"You cannot be serious!" Doctor Cole exclaimed when Nine gave him the specimen pot with a cursory explanation of his intentions for it.
Nine held his calm as he responded, "I am serious, very serious. Robyn has been to a number of night clubs and bars. I may be an old man but I am not a stupid one and I know what happens in these places."
"Don't you imagine that with her Network guardians with her all of the time much less Kit that it would be noticed if Robyn were to be taking any kind of substances?"
"Not if she goes where they can't follow her."
This was a statement that Doctor Cole couldn't disagree with. It was true that Robyn's companions could only watch her in areas in which they were permitted. Areas like the toilets were places where they were not.
"I'll take this down to the lab," Doctor Cole sighed, resigned to letting Nine have his way.
"How soon will you get the results back?"
"Last time I spoke to the lab they have some backlogged tests they need to deal with. Once it's cleared they should be able to look at this and the results for drug tests normally come back within two hours. When they come through I'll contact you. How will I be able to reach you?"
Nine thought for a moment, "Call Robbie's house. I'll be there. I'm going back there with Kit, Robyn and Sportacus. They're waiting for me in the car park, I'd better go."
As Nine turned and began to walk away he heard Doctor Cole call him back, he turned and saw the Doctor standing by his desk.
"A word to the wise, Nine. Robyn is a damaged young lady, a very damaged young lady. If these results come back showing anything untoward I would strongly caution you against throwing your weight around. Tread carefully."
Nodding a thank you to the Doctor, Nine strode from the room. He easily navigated his way back to the main entrance and the car park beyond. Robyn was staring at him through the car window with an emotion he couldn't place his finger on. It seemed a mixture of disappointment, defiance and sadness. He kept his eyes locked on hers as he walked towards the car, only breaking his eye contact when he got inside.
The drive back to Lazytown was one of total silence. Before the car had stopped completely, Robyn jumped out and walked briskly to her house. Nine was hot on her heels and narrowly avoided being hit by the front door when Robyn slammed it shut behind her.
"Oh my!" Mayor Meanswell cried as he stood watering his flowers and caught sight of what had just happened.
Kit looked from the Mayor, to the house and back to the Mayor where he saw Bessie edging cautiously out of the front door. Thinking it best to leave Robyn to cool down he jogged over to speak to the Mayor.
"Morning Mayor." Kit smiled before turning to Bessie, "I'd leave it if I were you Bessie. She's not in the best of moods. Nine's pissed her off again. I know you want to talk to her but it's best left until she's more amiable. She'll only bite your head off."
Bessie looked crestfallen when Kit had finished speaking. She'd wanted to talk to Robyn, for almost two weeks now she'd been desperate to speak to her and try to work things out. Every time she had gone to something had gotten in the way. She wished she hadn't kept the paternity test results to herself but it was too late to change that. Her heart ached for the girl when she thought of the results and what it would have meant to her had they been different.
"I do so hate it when Nine and Robyn fight. One minute they seem to be bonding and getting along fine, the next minute they've annoyed each other and they fall out. They have a very complicated relationship." Mayor Meanswell said almost to himself.
"To be honest Mayor I've seen less ups and downs from one of Sportacus' yoyos." Kit laughed. "Anyway, I'd better go. If I don't try and squeeze myself in between Nine and Robyn you'll soon have Langford breaking out the riot gear."
Bessie and the Mayor waved goodbye as Kit jogged back to the house. He crossed himself melodramatically before entering. Robbie was stood in the kitchen doorway looking extremely relieved that he was there while Nine was sat on the sofa frowning so deeply that his eyebrows looked as though they could connect with his chin.
Guessing that Robyn was upstairs, Kit smiled apologetically to Robbie before going in search of her. Luckily for Robbie, Sportacus entered soon after Kit had disappeared up the stairs and he felt slightly safer in the knowledge that he wasn't going to be left alone with the man that despised him.