Carly knew very well what Sonny was thinking and he just didn”t want to “add to it”. He was worrying about herself, Sam and how did “HE” cause this. It always ended up being about Sonny in the end. That man could aggravate her to no end, the worst part is she had become really fond on Max these past few months and hadn”t been able to share with everyone. What angered her about Sonny most is how he waltzed so easily in and out of her life and thinks it’’s ok.

Outside of the room

“Jason, what the hell is going on?!”

Jason filled him in to everything that led up to Carly’s collapse and Monica’s recommendations, Jason freely added how he agreed with that decision and Carly needed to talk with a professional.

“Carly is carrying that much stress? What have I done to her?”

“Sonny, it’s not just about you, it’s Sam and the baby and the kids, the Cellar, she’’s got so much on the go and keeps neglecting herself.”

Sonny went silent. Jason knew what was coming, the blame, and finally the darkness.

“Sonny you need to snap out of it, if you can”t be strong for your family then why did you come back?”

Jason hated being blunt but someone needed too. “You”ve been gone for so long, people have gone on with life. Michael hangs out with your sister’’s adopted kids, Sam though depressed has lived comfortably with Carly, Liz and myself are living together, business is running fine. You either need to be strong or…be gone. It isn”t helping anyone.”

Sonny could believe Jason had turned his back on him like this. Aside from long time associates, they were suppose to be like brothers, he couldn”t believe he was telling him to leave his family.

“Look Sonny, I’m not telling you to leave your family completely, I’m just saying you have to be strong and give it time. You and Carly have been separated for so long, I don’t think she ever thought you would forgive her. It’s time to decide, if you are forgiving her because you love her or forgiving her because of the kids.”

Sonny knew he needed to decide, there was no point at staying for the kids. They had tried that before and yes, they did get back together but then more complications happened, this time had to be the final time that they ran back and forth between each other. Sonny knew he needed to decide whether he could live without her completely.

“Sonny I’m going to check on Sam and the baby, then I’ll come back. I think you really need to consider all the options and decide.”

Jason left Sonny alone. Sonny knew he need to figure things out, but first he needed to make sure Carly, Sam and the baby were ok.

Sonny entered into the room, Carly was sleeping, he sat down next to her and just held her hand. Sonny also prayed over Carly, “God please help me make the most important decision of my life. Let my family be ok and help lead me to make the right decisions.”

Carly heard Sonny but said nothing.

Bobbie and Monica approached the awaiting group with grim expressions on their faces.

“Bobbie…” Jason said.

“Jason…we had to deliver Sam’s baby but Sam has lost a lot of blood so we will have to keep an eye on her. Carly on the other hand is a different case, she’s been under such an extreme amount of stress that it cause her immune system to breakdown. She’s developed a form of post-traumatic stress disorder, it could have been caused from Sonny leaving or Sam’s situation….” Monica explained.

“I did this to her partially…asking her to take care of Sam…”

“Jason this is not your fault. This is partially Sonny’s doing, if he hadn’t left she may have been more equipped to deal with Sam. She’s raising two kids plus taking care of another adult, it can be quite hard on the system.” Monica could tell it wasn’t making Jason feel any better about the situation.

“Now what do we do….and what did Sam have? Is she conscious? Is the baby ok?”

“Ok, Sam had a baby girl. The baby is fine and Sam is partially conscious but we may sedate her. As for Carly she will need lots of help to relieve the stress. I know that Leticia has been helping but it’s not enough, she will need to start seeing someone as well, I’m going to recommend Gail or Kevin which ever she prefers.”

No one had noticed that Max had stepped away. He slowly approached Carly’s room, he knew he should wait but he was extremely worried.

“Carly?” Max whispered.

“Max…” Carly said in barely a whisper.

“You are going to be ok. But you need help, I’ve been watching you kill yourself for months and I can’t anymore. I’m taking a risk getting involved but it’s worth it.”

“Max after everything I’ve shared with you, you shouldn’t get too close. If Sonny were to know what close friends we’ve become, he’d only get angrier….”

“Carly I can’t help myself but care about you…I think that…”

“MAX! What are you doing in here?” Jason said as he approached.

“I just wanted to make sure Mrs. Corinthos was ok.”

“Max you don’t need to, it’s not your job. Your job is to watch her.”

“Yes Jason, I’ll stand outside.” Max exited quickly and Carly watched him sadly.

“Jason? How’s Sam?”

“Carly she had a baby girl but she’s lost lots of blood. They don’t know what is going to happen yet.”

“Is the baby ok?”

“Yes Carly, the baby is fine. But you need to rest, you’ve been through quite a bit yourself.”

“What’s happening Jase?”

“Carly, Monica says you have a post-traumatic stress order that was caused by the stress of Sonny leaving and then the added stress of me asking you to take care of Sam…”

“Jase, this isn’t your fault.”

“But Carly…”

“No buts, I took on Sam knowing how tired I would be. So when do I get out? Have you called Sonny yet?”

“Carly you need to stay till tomorrow. I also need to hire more help and you need to choose to see someone. And yeah, I called Sonny, he’s heading back now.”

“See someone?”

“Yeah like Gail Baldwin or Kevin Collins, it’s your choice. Monica says you need to relieve some of the stress you carry and you have no choice or she won’t release you tomorrow.”

“She can’t do that?”

“Yeah she can and I agree.”

“How’s Sonny taking the news?”

“He hasn’t said Carly.”

Carly stared off, she knew what he was thinking. He was blaming himself as usual. It wasn’t his fault but of course he was self-destructive that way. Carly wondered what he would do, sometimes he could be predictable but at other times she didn’t know the man she married. All this time that he had been gone she felt extremely lonely. Lorenzo tried contacting her a few times but she ignored his calls and whenever he approached Max got rid of him. Max had been her rock the past few months, he worked past his shift some times to keep her company. A few times they just sat in the park and said nothing, at other times she just yelled and he listened. He had become a good friend but the problem with that was Sonny. Jason hadn’t even noticed that he was around much more than usual, probably cause he was so busy running the business side he hadn’t noticed. He had put Max in charge of Carly and her family and she think he’d be upset, not about her and Max becoming friends but about not being there for her. She understood that he had business and Elizabeth and Cameron now so she didn’t want to bother him, but she knew Sonny would be angry.

“Carly? Carly what are you thinking about?”

“Well Jase, it’s just that I’ve been needing to tell you something for months and…”

“Carly!” Sonny came rushing in and hugged his wife. Max stood by the door and looked floored, he quietly shut the door and went back to his post. Carly blinked away a tear of sadness.

“Michael, what are you yelling about?”

“Mom, can I go on vacation with Aunt Courtney and Jax?”

“Excuse me? Vacation? When and where?”

“They are going to Switzerland skiing. And they invited me to go. Just after Christmas. School won’t have started and dad’s away anyhow.”

“Michael, your father said he’d be back before Christmas, what if he wants to take you and your brother to the island?”

“MOM! I’m sick of the island, I want a normal life like Aunt Coutney’s!”

Sigh…Carly knew that she was up to her eyeballs in decisions, taking in Sam had really affected Michael, lately he spent all his time over at Courtney and Jax’s. Carly knew what she needed to do and that was talk to Sonny, this couldn’t go on much longer.

“Michael, let me talk it over with your father and I will tell you by tomorrow.”

“Ok…Mom…what do you think Dad’s gonna say?”

“Hunny, honestly I have no idea, tomorrow I promise.”

“Okay, well I’m gonna go Grandma’s house for a bit, Lucas said he’d show me his new computer game.”

“Ok Michael see you in a bit.” Carly headed over to Jason’s hoping he had some insight into the situation, she was getting tired and couldn’t take much more. Leticia was working everyday almost twice as much as she used to. She felt bad, she wanted to give her some time off to spend with Reginald but with everything happening, she just didn’t have time. Graciella did ALL the cooking right now cause Carly didn’t want to keep ordering in.

“Jase? Are you home?”

“Carly?” Liz entered from the kitchen. “Jason had business, he said he’d be back later on.”

“Oh. Alright well you’re probably busy.”

“Actually I just put Cameron down. Anything I can help with?”

Carly was shocked and tried laughing it off. “Not unless you want my life.”

“You ok Carly?”

“Honestly? NO.” Carly started to cry with frustration, she couldn’t take anymore. She told Liz everything that had been going on right up until Michael’s request. “If he doesn’t come back soon, I think I might find myself back in Ferncliff. Michael is so upset about everything, he thinks we aren’t as normal as most. He compared us to Courtney and Jax for god sakes.”

“Carly, I think you need to call Sonny and just tell him what’s going on. The worst thing he could say is I’m not coming home and I’m not ready but I’m sure he knows this is not about him but about Michael and Morgan and you.”

“I doubt it has anything to do with me. Look this was a bad idea, I’ll just deal with it myself. But thanks anyway…”

“Carly look it, I know we don’t see eye to eye but there’s no reason you can’t think about it. But I’ll tell Jason to stop by when he’s back.”

“Alright”

Carly left and didn’t know what she’d do. She’d better check on Sam and make sure she has everything she needs.

“Sam? Sam?”

Carly entered the bedroom and found Sam sleeping. Carly sat on the edge of the bed and shook Sam slightly. Sam wasn’t waking.

“Sam? Wake up, are you ok? Oh my god, what the hell is happening.”

Carly looked under Sam and found her bleeding.

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“Yes a friend is staying with me, she’s pregnant, bleeding and not waking up.”

“Ok ma’am where are you.”

“Harborview Towers, Penthouse, this is Mrs. Carly Corinthos.”

“Mrs. Corinthos we are dispatching now, stay on the line.”

“LETICIA!”

“Yes Carly?” Leticia put her head around the corner.

“I need you to take Morgan and go call Courtney and tell her that Michael is at Bobbie’s, Sam isn’t waking up and she’s bleeding, the ambulance is on the way. Send Max up here.”

“Ok Carly, I’ll get Marco to drive me.”

“Mrs. Corinthos, the ambulance is arriving right now.”

“Thank you, I’m gonna go now.”

“Mrs. Corinthos?”

“Max? Is the ambulance here?”

“Yes they are headed up now. What did you need me to do?”

“Find Jason and tell him what’s going on. I’ll head out with the ambulance.”

“Where’s the emergency?” The ambulance attendants rushed in and tended to Sam right away.

“I’m going with you!”

Carly couldn’t believe after the day she had, this was happening, she had checked on Sam last nite and she was fine and now she’s not waking up. What about the baby? What was Sonny going to do? Carly was too stunned for words. The attendants got Sam up on the stretcher and they headed out. Carly followed close behind and locked up. This was Sonny’s nightmare coming true. Sam was due in about a month and everything had gone down hill.

Carly hoped that Max could find Jason soon, she didn’t definitely want to be the one to tell Sonny what had happened. On the way to the hospital, Carly realized it was time for her to start facing up to some her own fears. She needed to start living her own life because Sonny would never forgive her.

They got to the hospital and the paramedics were given Sam’s stats to the nurse. Carly saw Bobbie rush in.

“Carly? Leticia told me what happened, I’m going to take care of Sam.”

“Thanks Momma.”

Paging Doctor Quartermaine to ER! Paging Doctor Meadows to ER, STAT!

Everything was happening so fast, it was making Carly dizzy. Carly felt herself a little unbalanced. All of a sudden it went dark.

“Carly? Carly?” Jason had just arrived with Max and found Carly lying on the ground, she had passed out.

“Max! Get a doctor!” Jason was worried about Carly recently but he hadn’t realized what everything had been doing to her. Liz had left him a message to go see Carly cause she had stopped by and seemed upset but then Max showed up and told him about Sam. Jason knew he needed to call Sonny but he needed to make sure that everyone was ok.

“What happened?” an intern came up behind Jason.

“She’s been under an extreme amount of stress these past few days.”

“Let’s pick her up and take her behind the curtain.”

Jason carried Carly over to the bed and lay her down.

“Max? I need you to stay here with Carly while I check on Sam and call Leticia.”

“Alright Jason.” Max seemed worried but Jason hadn’t noticed in the excitement.

“Carly…” Max whispered. “It’s gonna be ok.”

Carly and Liz were civil and agreed not to fight in front of the kids.

“Sure, let me get him dressed.”

“Okay, I’ll go and get Carly”

“Max? We’re heading out for a tree, can you get Marco to cover?”
“Yes Jason, I’ll call him.”

“Michael? Are you coming or not?” Carly called to her teenaged son.
“No Mom, I’m going to the twins’ house.”
“Ok, well I’ll drop you off on the way.”
“Carly? Liz is just getting Cameron dressed.” Jason had just entered the penthouse.
“Ok, Leticia is staying with Sam and Morgan is ready, but let me check on Sam first. Can you take Morgan down and I will meet you at the car?”
“Yeah I can, and Carly….you’re a good person in spite of everything that has happened. I think Sonny would be proud.”
“Thanks Jase,” Carly headed to Sam’s room to make sure she didn’t need anything.

“Ticia? Jason has Morgan, I’m just seeing if Sam needs anything.”
“Ok Carly”
“Thanks again for coming over”

Carly quietly entered the room, Sam had been going through a form of depression before her baby was due to be born. Dr. Meadows had said it was normal considering Sam had a high risk pregnancy cause of the stress she had suffered from recently. Though Sam knew Sonny didn’t love her, everything that had happened with her brother, Sonny leaving town, the problems with the cops had put her in a new category for stress.

Carly would never forget how Sam came to stay with her. Carly finally had admitted the truth to Sonny about Kristina. He was angry and hurt that Carly hadn’t told him. She explained to him that she was a mother and with the request Alexis had asked she felt she need to keep the secret. Jason had done it for her and she did it for Alexis. He was angry and told her he needed some time to sort things out. He told Michael that he had business to take care of and that it could take some time. Before he left, he told Alexis that he knew the truth and hadn’t decided what to do. Alexis ran straight to Ric and he in turn offered her a home. She and Kristina were living with him.

Flashback November 2004
After Sonny had left, Jason visited but Sam became ill and Jason was swamped with work. Jason had approached Carly for a favor.

“Carly? I need a favor from you.”

“What’s that Jason?”

“Since Sonny left, I’ve gotten very busy with work and now that Sam is sick and is on bed rest, I’m having a hard time watching her.”

“So what are you asking me Jase?”

“Could Sam stay in your old room, so Leticia could give you a hand?”

Carly didn’t know what to say or how she felt. But she knew that she owed it to Sonny to help.

“Alright then, let me tell the boys first though.”

Later that week, Sam moved in. She was very quiet, she thanked Carly but never left the upstairs. Carly and Leticia brought her meals up and Jason hired more help to clean and cook. Next thing Carly knew Jason started seeing Liz and she was moving in.

“Sam? I’m headed out to get a tree, do you need anything?”

Sam rolled over and Carly could tell she had been crying.

“It’s ok, but thanks.”

“Alright well Leticia is here and she’ll check on you.”

Carly left and Sam lie there staring at the ceiling, just then her cell phone rang.

“Hello?”
“Sam? It’s Sonny.”
“Hi Sonny”
“How’s the baby?”
“Growing”
“Carly tells me you haven’t been feeling well.”
“No, not really but Dr. Meadows said it’s normal on the last visit we went to.”
“We?”
“Yes, me and Carly”
“She takes you?”
“Yeah she drops off Morgan at her mom’s and then heads to the hospital with me”

Sonny suddenly got quiet and didn’t know what to say. Carly hadn’t shared this with him. With all the problems, she was truly a compassionate mother. But wasn’t that what it always about with Carly, the rights and feelings of the mother.

“Well I’m glad she’s been helping you, I would have never thought”
“She’s a good person. I don’t know how she does it”
“Ok well I have to got to a meeting.”
“Thanks for calling Sonny.”

Sonny still spoke with Carly a few times a week but mainly about the boys. She would mention how Sam was doing but never realized how much Carly was helping. He wasn’t ready to return because he didn’t know what to do about Kristina. He was consulting Justus and was aware that Alexis was living with Ric and what he was sure about was Ric would not be Kristina’s father. NEVER!