Author's Note:Once again it has taken me awhile to post another chapter. I would apologize for it but I imagine people are tired of reading it. I am sorry though. A lot has been going on lately. Things are beginning to show signs of settling down though and I am hopeful. It may take me awhile to get chapters sometimes but I assure you I will not abandon this story. I will stick with it until it is completed! Your continued patience, and reviews of course, are greatly appreciated!
It had taken nearly an hour after everyone had left the penthouse before Jason felt the last of the tension in his neck and arms finally go away. It had been a hard day. It had also been a crazy day since he and Robin had returned to town and he was glad for the chance to relax and unwind before going to bed. Jason was just about to open his second beer and play another game of pool when he heard his phone ring.
"Is this day ever going to end?" Jason groused outloud as he crossed the room and picked up his cell phone from the desk where he had deposited it earlier.
A smile played at the corners of his mouth as he glanced at the caller display. It was the home phone of Mac Scorpio. He was certain the only one there who wanted to talk to him was Robin.
"How's the family?" Jason asked eagerly as he flipped his phone open.
"Um, okay, I think," came the surprised male voice on the other end. It took Jason a moment to realize that it was Robin's uncle.
"Sorry, Mac. I was expecting Robin." Jason replied immediately.
"I take it Robin isn't there then?" Mac asked as some concern creeped into his voice.
"No, I haven't heard from her since I dropped her off. Why would you think she would be here?" Jason asked as he took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He immediately picked up the land line and began dialing it. "Hold on Mac, let me check something."
Jason set his cell phone on the desk and put the receiver from his home phone to his ear. His call was answered immediately.
"Do you have eyes on her?" Jason demanded from one of the guards assigned to watch Robin.
"We've had eyes on her since she left her uncle's house. Right now she's alone on pier 25 watching the ships in the inner shipping lanes and staring at the water." The guard assured his obviously worried boss.
"Did she spot you yet?" Jason asked as the relief that she was still guarded flooded him. He nodded to himself as he awaited the response. He already knew the answer.
"Yes. She exited the house by the rear door. She stopped at the car and told us, 'come on guys we are going to the docks to watch the boats.' We were being pretty careful so I am surprised she spotted us so easily."
"I'll explain it later but she is almost as good as me at spotting a tail. Stay on her and call me if she leaves before I get there."
Jason hung up the phone without waiting for a response and picked the cell phone up from the desk.
"The guards are with her Mac," Jason said without preamble.
"Good. Where is she?"
Jason shook his head for a minute and then realized that Mac couldn't see him. "I'll let her tell you if she wants to when she gets home. She is safe though."
On the other end Mac was clenching his fist and really wanting to hit someone and Jason seemed like a good possibility. Had they been in the same room he might have actually tried it. Instead he tried to calm down but he was sure Jason could hear the displeasure in his voice.
"I want her home before dark," Mac spat into the phone.
"She is a grown woman. She will come back when she is ready. Unless you hear differently from me all is well and she is being guarded." Jason stated evenly just before he hung up the phone.
Next he shoved the cell phone into the front pocket of his jeans and the grabbed his car keys from off the desk. He grabbed his jacket as he hurried out the door to go see Robin. In the parking garage he once again eschewed his motorcycle and climbed into his SUV.
"I had to get out of there Jason." Robin stated softly as she heard and felt Jason approach. "We barely got through dinner before they all started yelling at each other. It was like watching one of the Quartermaine family fights."
"Not quite," Jason said as he came to stand right next to her. He was within a couple of inches of her but he did not initiate any physical contact with her. "The Quartermaine's never would have made it through dinner. Their food goes cold on the table while they try to inflict as much verbal damage as possible on each other at the top of their lungs."
"I couldn't stand to hear them going after each other like that. I thought it might come to physical blows or something. I probably should have stayed to make sure they didn't hurt each other but I didn't think about that. My mind kept saying 'get out now' and so I did."
"Mac called the penthouse looking for you. When I saw the caller id I thought it was you and asked how the family was. He told me that everyone seems fine." Jason felt the breeze come in off the water and saw Robin shiver ever so slightly. He immediately took off his leather jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Thank you. You are always such a gentleman."
"Not even close," Jason laughed softly. "I am not like that to most people. I honestly care about you, that is the difference."
"You used to love me," Robin stated very softly as she looked purposefully into the water.
"Yeah, things change though. We both know that."
Robin whirled around quickly and stared at him for nearly 15 seconds, the dismay evident on her face. Then she noticed the glint in his eyes and the smallest beginning of a smile playing at the right corner of his mouth.
"You are awful!" Robin announced as she slugged Jason playfully in the arm. He laughed and pulled her in for a full hug.
"I never stopped loving you," Jason whispered softly in her ear as he held her tight.
"Same here," Robin told him as she stayed in his embrace. She was comfortable there and wanted it to last.
They pulled apart a few minutes later when they heard Jason's cell phone ring. Robin wanted to groan because the timing really sucked. She was enjoying their closeness and did not want it to end. Instead of groaning she stepped closer to the water to watch the ships going by and give Jason a little privacy.
Reaching for his phone, Jason rolled his eyes and wondered again if this night would ever end. Not that he wanted to be away from Robin. It was quite the opposite, he would have preferred everyone and everything leave them alone so they could just enjoy being together.
"Yeah?" Jason said as he answered his annoying cell phone.
Robin heard Jason move even further away and realized immediately that his phone call was work related. She had been pretty sure of that before he even answered the phone. Jason was always careful to shield her from his business as much as possible. It surprised her, a moment later, when she heard him approaching her despite the fact that he was still on the phone.
"Leave it alone for now. Call Bernie and have the guards doubled on all Sonny's kids. I will advise Sonny of what is happening. I want you guys to get down to pier 25 to pick up me and Robin."
At the mention of her name Robin had turned toward Jason. She watched him hang up his phone and noted that his expression was blank and unreadable. It didn't matter though. Robin didn't need his expression to confirm her assessment. She had felt the sudden disconnection of the link that she and Jason seemed to have and knew that he had severed it when he shifted into his enforcer mode.
"What happened Jason?" Robin asked quietly. She was concerned but not really frightened yet. She had been through a lot of this while they were living together and knew instinctively that Jason was concerned but not yet alarmed.
"There is a security issue right now. Can I hold you hostage for 24 hours while I assess the level of the threat?"
"Sure, if you really need to." Robin told him immediately. "You think this is directed at me?"
"Honestly Robin, I am not sure exactly what is happening yet but until I am sure I want you in a secure location. We have my penthouse, Sonny's compound, or a safe house. What is your preference?"
"You listed them in the order I would prefer. Can we go by Uncle Mac's and get my laptop?"
"I will make arrangements to have it brought over tonight along with your HIV medications." Jason assured her quickly. He was relieved that she was being so cooperative without being terribly frightened.
They both heard the footsteps signaling the approach of someone else to the pier. With lightening fast speed Jason pulled his gun from the waist band of his jeans and moved in front of Robin.
She had seen him in his enforcer mode before, but it still always surprised her at how fast he was. She knew his senses were on heightened alert and that adrenaline was flooding his body, it was a normal human reaction to danger. The difference was that Jason Morgan did not feel fear when facing dangerous situations. He felt alive. The more dangerous the situation was, the more alive he felt.
"Just me boss," Jason heard Frankie say as he stepped into view and noticed Jason had his gun out.
Jason waved him in and put his gun back into his waistband. Instead he turned and put a protective arm around Robin to assure her that everything was okay at the moment.
"Any trouble?" Jason asked as Frankie and several other guards arrived at the pier.
"No trouble on the way over. The only sign of trouble was the device I told you about."
"Good. Have one of the guys sweep my SUV carefully and bring it over to Sonny's. I want you and Pete to take me and Robin to Sonny's immediately."
Subconsciously Robin's hands moved to her stomach. Jason gave her a reassuring smile. He held one of her hands as they walked to the car so Frankie and Pete could take them to Sonny's house.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading this chapter. I hoped you enjoyed it. Your reviews will be greatly appreciated!