Copyright May 12-June 14, 2000 by Matthew Haldeman-Time

Rating: NC-17 for graphic male-male sex; also contains violence

Pairings: Sonny Corinthos/Christopher Ramsey, Nikolas Cassadine/Juan Santiago, Jason Morgan/Stone Cates, AJ Quartermaine/Lucky Spencer, etc.

Disclaimer: "General Hospital" and "Port Charles," with their related characters and themes, do not belong to me.  I make no money from this venture.

Dedication: This slashfic is for all of the men of the "General Hospital" world who didn't make it into the final product.  Also for my favorites from "One Life to Live."  Also for Ewan McGregor.

Wherein Prince Nick says a very bad word; Sonny and Chris opt for sex over Scrabble; and baking brownies can be dangerous to one's health if there's no trash can at hand.

Notice: This slashfic takes place in an alternate universe, as you can tell from the pairings.  Also, I began this fiction before Carly miscarred in late May, 2000.  Therefore, Sonny and Carly's son Joey appears here.  Also, I'm using the real and original Justus and Nikolas.  AJ's Billy Warlock; pick your own Lucky.  Joe doesn't appear long enough for it to make a big difference which version he is.

        "Yes."

        "My brother.  Nikolas Cassadine.  The prince.  Told you, Juan Santiago, to fuck me, Lucky Spencer."

        "Right."

        "What were his exact words?"

        Juan frowned.  "He said, 'If you want sex, you can go fuck my brother.'"

        "Why?"

        "I don't know.  He wouldn't talk to me after that.  Did he say anything to you?"

        "He told me to take good care of you."

        "Well, that was thoughtful."  Juan got up and walked to the windows, then back to the bed.  "What's he thinking?"

        "He thinks that we're going to run off to South America together.  Which we have."

        "Yeah, but it was his idea for you to come with me."

        "And it was his idea for us to pretend that we're together."

        "He's trying to get rid of me.  Pretty stupid way to break up with somebody, shipping me off of the continent with his brother."

        "What did you say before he told you to fuck me?"

        "I said that you and AJ...you know...probably got closer before...  I was trying to get him to...  Never mind."

        "You wanted him to have sex with you upstairs in the sound booth five minutes before leaving for Peru?"

        "No, I didn't...  I was trying to get him to take off his shirt.  I mean he's a guy, so what's the big deal?  It's not like he's never had sex before, anyway.  So all I said was that you and AJ probably got a little closer, you know, before you left."

        "That's not enough to make him say that to you.  Something else is going on."

        "Yeah.  He's trying to break up with me."

        "Why would he want to do that?"

        "I'm not exactly princess material."

        Lucky smiled.  "You don't own a tiara?  Lulu has one you can borrow."

        "You know what I mean."  Juan sat on the bed again.  "I'm not some upper-class European type.  I'm smart, I guess, and I'm not ugly, and I've been exposed to some culture, but I'm not part of that whole aristocracy thing.  I'm just an adopted kid from Puerto Rico."

        "Nikolas isn't racist.  And he's an adopted  kid, too, in a way.  Does it really bother you?  You think he should be dating another European aristocrat?"

        "With Emily, she was a Quartermaine and everything, but Quartermaines aren't Cassadines.  And she wasn't really one of them anyway.  She and I were a lot alike.  Her mother's dead, too, and my family has some money, and we had a lot in common.  With Nikolas, it's like, he's so cultured and educated and wealthy, and he's a prince, and he has this whole family heritage.  My grandfather's a mob boss, and my mother married one; my father's some no-class Latin singer."

        "Don't let Miguel or Ned hear you say that.  Juan, Nikolas isn't trying to get rid of you.  I know that you have rejection issues, because your mother had to give you away, but that's not a reflection of you, so let's try to put this in perspective."

        "Stop feeling sorry for myself and try to figure out what's wrong with Nikolas," Juan said.  "What is wrong with Nikolas?"

        "I don't know."

        "He's your brother."

        "He's your boyfriend."

        "Let's go back to Port Charles and kick his butt."

        "I threw him down the stairs once."

        "Isn't that how your dad killed his dad?"

        "Yeah."

        "Wow.  Glad you didn't kill him."

        "Me, too."

        "Maybe I'll kick your butt."

        "I'm surprised he hasn't."

        "You think he has rejection issues, too?"

        "Because our mother left him?  Sure.  But that's not about you."

        "Yeah, but she left him for her other family, and she spent all of her time and love on you, not on him.  And now I'm running off to Peru with you, not with him."

        "It was his idea for me to come with you."  Lucky reached for the phone.

        "You're calling him?"

        "Ned'll pay the bill."

        "You'd better hope so.  I'm not going to be stuck in Peru with a huge hotel bill because you can't wait to talk to your brother."

        "Your boyfriend."

        "Apparently you're my boyfriend, now."

        "Sorry, I'm taken."

        "AJ's back in the States.  He'll never know."

        "Okay.  Wanna have sex?"

        Juan actually thought about it.  "No."

        "What, I'm not good enough for you?"

        "You're not Nikolas."

        Lucky leaned back against the headboard.  "You really wouldn't have sex with anyone else?"

        "It's not like I've had a ton of offers or anything.  And I've never actually had sex, with Nikolas or anybody.  But I sort of...  I mean, you're really attractive and everything, but you're not Nikolas.  I want Nikolas."

        "Yeah.  I know what you mean.  Something about AJ pushes a button no one else does."

        "You think AJ feels the same way?"

        "I know he does.  Doesn't Nikolas?"

        "I don't know."

        "Do the two of you ever talk?" Lucky asked.

        "We talk about stuff," Juan said.  "And we do talk about ourselves, each other, not just 'how was your day' kinds of stuff.  But we don't talk about how we feel about each other."

        "Why not?"

        "Guys don't do that."

        "We're doing that right now."

        "But that's different."

        "Different how?"

        "If I say the wrong thing, you won't leave me or shove me away."

        "Nikolas won't, either."

        "Will you have sex with me?"

        "No.  Come here."  Lucky guided Juan closer on the bed, sitting up, resting one hand on Juan's hip and the other at the back of Juan's neck.  He closed his eyes and kissed Juan.  When his tongue flickered, Juan jumped back.  "See?"

        "I'm going to kill myself now," Juan said, and got up, walked to the windows, came back again, sat.  "He tells me, 'Go to Peru and have sex with my brother,' and I do it!"

        "You don't want me," Lucky said.  "I know it and you know it.  We've proven it.  You want Nikolas."

        "Why don't I want you?  You're smart, independent, interesting, fun, funny, popular, really good-looking, just about perfect."

        "But I'm not Nikolas."

        "Nikolas is perfect," Juan said.  "He really is."

        "I know."

        "I just kissed you."

        "I kissed you.  You stopped me."

        "It was some sort of test."

        "You passed.  Congratulations."

        "Thanks.  It doesn't help me with Nikolas, though.  I still don't know why he's trying to get rid of me.  Do I kiss badly?"

        "You kiss very well, if that was any indication."

        "I don't think he wants me.  He won't let me do anything with him.  What kind of guy isn't eager for nakedness and sex?"

        "His last relationship was with the PsychoBitch," Lucky said.  "She was using him, she was working for Helena, she used him, she faked a pregnancy, she almost married Stefan, she kept dying, she was insane and evil and ugly and hideous and stupid and I can't say enough bad things about her.  It was a very bad relationship, and he's probably holding back a little with you."

        "I'm not going to fake a pregnancy," Juan said.  "I'm not trying to trap him into marriage or anything.  I just want to see his nipples."

        "You guys were together for how long?"

        "Three weeks before he told me to fuck you."

        "Is he reluctant to kiss you?"

        "He seems to like it."

        "We need to talk to him.  You need to talk to him."

        "Can we get out of Peru?"

        "We'll think of something."

        "Can you fake illness?"

        "I'm as healthy as a horse.  I don't get sick.  I could have a mental breakdown.  But I don't like to use my past that way.  Can you be sick?"

        "I tried it once, when I was in the hospital after I was beaten and knifed.  Got my spleen removed.  I pretended to be sick so that I could put off going home to Puerto Rico.  I don't want to try it again."

        "We could try the truth.  Tell Miguel that Nikolas is your boyfriend and you've had a misunderstanding and you want to go home and see him."

        "No way."

        "We could say that you and I are having a fight, but they'd just tell us to get over it, or they'd send me home and keep you here."

        "I'm not spending three more months here.  Away from Nikolas."

        "What if we bring Nikolas here?"

        "That's good.  We could do that."

        Two nights later, Sonny came home to the penthouse to find Stone and Jason and Michael waiting for him.  "What's going on?"

        "We're leaving," Stone said.  "For the night."

        "We're taking Joey," Jason said.  "And Christina."

        "We won't be back until tomorrow morning," Stone said.  "So you and Chris will just be alone here, all night, together.  To do whatever you want.  Play Scrabble, I don't know.  It's up to you."  He took Joey from Sonny's arms.  "You want to go spend the night with AJ?" he asked Joey.

        "You're taking my kid and spending the night with AJ?" Sonny asked.  "What is going on here?"

        Chris walked in with Christina.  He surveyed the group assembled.  "What?"

        "We're taking Christina," Stone said.  "We're having a sleepover at AJ's and you aren't invited."

        "Color me crushed," Chris said.  "You're taking Christina?"

        "Yes."  Jason did just that, taking the diaper bag as well.  "Bye."

        "Are you coming back?" Chris asked.

        "Tomorrow," Stone said.  "Bye."  The five of them left.

        "They took Christina," Chris told Sonny.

        "They took Joey, too," Sonny said.

        "Do you trust these people?"

        "Yes," Sonny decided.

        "Okay.  I'm exhausted.  Is there any food?"

        After they ate, Sonny cleaned up while Chris slouched on the sofa.  Sonny came over and sat beside him.  "You're testifying tomorrow?"

        "Yeah.  Karen was nice enough to give me the day off."

        "You want me to come?"

        "No."  Chris leaned his head back, eyes closing.  "Yes.  No.  Who's going to watch Christina while I'm testifying?"

        "Leave her here.  Stone will watch her."

        "I don't want her there, with the crowds and the media.  You're sure Stone's not busy?"

        "I'll do it.  Unless you want me at the courthouse."

        "If you're there, Justus will kill me."

        "How's Julie doing?"

        "Not well.  She's going to be locked away for a long time, no matter what I say.  I only hope that it's a short long time and not forever."

        "You love her."

        "She's the first person I ever cared about enough to put before myself.  Christina's the second."

        "Who puts you first?" Sonny asked.

        "Nobody, anymore.  I was the only one who ever did, and now I can't."  Chris lifted his head, opening his eyes, flashing a quick smile.  "Poor me.  We're not supposed to be sitting here talking about Julie, you know.  Stone and Jason left, and they took the kids, so that we could be alone.  For sex."

        "Is that why they left?"

        "It is.  You want to have sex?"

        "Not on the sofa."

        "The bed's fine with me."

        "We don't have to," Sonny said.

        "You prefer the floor?"

        "We don't have to have sex," he insisted.

        "Right now or all of the time?"

        "Any time."

        "You've found someone else?  I hope it isn't John," Chris said.

        "John.  John Larkin.  You think that I'm leaving you for Larkin?"

        "I knew I could get you to smile."  Chris kissed him.

        In the morning, Chris looked into the mirror over Sonny's dresser.  Dark blue suit, blue shirt, red tie.  He'd combed his hair and polished his shoes.  All ready to go.  He walked downstairs.  "Wish me luck," he told Stone, and crouched before Christina on the floor.  "You wish me luck, too," he told her.  "Give me a kiss."  She did.  "Thank you.  I'm going to go help your mother, so I'll be gone all morning.  You stay here with Sonny and Stone.  Be a good girl."  He kissed her and stood.  "Is it too early in the morning for a martini?"

        "Yes," Sonny said.  "I don't know why you're worried.  You know exactly what you're going to say to Justus, and you're too smart to let Dara or Scott get to you."

        "I'll consider it a victory if I get back here alive."  Chris kissed him.  "Later.  Bye, Christina."  The door closed.

        "How was last night?" Stone asked Sonny.

        "Last night is none of your business," Sonny said.

        "Must've gone okay.  You've got a love bite on your neck."

        Sonny gave him a look and walked to the kitchen.

        Stone followed.  "Can I ask you something?"

        "Can I stop you?"

        "Chris is here for Christina's security.  It's sort of like he's prostituting himself."

        "Is that a question?"

        "Have you guys talked about it?  I can't imagine you demanding sex from anyone, but is it part of the arrangement?  Or is it just something that happened?"

        "He started it.  Should I have stopped him?"

        "That's what I'm asking," Stone said.

        "Chris is an adult.  He makes his own choices.  He knows I wasn't asking for sex."

        "I've never known you to have sex with someone you didn't care about.  I mean, Carly, but that was different.  But you didn't even know Chris."

        "I know him now."

        "Do you care about him?"

        "You've asked more than one question.  You've accused me of demanding sex for protection, and of making a grown man, a doctor, prostitute himself for the sake of his daughter.  Would you like to ask anything else?  No?  Good."

        "I'm just trying to understand.  I've never seen you in a relationship like this."

        "Like what?  With a man?"

        "He's a man, he's a professional - - your girlfriends were waitresses, jobless, at least as far as you knew.  He doesn't cling like they did.  He doesn't worship you.  He isn't eager for your approval.  He isn't picking out wedding cakes, and he isn't giving you big moony eyes, and he isn't making demands and expectations.  He lets you be, and you let him be."

        Jason came home from the warehouse hours later.  Finally, Chris came home.  He lifted Christina from the playpen.  "I'm back.  Missed you.  I kicked butt in the courtroom today.  Your mother was so proud of me."  He kissed her.  "Did you have a good day today?  You like this tie?  You can have it."  He unknotted it and pulled it free, handing it to her.  "It's very expensive.  You can put it in your mouth if you don't choke on it.  You should have been there today.  I got to sit on a chair in front of a room full of people and talk about your mother.  I'm sorry you couldn't come.  You would've been bored, anyway.  They don't have any toys to play with, except a gavel.  That's like a wooden mallet, and you bang it and it makes everyone listen to you.  But you only get to touch it if you're the most important person in the room."  He sat on the sofa with Christina in his lap.  "Your mother misses you.  Every day.  She loves you.  So we've got to take good care of you, and make sure you grow up just right.  The first step is not choking on my tie.  Give me this."  He dropped it on the floor.  "Next step.  It's time for food.  That means we have to get up again.  Tell you what.  I'll sit here and rest, and you go to the kitchen and get the food.  Okay?  You go ahead and start without me."  He waited.  "No?  You're making me get up?  You're relentless.  Okay, come on, we'll go together."

        Chris fed Christina, bathed her, and put her to sleep.  Then he collapsed across the bed in his clothes.  With an effort, he kicked off his shoes and dragged himself towards the pillow.  Now he just needed someone to undress him and brush his teeth.  He waited until he was practically asleep, then forced himself up again and went to the bathroom.  Then he returned and stripped and dropped onto the bed again.

        He woke with a start.  Christina was crying.  He got up and ran to the next room.  "Sshhh, I'm here, it's okay.  What's wrong?" he asked her.  "Sshhh, come here, it's all right."

        He referred to her, on occasion, as his daughter, or called himself her father.  He was her father, legally.  But he did not call himself her "daddy."  He'd been there for her birth, and he'd had her at the start.  But Scott had had her for months, and Frank was her biological father.

        Taking care of Christina was his first priority.  Julie was number two.  His job, his patients, were number three.  Christina always came first, had to come first.

        AJ rolled onto his stomach.  Well, this just sucked.  He was sober, working, independent; he had Jason and Michael back in his life and happy to be there; he had a positive romantic relationship for once.  But the other half of his positive romantic relationship was in Chile and not in his bed.  Not that Lucky ever had been in his bed.  On his bed once or twice, warm and sexy and kissing him.

        And now he couldn't sleep, and his mind was dredging up all sorts of questions about Lucky.  Like how long would it be before he had Lucky back in his arms?  In his bed?  His body missed Lucky.  His brain missed Lucky.  His mouth missed Lucky.  His eyes missed Lucky.

        He burrowed a hand inside his boxers, between his thighs, and stroked himself.  Lucky would be home soon.

        Chris was crossing the docks when he saw Agent Larkin coming in his direction.  He held Christina a little closer.

        "Dr. Ramsey.  This must be your daughter."

        "Hello, Agent Larkin."

        "How've you been?"

        "I've been fine, and you?"

        "I hear they're sentencing your wife tomorrow."

        "Yes."  Rinaldo seemed to have disappeared.  Oh, terrific.  The one time he actually wanted the guy around, Rinaldo was nowhere to be seen.  "Will you excuse us?"

        "On your way to see Sonny?"

        "On our way to buy shoes," Chris said.  "Sonny sells coffee beans, not little girls' shoes.  I hope you're one of the lesser agents at the bureau."

        "Do you know what else Sonny sells?"

        "I'm sure that he'll give you a list of his inventory if you ask for it."

        "Does he give you whatever you ask for?"

        "I don't ask for much.  I'm just a simple girl with simple tastes."

        "Girl, hunh?  You let Corinthos top all of the time?"

        "You mean you aren't videotaping us having sex?  John, you disappoint me.  Tell you what.  You stop by the penthouse later, and I'll show you how I like it."  Slowly, carefully, he licked his lips.  He saw Larkin's eyes go dark with fury and lust.  He let his lower lip drop; he leaned in closer, too close to be anything but invitation, and said, softly, "I'll show you how you like it."

        Sonny put out his hand, stopping Rinaldo behind him.  He backed up a little, waiting to see what was happening.

        "This how you got Sonny in your bed?" John asked.

        "He got me in his bed," Chris said.  "And you know how hard it is to get close to Sonny.  I must be something pretty special, don't you think?"

        "I can only imagine," John said.

        "Oh, you can do more than imagine, Agent Larkin.  You can fantasize.  Do you have any fantasties, Agent Larkin?  Will you share them with me?"

        "My only dream right now is to get Sonny in jail where he belongs."

        "That's your only dream?"  Chris exhaled lightly against John's mouth, just enough to make John shudder at the breath of hot, moist air.  "That's too bad.  I so wanted to make your every dream come true."  And then he just walked away.  Now that the fury was well buried under the desire, he was free to leave.  He took Christina to buy shoes, and they went back to the penthouse.

        Sonny had been physically withdrawn lately.  Sonny had moved away from the slightest sexual overture, so Chris had accomodated Sonny's wishes and left it alone.  He was glad to see that someone, even if it was only Larkin, wasn't immune to him.  He'd wondered if he'd lost his touch.

        The last time he'd been with Sonny had been the evening before his testimony.  Sonny had said that they didn't have to have sex.  Had Sonny been trying to tell him something?  Sonny clearly didn't want him anymore, never touched or kissed him.  He'd thought that they were getting along well, but obviously not.  Maybe Sonny was uncomfortable with male-male sex.  Maybe Sonny just didn't want him.  Maybe Sonny didn't like him.  Maybe he was just a lousy lay.

        When he got back to the penthouse, he put down Christina and said to Sonny who was by the desk, "I ran into Larkin again today.  He seemed even more purposeless than usual.  He must know that his investigation is going nowhere.  And Rinaldo disappeared; I started to worry about him."

        "He came to me to tell me that Larkin was hassling you again."

        "Nothing I couldn't handle.  I'd prefer it if Christina didn't have to be subjected to his visits, but I can take care of it.  I knew what I was getting into when I came to you."

        Sonny nodded.

        "If you want me to go, tell me," Chris said.  "If you don't want me to live here, I can get my own place, we can end this."

        "I thought that you wanted to be here."

        "I do."

        "For Christina and Julie."

        "Right.  But if you're sick of us, if you don't want us here anymore, we'll leave."

        "Do you want to leave?"

        "Not really."

        "Then stay."

        Nikolas turned over the postcard again and stared at his brother's handwriting.

        Why didn't you tell me that Juan kisses this well?

        It was official, then.  Lucky had Juan.  Oh god, it hurt so much.

        "Nikolas?"  Stefan put his hand on Nikolas' nape as his nephew turned liquid, wounded eyes to him.  "Tell me what's upset you."  A postcard.  "Is there bad news?  Has something happened to Juan?"

        "Lucky..."

        "What's happened to Lucky?" Stefan asked, telling himself that he was not worried.

        Nikolas handed Stefan the postcard.  "My brother stole my boyfriend."

        Stefan read the words.  "He's sent you a gloating message?  I thought that your relationship with Lucky was a positive one.  I hadn't realized that he was the type to lure your boyfriend away from you in order to seduce Juan and then send you a deliberately painful-"

        "He's not," Nikolas said.  "That's what I don't understand.  I thought that Lucky and I were friends now.  I didn't think that he'd hurt me on purpose."

        "You aren't surprised at the content of this missive?"

        "I knew Juan wanted Lucky."

        Stefan had been with Laura while she was still in love with Luke.  It was not a good feeling.  Not to mention that his own brother had claimed the woman he'd loved.  "You're certain."

        "Yes."

        "I understood Lucky to be enamored of AJ Quartermaine."

        "I guess not anymore."

        "If you honestly believed yourself to be second in Juan's favors, why did you remain with him?"

        "I was falling in love with him, and Lucky was with AJ, so I thought that maybe I could have Juan."

        Stefan held Nikolas' jaw in his hands and looked intently into Nikolas' face.  "You never give yourself to someone who puts you second.  You are second to no one.  Do you understand me?"

        Nikolas closed his eyes.  He opened them to his uncle's fierce blue eyes.  "Yes."

        "Do not waste yourself on foolish children who prefer blonde Americans," Stefan said.  "Anyone who does not realize your superiority is not worthy of you.  Do you understand me?"

        "Yes."

        "If your brother has betrayed you and wishes you to feel the loser, do not fall for his tricks."

        "Why would he do this to me?" Nikolas asked.  Why would Lucky throw Juan's seduction into his face?

        "Was his aim to hurt you?" Stefan asked, hands dropping.  "If you sent the two of them to South America together, perhaps he saw your move as tacit permission and this is his way of letting you know that he has done as you wanted."

        "Take good care of him."  "You're right.  The responsibility is mine."

        "Then fault Juan, not Lucky.  Not yourself."

        Jason and AJ were spending the evening with Michael in the penthouse.  Stone would be there, too, and had offered to watch Joey and Christina.  The Port Charles Grill called Sonny to confirm his dinner reservation.  Sonny was displeased with Stone's interference and said that he was staying home.  Then Chris walked down from their bedroom, well-groomed and well-dressed.

        Sonny hadn't gotten laid in a month.

        Even Jason was checking out Chris.

        Sonny decided to go after all.

        Frank watched Chris walk into the Grill with Sonny.  "Can't you arrest him?" he asked Mac.

        "I'd love to, believe me," Mac said.  "We keep trying.  The FBI's on him, and they have nothing."

        "It kills me, seeing them together.  Chris looks like a gigolo.  And he's raising my daughter."

        Chris tossed a smile in Frank's direction.  Frank almost growled.  Mac said, "Ramsey hasn't broken any laws.  And Sonny - - believe me, I know all about Sonny.  I've said it all myself.  When Robin was hanging around him all of the time, when she was with Stone and then Jason, I did everything that I could to keep her away from him."

        "It worked.  She's safe now."

        "In Paris," Mac said.  "Away from me, too."

        Sonny dragged his gaze from Chris's mouth.  For the first time, he felt sympathy for John Larkin.  He was being sucked into Chris's sexual aura, and Chris wasn't even trying.  Briefly, he wished that Chris had tried with him what Chris had done to Larkin that one day.  "How was work?"

        "Not bad.  Jake doesn't hate me and I left all of my patients alive."

        "Jake's the only one?"

        "Well, some people always did hate me.  Some hate me because of Julie.  Some because of Christina.  The rest, because of you.  Jake actually speaks to me."

        Jake.  Jake Marshak was the gorgeous smart one.  Well, if he was going to lose Chris to anyone, at least Jake was a lot better than Jax.  Lose Chris?  He'd never had Chris.  Chris never had been his.

        "Dare I ask about your day?" Chris asked.

        "Nothing exciting," Sonny said.  "John Larkin's coming up right behind you."

        Chris ran his tongue over his lower lip to leave it wet and pouted; then he stood, excusing himself.  He turned and almost ran into Larkin.  "Excuse me," he said, one hand on Larkin's elbow to steady himself.  "Agent Larkin.  I haven't seen you in weeks."

        "Dr. Ramsey.  Am I interrupting your dinner?"

        "We're just getting started."  Chris' hand slipped up a notch to Larkin's bicep.  "Are you meeting someone here?"

        "Just thought I'd stop by your table, see how you and Sonny are doing."

        "We're doing just fine.  How are you?"  His dark eyes dropped to Larkin's mouth.

        "I'm fine, Dr. Ramsey."

        "That's good to hear."  Chris' hand removed itself.  "I was just excusing myself, so why don't you stay and talk to Sonny?  I'll be back in a moment."  He raised his eyes to Larkin's in a soft cluster of dark lashes, then walked away.  There was a pause; John looked at Sonny, then walked away, too.  Followed Chris.

        "The FBI's doing a great job," Frank said.  "Larkin's getting sexual favors from Ramsey, Sonny's little boyfriend.  They'll never get any information that way."

        Mac debated going to the bathroom.  He was sure that he'd catch them and could arrest them.  Chris would lose custody of Christina, which was definitely a good thing. But the FBI would kill him.  And Christina would go into foster care.

        Chris returned a moment later, alone.  He resumed his place at the table and said to Sonny, "Didn't I tell him to stay here?  Some people never listen."

        "What happened to him?"  Sonny was trying to guess how likely it was that Chris had just...with Larkin...in the Grill's bathroom.

        "He followed me right into the bathroom under the pretense of washing his hands.  I think he was trying to sneak a peek.  I didn't give him a chance to look, but I did get him flustered enough that he shouldn't be interrupting our dinner again.  How did such a slimy lecherous idiot get into the FBI?"

        "What'd you do to him?"

        "All you have to do is know how to talk to him.  Bat your lashes, pout your lips, let him know how much he wants you.  Works every time."

        "That's it?"

        Chris's eyes narrowed.

        Shit.

        "Sonny, I haven't done this sort of thing in years.  The last time I did it I was an undergrad.  For a few years it was second nature, but it never went far enough to be indecent.  I used my sexuality to get what I wanted, not sex.  If you think that I'm going to give a federal agent a blow job in the men's room just to get him off of your back, you can think again."

        "And with me?  You didn't use sex to get what you wanted?  You weren't whoring yourself for Christina's safety?"

        "If I don't want sex, I don't have sex," Chris said.

        "That doesn't mean anything."

        "You and I haven't had sex in a month," Chris said.  "You said yourself that I don't have to if I don't want to.  When I first came to you, I thought that you were straight."

        "I'm not asking you to whore yourself to Larkin.  I wouldn't ask that.  And I don't want you to do it for me, either."

        "I kind of got that, since every time I tried to touch you you left the room," Chris said.  "I got the hint."

        "I've seen women try to get men," Sonny said.  "Everyone from hookers to my own girlfriends.  I've never seen anyone do it like you."

        "Larkin's easy," Chris said.  "But it isn't hard.  I could do it to...Scott Baldwin, if I wanted.  Or Jason.  Or Rinaldo.  Or you.  It's just a talent.  Some people, like you, have power and money.  Some of us scrape by with our wits, and we have to turn to scheming and manipulation to get anywhere."

        "Larkin's an easy target because he's a fool.  You couldn't get past someone who's onto you."

        "You don't think so?  Want me to prove it?"

        Shit.

        "Not here.  I don't feel like giving another public performance.  When we get home."

        Shit shit.

        "Don't worry.  I'll let you escape with your modesty.  I'll just shake it up a little first."

        Sonny wanted Chris.  Sonny knew exactly how good Chris was in bed.  Sonny hadn't gotten any sex in a month.  Sonny was in trouble.

        When they got back to the penthouse, AJ and Michael were gone.  Chris asked Jason and Stone to stay upstairs for about half an hour and not to come down no matter what they heard.  Jason smiled and took the kids upstairs with Stone.

        Sonny removed his suit coat and wished for some bourbon.

        "Thank you for dinner."  Chris was right behind him.  He turned and walked past Chris.  He almost sat on the sofa, but thought better of it.  "You've been very good to me.  I wasn't sure what to expect when I came here."  Chris was in front of him now.  "I haven't had a male lover for a long time.  But my body knew what it wanted.  And my mouth...remembered..."  Close, too close, right before him.  Chris' lower lip dropped slightly, lips parted just enough to be an invitation.  Dark eyes had gone liquid at will, apparently.  "Sonny.  I know that you don't want me anymore.  I'm sorry if I wasn't good enough.  I tried to make it good for you.  I wanted you to feel so good..."  Chris' eyes met his again, after dropping in coy shame.  "I miss you.  I still think about it.  The way you sighed the last time I licked your balls.  The way your hand, your mouth, your whole body, just wrapped around my cock."  Eyes and voice sharpened with dark intent.  "Don't you want to fuck me just one more time?"

        Chris smiled.  "Had enough?"

        Sonny blinked.  One more heartbeat and he'd have dragged Chris against him, under him; except he couldn't do that, because then Chris would stop talking, would stop looking at him like that, and he'd wanted to keep Chris going.  Maybe that was how Chris kept from getting raped.

        "Did anyone ever take you up on what you're offering?"

        Chris' eyes narrowed.  "I'm going to check on Christina."  Chris went upstairs.

        That night, Sonny rolled onto one side, looking through the darkness toward Chris.  Chris, half-naked, warm, asleep, on one side, facing him.  Groin shielded by boxers, but Sonny knew what was there.  He wanted Chris.  He had since they'd first met, only now he actually knew Chris better.  And, now he'd actually been with Chris, so he knew what he was missing.

        Sonny didn't know how to do this.  He was used to getting what he wanted.  If he didn't get it, he slipped into a depression, acted out violently, stalked, avoided.  This, having Chris close at hand but not being allowed to touch, this was debilitating.

        Nikolas was at L&B alone when the door opened and Lucky and Juan walked in.  "Honey, I'm home!" Juan called.

        "How's life in Port Charles?" Lucky asked.

        They were tanner, and Lucky's blonde hair was lighter.  They looked healthy and happy.  "I didn't expect to see you for another month.  How was South America?"

        "We couldn't stay away any longer," Juan said.  "Plus Ned was getting sick of us."

        "We never did get to be the opening act," Lucky said, smiling.  "We just got in and dropped off our stuff, and we had to run right over here and see how you're doing.  How've you been?"

        "Fine," Nikolas said.  "I got your postcard."

        "Postcard?" Juan asked.  He turned to Lucky.  "You sent that?  You sent it?"

        Lucky smiled.  "I thought that Nikolas would want to know how we were doing."

        "When did you send it?  When did you get it?" Juan asked them.

        "I got it two months ago," Nikolas said.

        "For two months you've thought that we were together, and you didn't write or call or anything?" Juan asked.  "Not even to talk to us?  To say anything to me?"

        "There's nothing to say," Nikolas said.  "I hope you're happy with each other."

        "Are you happy?" Juan asked.

        "Does that matter to you?" Nikolas asked.  "You're happy with Lucky, and clearly he's happy with you."

        "I am happy with Lucky," Juan said.  "He's smart and he's nice and he's fun to be with, and he's gorgeous and he fucks like a-"

        "Juan," Lucky said, "I think that's enough."

        "Let's go," Juan said.  "Obviously Prince Nick's going to be bitter and petty about this."  He laced his fingers through Lucky's and left L&B.

        Nikolas leaned his arms on the counter, buried his head in his arms, and tried to breathe through the fury and the knife in his chest.

        AJ opened his apartment door a few hours later.  Lucky smiled.  "You're here!  What are you doing here!"

        "Hello," Lucky said.  "Invite me in."

        "Come in," AJ said.  "I want to ask you about your trip, I want to hear all about it, but first," and he backed Lucky against the closed door and kissed Lucky's mouth, pushing back Lucky's denim jacket.  Lucky sucked on his tongue and pulled his shirt from his waistband, then started to unbutton.  He felt Lucky's fingers passing over his chest, across his flesh; Lucky fingered his nipple and he gasped, arching away from the touch.  He pulled his shirt off the rest of the way; it fell by their feet.  He backed towards the bed, Lucky coming with him, mouths engaged.  They paused halfway there while Lucky toed out of shoes, then continued on, the two of them getting Lucky naked to the waist as he was.  Then AJ was lying on his back, and Lucky was licking his nipple, and life was good.  Life was very good.

        Lucky's fingers fanned across AJ's abdomen, crossed AJ's navel, slipped lower.  This was new.  AJ's eyes opened.  "What are you doing?"

        "Taking off your pants."

        "You sure you want to do that?"

        "Yes."

        "Why?"

        "So I can see what's down there."

        AJ put his hands over his face.  His pants were opened; his pants and boxers were lowered down to his knees, exposing him.  Cool air hit his erection.

        "Wow."  Soft awe.

        AJ tried to close his legs, but Lucky's hands stroked up his thighs to stop him.

        "Holy shit."  Surprise.

        Wait a second, if the surprise was for what he thought it was for, then the wow was for...him?  How very flattering.  There was a gentle hand, long lean fingers, on his balls.  Oh that felt good.  That felt very good.  He spread his thighs wider in invitation.

        "How long have you had this?"

        "It's a prep school thing.  Five of us did it."

        "Whose idea was it?"

        "Mine."

        "What's it feel like now?"

        "It makes my skin very sensitive."  He gasped and tried to squirm away when Lucky fingered it.  Two hands braced his inner thighs wide apart, and then oh holy god he knew what that was, that was a tongue, Lucky was licking him.  His spine arched from the bed.  Lucky licked harder.  "Lucky...wait...stop," he gasped.

        Lucky stopped, hands sliding over his thighs.  "What?"

        "I'm going to come."

        "That's a good thing, AJ," Lucky said.  The hands left his thighs and came to his wrists, bringing his hands from his face.  Lucky kissed him.

        Johnny opened the door.  "Juan Santiago's here."

        "Hi," Juan said, walking into the penthouse.

        "Welcome back," Stone said.  "I didn't think you'd be here for a while.  How was it?"

        "You look good," Sonny said casually.

        "Thanks," Juan said.  "It was great.  I mean, Miguel was there and Nikolas wasn't, but otherwise it was great."

        "Nikolas must be ecstatic to have you back," Stone said.

        "Not really," Juan said.  "We sort of broke up."

        "What happened?" Stone asked, surprised, concerned.

        "I don't know.  Either he dumped me the day I left, or I dumped him in Peru.  Either way, now he thinks that I'm with Lucky, and I'm letting him think so.  If he doesn't care, what's the point?"

        "He cares," Stone said.

        "No he doesn't," Juan said.

        "You're lying to him?" Sonny asked.

        "Like you're so honest with everybody?" Juan asked.

        Nikolas looked into the mirror. "He's smart and he's nice and he's fun to be with; he's gorgeous and he fucks like a-"  Well, Nikolas was smart and nice and fun to be with and gorgeous, and he could prove it.  His education and Lucky's were entirely different, his personality and Lucky's were entirely different, his appearance and experience and Lucky's were entirely different, but there was no reason why he couldn't challenge Lucky.  Challenge and win.  Nikolas Cassadine was not going to lose Juan Santiago, to Lucky or to anyone else.

        "You sure you wouldn't rather be with him?" Nikolas asked.  Juan slid his hands up Nikolas' sides through cotton.  "No.  I like you better."  "And why is that?" Nikolas asked, leaning back again.  "You're Nikolas."  Juan kissed him.

        "I'll promise you anything you want.  I'll never run away, ever, not from you, not if you kiss me like that."

        Nikolas met his own eyes in the mirror.  He loved his brother, but he was not willing to share his toys.

        Juan was at Kelly's with Stone and Lucky when Nikolas walked in, passed their table, and leaned over the counter to talk to Tammy.  No one, absolutely no one, had a better butt than Nikolas Cassadine.  Juan always had wanted to get his hands on it.  But Nikolas didn't do that stuff.  Juan, apparently, wasn't good enough to touch Nikolas.  Not that Juan was feeling bitter about it.

        Nikolas turned, leaning his back against the counter.  He winked at Juan across the room.

        Juan's cheeks flushed with heat.  Since when did Nikolas wink?

        "Did he just wink at you?" Stone asked Juan.

        "Who?" Lucky asked.  "Nikolas winked at you?"

        "Just a little," Juan admitted, eyes on his French fries.

        "He's coming over here," Stone said.  "Should I make myself scarce?"

        "Don't you dare," Juan said, suddenly and inexplicably terrified.

        "Hey, guys," Nikolas said.  "Mind if I join you while I wait?"

        "Go ahead," Lucky said.  Nikolas pulled up a chair and straddled it backwards, arms propped across the top, seated between Stone and Lucky so right across from Juan.  "I'm on my way to take Lulu to the zoo.  I've never been there myself.  Anybody want to come with us?"

        "No thanks, I'm heading to the warehouse," Stone said.

        "Juan could show you around," Lucky said.  "He's been to the zoo a lot."

        "You don't mind lending me your boyfriend for the afternoon?"

        "You're my brother, I trust you."

        Nikolas smiled.  "Good."  He rose to get his bag and pay.  Then he came back and said, "Juan, you coming?"

        Lucky kicked Juan under the table.

        "Sure," Juan said, rising.  "Later," he told Stone and Lucky.  Just to be contrary, he was tempted to kiss Lucky, but that wasn't a good idea since they were in public.

        The zoo was fun, and Lesley Lu was fun, and Nikolas was a great older brother.  Juan played tour guide and tried to ignore how Nikolas was treating him like anybody.  It was as though they'd always stayed casual friends, as though they'd never looked at each with more in their eyes, as though they'd never kissed, as though he'd never felt Nikolas' arousal against his body.  He was being treated like Nikolas' brother's boyfriend, someone Nikolas liked in general but wasn't vaguely interested in sexually.  There wasn't one moment of sexual tension.  There wasn't one moment when Nikolas' good mood slipped.  Juan decided to kill the prince.

        They dropped Lulu off at Laura's and got into Nikolas' car.  "Come to Windemere with me?" Nikolas asked, starting down the road.

        "No thanks," Juan said.

        "Tomorrow?"

        Apparently Nikolas wanted him there for some reason.  "Okay."

        "Come by after seven," Nikolas said.  "I want to talk to you alone."

        "About what?"

        "Nothing earth-shattering.  Don't worry about it."

        The next evening, Juan considered dragging Stone along with him, or inviting Lucky.  He didn't want to see Nikolas alone.  But this mystery was intriguing, so he decided to do as Nikolas had asked.  He took the ferry to the island and rang the bell and told Mrs. Lansbury that he was there to see Nikolas.

        "Is Master Nikolas expecting you?"

        That "Master Nikolas" thing always gave him dirty thoughts.  Such bad dirty thoughts.  "He told me to come tonight after seven, and it's tonight at 7:24.  He's not here?"

        "Master Nikolas is out on the grounds.  I will send someone-"

        "It's okay, I'll go looking for him," Juan said.

        Five minutes later, Juan doubted the wisdom of his decision.  After all, it wasn't like he was familiar with this place, and he had no idea where Nikolas could be, and it was dark.  Hadn't Katherine been shot out here?

        "Come on, Sheba, we're late already."

        Nikolas.  And Sheba.  "Hey, Nikolas?"

        "Juan?"

        "Where are you?"

        "I'm right here."  Nikolas came out of the darkness, leading a beautiful dark horse.  "I'm sorry, I know I'm late.  It was terribly inconsiderate of me.  I intended to be back at the house."

        "So this is Sheba?"

        "Yes.  Do you ride?"

        "I have.  I'm not a professional or anything."

        "We should go riding together."

        God, they really really should.  Bad dirty thoughts.  "Why am I here, anyway?"

        "I wanted to ask you about Lucky."

        "What about him?"

        "Why are you with him?"

        "That's none of your business."

        "My boyfriend leaves me for my brother and it's none of my business?"

        "That's right."

        They walked to the stable.  Juan watched Nikolas take care of Sheba, shooing away the groom to do it himself.  "Lucky likes me," Juan said finally.  "He's smart, independent, funny, friendly, he knows what he wants, he does what he wants, he's gorgeous.  There's nothing wrong with him, not a thing."

        "Lucky's great," Nikolas agreed.  "He's a wonderful person, and everything you said is true."  Nikolas sat on a bale of hay and pulled off his riding boots.  "And, like you said before, he, how do you phrase it?  He puts out.  I don't."  Juan had never seen Nikolas' feet before.  Long toes, high perfect arches.  Nikolas had beautiful feet.  It figured.  Nikolas walked over to the far wall where there was a sink.  Nikolas turned on the water, splashed his face and neck.  Then Nikolas's hands went to his hips, and Nikolas pulled his shirt over his head, and Nikolas was naked to the waist.  Naked.  Naked and wet.  Naked and wet and touching himself.

        Juan sat heavily.

        It wasn't like Nikolas was a sculptured Greek god or anything.  Just tight, and sleek.  Muscles.  Nipples.  Good god.  Juan was drooling.

        Nikolas turned off the water and ran his hands over his chest.  "I'm going inside.  You coming?"

        Yeah, Juan was coming.

        Nikolas left Juan in the entryway and ran upstairs.  When he came back, he was in different pants, and a shirt, but still barefoot.  They went to the kitchen and Nikolas asked about South America.  They sat there, talking, until midnight.  When the chimes struck twelve, Juan said, "I'd better go.  It's way past my curfew."

        "All right."  They went to the foyer, then down to meet the ferry.  Nikolas said, "You don't have to be uncomfortable around me.  You're my brother's boyfriend; I won't try to kiss you.  You and I can still be friends."

        "Good."

        "I'm sorry.  About undressing in front of you in the stable.  That was a cheap trick and I'm ashamed of myself.  I don't know what I was thinking."

        "It's no big deal."

        "As it shouldn't be.  You're with Lucky now."

        "Right."

        "Good-bye."

        "Bye."

        "And Juan?" Nikolas called as Juan got on the ferry.  "Don't ever call me Prince Nick again."

        Chris laughed.  "Joey, what are you doing?  Give me that."

        Sonny was not brooding.

        "Come here.  That's better.  You want some?  Are you sure?  Okay, but just a little.  No, not all of that, just a little.  There you go.  You like that?"

        Not brooding.

        Chris laughed.

        Stone looked at Sonny.  "Chris is in the kitchen with Joey?  Making brownies?"  Sonny nodded.  "Chris Ramsey?  Arrogant self-absorbed manipulative martini-drinking Dr. Ramsey?  Is making brownies?"  Sonny nodded.  "The world's ending, isn't it?  Pigs are flying and there are penguins in Hell."

        "No drooling in the brownies," Chris ordered.

        Sonny closed his eyes.

        "See, wasn't that easy?  We just put them in here, turn this knob, flip this, and here we go.  Now they cook and we get to relax.  You want to go read something?  We could-"

        Johnny burst in the door.  "Sonny!"

        Everything was a blur after that.  Sonny never was sure what happened.  Johnny threw him a handgun and dove aside.  Stone was running.  Men were coming in the door, men with guns, men who were firing guns.  Jason was running down the stairs, Francis was coming from the hallway behind the men, Sonny was trying not to get killed, everything was very loud and very deadly.  Machine guns, bullet-proof vests, but God had yet to create a bullet-proof head, so Sonny aimed there.  But it was hard to shoot someone without getting shot and killed himself.

        They weren't getting upstairs just yet; Christina was up there, screaming.  One was heading for the kitchen: Joey and Chris were in there!  "Hell no, motherfucker!" Sonny shouted, and shot until his gun emptied.

        Then things were slowing down again, and it was quiet.  Jason was running hands over him.  "Sonny, you okay?"

        "Joey.  Stone.  Chris-"

        "Sonny.  Where were you shot?"

        Shot?

        "This is Dr. Chris Ramsey, I need an ambulance.  I'm at 5142 LaPlata Street in the penthouse.  There's been gunfire.  I have three men dead, three critically wounded, one with-"

        Sonny closed his eyes.

        "Sonny, Sonny!  Open your eyes."

        He opened his eyes.  "Where's Joey?  Stone?"

        "I emptied the trashcan and hid Joey in it," Chris said.  "When the gunshots stopped, I let him out again."

        He could hear Chris' voice, but he was looking at Jason.  "Crying...  Christina..."

        "They're both upstairs," Jason said.  "They're fine, they're just upset."

        "Stone?"

        "Stone's been shot," Jason said.  "He'll be okay.  Sonny, Sonny, he's fine."

        "Johnny?  Francis?"

        "Chris is taking care of them."

        "Jason, I need you," Chris said, and Jason was gone.

        Paramedics were there soon.  Chris took charge, Chris knew exactly what to do.  It really was impressive, and Sonny wished that he felt energetic enough to relish the moment.  There was a lot of blood, blood everywhere.  And bodies.  And confusion.  And then he was in the elevator, and then he was in an ambulance.

        Chris rode with Johnny and Francis to the hospital.  They went straight to the emergency room, then up to the OR; he went with them and helped Dr. Boardman to repair what was left of Johnny.  By the time he got out, he heard that Francis was, most likely, going to live.  "And Sonny Corinthos?"

        "Sonny's in the ICU."

        "Where's Stone Cates?"

        "He's being admitted overnight but should be released in the morning."

        "Which room?"

        Rinaldo and Jason were outside of Stone's room with Joey and Christina.  Jason had gone to the ER, apparently; Chris had been afraid that Jason would be too worried about the others to get stitches.  "Francis should make it," he said.  "I don't know about Johnny."

        Jason nodded.

        "Stone's okay?"

        "He's sleeping," Jason said.

        "Have you seen Sonny?"

        "They wouldn't let us," Jason said.

        "Let me go check on it," Chris said.  He kissed Christina's head, careful not to wake her in her little carrier, and went to the ICU.  He had changed into clean scrubs, so he wasn't walking around with Johnny's blood and gore on him scaring people.  He walked to Sonny's bed, checked the chart.  Well, it was possible that Sonny could die, but not likely.  He passed his hand over Sonny's forehead.

        Dark eyes opened.

        "Hey," Chris said, with a small smile.  "How are you feeling?  Do you remember what happened?"

        "You put Joey in the trash can."

        "It was all I could think of.  It was empty.  He's fine, he's with Jason and Rinaldo and Christina.  Jason's got a few stitches.  Stone's fine, he's going to spend the night here, he's sleeping.  Francis should be all right if we keep an eye on him.  I did my best with Johnny, but I can't make any promises.  Jason wants to see you.  You feel up to it?"

        Sonny nodded.

        "Good.  I'll go get him."  Chris left.  When he got down to Stone's room brief minutes later, Mac and Taggert and Garcia were there.  "What are you doing?" Chris asked.  "This is a hospital, this man came here for medical-"

        "Dr. Ramsey," Mac said.  "I'd like you to come down to the station.  We have some questions for you."

        "I just got out of surgery," Chris said.  "I have critical patients-"

        "There are other doctors here to take care of them," Mac said.  "They can spare you."

        "May I get dressed first or would you like me to come in this?"

        "Change fast," Mac said.

        First a shoot-out, then a surgery, and now an interrogation.  This was shaping up into one great night.  Chris took Christina and Joey, and they went to the police station.  Rinaldo came after leaving guards behind stationed by Sonny, Stone, Johnny, and Francis.

        Juan came flat-out running into the police station just after Chris got there.  "Where's Sonny?!"

        Chris set down Christina and grabbed Juan's shoulders.  "Sonny's fine.  He's in the hospital, in the ICU.  I won't make you any promises, but he should be fine."

        "Where's-"

        "Stone is in the hospital, he'll stay overnight.  Jason's here.  Johnny and Francis are in the hospital, they were seriously injured.  Worse than Sonny.  I operated on Johnny myself.  Joey and Christina weren't hurt at all, only scared.  Jason got stitches but he's fine.  Juan.  Can you do something for me?"

        Juan nodded.

        "I want you to stay here with Joey and Christina.  I'm about to be interrogated and I don't want them in there.  Can you stay here and watch them?"

        "Yeah."

        "Thank you.  As soon as they let me out of here, I'm going to go back to the hospital.  We can go see how everyone's doing."

        Chris was questioned intensely.  He told the truth and protected Sonny.  He cooperated, gave his most false smiles, and drove Mac insane.  Truly, he knew nothing at all about Sonny's business, and he had no idea who those men had been or from whom, and he didn't know why people were trying to kill Sonny.  He'd never been more terrified in his life than tonight, with good reason.  But he didn't blame Sonny.  Sonny had too many people to protect to encourage something like this violence.  He blamed whoever was behind the shooting, and he knew that Mac would catch them or not without his help; he knew nothing.

        Mac let him go.  He asked after Jason, collected Christina, Joey, Juan, and Rinaldo, and went to the hospital.  Stone was sleeping comfortably.  Johnny was on a ventilator.  Francis was, for someone in that condition, all right.  Rinaldo stood in the waiting room with Christina, Joey, and Juan while Chris went in to see Sonny.

        "You should be sleeping.  Are you all right?"  Sonny nodded.  Liar.  "Mac arrested Jason.  Stone's doing great.  I checked on Johnny and Francis.  Rinaldo's just outside with Christina and Joey.  Juan's here.  Do you want to see him?"  No.  "Okay.  Can you get some sleep?  We need you alive, Sonny, and if you want to live you have to do as I say.  Are you in any pain?"  No.  "All right.  Close your eyes.  Try to sleep.  I'm going to take Joey and Christina... not home.  Is there somewhere I can take them?  Somewhere safe?"  Yes.  "Rinaldo can show me.  You get better.  I'll take care of everything else.  Go to sleep, Sonny.  Close your eyes."  Sonny's eyes closed.  "Good boy.  I'll be back later."

        "Take Juan."

        "Take Juan?  With Joey and Christina?  You think he's in danger?  I don't know if he'll come with me, but I'll try.  You're not sleeping."

        Rinaldo made a phone call.  "Hello.  Mr. Corinthos would like to call in his favor now."

        Chris knew that he'd have to go back to the blood-bathed crime scene to get his things, clothes, money, everything for the babies, all of Stone's medication.  He wanted to get Joey and Christina, and Juan, safe before he ventured back to the penthouse.

        "Windemere?" Juan asked.  "We're going to Windemere?"

        "Mr. Cassadine owes Mr. Corinthos a favor," Rinaldo said.

        "For getting Nikolas shot?" Juan asked.

        "The Cassadines are rich and paranoid," Chris said.  "They should have great security."

        "I'm not going," Juan said.

        "You're going," Chris said.  "Everyone knows about you and Sonny.  You're a target too.  Sonny said to take you with me, so I'm taking you with me whether you like it or not."

        Mrs. Lansbury welcomed them at the door.  She showed them to an abandoned wing, where she had rooms waiting for them.  Chris left Joey and Christina behind with Juan and Mrs. Lansbury while he and Rinaldo returned to the penthouse.

        Juan fell asleep rocking Joey.  Chris woke him up and he stumbled over to the bed.  He took a moment to marvel at its comfort before falling asleep.

        Juan woke up and spent a moment trying to sort out last night.  He would have gazed in admiration at his surroundings, but he'd been to Windemere before, and he was (ever so slightly) immune to it now.  He peed, washed his face, brushed his teeth, and went to see what was happening.  He wasn't sure where he was, so he got directions from the guard outside his door (one of Sonny's) and went to the kitchen.  It was early, not quite seven.  He decided that he wasn't comfortable raiding the fridge in someone else's home alone, so he went outside.  He wandered down to the water.

        And there, swimming, in the water, was Nikolas.

        "Hi."

        Nikolas said something, an exclamation, in some language that Juan didn't recognize.  "What are you doing here?!"

        "Was that Russian?"

        "Will you please hand me my clothes?"

        Nikolas was nervous.  Nikolas was naked.  Juan smiled.

        "Juan, please."

        "You're skinny-dipping?  You actually go skinny-dipping?  Is this a hobby of yours?"  He came closer to the edge of the water.  Nikolas' clothes were at his feet; Nikolas was backing up a little.  "Okay, okay, I won't look, I promise."  He retreated and turned his back, closing his eyes.

        "Why are you here?" Nikolas' voice asked.

        "Doesn't anyone tell you anything?"

        "Apparently not.  Is something wrong?"

        "Yeah, something's wrong.  Something's really really wrong.  Somebody, I guess Sorell, shot up Sonny's penthouse."

        "Were the kids there?  Is Sonny all right?"  Nikolas sounded stricken, anxious.

        "Sonny's in the hospital, and Stone and Jason were shot but they're supposed to be okay, and Jason's arrested, and Johnny and Francis might die, and-"  And Nikolas' arms were around him, and Nikolas' chest was strong and hard under damp cotton, and Juan was too old and too masculine to cry, but he was totally falling apart all over his ex-boyfriend.  He held onto Nikolas and sobbed, and Nikolas just held him, warm and safe, smoothed his hair.  "Sshhh, Juan, it's all right," Nikolas said softly, firmly.  "You weren't there, were you?"

        "No."  He sniffled.  Between the Port Charles River and Juan's torrent of tears, Nikolas' shirt was more than damp.

        "Chris?  Christina?  Joey?"

        "They were there, but they're okay, they weren't hurt.  Christina was upstairs, Chris and Joey were in the kitchen, I guess Sorell's men were killed before they could get past the front room."

        "Juan, why are you here?"

        "Oh.  Rinaldo brought us here, me and Chris and the kids.  I think Stone's going to be here when he gets out of the hospital, if he's okay.  I think your uncle owes Sonny a favor."

        Nikolas went tense, all over, all of a sudden.

        Juan moved away, looking at Nikolas' face.  "Nikolas?"
        Nikolas' eyes moved to meet his gaze.

        "Thank you.  Did anybody ever...hold you like that?"

        Nikolas' eyes melted so fast and so soft that Juan had to stare.  "Yes."

        Okay, that had been the right thing to say.  He didn't want Nikolas to start some huge feud with Stefan again.  Maybe now it would be a battle, not a major war.

        "I need a shower.  Have you eaten?"

        "Not yet."

        "I'm glad you're all right," Nikolas said.

        "Yeah.  I can't wait until Miguel and my dad hear about this."

        "You could have been there."

        "But I'm not an innocent bystander, like you were."  Okay, shouldn't have brought up Nikolas getting shot.  Stupid, Juan, really stupid.  "I know who Sonny is and I choose to be near him.  I'd live there myself just like Stone does if Sonny didn't hate me.  And I've involved myself on purpose.  Like when I lost my spleen, that was my fault for-"

        "It was not your fault.  You almost lost a lot more than your spleen, Juan."

        "Can we just go inside and eat?"

        "All right."  Nikolas raised a hand to touch him, then stopped and took a step away from him.  "I'll run upstairs and take a shower.  Mrs. Lansbury will feed you whatever you want."  Right.  Ex-boyfriend, emphasis on the ex.  Stupid, Juan, really stupid.

        When Juan got to the kitchen, Chris and Mrs. Lansbury were there with the two infants.  Mrs. Lansbury was feeding Joey, sitting on a chair with a bottle, baby in her lap.  Chris was sitting in front of Christina's highchair, feeding and talking on the phone at once.  "Let me talk to Dr. Marshak.  Yes, right now.  Thank you."  Okay, Chris was in a bad mood, not a good sign.  "Damn it," Chris said to no one in particular.  "Sorry, Christina.  Jake, it's Chris, tell me what happened to Johnny."  Chris listened for about two seconds before getting mad and jumping in again.  "Wasn't anyone watching his-"

        Juan backed out again.  He didn't want to hear what had happened.  If Johnny was dead, he didn't want to know about it.  He closed his eyes, counted to one hundred, did it again, and walked into the kitchen.  Chris was still on the phone.  "You expected him to be a cooperative patient?  You tell him I'm coming.  What?  You're...  No, no, I don't care what he wants, the patient isn't always right, the doctor is always right, and I'm the doctor.  You tell him I'm coming whether he likes it or not.  I'll be there as soon as I can.  I'm on duty later today anyway.  Right.  Thanks, Jake.  Bye."

        Chris put down the phone and said, "Christina, would you like to go to the hospital early today?"

        "How's everybody?" Juan asked.

        "Stone's doing well, Francis is better, Johnny - - do you want specifics or the general trend?"

        "Good, bad, worse, dead?" Juan asked, tears in his eyes.

        "He was worse, now he's just bad.  There was a problem in the night but now Johnny's back to how I left him.  And Sonny would be fine if he weren't Sonny."

        "What's he doing?"

        "He's not sleeping and he's upsetting everyone.  He also doesn't want to see anyone, including me, but that's just too bad, isn't it?" Chris asked Christina.  "You want to come with me?" he asked Juan.

        "Sure," Juan said.

        "Eat first, you look awful.  Where've you been?"

        "I ran into Nikolas."

        Mrs. Lansbury looked at him, fast, eyes wide.  Juan turned red.  She undoubtedly knew what Nikolas had been doing that morning.  Maybe this was a habit, and Nikolas did it every morning?  He could only hope.

        Chris got busy getting the kids ready while Mrs. Lansbury fed Juan.  Nikolas showed up, clean and fresh and gorgeous.  Nikolas ate fast and short, then took Joey and left with the rest of them.  Juan just wanted to kiss him.

        Chris left the four of them with Rinaldo and another guard in the daycare room, then went to the ICU.  He walked over to Sonny's bed and flipped through the chart.  "Well, you look like shit and you've been acting like a two-year-old, so don't expect my usual bedside manner.  You have the right to refuse visitors, but I have the right to see that my patient gets the care that he requires if not deserves.  Let me tell you what's happening.  Joey and Christina and Juan are fine; the four of us are staying at Windemere and right now they're in the daycare room.  Stone will be released today; I'm going to see him as soon as I've finished with you.  Francis and Johnny haven't died yet and I'll do what I can to see that they don't.  Jason's still in jail although I assume that Alexis is doing her best to get him out of there.  You are going to do exactly as I say.  That includes sleeping when I tell you to, and I told you to last night.  You haven't been getting enough pain medication.  Maybe you like wallowing in guilt and pain, but it won't make you heal any faster.  So.  If you won't sleep on your own, I'll make you sleep.  Good night, Sonny."

        For a while after that, life wasn't very clear for Sonny.  He slept a lot.  Sometimes he was alone, and sometimes Chris was there, all brisk business, impersonal.  Chris told him how the others were doing, although he never asked.  Then he opened his eyes, and there was sunlight, and he was in a different room, a private room, not the ICU.  There were flowers on the table, and Stone was sitting there reading to Joey.

        "Sonny?"  Stone was by the bed, all happy but concerned.  "Sonny, are you okay?  Chris said you'd wake up soon, and he said we could come.  You need something?"  Stone opened the door and said to someone, "Sonny's awake."

        Chris came, looked into his eyes, listened to his heart, poked and prodded him.  "Good.  You'll live.  Have some water.  Stone, can you do me a favor and go tell Juan that Sonny's awake?  Thanks."  The door closed.  "Jason's at the warehouse.  Juan's with Christina in daycare.  We're moving back into the penthouse today.  Stefan will be glad to see us go.  No one could get the bloodstains out of the carpet so you're paying for new carpeting, but we managed to wash the walls.  I had the most interesting phone conversation with Armand Santiago on your behalf.  I don't know how much you remember, but Johnny and Francis are going to be fine.  I made Francis promise to live if I got Johnny to live, and I got Johnny to make the same deal, and it worked out pretty well.  You're pretty high on painkillers right now, and you're probably really tired, so get some rest.  You're going to be fine whether you like it or not."

        Sonny slept.  Sometimes he was awake.  Someone was always there, no matter what time of day or night it was, which he was pretty sure was not standard hospital policy.  It was always Jason or Stone.  Sometimes Joey was there, sometimes not.  Sometimes Juan was there, too.  Every time his eyes opened, someone ran to tell the guard at the door, which he didn't understand, until he figured out that the guard in turn paged Chris.  Chris didn't always come running, of course; Chris had other patients, other work.  But most of the time Chris did show up, from another patient's bedside or from paperwork or even from sleep.  Didn't Chris ever go home?

        But then he was better, and Chris was at home sometimes, and Jason and Stone and Juan looked less worried and more pleased, and he held Joey and fed Joey himself, and then he was released.

        He could go home.  Chris told him so.

        No more monitors or IVs.  His own clothes.  On TV and in movies the patient always tried to get out of the wheelchair, but this time one didn't even come.  Chris' influence, no doubt.  Stone was there with Joey, and Rinaldo was there, and they went to the limo and went to the penthouse.

        It looked normal.  Peaceful.  Regular.  Like nothing had ever happened.  As though he hadn't murdered a man who'd been a second away from killing his lover and son.

        Not his lover.

        Stone was safe, and Joey was safe, and Jason was safe.  Chris and Christina were safe.  Juan hadn't even been there.  Johnny and Francis would live.  Rinaldo hadn't been there.  No dead bodies on his side, not this time.

        Not like Lily, their child.

        He remembered, before, when Brenda had been in the shower, and Stone had been shot, back at the Paradise.

        Paradise.

        He sat on the sofa and held Joey in his lap.  "Welcome home," he told himself.  Stone sat beside him and put an arm around his shoulders.

        Chris still lived here.  Still used his room, slept in his bed.  Christina still lived here, too, in Joey's room.  They were still here.  Why?

        He knew Jason and Stone, and they knew him.  They'd been through it before, and they'd stay.  He'd expected them to stay.  And as much as he wanted them to go, he didn't want them to leave.  Joey couldn't leave.  Juan hadn't been here (this time), and there was no getting rid of that kid anyway.  Lily's son.

        Chris and Christina, though, they should be long gone.  They were here for Christina's safety, and how safe could she be here?  Hadn't he just proven how absolutely unsafe his life was?  Why would Chris stay?  They should be gone, long gone, far away, out of his life, away from his home.  Karen had left him, Brenda had left him, why wouldn't Chris?

        "Skinny-dipping?  You mean like nude bathing?  Every morning?"

        "Every morning."

        "My brother?"

        "Your brother."

        "Nikolas.  You're kidding."

        "I was a gentleman, of course.  I didn't look."

        "You didn't look."

        "Turned my back, closed my eyes."

        "How are you two getting along these days?"

        "I miss him.  A lot.  We're still really close.  Stone says we spend more time together than he spends with himself.  But Nikolas won't touch me.  At all.  Anywhere.  Which makes sense, we're not together anymore.  As close as we are, it's great, I feel like he's the best friend I've ever had, he knows me so well it's scary."

        "But you want to be closer."

        "I want him to kiss me."

        "Can't you kiss him?"

        "You don't touch Nikolas without permission."

        Sonny was on the sofa, talking with Benny, when Chris walked through the door.  "Christina, look at who finally decided to grace us with his presence.  But he's busy talking business, so you and I can just run upstairs like good little children while the big people talk."

        "This big person's ready to leave," Benny said.  "Good-bye, Christina."  Benny left.

        "If only the people I worked with were that accomodating," Chris said.  "How do you feel?"

        "Fine," Sonny said.

        "Good.  Christina, have a seat."  Chris set Christina on Sonny's lap and took Sonny's wrist, eyes on his own watch.  Then he looked into Sonny's eyes.  "How are your stitches?"

        "Fine."

        "Not good enough."  Chris reached around Christina and opened Sonny's shirt.  "How do you like the new carpet?"

        "It was expensive."

        "Only the best.  Okay."  Chris rebuttoned Sonny's shirt.  "Have you seen your father?"

        "No."

        "He's coming tonight for dinner.  We got him to promise to stay away from the hospital if he could come over as soon as you were released.  I figured you'd rather see him while you could talk back.  Come on Christina, let's go upstairs."

        "I want you out."

        Chris walked to the table and said to Stone, "Could you please take Christina upstairs for me?"

        "Sure.  You're staying, aren't you?"

        "And leave all this?"  Chris walked over to the sofa and sat beside Sonny as Stone disappeared upstairs.  "You want me out where?"

        "You have plenty of money.  You can afford your own apartment."

        "I realize that.  I've had my own apartment.  I like this one."

        "You can't stay here."

        "I will stay wherever I want."

        "Take your stuff and take Christina and go.  Now!"

        "No."

        Chris rose to go; Sonny grabbed his arm and shoved him.  "Get out!"

        Chris said, "You do that again and I will."

        So Sonny hit him.  Hard.  Right across the face.  Twice.

        "You never," Chris said, "never, ever, hit me again."

        "Get out!"

        "No."

        Smack across the mouth.  "Out!"

        "No.  Your son is upstairs.  Christina and Stone are upstairs.  They can hear you.  Do you want to make them listen to this?  You may not hit women, but that does not mean that you can hit me.  Abuse is abuse whether your lover's a man or a woman, Sonny.  That was three times.  You want to hit me again?  With our children right up those stairs?  So Juan can see what you've done to me?"

        Sonny, still sitting on the sofa, Chris leaning over him, looked into those angry brown eyes.  He heard Stone running down the steps.  And he reached up one more time and slammed his fist into Chris's face.

        "Sonny!" Stone cried in shock and horror.

        Chris backed up slowly.  Finally his gaze left Sonny's.  Blood was dripping from Chris' mouth and nose.  Chris walked away; Sonny heard footsteps up the stairs, then the bathroom door closing.

        Joey was screaming.

        Sonny closed his eyes and leaned back against the sofa again.

        Stone ran upstairs.  After a few minutes, Joey was quiet again.  Sonny heard the murmur of voices, footsteps.  Chris and Stone were talking.  Stone came downstairs, went to the kitchen, and went upstairs again, ignoring him.

        Jason walked into the apartment.  "Sonny?"

        "Stone's upstairs," Sonny said.  Go away, Jason.

        "Chris is here?"

        "Chris is here," Sonny said, and laughed.  Bruised and bleeding, but here.  Not for long.  Christina wasn't safe here, and Chris wasn't safe here.  They'd be gone any minute now, out the door, never to be heard from again.  Or was Chris one of the ones who, after leaving him, spoke ill of him, confronted him in public, and let everyone know how evil he was?  Oh, just wait until Jason saw Chris's face.  Just wait until Juan saw.  Or, better yet, Miguel and Jagger.

        Or Frank and Scott.  The people who wanted Christina away from Chris, away from him.  He'd proven them right about him.  And in a way, he'd proved them right about Chris.  Only they weren't right about Chris; they didn't know the first thing about Dr. Ramsey.  Brilliant, sexy, kind, loyal, scheming Dr. Ramsey.

        Not his.  Never his.

        Jason was sitting in front of him, on the table, looking at him with those concerned blue eyes.  "Sonny.  What happened?"  Jason wanted to understand, and to fix it.

        "Chris is leaving."  Oh god, what if he'd done that with Michael in the house?  Jason would never forgive him.  His own son had been right upstairs, had been scared, had started to cry and scream because of what he'd done, his violence and anger, his pain and rage.  He'd scared Joey.  Probably Christina, too.  And Stone.  And Chris knew, Chris had tried to tell him, had tried to warn him.

        "Now?" Jason asked.  Then Jason thought, and Jason frowned, and Jason's eyes asked, "Oh god, Sonny, what did you do?"

        And his own eyes closed.

        Stone's footsteps.  Jason standing; the two of them behind the sofa.  He opened his eyes again now that there was nothing in front of him to see.

        "Sonny hit Chris," Stone was saying softly.

        "Why?" Jason asked.

        "Sonny wants him to go and he won't."

        "He's staying?" Jason asked.

        "That's what he says.  He's upstairs cleaning up."

        "Cleaning up what?" Jason asked.

        "The blood.  He's trying to the bruises to keep from swelling, too."

        "Blood," Jason said, and went upstairs.  Stone went, too.  Sonny was alone again.

        Jason and Stone came downstairs, went to the kitchen, started to cook.  Sonny heard Stone ask, "Should we call them and cancel?"

        "No," Jason said.

        Them?  Who were they?  Oh god, Mike was coming.  That's right.  Sonny was tempted to laugh.  Mike had worried that Chris would be a bad influence on him.  But who else?  Mike was bringing someone?  Who, Victor?

        Footsteps coming down the stairs.  Chris.  Chris passed through, went to the kitchen.  Back upstairs again.  The activity behind Sonny continued: food cooking, table being set, kids being brought downstairs and fed.  Then the door opened.  "Mike Corbin's here."

        Stone was there like a shot, to intercept Mike.  "Mike, wait.  Sonny's not feeling too good."

        "Was he released from the hospital too early?  I thought that Chris was-"

        "He's upset."

        "Upset about what?"

        "He hit Chris."

        "He what?!  Why?"  Mike was baffled.

        "He wants Chris to leave.  For good.  And Chris won't."

        "He wants Chris to leave?  Why?  You mean Chris is staying?"

        "Look, just don't, you know, start something."

        "Sonny's already started something!  Where's Chris?"

        "Mike, you're here."  Chris, coming down the stairs.

        "Oh my god."  Mike, soft, shocked.

        "Let me take Christina," Stone said, for something to do.

        "My son did this?" Mike asked.  "Michael did this to you?"

        "Yes.  Sonny hit me.  I didn't walk into a door or trip on the stairs; he hit me.  Do me a favor.  We're not going to downplay this and pretend that it's acceptable, because it's not.  But I don't want you to make Juan more upset than he has to be.  So when he gets here, don't get overexcited."

        "Get overexcited!" Mike repeated.  "Sonny's beating you!  Is your nose broken?"

        "Almost but not quite.  It'll heal fine.  Jason made me take some Tylenol - - he would've been a good doctor.  Mike.  Do not let this guilt you into blaming yourself.  Sonny's violent because he chooses to be, not because you left him.  You didn't hand him to Deke, and you never hit him yourself."

        "He told you about his stepfather?"

        "I pay attention."

        "Chris, what happened?  He must have hit you a half-dozen times."

        "Four times.  I won't count the shove."

        "What happened?"

        "He told me to get out, leave, take Christina and go.  I said no.  I told him never to hit me again.  I told him to think about the kids.  When he hit me the fourth time, I went upstairs.  He hasn't moved since."

        "He didn't apologize?  Try to explain?"

        "No."

        "You aren't leaving?"

        'I'm staying.  This is my home."

        "Michael's hitting you.  Your lover's beating you up.  Don't they teach you about domestic violence?  Abuse?"

        "We haven't had sex in months.  He hasn't wanted me for a long time."

        "Then why are you here?  You get shot at and smacked around and you're staying?"

        "Juan Santiago's here," Johnny's temporary replacement said.

        "Hey, Mike - - Chris, what happened to you!" Juan asked, amazed.

        "Sonny hit me," Chris said.

        "Sonny hit you.  Why?" Juan asked, confused and hurt.

        "He wants me to leave and I won't go."

        "Are you okay?  Did you...hit him back?"

        "I did not hit him back," Chris said.  "You don't strike people you care about."  His voice was firm; there was steel in it.

        "Good.  I mean...  Is he okay?"

        "Go talk to him," Chris said, somehow encouraging, softer now.

        "I don't think he looks like someone who wants to be talked to," Juan said.

        "Go ahead and help Christina to the table then, okay?" Chris said.

        "Sure," Juan said, relieved.

        "Sonny."  Chris's voice, close, right behind him.  "Food's ready.  Come-"  He was up, off, out, through the door, on the elevator, doors closing, going down.  Down.  Down.

        Chris sighed as Mike and Stone shouted after Sonny.  "He just got out of the hospital.  He's going to pop his stitches if he acts like that.  Mike, can you and Jason go out and look for Sonny?  I'll go too, if you two can stay here and watch the kids."

        "I'll go," Stone said.

        "I'll go," Juan said.

        "Would you rather be wandering in the dark and cold alone looking for someone who doesn't to be found, confused and worried, or would you rather be here where it's well-lit and secure with two little children you can take care of and protect?" Chris asked.  "The three of us will split up and search.  You two stay here with them.  If anyone sees him, call the rest of us.  And if you can, bring him back here.  If he pops his stitches I'll be seriously pissed."

        Sonny had his suit coat but not his overcoat.  It was cool here by the river.  He shivered.

        "I hope your stitches are okay."

        "Go away, Mike."

        "Chris sent me to look for you.  He and Jason are out here, too.  Stone and Juan are at home with Christina and Joey."

        "Go away, Mike."

        "You shouldn't be out here without your bodyguards.  You want to get shot again?"

        Sounded pretty good, as long as it killed him.  Save the world a lot of grief.

        "I don't know what you've done, Michael.  You don't deserve him."

        This was new.

        "But if he wants to stay with you, if he's determined to stick around, why don't you shape up and try to be good enough for him?  You won't get rid of him, so stop trying."

        "He came to keep Christina safe.  She's not safe with me.  Neither's he."

        "There's more than one way to be safe, Michael.  Looks to me like he's found his safe place, and he's going to fight to keep it."

        "Go away, Mike."

        Footsteps.  "Maybe you can talk some sense into him," Mike said to someone, disgusted.  Please, please, this had better not be-"

        "Hi."

        -Chris.

        "You're telling me that your hair does that naturally.  You don't dye your hair.  It comes naturally in two colors."

        "Yes!"

        He just laughed.

        "Okay, let me ask you something," Chris said, clearly a challenge.  "This virile man's five o'clock shadow at noon.  You do that on purpose, don't you?  You just don't shave right so you can have this macho stubble."

        "I shave!  I shave every morning."

        "Un-hunh."

        "You see me!"

        "You do it on purpose.  Let me tell you something, Sonny.  That look was over in the eighties."

        "You don't think it works for me?"

        "I don't."

        "You don't like it?  You don't think it's sexy?"

        "You trust my opinion?"

        "No."

        They laughed, and they kissed, and he moved over Chris, settling himself wholly against Chris' solid warm naked body.  Because the truth was, he liked Chris' hair, and Chris liked his stubble, and they both knew it.  He could lie in his bed with Chris, and he could tease Chris, and they could laugh and kiss.  It wasn't kiss-lube-insert cock when he was with Chris.  It was foreplay, and kissing until he was ready to come if Chris' tongue flicked him one more time, and feeling Chris' body strong and hard against his own body, and doing his very best to make Chris moan in that certain fulfilled way.  And making Chris hard, and making Chris come.

        "You're cold.  Did you pop your stitches?"  He was not going to respond.  "Sonny, you cannot stay out here all night.  Joey's waiting for you.  Come on.  Rinaldo brought the car.  You can go home and take care of Joey.  He needs you."  Chris did not make the mistake of touching him.  They went to the car, and they got in, and they were driven back to the penthouse.  Jason was waiting when they got there, but Sonny wasn't looking at anything.  Wasn't seeing anything.  He picked up Joey and went upstairs.

        From the kids' room, he heard conversation, long and intense.  Juan left.  Chris put Christina to bed, carrying on the regular process regardless of his presence.  More conversation downstairs.  Stone and Jason went to bed.  Chris went to bed.

        Sonny walked into his bedroom.  Chris was lying in his bed, on slippery rich satin sheets, in dark boxers, more exposed by the sheets than covered.  He came close to the bed and forced himself to look at Chris's face.  It was battered, swollen, discolored, and split.  He'd hit hard; Sonny had learned at a young age to swing with all of the power of his weight behind each blow.  Handsome Dr. Ramsey was going to show up for work looking like a patient.

        "Sonny?" Chris asked, eyes opened.  "Sonny, you're supposed to be peaceful and quiet with plenty of rest and good nutrition.  You haven't done any of that.  Unless you want me to make your life a living hell, get in bed and go to sleep."  Chris sat up in the bed.  "Sonny, I'm trying to sleep, I've had a very bad day and I have an early shift tomorrow.  Could you please just make my life easier?  I know you won't take anything, but just lay down and close your eyes."

        He removed his shoes and coat.  He laid on his back gingerly as far from Chris as possible.

        "Don't fall off the bed."  Chris settled down, on one side, facing Sonny, eyes closing, pulling up the covers over one naked shoulder.  Sonny knew that shoulder.  He'd run his palm over it, stroked it with his fingers, kissed it, licked it.  He'd traced his fingertips over Chris' clavicle, extending across the shoulder, then back to the throat.  Licked the hollow of Chris's throat.