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“Karen, I know that I screwed up big time when you were growing up,” Rhonda confessed, taking Karen’s hand, “Instead of being a mother for you, going to Parent’s Night at school, or taking you to dance class, I was out meeting sleazy men in bars. What Ray did to you was my fault. I should have seen what was going on with my poor, defenseless little girl…but instead, I was passed out drunk on the couch…” She had trouble getting the words out as a sob came over her, “I’m so sorry for being such a terrible excuse for a mother! Through all you had to deal with, you somehow managed to overcome the odds and become an intelligent, talented doctor with a beautiful heart. You were able to forgive Sonny, after all he did to you, and you’ve even been working to forgive Joe! Almost losing you hurt more then I could have ever imagined. It really made me hate myself for wasting all those years drinking instead of raising my daughter. Now, I know I have no right to ask you this, and I’m selfish for doing so, but I need you to forgive me, Karen. Forgive me for making your life so miserable and ruining your childhood…” Rhonda broke down in tears and held Karen’s hand to her cheek. Suddenly, she felt Karen’s fingers move slightly and she looked up to see Karen trying to open her eyes. She jumped out of the chair and a confident smile painted her face as Karen looked over at her. She tried to speak, but couldn’t get the words past the tube in her throat. “Oh, Karen! Honey, don’t try to talk, they’ve got you on a ventilator. I’ll go get Monica to take the tube out,” Rhonda said, kissing her on the cheek before leaving. While Rhonda was in with Karen and Kellie was asleep in the chair next to him, sonny had some time to think. He sat there, devastated by the decision he had to wrestle with and the choice he had made. Even though it tore him apart to know that the only way to keep Karen safe would be for him to stay away from her. He had to cut her out of his life… His thoughts were interrupted by Rhonda rushing out of the room, causing him to jump out of his chair to run to Karen’s doorway. In the process, he startled Kellie, who leapt up and ran into the room behind him. They were both relieved to see that nothing was wrong and that Karen had woken up. Seeing her eyes change as they smiled up at him, made Sonny feel like someone had stabbed him through the heart. “Hey there, Sleeping Beauty. We were wondering when you were going to wake up!” Sonny said, kissing her on the cheek. “You gave us quite a scare! Please promise me you’ll never do that again!” Kellie smiled, tears brimming as Karen reached up her hand for Kellie to take it. Soon, Rhonda returned, following Monica. “Welcome back, Karen. Everyone’s been asking about you. You’re quite popular around here, Ms. CR,” Monica told her, glad herself that Karen was going to make it, “Let’s get that thing out of your throat. All right, you know what to do. On three, ready?” Karen nodded slowly, taking a deep breath, knowing the discomfort that went along with this. “One…two…three!” Monica pulled the tube out as Karen exhaled. Once it was out, Karen began coughing, which made her wince in pain. Her mother poured a cup of water and held it for Karen as she drank from the straw. “Well, I should go finish my rounds so I can get home and let Alan know that you’re going to be just fine.” ”Thank you, Dr. Quartermaine,” Karen said hoarsely as Monica left, “Can I have a minute with Sonny?” Rhonda looked skeptical, but Kellie touched her shoulder and gave her a reassuring look. “Fine, but we’ll be right outside the door. I love you, honey,” Rhonda agreed, hugging Karen. Kellie did the same and they stepped out of the room leaving them alone. “So much for me being Wonder Woman, huh? I leave my bullet-deflecting bracelets at home and look what happens!” Karen attempted to joke. “Karen, you almost died! I held you in my arms…there was so much blood…” “But I didn’t die, Sonny. My love for you kept me alive.’ “No, Karen, your love for me is what put you in this bed. Whether they were aiming at me, or you, it was my fault,” He said, not letting her see the tears in his eyes. “I don’t blame you, Sonny!” “Well, you should! You were shot, Karen! What kind of boyfriend lets his girlfriend get shot? I can’t let this happen again.” “What are you trying to say, Sonny?” She asked, praying he wasn’t doing what she thought he was. “We can’t be together, Karen. I love you more then I ever imagined possible, but I can’t be with you.” If I, should stay
And I, will always love you
“How can you say that?” Karen raised her voice, trying to mask the hurt
with anger, “I love you, Sonny! You’re my world! I took a bullet for you,
damn it!”
Bittersweet memories
And I, will always love you
“I’m never going to forget the time we shared together. You’ve changed
me, Karen,” He admitted, no longer bothering to hide the tears, trying
to take her hand.
I hope life treats you kind
And I, will always love you
Song credits: ’I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston off The Bodyguard soundtrack Chapter 36- “Rhonda! How is she? Were there any complications with the surgery?” Scott asked worriedly. “She’s okay. They had to remove her spleen, but Monica said she should make a full recovery. Our daughter’s a toughie,” Rhonda replied with a smile. “Oh Scotty, I’m so glad she’s okay,” Eve said hugging him, “I’m gonna look over her chart. I just want to see it for myself.” “Is she sleeping? Can I go in and see her?” “She just woke up, but…um…” “But what, Rhonda? What aren’t you telling me?” “Sonny’s in with her right now,” Kellie spit out. “WHAT? You let Corinthos near our daughter? I’ll kill him!” Scott said angrily, starting for the door. “Scott, wait! Karen asked to see him, so let’s just let her…” Rhonda trailed off seeing Sonny come out of the room, his head hung low, tears still in his eyes. “You son-of-a…” Scott cursed, charging at Sonny. “Back off, Baldwin!” “I don’t want you anywhere near my daughter! You’re poison, Corinthos and I refuse to let Karen take that fatal dose! Getting shot was bad enough. Stay away from her!” “That won’t be a problem. Karen and I are over, she’s safe now,” Sonny told them, walking off. Scott’s face dropped and his head spun around to look in Karen’s room. He saw her crying and rushed into the room. He took her in her arms and hugged her. “Oh Karen, he’s not worth it. You can’t let him get to you. Just concentrate on getting better and out of this bed.” “But I love him, Dad,” She cried, feeling him cringe when she said the word ‘love’, “I have to stop him before he leaves the hospital. I have to convince him that he’s wrong…” She said, trying to get up and ripping the oxygen tube over her head. “You’re not going anywhere, Karen. You just had major surgery,” Rhonda warned. “I have to talk to Sonny! I can make him change his mind!” Karen insisted, pulling the IV out of her hand. “What do you think you’re doing, Wexler?” Eve exclaimed, entering the room, “You know that you aren’t leaving this bed. Think like a doctor here, you’d be seriously risking your recovery if you don’t calm down and stop pulling all the tubes and wires out!” Karen’s hand stopped as it was about to pull the heart monitor wires off and she just sat there for a minute. She took a deep breath, holding back the tears, and spoke. “I can’t believe him! I’ve been through Hell and back for him and he dumps me!” “It’s for your safety, Karen. Sorel’s targeting you to get to Sonny and Sonny can’t give him that advantage,” Kellie offered. “Kellie’s right, Sonny’s not doing this to hurt you, he’s just trying to keep you alive,” Eve stated, re-inserting the IV and adjusting the oxygen tube. “Karen, you’re an incredible woman, you’ll have no trouble finding another boyfriend…preferably one without a police file a mile wide!” Scott said. “Like it or not, Dad, I love, Sonny and I plan on having a future with him. As soon as I can get out of this bed, I’m going to convince him that we belong together and everything will work out,” Karen decided.
Mike opened his front door to find a disheveled Sonny standing there.
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