DESTINED FOR ETERNITY

CHAPTER 20

JUNE 1983

Early the next morning, Luke Spencer walks into Robert's room and finds Holly in the same position he had seen her before, sitting beside Robert's bed with her hand in his and whispering to him. Desperately willing him to survive.

Luke finally manages to speak. "Holly?" He says quietly. She turns to see Luke standing over her shoulder. "How is he?" Luke asks her.

Holly turns back to look at Robert. "He woke up last night. Monica gave him something for the pain and to make him sleep. But he has still been very restless."

"So, he is going to be just fine," Luke says with a great deal of relief, glad to be rid of his guilt.

"He just has to be," Holly replies sadly.

"He will be," Luke tells her. "What did he say when he woke up?"

"He was kind of out of it," Holly tells him. "He asked what had happened and where he was. Then he asked about Monica and Bobbi. And then he ordered me to go home and get some sleep." She smiles at the memory as she looks back at Robert. "He is always concerned for everyone else but himself."

Not liking this part of the conversation, Luke changes the subject back to himself. "What did the Commissioner say when you told him that I was the one to blame for his being shot?"

"I didn't tell him," Holly answers. "He was in too much pain to deal with anything like that."

Luke looks at Holly longingly. "Let's go somewhere and talk," Luke says as he takes her hand in his. "We can go to a restaurant. You could probably use a good meal. We will have breakfast and some coffee."

Holly pulls her hand from his. "Not now, Luke. I need to be here for Robert."

"But he told you to get some rest. I am sure he will understand if he wakes up and you are gone," He assures her.

"And I wouldn't do it when Robert asked, and I won't when you ask," She states firmly. "I am staying right here and he will see me when he opens his eyes."

Aggitated, Luke leaves the room, feeling like he belonged anywhere in the world except in that hospital room with Robert and Holly Scorpio.

Within the next few hours, Robert had developed a high fever. Frantic when she realizes what has happened, Holly quickly called a nurse who pages Monica. After a brief examination, Monica immediately begins Robert on a strong dosage of antibiotics.

"I was afraid this would happen," Monica explains to Holly. "He has developed an infection, probably due to the time period in between the actual shooting and the surgery."

"What now?" Holly asks nervously. "What can we do?"

"Hopefully these antibiotics will take care of the infection before it can take control of his body. We will monitor his vitals and continue the drugs until his body can fight it on his own."

Holly looks at Rovert who is tossing and turning and mumbling incoherently. "He looks so miserable," She tells Monica.

"I will have some cool compresses brought it for him. That usually helps the patient feel some better, just to have their face cooled down." Monica leaves the room and Holly bends down to her restless husband. "I am right here, darling. Please, just rest easy."

As the hours pass, Holly continues to apply the cool compresses to Robert as she talk to him, trying to keep him quieted. Her voice as a soothing effect for the most part, and he doesn't toss and turn as much.

"You have to fight this, Robert," She whispers to him. "I mean, Port Charles can't have their ex-spy, secret government agent turned super Police Commissioner, laid up in the hospital like this. It doesn't work well with your image at all." Tears fall down on her face. "Please, Robert, fight this. Fight for me."

Meanwhile, Constance Townley, who had been in Washington DC on business for the WSB, had returned to town and rushed straight to General Hospital when she heard about Robert. She wanted to see for herself how her former WSB partner was doing. Before going into the room, she witnesses Holly's loving vigil. After a few moments, she enters the room.

"I just heard the news," Connie tells Holly. "I am so sorry. How is he doing?"

"I am so scared," Holly admits. "I can't lose him. I just can't."

For the first time, Connie realizes just how much Holly genuinely loves her husband. Instead of being angry or jealous, it makes Connie very happy for Robert. He was so crazy about Holly, it was nice to see it returned.

"He WILL make it, Holly. You would not believe all the things I have seen that man get himself out of during our WSB days. This is a walk in the park in comparison."

Holly gives Connie a brief smile. "Thank you for trying to make me feel better. I know that you care a great deal for Robert and are probably just as worried as I am."

Connie stares at Holly closely and is able to read a little between the lines that Holly had just spoken. She decided it was time for her games to end, and time to give Holly a little peace of mind, if for no reason other than that Robert would want her to do it. "Holly, I want you to know something."

Holly turns from Robert to look at Connie. "Yes?" She asks.

"There has been nothing between Robert and I since I came to town," Connie tells her.

"Yes, I know," Holly says. "Robert told me as much."

"He did?" Connie says in surprise.

Holly manages a smile. "Yes. But I confess that I was still quite jealous." She looks down on Robert. "He can be very hard to resist."

"Yea, he is," Connie agrees. "But, it seems that Robert had no problem resisting other women since you came into his life. His heart belongs totally to you, Holly. And the rest of him as well," Connie jokes.

Holly manages a laugh, but then as she looks upon her sick husband, she tells Connie, "I just want him to be well again, Connie. Is that too much to ask for?"

"No," Connie whispers as she puts her arm around Holly's shoulders, "It's not too much at all."

During the night, Robert screams out in his fever-induced state. Holly abruptly wakes up when she hears him calling her name. She quickly goes to him and puts her hands on his face.

"I am right here, Robert."

He latches on to her hand as tight as his condition allows. "Don't leave me, Holly. Please don't leave me. I love you. I need you."

Tears in her eyes, Holly bends to talk into his ear. "I am right here, darling. I am not going anywhere. I will never leave you. I love you, Robert." She kisses his brow.

She is relieved when the nurse shows up with another dose of antibiotics. But all through the night, Robert's temperature remains dangerously high and Holly is frantic with worry. Finally by the end of the next day, Robert's fever seems to subside and stay that way. When Monica declares that Robert definitely appears to be on the road to recovery, Holly nearly collapses in her relief.

"Thank you, Monica," She praises. "Thank you so much."

Monica shakes her head. "Robert was the one doing all of the work. He had the will to live, and I suspect that you played a major factor in that. It may be a while before he is 100 percent better, but it should only be a matter of time. I will be back later to check on him. After this fever and with all the medication, he should sleep soundly for quite a while. So, although I know you are probably going to disagree, this would be the perfect time for you to go home and get some sleep."

Holly smiles and gives Monica a sincere hug. "You just gave me the only peace of mind I need. I don't even feel tired now." Monica leaves and Holly turns to Robert and takes his hand in her own. "Did you hear that, Robert?" She asks of her sleeping husband. "You are going to make it, sweetheart."