This chapter is sooo short and it took me forever to get it up! Just remember that in this story, Sonny still doesn't know about Kristina being his daughter... yes, I like to live in the past :) It fits the story better that he doesn't know. So he doesn't :) Any and all feedback greatly appreciated :)

Recap of Part Four
Ric attacked Sonny out in the hall after he verbally attacked Alexis and her skills as a mother. He took a walk to cool down, and when he returned, he was surprised to find Alexis crying.

Part Five

"Sonny –?"

"Alexis? What happened?"

Alexis sat up uncomfortably in the bed as Sonny approached. "I um – I have a – I was diagnosed with – it doesn't matter," she said feeling dazed. "What are you doing here?"

Sonny stood by her bed with his hands resting forcefully in his pockets. "Ric, – he, uh, said something that concerned me."

"Did you guys get into a fight? I thought I heard voices earlier."

"Ric's under a lot of stress," he said vaguely with a shrug. "Can't fault him for that."

"I see." Had Alexis been anyone else, she would have though that Sonny was being generous with his words, pardoning Ric's behavior, whatever it was, and explaining it away with talk of the grief that he was feeling. But Alexis knew better; she took one look at his smug smirk and those cold, calculating eyes and she knew: he was mocking his little brother. Once again, Sonny was exhibiting that famous arrogance and self-importance, which he'd become so proficient at over the years, and it made her sick.

It was uncomfortably silent for a moment, Alexis' apprehension and anger cultivating with each passing moment until she finally spoke up. "Sonny, why are you here? What do you want?"

"You know Alexis, I was thinking," he said, and already his tone was demeaning; she didn't like it. "I was spending time with Michael and Morgan, and it made me think about how close you're coming to losing your daughter." Alexis' eyes bugged out of her head; if she had the strength, she'd have strangled him right there on the spot for taking such an indelicate tone when speaking of her daughter's illness. "And I was just thinking about how I almost lost my boys a while back... all because of you."

What nerve! He had come into her hospital room, made insensitive comments about her daughter, and he had the audacity to blame her for anything? "Excuse me?" she snapped.

"Well you know, you represented Carly in the custody battle."

Alexis was floored. "Why the hell are you bringing this up now!"

"I don't know, I was just thinking how strange it was that you took her case. That never did make sense to me. And I've noticed you having some pretty hushed conversations with her lately that didn't look too pretty. I just wonder if maybe she still has something on you."

Her finger's itched to strangle him. "I've explained to you a hundred times; I represented Carly because we had just been in the Port Charles Hotel fire and she saved my life. I felt like I owed her. The only reason I've been seeing her lately is because she wanted to offer her help regarding Kristina; she is a mother, after all. Is that sufficient enough for you?"

Sonny shrugged. "Not really. I think you're lying. And I want to know the truth."

"All right, fine. You want to know the truth? The reason I represented Carly in that ancient custody battle," she began in a dangerously low voice, just barely above a whisper, "was because I think you are an unfit father. No, you're not unfit. You're hazardous. And I don't mean your business, Sonny. I'm not talking about the physical danger that they're in by being around you; I mean, obviously that's always going to be an issue. No, I'm talking about the effect that you have on them by being their role model. I've seen Michael lately, and it's a truly scary thing when he doesn't get his way. He's got your hideous temper and your malicious behavior. Hell, maybe if you're lucky enough, they'll grow up to be just as vindictive and heartless as their bastard father!"

Sonny had his hands at her throat before she could utter another word. "You don't speak about my children that way," he snarled, pressing his thumbs harshly into her throat. Alexis' eyes squeezed shut as she fought to pry herself loose from his grip. "Nobody talks about my children that way, do you understand me?"

"Sonny –" she choked helplessly.

"Ever."

She could feel the tears running from her tightly closed eyelids. Her head was swimming and her lungs were screaming for air, until everything got painfully distant.

"RIC!"

Her eyes snapped open and she found herself sitting up in the hospital bed, breathing heavily and staring off into the darkness of the room. She touched her face and felt the fresh tears that stained it; she then touched her neck and she could still feel the marks that his fingers had left. Ric sprang out of the chair and was by her side instantly.

"Sweetie, what's wrong?" he whispered, wiping away the grogginess from his face with his hand. Alexis immediately wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him closer. He hesitantly returned the embrace, unsure of what could have possibly awoken her from what appeared at first to be a peaceful slumber. He gently rubbed her back with the palm of his hand until her soft whimpers melted into steady breathing.