The Long Road Home
by Terry

Chapter 30

Arriving back at the sanitarium the two men sat comfortably for a moment enjoying the mutual bond they were forming due to their common interest in Alexis. Sonny was a bit ashamed on one hand for not realizing just how decent a guy Johnny was all the years he worked for him, but he was more than pleased that he was now being given the chance to get to know him and that maybe they could possibly become friends before the crisis with Alexis was over. Reaching toward Johnny he held out his hand and waited for Johnny to grasp it.

"Thanks, Johnny. For everything."

"Don't mention it. I'll call you tomorrow with an update. Take it easy man and take care of yourself."

Hesitating a moment Johnny looked back toward the building then again at Sonny. He needed to give Sonny something to let him know he was in this for him as well as for Alexis.

"Look, why don't you go on over and sit in your car. I'll call Alexis and Joy out to help me carry in all this stuff. At least you'll be able to see her, Sonny."

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Sonny tightened his grip on Johnny's hand.

"Thanks, man. You don't know how much that means to me. See you later."

Watching Sonny exit the truck, Johnny couldn't help but feel sorry for the man. He was totally gone on Alexis and there wasn't a thing he could do about it right now. Hearing his cell phone ring, he pulled it from his pocket and answered it.

"Hello."

"Johnny, it's Ned. I'd like to come out to see Alexis this evening, but I figured I would let you know before I showed up."

"Hey Ned. Why don't you let me check her schedule first? We've been rearranging it a bit and I'm not quite familiar with the changes yet. Let me go get it and call you right back with all the new times on her schedule."

"Is something wrong with Alexis?"

"No, we're just trying something a little different right now. It won't take long for me to get the info and I will call you back."

"Ok. I'll wait for your call."

Johnny could hear the frustration in Ned's voice from the moment he answered the call. He could only imagine how he would have reacted if he knew Alexis had been awake since Sunday afternoon and no one bothered to call him.

Now he had to ask Alexis if she wanted to see Ned and if she didn't, a bigger problem would have to be tackled. Dialing the phone in her room he waited for Joy to answer knowing Alexis would not go near the phone without knowing who was on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Hi Joy. I have a bit more out here that I can handle on my own. Would you like to come out and help me?"

"Sure, hon... Be right there."

"Uh Joy, why don't you ask Alexis if she'll come too. We'll need her hands as well."

"What did you do, buy out the store? Hang on, we'll be right there."

Joys laughter hit him in the pit of his stomach and made him want to laugh with her. It was an infectious sound that left him grinning like a fool. Ending the call he leaned over the tailgate of his truck and began to lift a few bags out.

Sonny waited expectantly with his eyes glued to the front door. Seeing it finally swing open and two women walk out he leaned forward hoping to recognize one of them. Watching closely he saw one of the women throw her head back and laugh. In that one moment he found his center. The simple sight of her calmed his soul and his heart filled. Alexis. His Alexis. Smiling deeply he watched as she playfully slapped Johnny on the arm as she took an armload of groceries from him then turned to go back inside. Catching a small movement from Johnny he focused on him just in time to see him wave before turning to follow Alexis and Joy inside. Lifting his hand to return the wave, he realized Johnny had already turned back around and didn't seen him wave back. Loneliness engulfed him and he fought the urge to call out to them. Sitting there a moment more he watched them enter the building then sighed deeply before cranking his car and heading back home. 'You and I will be together again, Alexis. On my life, I promise you... I will be ready for you when you are ready for me.'

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After depositing their load in the kitchen, Johnny caught hold of Alexis' hand and brought her attention to him.

"I just got a call from Ned. He wants to come out tonight and see you. But, he does not know you're back with us. I told him I would check your schedule to see if it was ok for him to come out. I thought you should have the choice of whether you want to see him yet or not. You just tell me what you want to do and I'll take care of it."

Pulling her hand from Johnny's Alexis went to stand by the window and stared out unseeing. Ned. Was she ready for him? If he figured out she was awake, nothing would keep him away no matter what she decided. And besides she didn't want to hurt him. Lowering her head she closed her eyes briefly then looked back at Johnny nodding affirmatively.

"Let him come, Johnny. But, give me enough time to prepare for his visit."

"Alexis, don't worry, I won't leave you alone with him if you don't want me to. I will see to it that he does not push you in any way. All you have to do is let me know how you want this to play out."

"It's ok, Johnny. A lot of what you said yesterday about they way I let the boys treat me actually sunk in. Don't worry. Just leave me alone for a few minutes to gather myself then I'll let you know how I want to handle it."

Johnny watched her disappear into her room then went to the kitchen where Joy was putting away the groceries.

"Joy, do you have any plans tonight?"

"No Johnny, I haven't made any. Why?"

"I may need you to help me with something. I just don't know yet."

Joy watched with concern as Johnny glanced back over his shoulder toward Alexis' room. He was fidgeting a little so she knew something was definitely up. Drawing closer to him she put her arms around his waist and waited until he was ready to talk to her.

"One of her friends wants to come see her tonight. He doesn't know she is awake yet and he can be very domineering where she is concerned. I'm just worried he'll try to start dictating her actions and she won't stop him. But, then again I think maybe she's beginning to realize that she's strong enough to stand up for herself. It's just too soon if you ask me. But, I have to let her make the decision. I'm just worried about her Joy."

Joy listened quietly while he shared his fears with her and held him tighter willing him to feel the comfort she was offering.

"It's ok, Johnny. You're doing fine. Just wait for her to tell you what she needs. That's all you have to do. Just remember, she trusts you. That's all you have to remember. You won't fail her as long as you continue to put her needs above everyone else's."

Looking down into her face and feeling his love for her deepen a little more he placed his hands on either side of her face and smiled into her eyes.

"Problem is, you are fast becoming my greatest priority, Joy. Don't get me wrong, she is my friend and I love her as such, but I am beginning to think of you more than her. Joy, help me keep things together the way they are supposed to be. Please help me not fail her. I would never forgive myself if I failed her."

Removing his hands from her face and holding them within her own tenderly, she lowered her gaze to stare at their entwined hands trying to find the right words to ease his fears while still trying to maintain control over her own emotions. For Johnny to come to a point of being afraid that his care of Alexis could be jeopardized by his growing feelings for her was something that struck the very core of Joy. Looking back up into eyes that were filled with love and longing for her, Joy reached up and brought his face closer to her and kissed him as one tear after another found their way down her cheeks. After a few moments she released him and leaned back.

"Johnny, as long as I can be with you here and help you care for Alexis, I will be satisfied to wait for as long as it takes for her to walk out of here well. I don't mind waiting as long as I am waiting with you. We are here and we are together. Not only do we get our time together, but Alexis benefits as well by simply being around two people who are falling in love. How much more of an affirmation of love and life could she wish for. She cares for you deeply and wants you to be happy. Make sure she knows that you are. You take care of her and I'll take care of you. And don't worry about me. You just told me how much you care for me and I need to tell you that you mean just as much to me. So, go... take care of her. I'll be around when you need me."

Taking hold of her fiercely, Johnny held her as if his life depended on her next breath. Letting go he leaned back and smiled as she wiped the tears from his face.

He kissed her once more then went to wait for Alexis to tell him how she wanted to handle the visit with Ned.