Everything Burns

Chapter: 5

Pairing: Robert and Holly

Rating: PG-13

Holly 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.

"Alexander or Robert?" Cesar asked. "Do you have a preference, Holly? Would you be able to choose one over the other?" he taunted. "Does your love for Robert outweigh your love for Alexander? Do you love them both enough to keep quiet?"

"You know that I'm not going to say anything." she replied. "I have everything to lose."

"Oh, Holly, my beloved, you do have everything to lose." he agreed. "I really must be going." he told her. "At least for now. Tonight brought back so many lovely memories, Holly. It was just like that night in Provence, the night that you finally understood that you were mine and that I could do with you whatever I wished."

Holly cringed inwardly when she thought of the past. Those nights in France were some of the longest, most painful, violent occurrences of her entire life. Something that had taken her years to work through. It was her reason for becoming a WSB agent.

"I'll be in touch soon." Cesar promised as he exited through the balcony doors, leaving them open behind him.

Holly felt sick to her stomach. Cesar's touch had always made her sick, but until tonight she didn't remember how repulsive it was to be with him. The last decade and a half had been somewhat peaceful after Cesar's 'death'. Even when he re-emerged in Port Charles in the late nineties she had been able to avoid him thanks to her WSB connections. But this time she wasn't so lucky. The only difference between now and then was a badge that held the power to protect Alexander because without him her life would be utterly empty.

She reached for the telephone and quickly dialed the WSB headquarters. "This is Agent Holly Sutton. I need to speak with Frisco Jones." Holly waited as her call was transferred.

"Holly." Frisco's voice echoed through the phone. "How's everything going?"

"Fine." she replied. "I need a favor."

"Anything."

"I've ran into a bit of trouble." she told him. "I need you to put Alexander in protective custody."

"Of course." he agreed. "What's the cause for concern?"

"I ran into an old enemy." she explained.

"Do you have everything under control?" Frisco asked. "Do you need some back up?"

"No!" she assured him. "I can handle this."

"I know you can." he replied. "You're one of the best damn agents I've got. I don't want you to worry about Alexander. I'll personally go and get him myself."

"He's going to resist you." Holly warned.

"I know." Frisco replied. "I'll talk him into it and make him see that it's for the best."

"Thanks, Frisco." she said as she hung up the phone. Holly took a deep breath and then threw back the covers and headed straight for the shower.

The scolding hot water beat down against her tender flesh. She wanted nothing more than to wash Faison and his touch off of her, she just couldn't get the water hot enough to satisfy her.

Holly willed herself not to cry. It never helped in the past and it wouldn't help now, but she couldn't help it. She sunk down against the wall, sobbing controllably as the steam from the shower surrounded her. Holly promised herself that things were going to be different this time. This time she would kill Cesar Faison.

Once her crying had subsided she forced herself to get things together. She was going to meet Robert soon and the last thing she could risk was him finding out about Faison and the events of the night.

Hotel Bar

Robert patiently waited for Holly at the bar. He had talked to Skye and she had explained that after she and Holly had lunch she headed back to her hotel room to take care of some personal business. Something was going on with Holly he just didn't know what it was, but he intended to find out.

"Sorry I'm late." Holly apologized as she sat down next to him.

"It's alright." he assured her. "It was only a few minutes."

The bartender approached them. "What can I get you?" he asked Holly.

"Vodka." she told him. "Straight up."

The bartender poured her drink and sat it down in front of her and then disappeared. Holly quickly downed the entire drink.

"Vodka?" he questioned. "No wine or champagne?"

"No." she answered.

"Holly is everything alright?" he asked softly, placing his hand over hers.

She flinched away from his touch. Her mind went back to the hell that Faison had inflicted on her a few hours ago. "I'm fine." she tried to assure him.

Robert moved his hand away. When he touched her she acted as though she had been burned. Something was definitely wrong and he was determined more than ever to find out was it was. "Holly, please tell me what's going on." he begged. "I can help you."

When she looked at him she felt herself beginning to melt. She wanted to tell him everything. Alexander. The WSB. Cesar Faison. But she couldn't because she was afraid of what Cesar would do to her and more importantly to Alexander. "Robert, I told you everything's fine."

"Holly, I know it's not." he replied. "Please, please just tell me what's going on."

As Holly went to speak her cell phone rang. "Excuse me." she said as she began digging through her purse. "Hello?" she said when she finally found it.

"Protective custody?" Alexander shouted across the line. "Why?"

"Alexander." she said softly. "Calm down."

"Calm down?" he asked. "What the hell is this about, Mum?

tbc...