice it to say that I won’t be making that mistake again.”

“Alexis…”

“You know what?” she interrupts. “Why don’t you gather your thoughts and you can tell me all about them later – when you wake up again. They’re only letting me stay for a minute so I’d better go but I’ll be outside in the waiting room and I’ll be peeking in from time to time. Max is just outside. So is Mike. But I’m not leaving so you might as well save your breath. Got it?”

A hint of Sonny’s dimples begins to peek through the stubble on his face.

“Good,” Alexis says in response. She leans over and kisses his forehead. “Now you get some rest and…I’ll see you later.”

She smiles at him – the sight of him lying there, looking up at her warming her heart. She turns to leave but before her hand leaves his, Sonny pulls her back.

Alexis turns back around, a look of concern on her face.

“What is it?” she asks softly.

Sonny clears his throat and swallows, his throat still so horribly sore.

“I love you,” he faintly whispers.

She barely hears him but knows what he’s saying to her.

“I love you, too,” she says, her eyes brimming with tears. She holds his hand to her cheek for a silent moment. “Get some sleep and…I’ll see you later.”

“See you later,” he manages.

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