Trigger warning: The following recap includes details of the explosion at Sonny’s penthouse. Given the fires currently burning in Los Angeles, the article

may be upsetting to some readers.

Jason and Sonny discuss business outside his penthouse. Inside, a ticking sound alerts Michael, an explosion follows, and Michael goes up in flames. Jason and

Sonny rush in to find Michael flailing around, engulfed in flames. Jason yells at Sonny to call 911, and he grabs a rub and drapes it over Michael.  Sonny and

Jason tell Michael to hang on as an ambulance is on the way.

At the Port Charles Grill, Carly invites Jack to join her as her date just canceled on her. Jack sits down and offers to buy her dinner as a thank you for Christmas Eve. She says he doesn’t need to do that. He admits really enjoyed himself. Carly says she did, too, and he was really good with Joss. Carly confesses that she’s worried about her daughter.

As they enjoy dinner, Jack says Joss seems like a very strong young woman to him, just like her mother. Carly says she is, but she just lost the man she loved, something Joss has been through before. Joss is putting on a brave face, but Carly doesn’t think it matches what is really in her heart. She explains that right now, Joss is cleaning Dex’s place out, and she has to face this loss and grieve at some point.

Jack finds that everyone grieves differently, and for some, it’s a call to action to push forward. He thinks Carly is that way, and Carly admits he’s not wrong. He suggests Joss is the same. Carly explains that worries her, as when her mind was made up, nobody can talk her out of anything, and Joss is that way even more than she is. Carly realizes she’s just going to have to try and not worry, which is easier said than done.

A man walks by on the phone, talking about a fire at the Harbor View towers on the top floors. Carly gasps as that’s where Sonny lives.

At Dex’s apartment, Joss puts the gun back in the drawer when Trina returns. Trina asks if she needs help packing up the drawers, but Joss doesn’t and says she wants to stay here for a bit. She claims she needs time to grieve alone. Trina understands, having been there herself, but she doesn’t think it’s a good idea for her to be alone right now.

Trina tells Joss that being alone here isn’t good for her and suggests they go to a movie or to church and say a prayer. Joss feels she needs to spend time in a place where she and Dex were happy. Trina isn’t sure if that is what she’s going to do, as she is angry right now. She knows Joss, and when she’s angry, she act out and she doesn’t want her to do something she’ll regret. Joss promises she won’t. They embrace, and Joss thanks her for being the best friend she can ask for. Trina says she’ll see her at home and leaves.

Once alone, Joss looks at a photo of her and Dex and then retrieves the gun and bullets from the drawer. Joss sits down with them and begins examining the gun and how to load it.

At the Quartermaine mansion, Lois finds her daughter crying in the living room and asks what is wrong. Brook Lynn says she took two pregnancy tests, both negative and she’s worried she and Chase might not be able to have kids. Lois tells her that the human body is complicated. Brook Lynn says she’s following all the advice out there, but nothing is happening. Lois points out it takes some couples a while to get pregnant. Brook Lynn says this isn’t the same as when she was pregnant before, and they both know she wasn’t trying then

They sit down, and Lois reminds her daughter that she was a teen back then, and she got caught up in the fun of being being a counselor at summer camp. Brook Lynn wonders if this is payback from God and that she’s being punished for giving up her baby. Lois says that isn’t how God works, and her baby was healthy, as was she, so that is not impacting her current situation. Brook Lynn feels maybe her guilt is the root of her issues. She says Chase has no idea she was pregnant before. Lois suggests she share it with him, but Brook Lynn doesn’t feel she can. Lois says this is her story, and she owes no one an explanation of the choice she made in the past and those events impacted who she is today. Lois tells her daughter that she can’t look back, only forward. Lois advises Brook Lynn to get checked out, and says things will work out, and she just needs to get rid of that guilt and stress she’s carrying around.

In the kitchen, Chase finds Sasha a little unstable on her feet. He helps her sit, and she claims she just forgot to eat. He serves her up some food, and she feels better after eating. He asks how her Christmas was, and she says she enjoyed it with her new family. She asks how his was, and if he got everything on his list. He says everything except the one he wanted most. Sasha knows he and Brook Lynn were hoping to be pregnant.

Sasha asks if they’ve gotten checked out, and Chase says that’s next on the list. He feels they are up against the clock, and he fears Brook Lynn feels pressured to start a family to honor his dad, who wanted them to have a family so badly. He, too, wants to be a father more than anything but hates putting pressure on Brook Lynn. Chase tries to be optimistic and knows he and Brook Lynn will make great parents. Sasha says sometimes getting pregnant is easy, but sometimes it takes a while. Chase notes, “Especially the first time around.”

At the hospital, Portia tells Isaiah that she’s banned Cyrus from visiting patients and plans to reach out to the mission and keep him from visiting other hospitals. Isaiah knows he just met the guy, but Isaiah thinks Cyrus isn’t someone who will just give up.

Suddenly, Michael is brought in on a gurney, and Lucas is shocked to see his nephew is the patient. Sonny and Jason arrive, and Sonny explains there was a fire at his penthouse. Portia rushes to help, and Lucas asks her to page Isaiah. Sonny tells Lucas to do whatever it takes to save his son.

In the OR, Lucas begins working when Isaiah arrives. Lucas becomes faint and tells Isaiah he has to take over this case as this is his nephew. Isaiah takes the lead but says he’ll still need Lucas’ help.

Carly and Jack show up, and Carly finds Sonny and Jason. She heard the towers were on fire and is glad they are okay. They tell her they are, but Michael is hurt. They explain what occurred, and Carly asks how this could happen. Jason says they don’t think it was an accident. Carly screams at Sonny, “Someone was trying to take you out, and Michael paid the price!”

At Dex’s place, Joss quickly puts the gun and bullets away when there is a knock at the door. She is shocked to open it to  Jack. He tells her that she has to come with him right away.

Jack brings Joss to the hospital, and she asks her mom what is happening. Suddenly, Lucas comes out, and Carly asks how her son is. Everyone gathers as Lucas explains Michael sustained third-degree burns over 40 percent of his body, and they don’t know if he’ll make it.

In the OR, Michael is hooked up to machines, is burned around his neck and arms, and is grimacing in pain. Isaiah explains where he is and what happened.

In Curtis’ office, Nina storms in and wants to borrow the company jet, but he says no. She huffs she’ll rent her own, as she needs to get to DC. She says Willow texted her, and she is staying the night with Drew. She says if Drew wants to ruin his life and career, so be it, but she won’t let him ruin Willow’s. Nina rants that it’s bad enough she took Wiley with her, and Curtis acknowledges taking a child across state lines could be considered illegal. Nina thinks Diane will have a field day with this, and she has to get her daughter. Curtis warns her if she goes to DC, she’ll make it worse.

Curtis tells Nina that Willow is an adult and can handle herself. Nina is afraid of what this will cost Willow. Curtis suggests she should think about what this will cost Drew. Nina doesn’t care what it costs Drew, and that he deserves to lose everything. Curtis says that is the thing: Drew is going to pursue Willow no matter how it looks to others. He suggests they test Drew’s colors by leaking news of the affair to the papers. Nina says either Drew will stay with Willow or abandon her to save his career. She likes the idea, but what’s in it for Curtis? Curtis says he is securing his position as CEO, and some shareholders don’t think he is fit for this job, so a scandal for Drew would help them think otherwise. Nina says she can’t do it as this could create more ammunition for Michael against Willow. Suddenly, Portia calls Curtis with the news about Michael.

More: Soap stars’ homes in danger from LA fires

As Michael is burning in the fire in Sonny’s apartment, down in DC, Willow and Drew are making love. After, he asks if she’s all right. She says she is, and she’s just thinking about what comes next. Drew promises to be by her side no matter what. She tells him that he won’t. Drew insists he will stand by her side as nothing is more important to him than her.

Drew tells Willow that he wants to be with her at whatever speed she needs and whatever level of comfort she is going public. Willow says this could create a political scandal for him. He’s willing to deal with that if he has her and asks if she feels the same. Willow says her feelings for him are real, but whether she’s free to act on them is a different story. In a perfect world, they’d be together.

Willow gets dressed, as does Drew, and she says she should get back to her room and Wiley. Just then, Nina calls Drew. She asks if Willow is with him, as she’s been trying to get ahold of her. Drew tells Nina that he doesn’t have to explain what he or Willow are doing. She tells him to shut up and listen as there has been an accident and to put Willow on the phone. He hands her the phone, and Nina tells Willow that Michael was burned in a fire, he’s in critical condition, and she needs to come home now!

On the next General Hospital, Alexis and Kristina are at the hospital. Alexis tells her daughter, “The only person who doesn’t know that is you.” Martin tells Nina that she has more leverage than she might think. Carly asks, “Please tell me you have some good news.” Willow arrives at the hospital and asks Joss how Michael is. Joss snaps, “Like you give a damn.” Curtis suggests to Drew that if he wants to do something for Michael to leave. Jason tells Sonny that he was mentioning an exit strategy earlier, and that has just become more important.