Chapter 37

Jack winced as he felt Stephanie yank her hands out of his. "You called him?" She looked at her father. "Who is he?"

Jagger had been in contact with Robin off and on over the years but had not set foot back in Port Charles since Sara's near death during the bombings at GH – it was just another pain he associated with this town. He had been aware of everything that had happened with Nikolas so he kept close tabs on the family from his office in Albany. "FBI Special Agent Jagger Cates – Albany office."

Stephanie turned her glare back to Jack. "You're an agent?"

"No!" Jack sighed. "I am just, I, I uh…"

"Jack did some work with us while he was in high school helping bust up a multi-state drug ring located in the school. He wanted emancipation and was getting push back from his foster family. I approached and convinced him to help us out and in return we helped him get his emancipation. Since then we have kept in touch." Jagger walked over to Jack and shook his hand. "Once I found out he got into PCU I told him all about Robin, Stone and Patrick."

"You knew about my family before you met me?" Stephanie couldn't keep the hurt out of her voice. "Was it all a lie – were we a lie?"

Jack shook his head. "No, I meant what I said – I love you."

"I asked him to keep an eye on you but he told me he had fallen in love with you and wouldn't do it anymore. He was planning on telling you everything tonight but…" Jagger wanted to help the young man out.

"But my mom and Matt got kidnapped by Nikolas." John put his arms back around his sister and held her as she started crying. "Jack – I think you need to let me and my brothers take care of Stephanie for now."

"Stephanie…" Jack hated seeing her this way.

"Find my mom Jack." Stephanie words were clear even as her face was buried in her brother's chest. "I can't think about anything else until I know she and my Uncle Matt are safe."

The boys circled around Stephanie as they led her out of the room into the kitchen so they could calm her down. Jagger turned to Jack. "I am so sorry."

Jack put up his hands. "Don't – I lied to the woman I love and I have to face the consequences for that. You have to face the consequences for not telling anyone, including me, that you knew Nikolas escaped from Steinmauer."

Patrick grabbed Jagger and turned him around. "Nikolas escaped?"

"Patrick, please try to understand…" Jagger was in the middle of trying to explain when Patrick punched him. Jagger hit the floor and rubbed his jaw as several men stopped Patrick from jumping on him.

"You were supposed to be her friend. You were supposed to protect her – for Stone!" Patrick struggled for a moment and then collapsed to the floor sobbing. "How could you not tell her that madman was free?"

"I understand how you feel but my hands were tied." Jagger sat up and stared at Patrick. "The WSB was embarrassed that Nikolas had managed to escape. Steinmauer was supposed to be escape proof."

"Then how did he escape?" Robert was upset that he and Anna weren't notified by any of their former cohorts.

Jagger looked at Robert. "He worked with another prisoner – the only one who had ever escaped from Steinmauer."

Anna shook her head in disbelief. "Oh my God – he's working with Faison."

"Let me out of here!" Matt was blindfolded and tied to a chair. He had no idea where he was or what had happened to Robin. "Someone answer me now!"

The blindfold was ripped from his eyes and Matt needed a few moments for his vision to readjust to the lights. "Hello Dr. Hunter." Terrell stood in front of him. "Welcome to your new home."

Matt looked around at his cell and found himself flashing back to his time in prison. Terrell smiled at him. "Look familiar? I tried to make sure it would feel like home."

"Look, if you want to get your revenge on me than take it but leave Robin alone." Matt struggled with his bindings while Terrell just laughed.

"You think you have any control over what happens with Robin?" Terrell leaned over and stared Matt straight in the eyes. "Let me make it clear – the only reason you are still alive is to make sure that Robin does as she is told."

"What is he going to do to her?" Matt was scared for his sister-in-law.

"You'll see soon enough." Terrell brought over a chair and sat down in front of Matt. He pulled something out of his pocket and smiled. "I wouldn't worry about Robin right now."

"Wait, you said you needed me alive." Matt wasn't sure what Terrell was planning but he knew it couldn't be good.

"I am supposed to keep you alive but I also have permission to extract a little revenge on you." Terrell's face clouded over as his glared at Matt. "I loved her you know. I was trying to get her to leave Port Charles and Patrick behind when she was arrested."

"She was arrested for trying to kill Robin. She wasn't an innocent victim."

"Patrick drove her to it!" Terrell took a deep breath. "Patrick deserves to suffer, you deserve to suffer. You both deserve to know what it is like to live without the women you love for the rest of your lives. Killing you would be too easy. I want you to live with agony of knowing you will never see your wife or child again."

"What about Robin? Doesn't she deserve to see her children again?" Matt relaxed a little knowing that Terrell wasn't going to kill him. That meant he had time to figure out a way to get Robin and escape.

"And she will – after we finish getting her in the proper mindset."

Horror filled Matt's face as he realized what Nikolas and Terrell were planning. "You're going to brainwash her."

"We're going to show Robin the error of her ways. Nikolas would never treat Robin the way Patrick treated her. He would never cheat on her or turn his back on her when she is in trouble." Terrell leaned over and smiled at Matt. "He will treat her the way she deserves and, after she realizes that, she will be reunited with her children."

"It won't work." Matt scowled at Terrell. "Robin will never love Nikolas."

Terrell shook his head. "Yes she will." He smiled at the little device in his hand. "Meanwhile…" Terrell took the device and touched it to Matt's left leg. Matt instantly began convulsing as the taser did its job. Terrell removed it and let Matt recover from the shock before hovering the machine over Matt's right leg. "I'm going to have a little fun."

Smiling, Terrell touched the taser to Matt's right leg.