Chapter 36
December 20, 2008 - Port Charles
While Robin fed Emma her bottle, Mac and Anna cleared the breakfast table and washed up. Robert was upstairs ostensibly resting but Anna knew he was checking in with Andrew. Robin's cellphone rang.
"What's on your agenda today? I have another package in my office for Robby." said Mac.
"Same as before?"
Mac nodded. "You don't know what they are?"
"Not a clue. We'll stop by the station after we finish grocery shopping I think."
"My regular sitter can't make it today. She's sick." said Robin turning off her cell phone. Just then her pager went off. She looked at the display. "I have to get to General."
"No worries, sweetheart. We'll take Emma." offered Anna.
"Are you sure, Mom?"
"It'll good for your father to spend time with her. It will keep his spirits up." Anna gave her daughter a look loaded with meaning.
Robert came into the kitchen notepad in hand. "My shopping list is done. Let's go."
"We're taking Emma for the day, Robert."
"Great! The car should be here soon."
"Car?" Mac asked. "Drop me off at the station and you can use mine."
"S'right, Mac. The dealer is dropping off the car this morning."
"What kind of car did you get, Dad? An SUV? Minivan?"
"Something fun," Robert looked down at his note pad. "A pearl gray Jaguar XF with dark leather and burl wood interior."
"Did you get the Supercharged V8? The sports suspension is just right." Anna asked. "Robin, can we borrow your car seat? I'll get one for our car today."
"Uh, yeah," Robin said absently. Her mind was still wrapping itself around the idea of her parents in a Jaguar sports car.
"Yes, the V8. Power everything. It should be fast enough even for you, luv."
Mac did not bother to hide his envy. "Say, bro, I wouldn't mind an early Christmas present."
"Have you been good this year?" said Robert flipping through his pad.
"Saintly enough in my fashion."
"Uh, huh. I know you better." Robert said. "It's a business expense not personal."
Mac narrowed his eyes. "Turned into a businessman, have you?"
"I can't rely on a government pension forever."
Robin and Anna fussed over Emma making sure she'd have everything she needed for the day. "We'll run our errands and I'm sure Emma won't be a problem." Anna called out to Robert. "Robert, add a pram and baby carrier to the list."
Robert dutifully scribbled the items down in his normal illegible scrawl. "Right below diapers, formula and a car seat."
Robin followed her parents' to and fro conversation closely. They hadn't argued once all morning. And now, if she hadn't known better, they sounded positively domesticated. Something wasn't computing properly. Could her parents' have changed so much?
"We'll have to stop by the bakery first thing. There's a shop on Manchester St. that makes these Scottish scones. I want Andr- " Anna caught herself. "You've got to try them."
"Right. I forgot your tea things." Robert made another notation. "Earl Grey for you. Green and white tea for me." A ringtone began and it sounded like the theme from the TV show Avengers. Robert pulled a phone from his pocket and handed it to Anna.
"Is this Mrs. Watkins? Yes, thank you for getting back to me so soon." said Anna.
Both Robin and Mac were eyeing the phone with curiousity. It was red and black. No IPhone came in red and black. Where had Anna gotten it?
"I can come over later this afternoon and pick up any listings you have. My ... er ... -"
Robert suggested, "Ball and chain, old battleaxe, significant other, boyfriend."
"My ... partner and I will review and let you know which ones we want to visit. All right? Thank you. See you then." Anna closed her phone and put it on the table.
"That was quick work." Robert observed.
"Bad economy. Lots of house for sale." said Anna. "It's a buyers market out there."
"You're looking for a house? Plenty of room." Mac asked. "You're always welcome here."
"Oh, we know," Anna said placatingly. "We're looking for somewhere more rustic. By the river away from crowds."
"Somewhere with room for dogs," Robert added. "Where we can go fishing or tramp through the woods."
"Sounds like you want to put roots down," Mac commented.
"Yeah, we do." Anna grinned at Robert. "It's past time surely."
"The third time is the charm. I'm telling you." Robert said.
"Giving marriage another try?" asked Mac.
Anna and Robert answered simultaneously with "No" and "Someday."
"I get married and bad things happen, Robert." Anna said drily.
"What happened to ... to coming full circle?"
"We started as partners, remember?"
"Vividly." said Robert. "With a little patience, I'll get you around to my way of thinking."
"Mom, where did you get the phone?" Robin handled the phone with gadget envy blazing from her eyes. The color wasn't a case as she had thought. The casing was actually colored red and black. Very cool. "Does it come in other colors? What else does it do?" Her fingers played over the home screen. She found some unfamiliar application icons labeled 'Simon Says', 'Face2Face' and 'SkySat.' "I've never seen these applications before."
If Mac hadn't been watching, he was sure that he would have missed the fleeting look of panic on Anna's face followed by a barely perceptible nod from Robert. No, he hadn't missed any of it. The two of them were up to something.
Robert said. "DigiMaze in Paris. They do come in colors. Mine is gunmetal blue." He pulled out his phone from another pocket. "The applications are proprietary to my security firm, luv. We use these in the field a lot."
"I heard that they were opening a branch here," Anna supplied.
"What's a digi-whatsit?"
Robin laughed. "DigiMaze. Only the most advanced consumer electronics store on the planet. If they don't have something or can't customize it, then it doesn't exist. That is going to be one crowded store.
There came the sound of the front doorbell.
"Let me get that. I have to go anyway." Mac shrugged on his jacket and left the kitchen. The rest following behind him.
At the door was an Indian man dressed in a well cut suit dangling a pair of keys in one hand. "Mr. Robert Scorpio?"
Before leaving himself, Mac directed the man towards Robert. "There's the man you want."
"Here are your keys, sir." The salesman handed the keys to Robert. He spoke with the hybrid accent of one who had lived in various parts of the world for decades. His words were addressed to Robert but his eyes were on Anna. "I believe the lady will approve of the custom features of the vehicle."
"I like the personal service already," Anna replied extending a hand out. "Anna Devane."
"Salim Puri at your service." Salim said.
"This is my daugter Dr. Robin Scorpio-Drake and her daughter, Emma." Anna said.
Salim shook Robin's hand committing her image to memory. She looked like Anna but there were glimmers of Robert, too.
"A pleasure, Dr. Scorpio," Salim asked. "Would it be possible for you to drop me off at the dealer, Ms. Devane?"
"I don't see why not." Anna looked at her watch. "It's time we got going."
###
Emma sat contentedly in the car seat positioned rearward. Her eyes lingered on Salim sitting beside her. The older man smiled and played with her while carrying on a conversation with her grandparents who were seated in front.
"All the glass is Level 4 grade bulletproof and shockproof. The roof is titanium reinforced to withstand load. It will not buckle inward in a high impact accident. All materials are as imflamable as we could make them.s To reduce weight without sacrificing armor protection, we've used a new alloy combination on the door panels." Salim explained. "I believe we can put in a built-in car seat for the little lady here."
"An onboard computer, love it." Anna's fingers danced over the wireless keyboard propped on her lap.
"Any word from our friends?" asked Robert. He had donned a cap and sunglasses to disguise his features.
"As expected, the increase in communications traffic has piqued their interest. We have reports of increased activity on Cassadine Island in Greece. D99 groups in Yemen and Bulgaria are being disbanded. Andrew suspects that they will be scattered to augment other groups."
"Any idea where they will be deployed?"
"Not at present. Andrew and Andre are highly concerned because those two units are the specially trained in counter-espionage and urban warfare."
"If only we had a better idea of what their plans are," said Robert with no small amount of frustration. "The possible link to the Foundation is making me all twitchy. Anything else?"
"We are continuing to keep a low profile in town. The WSB and the DVX do not yet know where Andrew is exactly. Operatives have been notified throughout Europe."
"I thought it was protocol to inform them of Andrew's location at all times." said Anna.
"It is normally but this is not normal conditions." Robert said.
"You'd best explain that one."
"I think that both the WSB and the DVX have been infiltrated. It's based on very little actual evidence and more on gut instinct."
"There's no one we can trust on the inside?"
"A few. Primarily Andrew's main handlers are on our side."
"Reinhardt and ... Agent Amanti?" guessed Anna.
"One out of two. Andrew's WSB handler is Frisco and, indirectly, Felicia. They've been appraised of where Andrew really is. That includes us by the way."
"Frisco and Felicia? I didn't realize you've kept in touch."
"You owe Frisco your life, luv." Robert said. "He escorted you to Maine for treatment. He made sure you weren't questioned or examined too closely in fact. Of course, that barely makes up for the fact that he shot me with a tranquilizer dart on that bloody tanker to make it look like I was down."
"What? That's why you weren't moving."
"It was part of the plan we hatched up in Caracas. Our Plan B. In case, we couldn't escape unaided. At the time, being taken by the WSB was the most digestible of all the possible options."
"Frisco and Andre have been working together all these years? That's what you're telling me."
"Yes. And don't forget Felicia. She's turned into quite the intelligence operative. You wouldn't recognize her."
"I'm not surprised. I always thougth that if she were given more scope she would flourish."
Robert chuckled. "She's not part of the Bureau but she IS our network contact. This way Frisco has plausible deniability in case things go south."
"Felicia, Katherine, who else? My head is spinning."
"Dianara Amanti is definitely on our side but not in the network. Plausible deniability again. We have a few more trusted people we can tap if need be."
"Is Reinhardt one of them?"
"No and not likely to be one in the future. I like him personally but I don't trust him."
"One of these days I'm going to lock us in a room and get everything out of you."
"We were apart for seventeen years. A lot has happened." reasoned Robert.
"Obviously."
They reached the marina and made their way quickly on board the Kestrel.
"We bring presents," said Robert. "Your niece."
"And the best scones in New York." said Anna putting a box down on the table in the salon. Dressed in a dressing gown and pyjamas, Andrew rubbed at his bleary eyes. Anna noticed that he hadn't showered or combed his hair and that he moved stiffly. "Did you sleep well?"
"I always need an extra day to recover from jet lag. I don't like time changes."
"You probably stayed up working after we left," Anna accused.
"Guilty." Andrew bent down to look at his niece. "Goodness, she's tiny. She's got the thick family hair." Andrew called to Prospero. "Pros, come. Up."
Prospero padded over and put his front paws up on the table. From this height he was easily able to look into the baby carrier.
Andrew commanded. "Prospero, sniff. Family. Protect. Family."
The enormous dog sniffed at Emma avoiding her her hands held out towards him. Emma cooed as Prospero's big nose brushed by her toes and the dog took a big whiff.
Anna pressed a cup of hot coffee and a scone into Andrew's hands. "Here. Promise me you'll get a full eight hours tonight."
"If I can, I will." He took the food gratefully. "There's a porta crib in one of the cabinets. Would she be more comfortable in it?"
Robert hunted through the cabinets til he found it along with a set of sheets, fluffy pillows and a few stuffed animals. He quickly expanded the crib and placed Emma in it. As a precaution, he hooked the line tether to one of the metal loops artfully recessed in the walls.
As a precaution, Robert hooked the line tether from the crib to one of the metal loops artfully recessed in the walls. Anna rooted through the other closet finding a stroller and a baby carri
"Wait. I remember this crib. I bought it." Anna noted fingering the crib and pillows. "In Virginia."
"Uh, huh." Andrew said. "I'm told I was partial to the stuffed lion and the dalmatian."
###
At the hospital lounge, the television blared out the five o'clock local news segment.
"It looks like Christmas is coming early for Port Charles." said the announcer Susan Quincy who seemed as fresh as she had at the six o'clock news hour. "DigiMaze International has announced that it will be opening a flagship store here in our own Port Charles. The economic benefits of this news has yet to be fully realized. However, local business leaders Tracy Quartermaine and Jasper Jax are said to be very, very excited."
Quincy looked to her left and asked "Is the feed ready?"
It seemed that she got an affirmative answer. "We are now going live to Eva Gomez at Neuman's Market where a tense hostage crisis has just ended. Eva, what can you tell us?"
"It's an amazing story, Susan. At three-thirty this afternoon, several members of the Alcazar and Zacarra crime families had a disagreement in the parking lot. The argument carried into the store itself where it escalated into a Mexican standoff between the two factions with store customers and employees caught in the middle. I have one of the former hostages here. Store manager Dick Sussman. Dick, what happened?"
"It happened so fast. It was normal as usual until we heard gunfire in the east side of the store. Then several men, about five, came running down the main aisle waving guns. Another six men came from the west side also with guns. They started yelling at each other threatening to shoot. Thank god for Commissioner Scorpio!"
"That's the previous Commissioner of Police Robert Scorpio?"
"Dad?!" yelled Robin in the lounge. She lunged out of her chair and stalked over to the television. Patrick was right behind her.
"Yes," the ruddy cheeked, middle-aged manager paused to catch his breath. "He was checking out his purchases and he somehow got the gunmen to put their guns away. He told our staff and customers to get down on the floor and be quiet. While he was talking, we started smelling smoke."
"Smoke from where?"
"The back of the store. Then a woman yelled fire and the sprinklers turned on a second later."
"Then what happened?"
"The lights began flickering on and of and on and off over and over. The smoke was getting thick. It was surreal like watching a movie. Stuff like that just doesn't happen in real life, you know."
"What do you mean?"
"Chief Lavery came flying down from the ceiling and took out the six men by herself. Commissioner Scorpio dealt with the other five men. It was wham, bam and say good night! Not a shot fired and the baby never cried."
"The baby?" asked an awed Gomez.
"Oh, the Commissioner and Chief's granddaughter. Commissioner Scorpio had her in one of those over the shoulder child carriers the whole time. Cutest kid you've ever seen!"
"What!" This time it was Patrick.
"Smoke. Fire. Sounds like the same thing they did when Rowdy was held hostage at the gun shop. Nice touch with the sprinklers Mom." Robin ruminated.
"Robin! That is our child they put in danger!"
"Honey, my parents handle hostage situations like ... like you do surgery."
"I don't BELIEVE you people! She could have been hurt or ... or killed!"
"Emma was probably safer than the gunmen. They said no shots were fired. Chill out!"
"That was Dick Sussman, store manager of Neumann's. The hostage crisis is over with no fatalities. Susan, we're trying to get an interview with Commissioner Scorpio or Chief Lavery but they seem to have vanished from the scene. However, security cameras were on the entire time. We hope to have footage from them for the ten o'clock news."
"We'll look forward -" began Susan.
"Wait! Wait. I got 'em. Swing the camera over here!" yelled Gomez. "Eva Gomez, WTPC, Commissioner, Chief, you're heroes. How did you do it?"
Robert and Anna appeared looking composed and calm. Emma's pink bonnet peeked out in front of the baby carrier that Robert had slung in front of his chest.
"We just took advantage of the situation and, fortunately, we had the results we wanted." said Robert.
"The staff and customers stayed calm. No one panicked." added Anna. "They're the real heroes."
"You've been away for so long. Does this mean that you're back? Will you be working with the PCPD again?"
Robert shook his head emphatically. He looked for confirmation from Anna. "We're just normal citizens now. The PCPD is in Mac's good hands."
"And Chief Lavery, will you be staying in town?"
"Ms. Devane." corrected Anna. "Our granddaughter, our family, are here in Port Charles. So, yes, we are here to stay." A tiny fist stretched into the air. The tiny head bobbed. "Excuse us, please. She's just starting to wake up."
"Your granddaughter was asleep the whole time?"
"Yeah. What a trooper!" said Robert. He and Anna moved off camera. The television showed them pushing a cart full of groceries towards their car.
"Well, Susan, it's been an unbelievable day. Turning it back to you." said Gomez.
In the lounge, Robin returned to her dinner. "See, all's well that end's well. Emma was asleep the entire time."
"You're all gun-crazy, fight-obsessed lunatics!" Patrick repeated. "I don't BELIEVE you people!"
"Patrick, you need to learn to calm down. Otherwise, you're going to get a heart attack every time something happens."
"What?! This sort of thing is going to be a common occurence?"
"With our family?! Of course, it is." said Robin with a big smile. "You'll never be bored."
"Ever since your parents came back, I don't think I know you anymore." Patrick said.
"Honey, the real me is just coming out. Deal with it." Robin stood on tiptoe and gave her still stunned husband-to-be a kiss.
On the Kestrel, Andrew shook his head as he watched the local news feed on one of his three monitors. He typed a message on his console informing his now panicked WSB and DVX handler where he was. In all likelihood, they would be keeping a much closer eye on him from now on.
"So much for keeping a low profile. Maybe this will flush the pigeons out of the bushes."
A/N: Boring they are not. The Scorpios are in town and their taking names! Poor Patrick, just now getting to know his in-laws.