Always

Chapter 2

Eighteen hours later Robert landed in Port Charles. The cab ride from the airport to General Hospital seemed to last forever as his mind raced, inventing scenarios. He had considered asking Anna or Robin outright, but he knew if he stood a chance of getting the whole truth out of either one of them he'd have to do it face to face.

He stepped off the elevator and spotted Robin at the nurse's station with a young dark-haired doctor.

"Dad?"

"Hi, Baby!" Robert said. He dropped his duffle bag at his feet and held his arms open wide.

Robin rushed into them. "Daddy, I'm so glad you're here," she gushed.

Robert felt the tension in her grip and instinctively began to sway her gently to calm her. "Me too, sweetheart," he whispered.

After a moment, Robing pulled away and wiped her eyes. "How did you know?"

Robert just smiled at her and she realized the ridiculousness of her question. She turned to the doctor standing next to her. "Griffin, meet my father the spy."

Robert reached out his hand. "Robert Scorpio," he said.

"Doctor Griffin Munro," Griffin said, following suit.

Robin jumped in. "Griffin is—"

"Lavery's son. I know," Robert said, trying to disguise his unwarranted skepticism. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Griffin said. "I've certainly heard a lot about you."

"So," Robert said, getting back to the matter at hand, "what's going on with your mum?"

At that, Robin seemed to snap out of concerned daughter mode and into doctor mode. She went on to explain Anna's condition, a rare type of blood cancer, with a lot of fancy terms, letters, and percentages. Dr. Munro threw in information on symptoms and treatment. Robert listened carefully, waiting for the two doctors to finish, then excused himself, picked up his bag, and headed for Anna's room.

Anna turned over in bed at the sound of the door opening, expecting to see Robin or another doctor coming to poke and prod her again. Instead, there he was. He looked a bit older and a bit grayer than the last time she'd seen him. But his smile was as broad and bright as ever.

"Robert? What the hell are you doing here?" she said.

"Nice to see you too, sweetheart," Robert said with his usual brand of charm and sarcasm. He dropped his bag next to the door and approached. He expected a sharp retort, but got nothing. She only stared at him, obviously suppressing emotion. He sat on the edge of the bed and reached for her hand. "How are you?" he asked.

She forced a smile and pulled her hand away, for fear that even the slightest touch would break her down. "I'm fine, really. How did you know I was here?"

"I have my ways," he said.

"Of course you do." She rolled her eyes.

"You can't keep a secret from me. You never could," he said.

She rolled her eyes again, this time with exaggerated agitation.

He reached for her hand again.

This time she didn't pull her hand away, but turned her head, aware that if she looked directly at him for any length of time her eyes would give her away.

"You didn't need to come all the way here, Robert," she said. "I'm going to be fine."

Robert rubbed the back of her hand gently with his thumb "I spoke with Robin and Griffin," he said.

She nodded, and looked down, picking at a loose thread on her blanket. "So, you're aware of my… diagnosis," she said. She swallowed hard as she said the last word.

"Anna," he whispered.

She peaked up at him and the softness in his face tugged at her heart. If anyone knew what she was going through right now, it was him. She pressed her lips together, her moistened eyes doing all the talking.

Robert waited only long enough for the first tear to fall before he pulled her to him.

Anna was startled by speed and force with which he enveloped her in his arms, but she soon settled into the embrace and allowed Robert's presence to comfort her. He felt strong, safe, familiar. He felt like home. For the first time since being admitted, she allowed the walls she'd erected to crumble. In the security of his arms, she allowed herself an ugly, tearful, gut-wrenching release.

When it was over, Anna sat back and looked at Robert.

"How do you feel now," he asked as he wiped a lingering tear from her cheek.

She gave a small nod before falling back against the pillow with a cleansing sigh. "Better, actually."

"Good," he smiled.

"I still can't believe you're here."

"Where else would I be?"

"I don't know. Geneva. Los Angeles. Burma!"

He stood and went for the nearby chair. He pulled it over to the head of the bed and sat. "Hey, when I was the one in that bed, you flew half way around the world to be with me. Why would this be any different?"

"I came because Robin asked me too," she reminded him.

She said it to negate his importance to her, but he knew better.

"You're the head of a major organization, Robert. I have a hard enough time getting five minutes with you on the phone."

"Anna…" he leaned in and took hold of both of her hands again. He folded his around them and held them as if in prayer. "You're the mother of my only child—"

"That you know of," she interjected.

"Ha! Okay, yes. But apart from that… with everything that we've been through, you're the one person in the world who really understands what I do and why I do it." He saw her eyes starting to tear up again, so he threw on a wicked grin and added, "And, you're my absolute favorite partner in crime."

She couldn't help but laugh. She could tell by his tone he was eluding to more than just their professional relationship.

"We're kindred spirits, you and I," he went on. "I know what you're going through, and I want to be here to help you through it."

"Until something more important takes you away," she said.

He said nothing at first, but reached up and placed a hand lovingly on her cheek. Then he stood and placed a single kiss on her forehead. "There is nothing more important than you, Anna Devane."