Chapter 21

Patrick paced the living room. "How the hell did this happen Jason? I thought you were keeping your guard on him?"

Jason was upset too. "I don't know Patrick, he was supposed to be going to meet Tom and the next thing the guard knew Tom was looking for him and John was nowhere to be found."

"That wasn't the plan – he was supposed to wait until we could get the tracking equipment from Robert and Anna. Why would he go off on his own?" Patrick didn't understand why John would do this.

"Because of me." Cam came in with his head down.

Jason was confused. "What do you mean because of you?"

"I pushed him – told him if he really cared about his sister he would do something about it. I didn't think he would take off on his own, I swear." Cam sat down on the couch, feeling horrible about this latest turn of events.

Jason shook his head. "It's not your fault. He's a grown man and made his own decision however stupid it may have been." He turned to Patrick. "I'll call Dante and have him put out an APB for John."

He left the room and Patrick decided to try and reason with Cam. "Jason's right – John is an adult. No amount of needling from you could make him do something he didn't want to do."

"But what if I just cost us our only lead on finding Robin? I would never forgive myself and Emma…" Cam was devastated.

"Cam, I'm sure that John has a plan, he just didn't let us know what it was, maybe so we wouldn't interfere." Patrick reached over and gave Cam a reassuring pat on his shoulder. "We have to believe that we are going to get Robin back and then we can bring everyone home. I've been through this before and it sure the hell isn't easy to go through it again, but it always ends the same – Robin home with me and our kids."

Cam looked up at Emma's dad. He had known the Drakes his entire life and he knew what Patrick was saying was true but it was just so hard to believe it. He nodded his head and went up to his room to think.

Patrick sat down on the couch and finally gave in to the fear he was feeling. Despite what he said to Cam, Patrick was scared to death that their only chance to find Robin had just slipped through their fingers.

John paced his room, furious at himself for jumping in feet first without discussing it with Patrick and Jason. He was getting ready to begin pounding on the door, demanding to be let out when it opened and his father walked in.

"Spencer." He walked over to his son and hugged him close. "I have missed you so much."

John didn't know what to do. He had always loved his father and always would but this man stopped being his father years ago. He just stood there while Nikolas held him close.

"I was beginning to think I had lost you forever. Soon I will get your sister and you and I and Steph and Robin can be the family we were always meant to be." Nikolas was smiling at him.

"Dad." John decided to try and reason with him. "I want to make you a deal. You don't need Stephanie and Robin, I've come home. We can rebuild the Cassadine empire together. All you need to do is let Robin go and leave Stephanie where she is. She's happy dad, let her be happy. You do that and I will stay here with you."

Nikolas looked at John in disbelief. "No. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled to have you home but this is just the first step. Someday soon you will understand everything."

John shook his head. "No, I won't."

Nikolas sighed and waved at someone in the doorway. A guard came in followed by the doctor. "Yes my son, you will."