The Wayward Son and The Docile Daughter
Taking a deep breath, Robin Scorpio straightens her jacket, unsure of her purpose there, but accepting that she owed it to the Quartermaines to at least consider their request. Making her way through the halls, she gains a sense of deja vu, a soft smile touching her lips, knowing that Jason is awake and no longer fighting for his life. Getting to the room, Robin stops just out of view, surprised by the sight that's found within the room.
"If you didn't know any better, you'd believe the accident was nothing but a bad dream," Emily voices from behind her, knowing Robin sees exactly what she had seen, smiling softly when Robin turns to face her. "I heard my parents were calling you as a character witness."
"Yeah, they said that he was taking them to court," Robin explains. "I've been trying my best to stay out of it."
"They can be quite convincing," Emily admits, seeing that Robin truly didn't know what she was doing there. "I'm sorry they dragged you into the middle of all this."
"I'm sorry your family's going through this at all," Robin replies wholeheartedly, turning to look in on Jason. "But, you're right, looking at him, you can hardly tell he was ever hurt."
"Jason's been through a lot, there's no denying that, but he's just as capable as any of us," Emily says simply. "Come on, I'll introduce you guys."
"That's okay," Robin shakes her head. "I don't want to intrude."
"You won't be intruding," Emily assures. "And, my parents will find a way to get you in front of the judge, at least this way you'll be able to speak on who Jason is now rather than who he was."
"Yeah," Robin replies softly, knowing she's probably right. "Okay."
"Hey, you two," Emily voices after she pushes open the door. "Mind if we join you guys for a bit?"
"Sure," Jason replies as Elizabeth gets off the bed and moves to stand by his side.
"This is Robin Scorpio," Emily introduces, stepping to the side to let her walk in, shutting the door once she's inside. "She's the police commissioner's niece."
"My sympathies," Elizabeth replies honestly. "Can't be easy carrying the weight of that position. I'm sure you're held to impossible standards."
"You're not wrong," Robin admits. "I don't believe we've met before."
"We haven't," Elizabeth confirms, holding out her hand to the other girl. "Elizabeth Webber."
"Nice to meet you," Robin says, shaking her head. "I'm sorry for intruding like this..."
"You're not intruding," Elizabeth assures before turning to Emily. "What do you say we grab some food in the cafeteria, give these two a chance to catch up?"
"Sounds perfect," Emily agrees. "I'm starving."
"Great," Elizabeth says before turning to Jason, sliding her hand into his, gaining his attention instantly. "You want your usual?"
"Yeah," Jason replies, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Thanks."
"Of course," Elizabeth smiles softly. "I'll be right back."
She didn't want to leave him alone with her, but she knows exactly what Robin's doing there and this is a necessary step in Jason regaining his independence. The more people from Jason's past that can see him for who he is the better off Jason will be. The Quartermaines are persuasive and they can be quite intimidating, but none of that matters when those people are forced to sit before a judge and say under oath what they know to be true.
"You can sit," Jason gestures to the seat a few feet from the bed.
"Thanks," Robin replies, taking the seat. "I don't know if you remember me..."
"I remember you," Jason assures. "You were here when I woke up."
"I was," Robin smiles softly. "I'm sorry I haven't been back since..."
"Don't be," Jason says simply. "I wasn't good company."
"I heard," Robin admits. "It must be so weird for you...being a stranger in your own life."
"It's not my life," Jason corrects. "My life began the day I woke up."
"Still, it can't be easy," Robin says gently. "So many expectations placed on you, expectations you can't fulfill..."
"The hardest part is the look in their eyes," Jason concedes. "They walk in here with hope, believing that if they say the right thing or do the right thing, everything will just click. Until it doesn't and the hope dies. That look...I hate it."
Watching the look that flashes through his eyes, Robin can see now just how affected he is by this entire situation, her heart going out to him. Jason Quartermaine was her friend, one of her best, and it hurt her to learn that he was gone. Sitting there with this Jason, she finds that her heartache isn't as vibrant, knowing that in some way he is still here. Even if he's no longer the Jason she knows and loves, he's still Jason and that gives her hope for her friend. He may have lost his past, but that doesn't mean that the future is lost to him.
"Be honest with me," Elizabeth says as they wait in line to pay for the food. "Is she going to be a problem for Jason?"
"Robin owes a lot to my parents, making her a wild card," Emily admits. "But she's prone to telling the truth. Even with my parents breathing down her neck, if Robin believes in Jason, no one will be able to convince her not to voice that at the hearing."
"Right," Elizabeth accepts. "Here's to hoping she sees what we see."
"For all the wrong choices that my parents have been making, I'm glad they got one right," Emily admits, continuing when Elizabeth looks at her curiously. "Asking you to help Jason. Even if it didn't work out the way they expected it to, you have been his rock and I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate your presence in his life."
"I haven't done anything special," Elizabeth shakes her head, pulling out her wallet and paying for their meals. "I keep him company and I listen to him. That's all."
"We both know that's not true," Emily counters. "And so does my grandmother."
"Your grandmother?"
"She and Jason talk almost every night," Emily concedes, smiling softly at the subtle surprise on her face. "The way he talks about you...well, suffice to say that you've won over my grandmother's heart completely."
"I don't know about all that..."
"I do," Emily assures her. "Jason has asked our grandmother to sit out his hearing because of her health, but it's only because of you that she agreed to do it. You found a way to be there for him when no one else could and that's something we can never repay you for. Really, Elizabeth, thank you."
Standing by Jason wasn't even a choice, it didn't take any thought to do it, so she never stopped to consider what kind of impact her doing so would have on those that love him. Seeing just how grateful Emily and her grandmother are for what she's done, Elizabeth's at a complete loss of words, knowing she could have such an impact on anyone is just unfathomable to her. In her eyes, she's just being a friend, something Jason lacked and, in a way, she can admit that it's grown into something more than just that.
Making their way back to Jason's room, Elizabeth pulls the rolling table over to the bed as the other two girls say their goodbyes to Jason, setting the food down in front of him. From the look on Robin's face, she's not too worried about her testifying at Jason's hearing. Despite the Quartermaines undoubtedly painting Jason in a darker light, she can see that Robin sees Jason for who he is and that's enough for her to let things be. Saying goodbye to Emily, she waits for the two girls to leave the room before climbing onto his bed to sit across from him.
"I hope you're hungry," Elizabeth says as she opens the containers. "The lady at the cafeteria gave you a bigger serving since you sent your food back this morning."
"It made me sick," Jason points out. "They keep giving me food he liked."
"I know," Elizabeth smiles slightly. "That'll change once the judge makes a ruling in your favor."
"If she makes a ruling in my favor," Jason counters. "We can't get ahead of ourselves."
"Right," Elizabeth accepts. "Sorry."
"You never have to apologize to me," Jason says, reaching out his hand to take hold of hers. "I know things look like it's leaning in our favor, I just don't want either of us to get our hopes up until we know for sure."
"Okay," Elizabeth smiles softly. "I'll remain objective until the ruling is made, but I'll remain hopeful just the same."
"Fair enough," he accepts, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before releasing his hold to pick up his fork. "Time to eat."
With their time filled with talk of his hearing and what they needed to do to help his case, they both have agreed that it would all stop while they're eating, taking that time to just unwind and digress from the stresses of it all. The Quartermaines are pulling out all the stops to reach their goal and that's causing them to make choices that aren't exactly helping their cause. They can't make that mistake. Stepping back, taking a breather, being sure to keep things in perspective, will inevitably help them in the long run.
"So, tell me," Elizabeth says as she moves the tray back against the sidewall. "If the verdict lands on your side, how long before you leave the hospital?"
"However long it takes them to print the discharge papers."
"I had a feeling you'd say that," Elizabeth replies, moving to sit on the bed. "I know you don't want to get ahead of yourself, but you should think of where you go next."
"Like you did when you left your parents' place?"
"Fortunately for me, Alexis put a roof over my head before that choice became a problem," Elizabeth explains, knowing he's just trying to see the logic in her words. "You'll come to find that learning from others' mistakes will save you from suffering their consequences. Make mistakes, life's full of them, but make necessary ones. You get what I'm saying?"
"Yeah," Jason says after a moment of thought. "Got it."
"With that being said, I'll be meeting with the judge just before your hearing," Elizabeth says, her eyes dropping to their hands, a smile touching her lips as he gently strokes her hand with his thumb. "A ruling's been made, the meeting's just formality, I'm not offering something permanent...just a stepping stone on your way to getting on your feet."
"You're not a stepping stone," Jason says seriously, using his free hand to lift her gaze to meet his. "I may not know what comes next, but I know I want you there when I figure it out. Give me the time to do that?"
"Yeah, of course," Elizabeth replies with a nod. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Me either," Jason promises, moving his hand to gently grip the side of her neck. "Whatever comes...it's you and me."
"I want to," Elizabeth whispers, her eyes dropping to his lips for a moment before meeting his gaze again, tilting her head slightly. "I also want you sure."
"Nurses...doctors...candy stripers...I've met a lot of women since I woke up," Jason says seriously, needing her to see his truth. "Before I met you and after...none of them are you. It's only you. Okay?"
"Okay," she says wholeheartedly, nodding her agreement. "You and me."
As she moves closer, it's almost as if time stops around them, within reach, Jason pulls her in, taking claim to her lips as their eyes close. The future is in the air, they have a lot to work through and a lot to figure out, once they are both free and capable of doing so, they'll work their way through it all. For now, they give in to the moment, to the promise made, solidifying a foundation worth building upon.
Author's Note: Can't wait to hear your thoughts. Thanks and take care.