DESTINED FOR ETERNITY

CHAPTER 24

JUNE 1983

Later that same day, Robert had finally managed to convince Holly to go home at least long enough to take a relaxing hot shower and change her clothes. Once she has left, Robert is surprised to see Luke Spencer walk into his room.

"Holly isn't here," Robert tells him. "I finally convinced her to go home and change her clothes."

Luke looks closely at Robert and then begins to pace back and forth. "Actually, I wanted to see you. I wanted you to know that I am glad you are okay."

Robert eyes Luke warily. "Yes, well, I don't give up that easily."

"So I have noticed," Luke agrees. "But I do feel like I need to apologize, but I really thought my plan would work. I never once believed you would get shot."

Robert listens in total confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Luke turns to him angrily. "Oh, come on, surely Holly has told you how I . . ."

"Holly has mentioned nothing about the shooting," Robert tells him. "So, exactly what did you do?"

Nervously, Luke tries to explain. "I decided to create a diversion in hopes of catching Larrick unaware. Then I would be able to overpower him. Instead he went half crazy and fired his gun - at you."

"Are you sure THAT wasn't part of your plan?" Robert asks.

Luke stares at Robert in shock. "Do you actually believe that? Hell, no, I did not want you shot! Why would I?"

"So you could have Holly without the wait?" Robert answers. "She would be an official widow in the courts. Free to marry whomever at that point."

Luke is angry. "Do you really believe that of me? You know me better than that, man."

Robert manages a sarcastic laugh. "I used to think the same of you, but you have accused me of all sorts of things that you should have known could never be true." Robert catches his breath when the pain radiates through his chest. Calming himself, Robert says, "Luke, what's done is done. I really don't blame you for the shooting, so relax. I won't be filing any charges, if that is what you were thinking. You can absolve yourself from any guilt you may or may not be having. I am the Police Commissioner, it is part of my job to take the risks. As for Holly, she chose you, not me. I have to learn to live with her choice. But I am not going to constantly defend my actions, or even try to explain them anymore. I refuse to apologize for loving her, and you had better not expect me to do that."

Getting angry, Luke begins to leave the room, but then he turns back for the last word. "You are right, Holly DID choose me and you had better remember that!"

As Luke walks out, Robert lays back in his bed with a long sigh. "I haven't forgotten, Luke. I wish I could,"

When Holly arrives home, she quickly takes a shower and throws on a bathrobe. She then makes herself a cup of hot tea and enjoys the solitude. As she sits on the sofa, Holly reflects on the last few days and how horrific they had been. It was so ironic that it took a tragedy for her to come to terms with her true feelings. First, it took the tragedy of Luke's supposed death to bring her and Robert together, and now it took the tragedy of Robert's near death to make her realize the love she felt for Robert. And never again would she allow herself, or anyone else for that matter, make her feel guilty for loving Robert. She had made the wrong choice a couple of weeks ago but as soon as Robert was home and totally recovered, she would rectify that error in judgement.

Meanwhile, Robert lay in his hospital bed reflecting on his visit with Luke. It all came down to the one fact that Holly had chosen Luke, not him. He had to keep reminding himself of that fact. Why was is so damn hard to give her up? Robert realized that the more he held on to Holly, the more he was tearing her apart. He didn't want to do that to her. During this recent ordeal, Robert realized the depth of Holly's loyalty. He closed his eyes against the pain he was experiencing in his chest, and it wasn't from the bullet wound, it was the pain of knowing that he did indeed have Holly's loyalty, but he would never have her heart, because that belonged to Luke Spencer.

Feeling better than she had in weeks, Holly happily returns to General Hospital. When she emerges from the elevator, Amy Vining calls her over to the nurses desk. She hands Holly a stack of cards sent from many people, friends and strangers. She also tells Holly of all the flowers that had been delivered. Holly is amazed and thanks Amy. As she is about to leave the desk, the elevator opens and her best friend, Celia Quartermaine Putnam is standing before her.

"Celia!" She cries and rushes to hug her friend. "When did you get back from your honeymoon?"

"Late last night," Celia answers. "Alan told me about Robert today. How is he? I would have been home sooner had I known. Why didn't you call me?"

Arm in arm they walk into the lounge area and sit down on the couch. "You were on your honeymoon, Celia. I couldn't call you. Besides, he is doing much better now. They have moved him out of ICU."

"That is wonderful news, Holly. You must have been so scared," Celia guesses.

Holly closes her eyes against the memories. "It was horrible, Celia. Never in my entire life have I been so frightened. When I heard the news that Robert was shot, I . . ." Holly can't even finish the sentence from being recalled to that very moment when she thought her life was ended.

Celia looks at her friend very closely. "Are you all right? Have you been eating or sleeping. You look totally exhausted." Wiping the tears from her face, Holly manages a smile. "I admit I am extremely tired, BUT now that I know the worst is over and Robert is doing fine, I feel as though I have a second wind."

Celia still notices a difference in Holly, one that has nothing to do with physical exhaustion. "Okay, Holly, what is going through your mind? You tell me Robert is fine yet you appear so nervous. Is Robert really going to be okay?"

"He is fine, really. I just don't like being away from him. For the first time since he was shot, I lwent home to shower and change. I guess I am feeling a little guilty. Lets go see him." Holly stands up but then Celia grabs her arm and forces her to sit back down.

"Holly, talk to me. I can tell something is bothering you and . . ."

"I love him," Holly interrupts quickly.

Celia stares at he in confusion. "What?" She asks.

"I love him," She repeats, wanting to say them over and over again. She felt as if the weight of the world had lifted from her shoulders. "I love Robert," She says again, laughing this time.

Celia stares at Holly as if she were crazy. "Yes, and what about it?"

Holly looks at Celia, wondering how she could be so dense. "I LOVE Robert," Holly repeats to Celia. "I mean I REALLY love him."

Celia begins to laugh. "Oh, Holly."

"What?" Holly demands. "Do you have any idea what I have been through with all this?"

Celia still laughs. "I was beginning to think that you would never admit your love for Robert, even to yourself."

Holly is shocked. "You mean you knew I was in love with Robert?"

"It was plain as the nose on your face," Celia answers.

Holly shakes her head. "No. I was so torn with Luke coming back and I . . ."

"And now you are not so torn anymore?" Celia finishes.

Holly smiles. "Now I know without any doubts that what I feel for Robert will lst through an eternity. I can't live without having him in my life."

Celia hugs her. "I am so glad that you have finally faced the truth, not as Luke and alot of other people see it, but as you yourself knows it to be true."

"Now," Holly sighs, "I have to find a way to tell Luke. He is going to be furious."

"Just be honest with him," Celia suggests. "It could be the best thing for him. Now, lets go seee that husband of yours."

Holly's face lights up. "What a great idea!"

As they stand up and head for Robert's room, they see Luke Spencer. "Luke," Holly says in surprise.

Luke is still highly aggitated after his scene with Robert. He is running out of patience. He grabs Holly by the arm and tries to pull her back over to the lounge.

"Luke," Holly cries, "Stop it." She wrenches her arm frr of his grip. "i will see you later. I was just taking Celia down to see Robert."

"Come on, English," He coaxes. "This is important."

"So is Robert," She counters.

"Holly, please. We really need to talk. I have been to see Robert and . . ."

"You saw Robert?" She asks in alarm. "You didn't upset him, did you?"

Getting extremely aggitated, Luke walks away without saying a farewell.

"Holly, you are going to have to talk to Luke sometime," Celia reminds her.

"I know," Holly agrees, "But not while I am entirely focused on Robert's recovery. I can always talk to Luke later."

The women head out to go see Robert as they continue to chat.