The Truth Will Out – Part Four

Part Twenty of the Robyn series.

It was so quiet he could almost hear the person in the next room breathing. He didn't know why she was here, why she had to come. She thought he needed her help but he didn't, he didn't need anyone's help. He was fine on his own. From the noises coming from the kitchen he guessed she was making something to eat, he wouldn't eat it though. He wasn't hungry. It had been a long time since he'd been hungry, since he'd been thirsty, since he'd been tired. For days on end he would go without food and sleep, drink was something he'd found it hard to do without. The only times he'd left his chair was to go to the toilet or take a reluctant shower. He was afraid to be gone too long in case the phone rang, in case someone rang to tell him good news, the good news that they had found Robyn.

The clatter of a plate being placed on a table shook him from his thoughts and he looked down at a gigantic piece of cake worthy of his attention. Its mouth watering scent was almost too much for him to resist as he picked up the plate. A fork was placed in his line of sight and he took it. With the fork poised ready to strike he readied himself to fill his stomach but something stopped him. Putting the plate on his lap and the fork on the edge of it he looked up and smiled his thanks to Bessie, she knew just how to cheer him up. Bessie smiled back and motioned that it was fine for him commence shovelling, she could tell how hungry he was even if he couldn't.

A knock on the door arrested her attention and she went over to open it. Standing on the other side was a man she'd never seen before. He wore a uniform but it wasn't a uniform that she recognised and he certainly didn't look to be a police officer or anything of that description. He seemed to be waiting for an invitation to enter but she wasn't sure if she should do that, instead she turned her head and looked at Robbie who had stood up to see what was going on, his cake quite forgotten for the moment.

Walking over to the front door and pushing Bessie gently out of the way Robbie asked, "Who are you?"

"A friend, Mr Rotten. I can't say exactly who I am or where I am from but I can tell you I have news of Robyn."

"Robyn? Is she ok?"

"That remains to be seen. She was found in Toronto but not before things happened, very bad things I'm afraid."

Needing to know more, Robbie opened the door wider and allowed the man to pass through. Something told him that the bad things he was about to hear about were every bit as bad as the man seemed to think they were.

Taking a seat on the sofa, Robbie motioned for the man to sit in his usual place, Bessie sat next to Robbie. She wanted to know what had happened as much as Robbie and wouldn't let anything shift her.

"I guess that I can at least give you a first name," The man began after some thought, "Call me Boris."

"Boris, tell me what happened." Robbie asked needing to know.

"This is all for your ears only, Mr Rotten. If you don't mind, I'd like to suggest that your friend leaves."

"I'd rather have Bessie here, she's a dear friend of the family and Robyn means a lot to her."

Nodding Boris proceeded to say what he had to, "During Robyn's time in Toronto she came into contact with Cain. I believe you know he was there."

Robbie nodded.

"He attacked her and left her for dead in an alleyway. Luckily there were people on hand to help her and she survived, her injuries weren't severe but they could have been had she been left alone for much longer. Soon after Robyn was released from hospital she was taken into the protective care of a Police Detective and from then on was transferred to a secure place at a night club. After a night spent there Cain launched an attack on the city, an attack you must have read about in the newspapers. While everything was thrown into chaos Cain kidnapped Robyn, it was about this time that Kit arrived at the club but, from what we've gathered Cain attacked him. He was found unconscious but suffered very little injury besides that."

"What did Cain do to Robyn?"

"After he took her from the night club he hid her in an old warehouse. That's when the worst part of all of this happened."

"What did he do?" Robbie repeated.

Boris sighed, "He raped her, Mr Rotten."

Robbie's world collapsed around him. He could feel Bessie plant a hand on his shoulder but it did little to help him, he could tell she was as devastated as he was.

Everything seemed to be moving so fast. One minute she was in Toronto, the next she was on her way home. She was scared to go back, there were so many things preying on her mind. Would her friends know about her being Sportacus' daughter? Would they know about what had happened to her in Toronto? Would they be mad that she had run away? What would happen when she came face to face with Robbie for the first time since he'd admitted to her that he wasn't her father?

The time for speculation ended all too soon when the car entered the Crazytown tunnel. It wouldn't be long before they were back in Lazytown, back home. As long bands of light stretched across the car she felt hand grip hers, it was Kit's. Looking at him she tried to smile but there was nothing there. She was too apprehensive to even think of smiling.

"It'll be ok." Kit told her, "I'm here. You're not alone."

Robyn nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. Kit would make things better, he always made things better.

Robbie couldn't come to terms with what he'd been told. It didn't make sense to him and he couldn't accept it.

"Not my Robyn. Not my dear, sweet Robyn." He'd repeated over and over.

All the while Bessie had kept a hand on his shoulder, offering him support. He had tried drawing strength from that support but it did nothing for him, his grief was just too great.

"Where is Robyn now?" Bessie asked needing her own questions answered.

Boris cleared his throat, "At this moment in time she should be close by. Last night she and Kit were removed from Toronto in a secured transport. They're in safe hands and should be back soon."

This news offered Robbie a life line. Rubbing threatening tears from his eyes he pulled himself together. She was coming home. She was alive.

Fifteen minutes later a black Land Rover pulled up outside the house. Its appearance created no small amount of confusion and everyone in town came to see what it was there for, including Robbie and Bessie. No one could see through the heavily tinted windows but they could tell that someone important was inside. They watched with a mix of anxiety and excitement as a driver got out, wearing a uniform similar to Boris', and opened one of the rear passenger doors.

Slowly two people got out, they were people sorely missed in the town and people that everyone was glad to see alive. The first person Robyn sought out when she left the confines of the car was Robbie. Seeing him standing outside the house she hobbled over to him, uncertain of what to say or do. It was as if this was the first time they'd set eyes on each other, as if they were total strangers thrown together by circumstances beyond their control.

With eyes full of unshed tears, Robbie lifted his hand to brush Robyn's cheek but changed his mind and wrapped his arms around her in a solid hug. Relief filled him when she responded by putting her arms around him as well.

"You'll always be my dad." Robyn whispered lifting her lips to Robbie's ear

Robbie's eyes opened wide and elation filled him as he hugged her tighter before closing his eyes against falling tears.

"And you'll always be my daughter." He whispered back before planting a kiss on Robyn's temple.