DESTINED FOR ETERNITY
CHAPTER 25
JULY 1983
As predicted, Robert makes a rapid recovery. With strict orders by Monica Quartermaine not to overdo, Robert is allowed to go home. Grateful to have him alive and close to good as new, Holly becomes his perfect nurse as she takes care of her husband, waiting on him hand and foot. She doesn't allow him to do anything. Robert's patience grows thinner by the second. The better he feels, the more he is ready to explode. He feels like he could climb the walls. Being allowed to do only the most menial of computer tasks for his work was one thing, but watching Holly wait on him like a servant was damn irritating. Not that he didn't love her undivided attention, but not out of pity. And she was acting so strange. Everytime he tried to talk to her, she changed the subject. He had been home for five days now and she still didn't talk about the shooting, or about Luke, or about anything important. From the very beginning Robert had encouraged Holly to share her deepest secrets with him, to never hide her feelings from him. They always had that bond of trust between them, but now she refused to talk. And he knew that something was different with her. He knew that she hadn't talked to Spencer due to the fact that she never left his side. And the more time goes by, the more Robert recalls things that happened while he was in the hospital. He remembers hearing Holly's voice pushing him to live, telling him that she needed him, that she loved him. Or was all of that a hallucination? Robert paces the floor of his Communications Room. And if he was truthful to himself, Robert knew that this was the reason he was about ready to go insane. Spending every moment this close to Holly and not knowing if what he recalled was reality or his finest dream come true. God, he felt like he missed so much and Holly is the only one who can fill in the pieces that are missing.
The following day, Robert is staring at his computer screen and unable to concentrate on the work. He is getting extremely frustrated and extremely cranky.
"Holly!" He yells loudly. "Holly!"
Holly hurries into the room and stares at Robert with worry in her eyes. "Yes, what is it? What is the matter? Are you hungry? Need something to drink? What do you need?"
Robert takes her hand in his. "I'm sorry for yelling like that. I want us to talk." He leads her into the living room and they sit on the sofa.
"Talk?" She asks nervously. "Is it a police case?" She asks hopefully.
"No, it is us," He replies.
"Us?" She repeats again.
"Holly, I am fine," He tells her. "Your waiting on me hand and foot is driving me crazy."
Relieved to find out that this was all that was bothering him, Holly smiles. "I like waiting on you, Robert. And, remember, you are not to overdo."
"Holly, will you please stop this. I am fine." He takes her shoulders to turn her so she faces him. "I am not going anywhere. I am right here, healthy as a jumpy kangaroo. I have never been very patient at being helpless, so quit acting like my slave."
Tears are forming in her eyes and Robert is totally shocked when Holly throws her arms around him and holds on as tight as she possibly can.
"I'm sorry," She whispers into his ear. "I can't seem to help myself. I really don't mean to be a clinging, over protective wife. I was so afraid that I was going to lose you, Robert. I have never in my life been as scared as I was when I found out you were shot. I guess I just don't want you out of my sight, or for you to suffer a relapse."
"Shh," Robert consoles her as he holds her to him tightly, even though it hurts his chest wound. "It is okay, I promise. I am going to be as good as new. So will you quit worrying so much. It isn't good for you."
"Just hold me, Robert. Maybe then it will sink in that you are here and you are safe." She wraps her arms around him even tighter.
As he holds her, Robert is reminded of the time Holly had her miscarriage. She had been so devasted. He had thought she would never snap out of her deep sadness. Now, he believes that her nerves along with her lack of rest was beginning to cause the same type of emotions in her. First, Luke had 'returned' from the dead, then he and Luke were constantly fighting over her, forcing her to make a decision she really hadn't been ready to make, then the hostage crisis at the hospital and his getting shot. On top of all that, she hadn't ate or slept much. What she needed was a good long holiday.
Before Robert can say one word, Holly withdraws from his arms and wipes her tears away.
"I'm sorry, Robert."
"Don't apologize, Luv. Lord knows you have been through so much and. . ."
"Not nearly as much as you have been through," She interrupts. "And Robert, you are right, I do need to talk to you about. I need to tell you that I . . ."
"Stop," Robert yells out as he holds up his hand."Don't go any further."
Holly stares at him in surprise. "What do you mean? I reallly want to tell you that I have . . . ."
"Would you stop talking for a minute," He pleads.
Holly rolls her eyes. First, he wanted to talk and now he doesn't. But she can't help but curious as to where he was coming from. "Fine, I am shutting up. So, what do you have in your mind?"
Robert smiles broadly. "I think you should leave town."
Holly stares at her husband in total shock. Robert wants her to leave Port Charles, and that means him. "What did you just say?"
"You need to leave town," He repeats, totally oblivious to her reaction.
"You want to get rid of me because I am hovering over you?" She questions in amazement. "I just want you to recover without any problems and YOU want me out of your way!"
Robert is now the one in shock. He notices the anger in her eyes and watches her pace the floor. He couldn't help but smile. He loved it when she came alive like this, but not to the extent that it put her in this state.
"Holly, calm down."
Holly glares at him. "Calm down? Calm down? My husband is ordering me out of town and you think I should just remain calm?"
"You are taking this all wrong?" He attempts to explain. "I didn't mean that I want you to leave town because you are such an excellent nurse," He say with sarcasm.
"Robert. . ." She interrupts, still angry. "If you don't stop acting like . . ."
Robert quickly adds, "I meant that you have been great, terrific, in fact. No man could ask for any better care than you have given me. And I am eternally grateful. But, my luv, I can see that you are not only physically tired, but emotionally exhausted as well." He sees Holly open her mouth to talk, and he holds his fingers to her mouth to stop her. "Don't try to convince me otherwise because it won't work."
Relieved to hear that Robert is not trying to permanently rid himself of her, Holly manages a smile. "I wasn't going to argue with you."
Robert laughs. "Yea, right."
"Robert, really I am just fine. Since you are doing so much better, I am feeling great. All I have to do is get caught up on my rest. So, don't worry. And I am not going to leave you to go on some holiday. Besides, there is something I want to talk to you about and I can't do that if we aren't in the same town, let alone the same house."
Robert disagrees. "I think you need a holiday. You deserve it, Holly. Go somewhere warm and tranquil. Relax and forget about everything here. Take time for yourself. You have been through hell the last few months. Don't tell me that the idea isn't atleast a little bit appealing."
Holly looks at him with admiration in her eyes. "Robert, you are wonderful. And I thank you for caring enough to suggest it, but, I repeat, am not leaving you. So just forget it, get it out of your mind. It isn't happening."
Irritated that she won't leave him on one hand, and totally deliriously happy that she doesn't want to leave him on the other hand, Robert announces, "Fine. You don't have to leave me. I will go with you."
Holly's eyes widen. "What?" She asks, unsure if she heard him correctly.
"WE will go on a holiday. I am officially off duty from the police department until I am fully recovered. So, I will take you away somewhere. We could both use time away, I think."
Holly just keep staring at him in total silence. Still unsure if she heard all of this correctly. "The two of us?"
"Sure," Robert says, beginning to get excited. But then he really takes note of her expression and reality intrudes on his happiness. "Oh, I get it. Sorry. You don't want to leave Luke, do you? And you don't want to explain why you are going away with me. I wasn't thinking." His expression is suddenly saddened.
"No, Robert, that isn't it at all," She insists. "Actually, it would be great to get away with you. I just couldn't believe you would want to leave your job to come with me."
He smiles once again. "You're kidding, right? I mean, work or a holiday with you? I don't think there is even a small doubt which I would choose, darling. I would go anywhere with you. If you are willing, I am willing,"
The wheels are beginning to turn in Holly's head. What better way to tell Robert how she really felt about him than when they were all alone on a holiday, away from Luke and Port Charles? It would be wonderful, and atleast she would have his undivided attention. It would be a new start for them as man and wife. When Holly turns to face Robert, he is taken in by her beaming smile as it lights up her entire face.
"Oh, I am most definitely willing, Robert."
"Really?" He asks suspiciously.
"When and where?" She asks anxiously.
Robert laughs and they both sit down on the sofa. "Good question. What do you prefer, sun or snow? Beach or mountains? Bustling city or remote isolation?"
"How about before we get too carried away with our plans, I call Monica and make sure that we have her approval. We can't take the chance where your health is concerned."
"If you insist," He agrees. As she goes to pick up the telephone, he adds, "And how do you intend to tell Spencer?" He asks curiously.
Ignoring the question, Holly dials the phone and is put on hold as she waits for Monica.
Robert looks at his wife in winder. She has been acting so strangely ever since the shooting. Maybe it was nervous exhaustion. If so, this trip away should be of great help.
Holly finishes her conversation and hangs up the phone. "Monica gives her approval, as long as you take your antibiotics and pain pills with you. If there is even one sign of any trouble, we are to get you to a doctor."
"Easy enough request," Robert says. "Now, where shall we go?"
"Maybe somewhere warm and tropical?" She suggests.
Robert nods. "Sounds great. How about the Carribbean? It isn't too far. We wouldn't have to waste alot of time in travel."
Holly laughs. "This is exciting. Tell you what, I will go pack for us while you make all the arrangements. Can you handle that?"
Robert looks down at his fingers very seriously. He moves them back and forth. "I don't know. Do you think I can dial a telephone without causing myself further injury?"
Holly shakes her head at him. "You are too much," She retorts. "Very funny, in fact."
Robert puffs up his chest. "Thank you, luv. Glad you noticed."
Smiling, Holly heads up the stairs to begin their packing. As she happily does this task, she can't help but recall Robert asking when and how she intended to tell Luke. What Robert didn't know was that she had alot more than a holiday to explain to Luke. She knew that she owed it to Luke to face him and do her best to make him understand what she was feeling. But, she intended to give Robert her full attention during his recovery. That was her foremost goal. Afterward, she would explain things to Luke, if it were possible to do such a thing. In the meantime, she would call Luke and tell him she would be leaving town. Holly smiles. On second thought, she will call him from the airport. That way there wouldn't be time for him to cause a scene.