DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters.

Chapter Three

Spinelli and Lulu heard Jason in the hall talking to a guard before he walked in but nothing could prepare them for when he actually opened the door to the penthouse.

Jason had to nearly force the door open enough to walk in and had absolutely no words when he closed the door. The living room and entrance were surrounded in boxes and all too familiar suitcases.

"Where is she?" Jason asked through gritted teeth.

"Who?" Spinelli asked innocently which got him a glare from Jason. "She's not here. The boxes showed up an hour ago."

Jason looked at the label on a box. Brenda Barrett, c/o Julia Barrett.

"Is she moving back in?" Spinelli asked.

Jason chose not to answer as he forcefully picked up the phone and dialed a number by memory. It ran three times before her answering machine picked up. "I'm too busy to talk to you. Leave a message and I'll think about calling you back." Beep.

"Answer your damn phone or I'll find you myself," Jason said before slamming the phone down and running his hands through his hair.

"Everything okay, Jason?" Lulu asked.

"Spinelli, I need you to get into the hospital security cameras. Third floor around 5am this morning."

Jason didn't wait for an answer as he maneuvered around the boxes and stomped upstairs. His bedroom door slammed moments later.

"I guess he's not excited to see Brenda." Lulu commented.

---

Brenda looked at her phone and debated whether or not to answer his call. But him calling meant only one thing, her boxes had arrived and he was pissed.

Robin had been asleep for awhile and Brenda was starting to go out of her mind. She would hate to wake up Robin for any reason, so she slowly opened the door and holding it open with her foot motioned Brady over.

"Can you go downstairs and get me a suite? Make it two bedrooms." She handed him a credit card.

"How many nights?"

"I don't know yet. Just keep it open."

Brenda closed the door and walked back into the living area. She opened the door to the patio and stepped outside to breathe in the fresh air. Her phone rang again. Right on time. She slowly closed the sliding patio door.

"Hi," she said.

"Did you get into New York okay?"

"Yes."

"Good. Just use the card we gave you for anything you need. Hotel. Food. Where are you staying?"

"The Metro Court. Port Charles."

"Oh. We did say New York City right?"

"I had a few things to take care of here. Brady can drive me wherever I need to go."

"Would it be easier for us to come to you?"

"No, it's actually probably better if I come to you. I can be in New York tomorrow morning."

"Great. I'll have Jenna fax over the details. Anything else we should know?"

"Coty Blake."

"Of course."

Brenda hung up the phone and sighed. Easier said than done. She walked back into the living room as there was a soft knock on the door. Brenda hesitated for a moment before walking over and looking through the peephole. It wasn't Brady. But he was sure handsome.

She flipped the dead bolt and slowly opened the door leaning against the wall.

"Can I help you?" she asked softly.

"Who are you?" he asked looking at the room number and back at Brenda.

"You tell me. You're the one who's knocking on the door."

"Where's Robin?" he asked.

"She's unavailable right now. Maybe I can help you with something."

"Doubtful," he said. "Let me in. I need to see Robin."

"I told you. She's unavailable," Brenda said a little louder.

"What's going on here?" Brady asked coming out of the elevator and approaching them.

"It's none of your business," he said pushing more forcefully at the door, but what helped him through it was Brady coming up behind him, grabbing his free hand by the wrist, twisting it behind his back and pushing him through the hotel room and up against the nearest wall before pulling his gun.

"Whoa, down boy," Brenda said closing the hotel door louder than expected.

"Get your hands off of him," the guy yelled.

"What's going on out here?" Robin asked walking out of the bedroom in a tank top and short boxers. "Patrick, what are you doing here?" Robin asked seeing her ex-boyfriend up against the wall with a gun pointed at him.

"Brady," Brenda said firmly. When he didn't move she walked over to him and firmly grabbed the muzzle of the gun and pulled it away from Patrick. It took a full ten seconds before Brady realized Brenda was holding his fun.

Patrick pushed the guy off him and attempted to straighten his shirt.

"Who the hell is this guy?"

"Sorry, he's with me. Out," Brenda told Brady holding out his gun. He opened the hotel door. "Credit card?" Brenda asked. He handed it over before closing the door.

"He's like a trained puppy," Robin said with a smile.

"I know. It's sad the control I have over him," Brenda said casually as she walked over to the bar where she had left an unfinished drink.

"Excuse me? I was almost shot," Patrick said.

"No, you weren't," Brenda replied.

"That guy had a gun pointed at my head," Patrick said walking over to Brenda fuming.

"I realize that. But maybe if you weren't such a hot head that wouldn't have happened." Brenda finished her drink and started to pour another one.

"Who are you?" Patrick asked.

Brenda just looked at him but didn't say anything.

"Patrick this is one of my best friends …"

"Coty," Brenda supplied holding out her hand. "And you're Patrick. The ex-boyfriend," Brenda said with a French accent, smile and a wink at Robin.

"Robin's never talked about you," he said.

"I'm not surprised. I only just heard about you. When in Rome …"

Patrick looked between the two girls.

"Coty is visiting from Europe. Just stopped in to surprise me," Robin said taking the glass from a reluctant Brenda and putting it back on the table and giving her a slight push towards the couch. "Patrick what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to make sure you're okay after the shooting."

"I'm fine."

"Jason could have shot you," he continued.

"But he didn't."

"He what?" Brenda asked breaking out of her act. Patrick looked at her.

"I'm fine. It's not the first time," Robin said.

"You mean you've let him shoot at you before?" Patrick asked.

"Jason put you in danger again? He has bigger problems then some boxes now," Brenda said walking past them towards her purse.

"You're not going to see him. Sit down. I'm fine," Robin told Brenda pulling on her arm.

Brenda stopped and leaned against the bar with her arms crossed waiting for Robin to continue.

"I know you like to worry. Both of you. But this had nothing to do with Jason. If he hadn't been there we probably all would be dead. So just drop it. And go home," Robin told Patrick.

"Can we talk?" Patrick asked. "In private?" he continued noticing Brenda's raised eyebrow.

"I'll be washing my hair," Brenda mumbled walking into the bedroom and closing the door.

"She's real friendly," he said sarcastically.

"We've known each other since high school. She's like a sister to me. Be careful what you say."

"I thought you met in Paris," he said.

"If she feels the need to use a fake name, that's her choice."

"Robin, I read magazines. I know who she is no matter what her name is."

Robin didn't respond but just looked at him. Before he could say anything else there was a knock on the door. Robin walked past him and pulled open the door.

"Hey Robin," Jax said when she opened the door for him to walk in. "Did Jason put him out here after this morning at the hospital?"

"No. What are you doing here?" she asked glancing at Patrick.

"One of your neighbors called and said they heard some people fighting and mention of a gun. Thought I should come check it out and make sure you're okay."

"Yeah, I'm fine. It was a just a little misunderstanding with Patrick," Robin said with a smile.

"Okay. Do you want me to have security take the guard away?" he asked.

"Yes." "No." Patrick and Robin said simultaneously. Robin looked at Patrick then back at Jax.

"He's with a friend. He needs to stay."

"What friend?" Jax asked.

"One from high school. Thanks for stopping by. Everything's okay," Robin said walking Jax to the door and smiling when he walked out.

Robin sighed and turned around to find Brenda standing in the doorway of the bedroom.

"Thanks," Brenda said before disappearing back into the room.