Chapter Four

Alexis felt something warm on her face as she struggled to open her eyes. Her head felt clouded and she had no idea where she was. The distinctive smell that invaded her senses soon told her exactly where she was: the hospital. 'What the hell am I doing here?' She asked herself. Finally being able to open her eyes, she realized it was only the sun touching her skin. 'Must be early.'

She pushed herself up and immediately regretted it. An eruption of pain tore through her abdomen, causing her to gasp for breath. Involuntary tears pooled from her eyes as the pain made waves through her body. She willed herself to take deep breaths, but the pain continued to throb. Her head felt heavy and a fog clouded her memory. 'This is ridiculous,' she thought. She swung her legs over the bed and stumbled her way to the door. 'I need to find a doctor and get some answers now!'

Sonny breathed a sigh of relief when the doctor told him that the swelling in Alexis' brain had reduced and the possibility of brain damage was very minute. He was also pleased to hear that he could go see her. Sonny practically leapt from the chair he had been occupying and ran to her room. He rounded the corner and was stunned at what lay before him.

There, walking along the hospital walls was Alexis, doubled over, swaying and swerving with every step she took.

"Alexis!" Sonny shouted, running over to her. He skidded to a halt just in front of her.

"Alexis," he called softy, reaching a hand out.

She looked up and gave him a lopsided grin. "Sonny," she sighed. Her eyes rolled back into her head; her body collapsed.

"Alexis!" Sonny yelled again before he caught her descending body, moments before it hit the cool tile. He scooped her into his arms, bringing her back to where she rested in her room. He placed her under the sheets, and that's when he noticed the stain of blood at the mid-section of the blanket. He could only imagine what her wound looked like, and felt like, for that matter. Seeing her blood made his own boil. Whoever did this to Alexis would pay, and pay dearly. 'I promise they won't get away with this Alexis.' He placed a gently kiss upon her palm and reached for the call button to summon the doctor.

*****

"Will she be okay?" Sonny asked the doctor.

"She will be," she said checking Alexis' pupils, "If she doesn't try that stunt again."

The nurse finished redressing Alexis' bandages and she left with the doctor after making a few notes on her chart. "Better keep an eye on this one."

Sonny pulled out his phone and dialed for Johnny.

"Hey Johnny, it's Sonny. I need you to get tell Benny to keep searching and get Max with out there too. I want you down here at the hospital outside Alexis' door. She trusts you, and I want her guarded at all times. Understood?"

"Yeah, sure thing boss. I'll be there in fifteen."

"Good, thanks Johnny."

Sonny hung up the phone, returning his attention back to Alexis. He pulled up the chair and let his eyes drift shut. He was soon fast asleep.

*****

Sonny's eyes snapped open when he heard someone calling out his name. He was ecstatic to find the one calling his name was Alexis.

"Sonny, what are you doing?" She asked in a raspy voice.

"I was waiting here with you until you woke up. You have no idea how glad I am to see that you are finally awake. You really gave us a scare for a while."

"Oh. Well what am I doing here anyway?"

Sonny's heart dropped. "You don't remember?"

"If I did I wouldn't be asking you now would I?" She teased.

"Alexis, you were attacked. Someone hit you over the head and then stabbed you." Sonny said gritting his teeth against the words.

"I was? By who?"

"I don't know that's why I need you to remember. Alexis this is important. You need to try and remember back to what happened to you. Please."

Alexis closed her eyes and tried to clear the fog that had wrapped itself around her memory.

"Well," she began, "I remember that I came home and Carly was there waiting. We argued about something, but nothing important. She then left in a huff, and I went inside to work. I was still working when I heard a knock at the door. I got up and opened it and saw-" Alexis stopped mid-sentence when a white hot flash of pain ripped through her head.

"Alexis, what's wrong?" Sonny asked worried.

"Nothing, I'm fine. I, uh, opened the door and saw, saw-Oh, god Sonny I can't remember. I can't remember who it was!"

"Alexis, you have to remember who it was. Who did this to you!?" Sonny yelled.

Alexis tried to get her mind to think back to that night, but it wouldn't come. It was a blank vision.

"I don't know!" She yelled back.

Oh, god Alexis. I'm so sorry. It's not your fault you can't remember. I'm being a jerk and pushing you. I just want to catch the bastard you did this. I'm sorry," Sonny said, softly, taking her hand into his own.

"I know Sonny. Maybe it will come back to me soon," Alexis said hopefully. She knew this was hurting Sonny and she felt bad about not being able to help.

"I'm sure you will too."

There conversation ended when the nurse came in, carrying a tray of food.

"Oh, no thanks," Alexis told the nurse politely.

"C'mon Alexis, you have to eat. You barely have had anything for the past two days now. You have to keep up your strength."

"Strength and hospital food. I'll have to think about that one." Alexis said sarcastically.

"If I were you, I'd listen to the man," the nurse said, placing the tray on the table, and smiling.

"See, I told you so." Sonny said smiling. "Thanks," he said to the nurse as she left the room.

'If you weren't so damn cute I'd wipe that smirk off youre face so fast..' She stuck out her tongue at him instead.

"Do you want to start with the cold turkey, lumpy mashed potatoes, or smashed peas first?" He teased.

"Oh, gee, so many good things to choose from. How do I ever decide? What's for dessert?"

'You, I wish '"Um, I think that would be...Jell-O!" Sonny said excitedly.

"Well, that doesn't sound too dreadful to get down. I think I'll just eat that if you don't mind. I'm not really that hungry."

"Alright. Seeming as how you just woke up from a major trauma and all, I'll let you get away with it. For now," he said, handing her the Jell-O.

She sat up but quickly dropped back when the pain shot through her stomach again.

"Oh, Alexis, I'm sorry, I forgot. Are you okay?"

"No, it's okay. I'm fine Sonny. Could you please just help me sit up? I'm getting a little uncomfortable."

"Sure, but only one condition."

"And what would that be?"

"You are going to let me spoon feed you."

"I must have hit my head harder than I thought. Did you just say that you are going to spoon feed me?"

"Hey, you were attacked and you need all the rest you can get. I'm not going to let you exhaust yourself and that means that you are going to let me feed you." he said holding up the cup full of Jell-O cubes.

"Sonny, I'm fully capable of feeding myself, thank you very much. I am not an infant."

"You're acting like one."

"No, I'm not!"

Sonny laughed and couldn't help but smile at how cute she looked when her face became flushed.

"Alexis, just shut up and let me help you just this once. You are obviously in pain and I want to help you. This will be out little secret," he said flashing his dimples.

Damn him. He knows I can't resist those.' "Fine," she said, not happy with the situation at all.

"Now, that's more like it."

Sonny gently helped Alexis sit up and she scooted her body over so he could sit on the edge of the bed. He picked up the Jell-O and looked at her mischievously.

"Open wide!"

"Oh brother," she sighed.

Sonny placed the spoon inside her mouth and watched as she ate the Jell-O.

"That wasn't so bad, now was it?"

"Mmmm, strawberry," she said licking her lips.

At that moment, Sonny wished he had a pillow to place in his lap. If Alexis did what she did again with her lips, his little man would definitely be saying 'Hello to the Jell-O'.

"Ready for another one?" He asked getting another spoonful.

"I wonder what your men would think about their ruthless mob boss spoon feeding his no-nonsense lawyer," she said beginning to laugh at picturing their faces.

Her laughter was contagious and Sonny soon found himself joining her. The hand that was holding the Jell-O began to wobble and the cube fell off the spoon. It bounced off Alexis' chest and fell behind her back.

"Look what you made me do," Sonny said.

"It's not my fault you can't control Jell-O. Here let me help," she said throwing off her blanket and trying to roll over.

"Oh no you don't little missy. Stay put, I'll get it." He leaned over Alexis, careful of her wound and began to probe for the lost Jell-O cube. His fingers were brushing against her back and Alexis could feel the heat begin to rise in her.

"I got it!" Sonny exclaimed. He held the piece in his hand but when he tried to sit up, the already melting cube slipped from his hand and fell between Alexis' legs.

"Smooth Corinthos," she said.

He moved his body down along hers and felt along the bed. 'God you smell good.' He grabbed the cube and tried to pull his arm free. Alexis, on the other hand, had other ideas. She brought her knees together and trapped his arm.

"And now I have you." If only.

"Hey," Sonny yelped. "I hope you know that you are going to have sticky bed sheets in a moment if you don't let me go. (He wasn't talking about the Jell-O!) I hope you don't mind."

"That's too bad," she said smiling sweetly at him. "Don't worry, I'll let you go," she said, freeing his arm.

"Better?"

"Yup." No

She let out a small laugh that soon turned into a yawn.

"Are you tired?"

"Yes, I've just exhausted myself with all that Jell-O eating," she teased.

"Funny Counselor."

"I try, he said, shifting in her position but looking like she was in pain.

"Come here," Sonny said helping her in a more comfortable position. He lay down on the bed beside her, putting an arm around her shoulder. She placed her head on his shoulder and fell into an exhausted sleep.

Sonny lay there, listening to her breathing and thought about how lucky he was to this beautiful creature in his life. She was so important to him and he would do anything to protect her.

He absently stroked a finger along the smooth skin of her cheek and drifted off to sleep with her.

'I love you Alexis Davis.'