Chapter 5:

"When are you going to tell him Stefan?" Alexis asked as she placed her hand worriedly on his knee. "Just leave it alone, Alexis. I'll tell him when I'm good and ready." Stefan angrily replied. Annoyed at his flippant tone, Alexis angrily raised her voice, throwing back, "Are you waiting for some memorable deathbed confession? You're not some hermit loner, you've got lots of people who care about you and your son deserves to know!"

Slamming his fist on the base of his desk, Stefan shouted, "You think I like hiding the fact I have cancer from my son...my family? You don't think I haven't agonized over the possibility that I will never see my son get married, or watch my grandchildren grow up. I think about it every second of every damn day, Alexis. It's funny actually, I may be leaving my son the same year his mother decides she wants back in his life. Dammit!!!" Irritably, he swiped his arm across his desk knocking everything down onto the carpeted floor. Silence filled the air as he looked at the mess he'd just made with papers and pens flung carelessly around the room. He had so many emotions flowing through him at the moment, pain...anger...sadness, but most of all fear. Fear of what was to come and fear for all that he'd be leaving behind.

Arising quickly out of his chair in frustration, a sudden burst of pain engulfed his entire body. Grabbing hold of his desk and squeezing his eyes tight, he waited for the pain to subside. Alexis immediately ran over and eased him back into his desk chair. The air crackled with all the unspoken emotion and intensity of the situation. Stefan hated having his sister bear witness to his momentary lapse of weakness. Trying to lighten the mood he quipped, "I must be getting old, these knees aren't as strong as they used to be." Knowing what he was trying to do, Alexis couldn't help feel the tears burning in her eyes. "I don't want to fight with you." her voice trembled and she put her face down as not to let him see the tears that were falling down her cheeks. She hated watching her brother fight what she knew would be a losing battle against cancer. He was her big brother, her protector, she admired and trusted him because he was her counterpart. Throwing herself in to his arms, she cried out, "What are we supposed to do without you?"

Putting his forehead against hers and soothingly tucking the loose hair behind her ears he chuckled, "Geez, sis...I haven't kicked the bucket quite yet." "That's not funny Stefan!" She whimpered as she shoved him back into his chair, "Look at me...I'm falling apart at the seams and you're joking around." Snatching a tissue from inside his drawer, he handed it to her. She accepted the Kleenex and awkwardly dabbed her face, afraid to see what the effects of her crying did to her carefully applied makeup. "Don't worry, you still look beautiful." He laughed at the cross look she gave him. Though they were only half siblings, they could easily read each other's minds which at times was a good and bad thing.

"Hey! We are Cassadines, which means we are born survivors. I plan on beating this thing, so I'm going to need to be my strength. That means no more tears and absolutely none of the emotional crap. Where's my ass kickin', take no prisoners sister when I need her?" Alexis straightened up and haphazardly trying to fix her appearance replied, "You're absolutely right! I'm going to call Dr. Drake right now and we are going to get a second opinion. We also need to order up some more lab test, get another MRI..." Pacing the entire living room floor, she exuded energy and vigor. Interrupting her train of thought, Stefan walked over to her and seized her wrist, taking hold of her cell phone, "I think any and all phone calls can be made sometime after 8 am tomorrow mornings, don't you think?"

Feeling better about the swift mood change, he pulled her down onto the sofa next to him , " So tell me, what kinds of trouble are my beautiful nieces getting into?"

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(The Next Morning)

Patrick had an air of confidence about him as he sauntered his way through the early morning crowds of students towards his locker. It was earlier than he was used to being at school, but he knew his only chance of getting a moment alone with Robin would be before first period. He wasn't sure what he wanted to say to her but he hated how they left things the night before. It seemed whenever he was in her presence, his mouth had a mind of its own. Having tossed and turned all night, he realized that he wanted her....as his girlfriend. The thought of a relationship usually scared him but being with Robin in that way just felt right. He just needed to find her, tell her and hopefully not screw it up.

Opening his locker and stuffing his books inside, he heard a familiar laugh. Swiftly slamming the locker door shut and picking up his book bag off the floor, he followed the sound. He smiled at the sound of her laughter. She had the most beautiful laugh. Wondering what was so funny, his smile disappeared as he saw her a few feet away leaning against the flag pole, talking with Jax. Jealousy enveloped his mind at the sight of her laughing because of something that jerk said. It was a new feeling, something he had never felt before but lately it was becoming second nature. He didn't understand what girls were drawn to with Jax. As rich as he was, he lacked personality and his fake sensitive athlete ploy was pitiful at best. Deciding to break up the couple's little moment, he walked over and put his arm around Robin's shoulder, loving the stormy look in Jax's eyes.

"Well, well, well...a bit early for you isn't it, Jasper?" Was there a Booster Club bake sale I wasn't aware of? Here's a twenty...put it towards new uniforms." Avoiding the obvious death glare he knew Robin was shooting in his direction, he smirked at Jax. They had been at odds for so long that it had become old-hat to trade insults.

"You never change Drake. You're still the same pathetic, insecure little boy hanging on his momma's apron strings." Jax threw back, knowing what a sore spot Patrick's mother was. "Keep my mother out of your f*ckin' mouth?" Patrick yelled out as he lunged at him. Before he could throw the first punch, Robin put herself between both boys. "Patrick! STOP!" She shouted. She pushed Patrick back a step as she blocked Jax from allowing the fight to go any further. Jax was a football player and she didn't want to see Patrick get hurt.

Disgusted at the gleam in Jax eyes and mistaking Robin's shove as her way of protecting Jax, Patrick stormed off. 'Fine' he thought to himself 'let her do what she wants, there's plenty of girls just waiting for the chance to be with me!' But he felt saddened by the reality that she was the only one he wanted a chance with.

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Watching Patrick walk away tore away at her heart. She knew how much pain and anger he still carried from his mother's sudden death. She turned and glared at Jax. She had seen the gleam he gave Patrick, thinking that she was taking his side. Feeling a renewed sense of anger, she slapped him hard across his cheek.

"Oww! What the hell was that for?" Jax howled as he felt the sting on the side of his face. "He started it, Robin!"

" I don't care what he did, you big jerk! That was a low blow." Upset at the situation she didn't very much feel like spending the day at school. She saw Maxie come out of the school office and decided she'd try to catch her and see if she wanted to ditch school. "Don't bother calling me for our date...I guess I thought you were something special...but you aren't."

She ran towards her cousin and pulled her into a tight hug. Maxie was startled until she looked up and noticed Jax walking away. "What happened? Do I need to kick someone's ass?" She continued rubbing her cousin's back, knowing that Robin would open up when she was ready. "Hey I know what will make you feel better? Bergdorf's is having a sale and we can watch that new Brad Pitt flick." Surprised when Robin nodded, she turned around and starting walking back towards her car. It was quiet as Robin had so much going through her mind and Maxie was trying to avoid running into Jason who would force her to go to class. Five minutes into the car ride as Maxie was humming along to the new Katy Perry song, she heard Robin mumble something. Turning down the radio dial to hear better, she asked, "Are you ready to talk about it?" Robin sighed dramatically, "Oh Maxie...I've ruined everything! Patrick hates me!" Not waiting for a reply, she turned and looked out the window at the passing signs and stores. So much for a good day!