Two days had passed and Robbie was improving steadily. He could now sit up, move a little and talk. The cough he had acquired through his smoke inhalation had eased slightly and was aggravated by any stresses. Doctor Cole had yet to return and would do so within two days. Several people had opted to keep watch over Robbie not only to monitor him but keep him company.

Robyn and Sportacus had sorted out their differences over her having kept her contact with Robbie's ghost a secret. Kit himself had also been held to account and had even been blamed for leading Robyn into it. Robyn had defended herself and Kit with the argument that if they had said nothing, which they did, no one had been lied to. Had they offered some sort of excuse in the case of Robyn's failed appetite that would have been a lie but as they had said nothing no harm had been done. For the sake of both Robbie and Robyn Kit had left out the part about Robbie being instrumental in Robyn's blindness and subsequent recovery. It would have caused more trouble than it was worth had any of them said anything.

Everyone had questioned mortality and whether death was really the end. They had living proof that death could be arrested and life given back to a spirit but it was something none of them chose to look into too deeply. Some posed questions to Robbie as to what death was like but he resolutely refused to answer. All he would say was that death was different for everyone and everything you do in life is written down in testament to aid judgement in death. The judgement was posed whether or not you would have an easy time in eternity or would be punished. Some, like Robbie, suffered both.

Kit had spent quite a lot of time with Robbie trying to get to know the man and both of them found they quite liked each other. Having never had a father figure in his life Kit had often felt compelled to find one and had done so in Robbie. Both men laughed and joked together as if they'd known each other for years and it was a good omen in terms of Kit's and Robyn's growing relationship. Robbie had no qualms about his daughter's choice in partner as long as he was kept well informed.

It had been a while since anyone had seen Skip and Kit along with Stingy tried to find him. Trixie helped out as well when neither man had had any luck finding the little Terrier. All of them met in a designated spot two hours after the search had recommenced to let each other know of progress.

"I hate it when he does this. He disappears then comes back and then disappears again. I'd ask Robyn to let Erin take a little look for him but after they met the last time I'm not so sure." Kit continued to look about as he spoke.

Trixie stopped looking when she thought of something, "You don't think those two massive dogs got him? The ones with the Shadows."

"Snatch and Cuddles? Nah, they wouldn't go after him. He's too small for them to have bothered with. I should expect he's in a huff with me because I've not moved on; he tends to rule the roost in that aspect. There might be a way to lure him out though."

"How?" Stingy asked getting impatient with their lack of progress.

"My bag, he's obsessed with the thing. Thinks he owns it. If I leave it alone somewhere he'll come out and get it." Kit explained.

"I hope you're right." Trixie replied not sounding too hopeful.

Kit smiled and reassured them both that this was something Skip did all the time and he'd turn up eventually. If the bag trick didn't work then he'd get Robyn to loose Erin. With a literal bird's eye view Erin was bound to spot Skip, a close eye would have to kept on her in case she found him and tried to make him lunch again.

Robyn was busying herself in her room when she heard Robbie cry out. She ran into his room to see what the matter was. Entering the room she saw Robbie sitting bolt upright in bed and breathing heavily. Rushing to his side she tried to comfort him. Ten minutes passed before Robbie was calm enough to control his breathing and lie down again.

"I had a bad dream," He explained seeing how worried Robyn was about him.

"About Her?" The reply was more of a statement than a question.

Robbie nodded. He'd noticed some many years ago that Robyn never mentioned her mother's name. Robyn had never asked after her mother even as a child. The only time that Robyn had ever mentioned anything about Lily was when she'd asked how Robbie had died. She'd also told Kit what she knew about both her parent's death and hadn't hidden any of the gory details.

"Do you get them often?" Robyn asked again breaking into Robbie's reverie.

"Sometimes. It varies. The dreams vary too but they all have her in."

"She frightens you."

Robbie nodded. "She's never contacted you has she? Like I did?"

When Robyn looked away slightly Robbie knew the answer and anger sparked in him. As far as he was concerned Lily could do what she liked to him but what she did to Robyn was another story.

"What did she say?" Robbie asked trying not to make his anger audible in his voice.

Robyn directed a level glance at Robbie, "Horrid things. She only came once. I was alone at the time and it was when I was blind."

"Tell me what they were," Robbie said holding Robyn's hand.

Robyn wrenched her hand away and stood up, "I won't." was all she said before leaving the room.

Sportacus was coming down the hallway when Robyn passed him heading towards the stairs. She looked upset and he tried to stop her but Robyn just pulled herself from his grasp. Confused Sportacus headed for Robbie's room just in case he knew what was wrong with Robyn.

"What's up with Robyn?" Sportacus asked entering the room.

Robbie shrugged rather concerned by Robyn's reaction. He'd not expected it all.

"She mentioned something about Lily making an appearance to her and speaking to her the way that Lily does. When I asked her what Lily said to her she walked out. I thought she would have told me." Robbie tried to hide how bad he was feeling about it but Sportacus knew him too well to be fooled.

"I would have thought so too. Maybe she's told or will tell Kit." Sportacus suggested.

"Tell Kit what?" Kit walked in the room looking less than his happy self.

Robbie explained to Kit what happened so far in terms of what Robyn had said and asked if Robyn had mentioned anything to him.

Kit frowned, "not a word. The only thing I know about Lily is what she did to you and what happened to her. Nothing more has been said about her. If Robyn's told none of us three and Ziggy neither than what Lily said to her must have been bad. I can ask Ziggy later if he's heard anything about it."

Sportacus and Robbie nodded. If Robyn hadn't confided in Ziggy about what Lily had said to her then there was a problem.