General Hospital - DAILY UPDATES

The mysterious strangler is getting a good fight from Maxi, but has to surrender a tad early because Georgie has come home in search of her history book. He runs off and Maxi crumples to the floor. Georgie rushes over to her and tries to revive her. Finally Maxi starts to moan and Georgie calls 911.

Luke tells Tracy to stop hovering. Tracy says that having the surgery isn't going to be enough. She wants to know if he's going to change his lifestyle at all or does she need to move on so she doesn't have to watch him die. Luke asks if he's supposed to roll up in to a ball just because he had a couple of heart attacks. Tracy says that if he puts his mind to surviving, he can do it. She says that he is cowardly just to let death take him the way that he is. Luke reminds her that he's the guy who never quits when it matters and she doesn't know him at all. He says that he believes that this world is all we get - there's no angels and heaven. He says he is not anxious to give it all up, or to set her free as the merry widow. Tracy tells him that he has beaten the odds before and she wants him to do it again. For her. "You make my life worth living," she whispers. Luke says that he is happy to oblige. But -- he won't stop living life his way. She suddenly screams and says that he made it back to square one in record time!

Kate and Sonny are talking at her house. She tells him that it's not fair for him to be tender and acting as if his only agenda is to keep her safe. Sonny reminds her that she asked him to warn her when things are dangerous and now she's not hearing him when he tells her. He says that he loves her and wants to go on loving her, but not if she's a target. Before Kate can respond, Alexis, and then Diane, barge in. The two women start bickering about the restraining order that Kate has on Sonny. Sonny tells Kate that he's outta here. Diane follows him, but first she tells Kate that she should have never involved Alexis. Alexis displays her designer shows one more time, just to make Diane crazy.

Ric has just entered the PCPD interrogation room and asked Lucky and Jason what he walked in on. Lucky says that he was warning Jason to stay away from Elizabeth, that's all. After all, it was Jason's sister who was the most recent murder victim in town and he doesn't want Liz to be next because of her relationship with him. Before Ric can shoot holes in Lucky's story, Mac comes in and says that someone just tried to strangle Maxi! He takes Lucky with him and leaves Ric alone with Jason. Ric tells Jason that his recent near-death experience has certainly changed his perspective. His brother's blood literally flows through his veins now. He says that for the first time in Sonny's life, he actually showed that he cared. Then he switches to business mode. He says that he still holds Jason in contempt for the way he has played with Elizabeth's life. He says Jason's selfish needs when Elizabeth was vulnerable last summer were heartless. "Wherever you go, death and destruction always follow," Ric says and then leaves Jason alone in the interrogation room.

Mac and Lucky have rushed over to Mac's house. Mac is holding Maxi and gently stroking her hair. He promises to find the guy who did this to her, then Lucky asks what she remembers. Maxi chokes as she speaks, but says that all she remembers is his breathing. Georgie says that she saw him run off, but only for a second. She says that he was definitely wearing black, and maybe he was medium height and build. Then she says that she got a text earlier today and maybe it was from him because he was looking for Maxi.

Skye is having a drink with Trevor at the Metro Court. She tells him that he needs to stop before he gets too far - and then explains that Lorenzo's estate is still tied up in court so she isn't free to sell the waterfront property anyway. Johnny arrives and chastises Trevor for starting without him. He pulls up a chair and tells Skye that he is taking over his father's business. Skye says that even if she could, she isn't ready to sell the assets at this time. Johnny asks her to go home and reconsider. He says that he'd hate to see her caught in the middle of a mob war. Ric arrives at the Metro Court and sees the threesome sitting together. Skye storms off and Ric asks what that was all about. Trevor tells him to get over it, and Skye, too, while he's at it. Ric asks Trevor who he's covering for Emily's murder, Johnny? When Trevor stonewalls, Ric says that he won't let anyone add Skye's name to the list of dead women.

Detective Harper goes into the interrogation room and tells Jason that it looks less likely that Anthony Zacchara killed his sister. He asks if there is anything he can think of to shed some light. Diane arrives and tells the Detective not to harass Mr. Morgan. He explains that Jason needs to speak up if he has any information, that's all he was saying. Then he learns that Maxi was almost strangled with a phone cord - so, again, he asks Jason what Leticia, Emily, Carly and Maxi might have in common?

Kate has reported for community service duty at the hospital. Jerry finds her and asks if she's given any more thought to his warning. He reminds her that her life would be longer if she chose a life without Sonny. He reminds her that since Carly and the boys are guarded around the clock, Sonny's obvious vulnerability is her. She asks why he is so concerned and he says that when you see someone about to walk in front of a train, you try to warn them, that's all.

Sonny goes to see Luke at the hospital. He had no idea how precarious Luke's condition is and when he finds out, he says, "Damn." Luke doesn't know if he can change his lifestyle enough to make the operation worth while. He says that he thought he'd die of a gunshot wound, not his heart giving out. He tells his old friend that Tracy wants him to fight, but it's not that simple for him. He says he won't be a pathetic old bastard who is only alive because he's too terrified of death. Finally, Sonny speaks. He says that he's nearly died many times and it always involves a fight in one way or another. As they continue to talk, Tracy takes it all in from outside the door. When she's heard enough, she comes in and asks Sonny to give them some privacy. Before he leaves, Sonny tells Luke that whatever it takes, he wants him around.

Jason goes to Johnny to ask him who could have targeted Maxi today. Before they can talk, Lucky comes in and announces that he's taking Johnny in to the station about the assault on Maxi Jones.

Alexis meets Jerry at the Metro Court for dinner. When he holds her chair for her, she sits in the other one. Then she insists on splitting the check with him and asks if he missed the entire women's movement? He contends that he simply wants to thank her for helping him with the young drunken girl.

Kate has just arrived at home and Sonny shows up right behind her. He says that he's been waiting for her to come home - from his car. He asks if she is going to call her lawyer and she says that she should. He moves in really close and asks her to admit that she misses him as much as he misses her. He says that he really wants to be with her, but he doesn't want to climb over two rabid lawyers to do so. She points out that "he wants" or "he doesn't want" and asks when her interests come into the picture. He says that this is starting to feel like the grown up version of her leaving him on the street corner (like she did when they were teens). She turns her head and he says that every time they get close, she turns away. She faces him and says, "It's true Sonny - you scare me to death."

Georgie has reported to work at Kelly's. Mike asks her why she didn't take the night off, and she says she didn't want to watch the forensics team tear her house apart. Coop comes in and Georgie asks where he has been? He says that he was running errands all day, why?

Luke wakes up from a nap and finds Lucky sitting with him. He tells Luke that the by-pass will save his life. Luke tells his son that he is young and strong and he can't possibly understand. Lucky reminds him that his body failed him, too, when it became dependent on drugs. He touches his father's cheek and says that when you push your body to extremes you are making the conscious decision to throw away your own life. Then he practically lays on top of his dad for a big hug. After he leaves, Tracy comes back into the room. Luke says that Lucky shed some interesting insight. Monica arrives and tells Luke that his vitals are unstable and his heartbeat is erratic. He needs to be prepped for surgery - tonight.

NEXT ON General Hospital:

Maxi tells Mac that she remembers something.

Georgie asks Coop how he knew about the text?

During surgery, Luke "codes."