Their journey in the car was a silent one, none of the four occupants wanting to break the silence surrounding them. Taking his eyes from the road momentarily and looking in his rear view mirror, Sportacus could see Robyn gazing absently out of the window with one of her escorts studying her stillness. Looking to his right he smiled slightly at the other man in the car, another of Robyn's escorts, before focussing on the road again.
He noticed the sign for Toothtown drift past him as the darkness outside gave way to twinkling city lights. Buildings began to fill the empty space around them as he drew closer to population from the outskirts and spying a restaurant just up ahead he slowed down, turning the car just to the side of it to pull into the car park.
Robyn seemed to come out of her trance as the car came to a gentle halt and Sportacus turned off the engine. Her eyes met his in the rear view mirror and he looked over his shoulder at her, smiling, before he unclipped his seat belt. With the energy he'd always used to have, she watched as he opened the car door and jumped out. She removed her seat belt as he opened her door and she took his hand as he helped her get out.
Sportacus released Robyn's hand as he looked up at the two men that had just vacated the car, "You guys hungry?" He asked the three people before him.
Robyn shook her head while Leka and Salonen nodded slightly. They'd come on duty for Robyn's watch just as she'd left her house, leading Sportacus with her. They had intended to eat dinner with her at her family home as had become habit for those taking on the evening shift with her. Robbie and Kit had been adamant that the Network officers supervising Robyn ate their meals with them if they wanted to.
"You should eat," Sportacus spoke softly to Robyn as he cupped her chin with his hand.
When Kathleen had told him about Robyn being at the hospital she'd let slip about Doctor Cole's concerns that Robyn hadn't been eating properly. At least for this occasion he was going to make sure she had a proper meal.
Looking into Sportacus' eyes, Robyn knew she had no choice in the matter and walked towards the rear entrance of the restaurant. She hadn't realised the full extent of her hunger until she breathed in the delicious scent of her favourite ethnic food.
"Toothtown Indian Cuisine," She read out loud as she looked up at the sign above the door.
'Since when did we get to Toothtown? I thought we'd only just left Lazytown.' She thought, her face displaying her confusion.
Sportacus chuckled as he saw the expression on Robyn's face as he approached her. She'd obviously been completely zoned out while staring out of the window and missed half their journey. He playfully cupped her cheek as he walked past her and held open the door to the restaurant for her.
Strangely excited, Robyn passed quickly through the door and was greeted on the other side by two waiters who were waiting to take any coats or jackets the party might have and show them to a table.
"Namaste," They greeted simultaneously as Sportacus and the two Network officers entered.
Robyn and Sportacus both bowed their heads, smiling and replied, "Namaste,"
"Would you like a table for four?" One of the waiters asked stepping forward slightly.
Robyn looked at Sportacus and then at her two consorts, both of which looked at each other and shook their heads.
"I think we should maybe have two tables. Give you and Sportacus some space. Just because we have to more or less follow you everywhere doesn't mean we have to be on top of you if we eat somewhere. Just as long as we can keep an eye on you at least and get to you quickly if anything happens." Leka explained, looking at Robyn.
"Two tables it is then," The other waiter sounded before leading the party to their tables, making note that they had to be sat reasonably close together but also understanding a need for privacy between two of them. He didn't question why this young woman was being escorted by one man in plain clothes and two others in black leather uniforms.
Seating Robyn and Sportacus first, the waiter showed them to a table nestled between two bench seats. He first pulled the table to one side and indicated for Robyn to sit and when she had done so he did the same again, pushing the table to the other side and allowing Sportacus room to squeeze in before he straightened the table. He pulled two menus from a holder on the wall and said that he would give them a few minutes to choose their drinks and would also take their food order if they were ready.
Once the waiter had seated Robyn and Sportacus he asked the two men in uniforms where they would care to sit, Salonen pointed to a bank of tables on the opposite wall that were just standard tables and chairs. The waiter pulled a chair away from the table that he thought might be appropriate and the two men nodded their assent. They were quickly seated and given menus.
As she was studying the menu in front of her, a memory resurfaced in Robyn's mind of a time when she and Sportacus had sat in a place like this, one of the first times he'd taken her for a proper 'grown up' meal out. It had been just a few days shy of her sixteenth birthday and he'd taken her to an Indian restaurant just on the edge of Greentown. She had ordered Lemonade while Sportacus had ordered a sparkling water. They'd been so busy chatting that when the drinks had been set down on the table, Sportacus hadn't noticed the yellowish tinge to what he'd taken to be water and gulped two mouthfuls of Lemonade. Almost instantly he'd suffered a sugar meltdown but Robyn had been there to bring him out of it, her quick thinking and penchant for carrying sports candy in her bag coming to their assistance.
Back then, Robyn thought, Sportacus had been her uncle. He was living a lie. Her life was a lie as well.
Sportacus detected Robyn's thoughtfulness and he wondered what she was thinking of. He nodded at the waiter thanking him for bringing their drinks; he made a special point to test his by dipping the tip of his little finger before licking it. He too remembered when he'd taken for granted that the waiter wouldn't put the drinks down in the wrong place. Satisfied that the drink by him was water, Sportacus began to take a draught of it.
"I want a DNA test," Robyn blurted without warning.
This sudden request hit Sportacus like a shockwave and he spluttered while still drinking. He coughed as some of the liquid went down the wrong way and he tried to clear it.
"What?" He eventually managed to croak, unsure of whether he'd heard Robyn right or rather wishing he hadn't.
"I want a DNA test," Robyn repeated, "I have to know the truth. I have to know whether you're my uncle or my father."
