Chapter 20
Robin couldn't help but laugh as she and Jason talked at the restaurant. The actual discussion of the protocol had gone quickly and they had gone to Mr. Chang's for some cheap Chinese food and to reminisce about old times. "I still can't believe that you jumped into that lake fully clothed."
"I still can't believe that you stripped down in front of some girl you hardly knew and didn't even blink." Robin took a bite of her beef with broccoli and laughed. "Though you were enough of a gentleman to not look when I changed into your t-shirt."
"I didn't know any better at the time – I was still recovering from a brain injury." Jason smiled at her. "If it had been a month later…"
Robin swatted at him jokingly. "Stop – you wouldn't have and you know it."
Jason sighed. "You're right, I wouldn't have because I respected you too much. I still do."
Robin needed to change the subject. "So where is Sam?"
"Sam is with her mom in Europe doing some shopping before she heads home." Jason had just spoken to his wife before he met with Robin. "She can't wait to meet you."
"Really?" She was surprised given her and Jason's history.
"Yes." He took a deep breath. "I owe you a huge apology. I should have never asked you to lie about Michael's paternity."
Robin fell back in her seat, completely caught off-guard by his confession. "Jason…"
"I couldn't see it back then – how much it hurt you to be a part of that lie. How my decision to put Carly and Michael first hurt you." Jason looked away for a moment and then back at her. "I also know that I was wrong to turn my back on you when you told AJ the truth."
"Jason, I wasn't completely innocent in this – I should have never let it go on as long as it did." Robin shook her head. "I made the decision to tell AJ partly out of anger with Carly and partly because it was the right thing to do. The truth is that I should have told the truth the moment I found out about Michael but I let my feelings for you stop me. And, even though I regret how I did it, I don't regret telling him – especially when I see him and AJ together."
"I agree and I understand it even more now that…" Jason hesitated.
"Now that…" Robin encouraged him to continue.
"Sam and I are having a baby, a son." His smiled filled his face. "That's why she and Alexis are shopping – Alexis is having a blast spoiling her first grandchild."
Robin smiled back at him. "I understand the feeling. Congratulations – that is wonderful news! You are going to be wonderful with him, just like you were with Michael."
"That's why I needed to see you – to let you know that I understand now why you did it. That AJ deserved the chance to be Michael's father. If someone tried to keep me away from my son…" Jason reached over and patted Robin's hand. "Thank you for doing the right thing when no one else would."
"Thank you for forgiving me for doing it." Finally, after all these years, Robin felt a sense of closure regarding the whole situation. "So, have you told Alan and Monica about this?"
Jason laughed. "Monica has a room at the Quartermaine mansion ready for him and Alan has his first stethoscope hanging on the wall. It's strange to think that my son will know them as his grandparents even though I still can't think of them as my parents. But now that I am working with them…"
"Wait – what do you mean you are working with them?" Robin hadn't really had a chance to speak to anyone about Jason since her return.
"I am the new head of security for ELQ." He loved the sound of her laughter at the news. "I know how it sounds but I realized when Michael turned his back on Carly and Sonny that this kid was smarter than I was. I contacted Alan and have been working overseas while I was meeting with this doctor on my memory issues. No one knows about it yet but Sam will be home next week and then it will all be out in the open."
"I am so proud of you." Robin was thrilled that Jason was reconnecting with his family. "You know I told you once that I had faith in your future – thank you for proving me right."
"Thank you for being there for me no matter what." He looked at his watch. "I have a meeting to get to but I would love to have you, your daughter and granddaughter over to meet Sam. Maybe even bring that doctor boyfriend of yours with you?"
"Keith and I just friends." Robin stood up and reached for her coat. Rylee had another day before she would be allowed back into the daycare so she needed to relieve the sitter.
"I'm not talking about Keith," Jason took her coat and helped her put it on, "I'm talking about Patrick Drake."
"Patrick and I are just…"
"Robin, you can lie to everyone else but don't lie to me." He winked at her. "I know you Robin and I can see how much you care about him. Don't let what I did to you or losing your husband or even Stone stop you from taking a chance on the man, even if he is an arrogant son of a bitch."
Robin smiled at Jason's description of the man. "That is only part of Patrick Drake." She coughed and saw a look of concern pass over Jason's face. "Just a dry throat, calm down." She looked at her watch. "I really need to get going too but I will talk to you later."
"Count on it." Jason hugged her goodbye and waited for her to walk out the door before he pulled out his phone. His face turned cold as made the call. "I'll be there in 20 minutes."
"I was so happy to hear from you." Carly had been watching the door at Jake's, waiting for her old friend to come in. She pushed a beer towards Jason as he sat down at the table. "I know that I was a little rude to you the other night but…"
Jason ignored the beer. "Leave her alone Carly."
"What?" Carly was incredulous. "Oh my God – you cannot seriously still be hung up on little miss perfect? What about Sam?"
"Sam is on her way home and she cannot wait to meet Robin and her family." Jason leaned over on the table and stared Carly straight in the eyes. "Robin and her family are off limits. She has built a wonderful life and I will not let you or anyone else hurt her."
"She ruined our lives Jason. Her telling AJ the truth about Michael's paternity…"
"He deserved to know the truth and Michael's life is only better because AJ is in it." Jason's time away from Carly and Sonny had given him some clarity about the past few years. "AJ has his faults but he loves Michael."
"Since when do you defend the Quartermaines? And why haven't you checked on Sonny since your return to Port Charles?" Carly's ex-husband was bi-polar and, during a manic episode, had attacked his oldest son when the young man came over to check on him. Dante was fine but he had his father committed while they tried to find the correct combination of medications to help him.
"I told Sonny before I left that I was out. Sam and I are building a life together free from the mob," he finally took a drink of his beer, "and your craziness."
"Excuse me?" Carly was fast moving from upset to pissed off. "I am the only one who has had your back over the years."
"You destroyed one of the best things in my life and used your son to do it – I won't let you do to Sam what I let you do to Robin." He stood up.
"She brought whatever happened onto herself. She told a truth that wasn't hers to tell." Carly stood up and glared at him. "Besides, little miss holier-than-thou has a few secrets of her own that she is hiding from us."
Jason slammed his fist down on the table. "Enough!"
Carly jumped back from the table. "Jason…"
"No Carly – it has been years and it is time to let this go. I didn't have the courage to do the right thing before but I do now."
"What do you mean?" Carly didn't like the look in his eyes.
"You and me Carly, we're done. Don't call, don't stop by my house and, if you see me coming your way, get out of my line of sight."
"Jason, you don't mean that." She began to cry and reached for his arm.
Jason quickly pulled away. "I have never meant anything more. You are dead to me Carly." He stepped forward and glared at the woman. "And if anything happens to Robin or her family, there will not a place on this earth you can hide from me."
Having said what he needed to, Jason threw a twenty on the table and stalked out of the bar, leaving Carly behind for good.