The ride to Sonny's was uneventful. Robin noticed the additional guards as they arrived at the gate. As soon as one of the guards noticed Jason in the back seat they hurried to usher them in.
Jason just nodded at Max as he and Robin entered the house. Without saying a word, Jason and Robin headed toward the study. As soon as he noticed them, Sonny put down his drink and gave Robin a hug. Silently, he nodded hello to Jason. Jason nodded back.
"Always good to see you Robin. Graciella is making some herbal tea for you and will bring it in a few minutes. Is there anything else I can get for you?"
Robin smiled warmly at her friend and shook her head. Sonny was always so gracious. Over the years since Stone died, Sonny had donated generous amounts of money to the Aids wing at GH in his name. Regardless of whether it was a personal or professional cause Sonny had always donated to any project that Robin had taken on.
"You want a drink?" Sonny asked Jason as Max shut the doors to the study allowing the three friends all the privacy they needed.
"No, I'm good." Jason replied as he guided Robin to the couch and then sat next to her.
"So, what trigged the additional security? Carly has already called demanding to know what is going on. I assured her that one of us would call her when the threat level had been assessed." Sonny said as he carried his drink to the chair directly across from his friends and sat down.
"As part of the security on Robin, I am having her car swept for explosives twice a day. The guards checking it tonight noticed something strange and called Jack to investigate it further. Jack found that Robin's car had a tracking device installed. He said that it was a professional job and they had piggy-backed off the On-Star. Whoever did this was able to monitor her locations and any phone calls she made using the On-Star." Jason announced.
He was simultaneously watching both Sonny and Robin for their reactions. Robin would insist on being kept in the loop but Jason didn't want to upset her anymore than necessary. He didn't want to run the risk of endangering her pregnancy.
Robin's reaction was muted. She stiffened slightly but that was all. Jason casually placed a hand on the top of her leg and gave her a gentle pat. Robin reached over and held tightly to the hand while looking up to smile at him. He knew she was okay.
Sonny gave no visible reaction to the news. A moment later he turned to the study doors as the trio heard a knock. Sonny's housekeeper Graciella came in with the herbal tea for Robin. Sensing the tension in the room she set the tea on the end table next to Robin before exiting the room and shutting the doors discreetly behind her.
"Someone wants information. They weren't trying to hurt her." Sonny stated thoughtfully as he watched Robin add a sugar and some milk to her tea.
Jason nodded. He was watching Robin to see if her hands shook as she fixed her tea. They did not. Her strength and courage really impressed him. It had always impressed him from the time he 'met' her after waking up from his coma. She was eighteen and barely out of high school and she had strength and courage in abundance even then.
"You have a plan?" Sonny asked Jason. He was pretty sure his enforcer had been working one up in the back of his mind since being informed about the tracking device.
"Yeah. I want to draw out our hackers with a bait and switch." Jason assured him immediately.
Sonny nodded. He had been sure Jason had a plan and he had been fairly certain that he would suggest a bait and switch. It was what Sonny had been thinking as well.
"Sounds good." Sonny said as he continued to nod. "How soon are you thinking?"
"In the morning. I need Sam to pick up some supplies tonight such as identical outfits for her and Robin and stuff like that."
"You will need at least two others besides Sam to brace them." Sonny said quietly. He knew Jason already knew that. He was also sure that Jason had already mentally picked out his team. They were talking it out to bounce ideas off each other. They were also making sure Robin knew the plan too.
"I am going to use three for the brace. It will be me and John Zacchara in separate cars to box them in. Then one in the back seat of Robin's car to help Sam if there is a problem." Jason stated.
"I like it." Sonny responded immediately. He and Jason had worked together for so many years now that they usually knew what the other would suggest. It was a familiarity that gave Sonny peace. He knew that Jason would die to protect his family and usually knew exactly what he was going to do before he did it.
A few minutes later Jason excused himself to step outside and begin making phone calls to get everyone started on their assignments. Sonny engaged Robin in idle conversation to steer her mind away from the trouble that had plagued her since the night her husband was murdered. In the back of his mind he was assessing her. He wanted to make sure that she was really alright. Robin meant so much to him. Except for Jason, no one else really understood how much he and Robin meant to each other. They had bonded over Stone. They each gained comfort from the shared experience and the certainty that nothing could break the bond between them.
"Are you trying to divert my attention from the trouble Sonny?" Robin asked pointedly a moment later. Sonny smiled warmly at her.
"A little I guess." Sonny admitted. "We've advised you of the problem and given you our plan to fix it. I am sure Jason will go over it in detail later tonight or in the morning. Unless you have any questions now, I just figured we had covered that area and could move on to more pleasant topics."
"I appreciate how much you and Jason shared tonight. I know that anything having to do with business is off limits and I am content to keep it that way. However, this is not strictly business, it is very personal too. Just don't start underestimating me.." Robin stopped talking and yawned loudly.
She looked up and smiled as Jason reentered the room and headed toward the couch to sit by her. She was glad that he was back. He was still in enforcer mode and so the connection between them remained severed. Robin was beginning to understand why it upset Jason so when she withdrew into herself and he couldn't feel her anymore. She wished the connection that had them tethered together would return soon.
"I'm sorry," Robin said a moment later. "I get tired a lot these days."
"No apology necessary. I remember Carly and Alexis carrying my kids and they needed a lot of sleep too. You've had a pretty exhausting day." Sonny assured her quickly.
"I know you are worried about me and I honestly do appreciate it. I am not going to say I can do this on my own or don't want your help. I want and need both of you to help me through this. I just want you to remember that I am tougher than you think." Robin finished with a smile and another slight yawn.
"Yes you are!" Sonny agreed quickly. "I have plenty of room of upstairs for you. Pick a room and make yourself at home."
"I've already arranged for the additional security and stuff so that Robin can stay at the penthouse with me." Jason announced immediately.
Sonny nodded. He was not surprised that Jason wanted Robin to stay with him. It was then that he noticed that he had not taken a single sip of the drink he poured earlier. He decided that he did not really want it and would simply leave it there for his housekeeper to clean up in the morning.
"The SUV was just delivered. It was checked and double checked and is all clear. I am having all our vehicles checked twice a day from now on." Jason stated matter-of-factly to Sonny. He watched Sonny nod and knew there would be no verbal response. None was necessary.
Jason turned to Robin and smiled at her. "We can go when you are ready. It has been a long day for you."
Robin nodded and started to stand. Immediately Jason offered his hand to assist her in getting up.
"I still say you are a perfect gentleman," Robin said with a playful look.
"You are just saying that because you want to wear my jacket home," Jason responded as he helped Robin into his leather jacket.
Sonny watched his friends playfulness as they readied themselves for the drive to Jason's penthouse. It suddenly occurred to him that they were working their way back to each other. He seriously doubted that either of them had acknowleged that fact yet but Sonny could see it very clearly.
Or did he see it because he wanted to? He believed it would be a good thing for both of them if they got back together. They each seemed much happier when they were a couple.
Wisely, Sonny decided to keep his observations and hopes to himself and simply said goodbye as he watched his friends depart.
Author's Note: Thanks for continuing to read this story. Your continued patronage is appreciated. Please leave a review, they are eagerly read!