Everything Burns

Chapter: 4

Pairing: Robert and Holly

Rating: PG

"Alexander, darling." she said softly. "I told you I was going on assignment."

"Yeah." he replied. "You just never told me that your assignment involved Robert Scorpio."

"My assignment doesn't involve Robert." Holly told him. "He just happened to miraculously show up."

"Sure he did." Alexander scoffed. "The love of your life turns up alive and suddenly your assignment begins to revolve around him."

"Oh, Alexander." she sighed. "It's not like that. My original assignment was to investigate Crylium. I had no idea that Robert was suddenly going to reappear."

"Luv, I was there when you found out that Robert was alive." he reminded her. "You were devastated and deliriously happy all at the same time. We both know you're still in love with him. I guess the only question is what are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing." she breathed out. "Robert is a really big part of my past, but so many things have changed over the years and I'm not the same woman he fell in love with. I don't think that he would understand all the things that I've done and all the choices that I've made."

"The sacrifices you made were out of love for me." he said. "I think Robert of all people would understand that."

"Perhaps." she sighed. "And perhaps I just don't want to risk him hating me. Besides as long as I have you, Alexander, I really don't need anyone else."

"So you say."

"I mean it." she told him. "You are my top priority and nothing will ever change that, not even Robert." she said softly. "I have to be going, I have somewhere to be."

"I'll talk to you later then." Alexander replied. "I love you."

"I love you, too." Holly replied. "I'll see you soon." she said. She placed the phone back in the cradle. She walked over to the mirror and checked her make-up and then grabbed her purse and headed for the door. The call from Alexander only re-enforced her original decision to keep her distance from Robert.

Jail Cell

Robert sat on the cot with his head in his hands, patiently waiting whilst Luke called Skye. Luke apologized over and over again. He made promises and declarations of love and then begged and pleaded some more for her to forgive him. Finally after about twenty minutes Luke placed his cell phone back in his pocket.

"How did it go?" Robert asked.

"Skye's still pretty pissed." he told him.

Robert looked up. "But she is going to bail us out, right?"

"Sooner or later." he replied.

"You and your damn pride!" he yelled. "If we don't get out of here I'll never forgive you."

"We'll get out." Luke assured him. "Why don't you just relax. Lay back and take a nap."

"I don't want a nap!"

"Then lay back and fantasize about Holly." he suggested.

"I don't want to fantasize about Holly when I could be with her right now if it weren't for you." Robert told him. "You always manage to have horrible timing."

"Need I remind you that I'm the one that found your precious Holly?" Luke asked. "I'm the one that she called when she needed help."

"Why she called you I'll never understand." Robert sighed. "But it's going to be one of the first things I ask her."

"Holly called me because she trusts me."

"Trusts you?" Robert laughed. "I assure you that's not the reason. There never was any trust between you and Holly."

"Then why did she call me instead of you?"

Holly's Hotel Room, Three Hours Later

After Skye had bailed them out Robert headed directly for Holly's Room. He stood outside the door and knocked softly. After not getting an answer he started to knock louder. "Holly?" he called out. "Holly, it's Robert." Still there was no answer, but he could hear movement inside the room. "Holly, are you alright?"

Holly sat in the middle of the bed, holding the sheets to her as closely as she possibly could. She glanced over at the door and then back at the man standing in front of her. "I'm fine." she called out.

"Will you let me in?" Robert asked. "I want to talk to you."

"Not right now, Robert." she replied. "I have a headache." she lied.

"Oh." he sighed. "How about in a few hours?"

She glanced back at the man standing in front of her and when he made no attempts to stop her she answered back. "That's fine." she replied. "I'll meet you in the bar in two hours."

"Alright." Robert agreed. He slowly turned and walked back to his hotel room. Holly's behavior just didn't add up to him, but he had every confidence that she would talk to him when she was ready. After all she did agree to meet him later.

"Get dressed!" the man commanded as he flung Holly's dress towards her. "We wouldn't want Robert to find out now would we?"

Holly reached for her dress. "I take it you're leaving."

"For now." he told her. "Don't worry, I'll be back though. And remember, don't breathe a word of this to Robert."

"I won't." she assured him.

"I know you won't." he said as he headed for the balcony doors. "Remember Holly, if Robert ever finds out he'll hate you forever."

She could feel the sting of tears down her cheek. "Cesar?" she called out.

He turned back around to face her. "Yes?"

"Please don't hurt him." she pleaded.

tbc...