Chapter 8

General Hospital

Robert sat on one side of Eve and Anna on the other. They watched Eve's face and body language as she told them more of what she was remembering or dreaming about.

"He was taunting her," said Eve. Her hands clenched into fists at her side.

"Are you sure it was Faison?" asked Robert.

"Dad, I was made to watch a lot of tapes. Some more than once. That ... that was one of them. It was Faison."

"Faison wouldn't ... wouldn't hurt Robin. Not the way you're describing." Anna bit her lower lip.

Robert's voice was gravelly with emotion. "He trapped Robin inside a fishing net and ... and had a box container made to ship her out of the country like animal cargo. He's capable of anything. Face facts, Anna."

"He doesn't hurt children. Just ... doesn't."

"He kidnapped Luke's boy and brainwashed him," said Robert. "Faison is not the man, the person he was. You ... you have to purge the image and the feelings you have for him."

"It's not an image," Anna argued. "And you know what I feel for him is friendship only, if that."

"Whatever it is, it's decades old," insisted Robert. "Time changes everything and everyone. We're prime examples."

"He took care of Andrew. How can he do otherwise to Robin? They're both mine."

"Andrew was a biddable child. Robin was ... is a grown woman. Two vastly different things. We'll discuss Faison later. Fall back on training, Anna, and put emotion aside especially where he's concerned." Robert's voice gentled as he spoke to Eve. "Is ... is there anything else you remember that could help? What about the other tapes? What was on them?"

"On the tapes, Robin answered questions about her life, family, lovers, hobbies, friends and so many things. She seemed drugged," said Eve. "I watched the tapes once then they had me listen over and over."

"You know a great deal about Robin's history. It must have taken quite a while for you to remember all that," said Anna.

Eve shook her head. "They did something. Gave me something. I remembered everything I heard on the tape. I read her journals. I lived in her apartment. I worked on my accent. I went to the places she had visited. Eventually, her life became my own."

"That's not possible," said Robert. "Not even hypnotherapy or programming is that thorough or that permanent. Language immersion is one thing but what you're talking about is heads and shoulders above that."

"Eve became ... was Robin," said Eve. She looked down on her arms. "Injections. Later there was some surgery. I needed to be her and I was."

"I couldn't tell there was a difference," said Anna quietly.

"I'm sorry, Mom."

Anna stroked Eve's arm. "Shhhh, not your fault. What's done is done."

"You were given a Faustian choice and you took it," said Robert. "You had lost your family. You were feeling lost. While we can't condone your actions, we're not condemning them either."

Anna looked at Robert. "We have made our share of bargains with the devil."

"That we have," said Robert. "We need to do what we can do. Right now. I'm still finding it hard to believe that you became Robin in the way you did and so ... so convincingly. The only way I can think of is something that we know Faison can do."

Anna nodded. "Do you remember if Faison touched your mind, Eve? Spoke to you directly and hypnotized you?"

"No. Only the tape." Eve glanced at Robert. "I grew to hate you for leaving me because of that tape. I'm sorry for that. Robin would have ... have jumped into your arms not yelled at you."

"Water under the bridge," said Robert. He saw how tired Eve was in the new lines on her face and the heaviness of her breathing. "You need to rest. Patrick will be here soon."

Eve nodded. "I left some ... some notes in my office. Middle drawer. What … I could remember. It's not much but I hope it helps you find her. I'm sorry."

Villa Scorpio

Tiffany and Belle got out of their car. The car seemed to be loaded with boxes.

"Why did we have to bring all this?" asked Tiffany of her daughter.

"Like I said, Mama, it's for a project," answered Belle.

"I got that but I want the details. Annabelle Scarlett Hill Donely, you learned the art of evasion at your daddy's knee but don't you forget who you're talking to here." Tiffany slammed the car door shut.

"Oh, mama, it's perfectly innocent, legal, above board and doesn't involve any international intelligence agency anywhere. I swear it." said Belle in exasperated, dramatic tones. She smiled sweetly at Genji and two others who began to unload the boxes from the car. "Hi, Genji! Hi, guys!"

"I thought you were still grounded for duping us about Andrew's whereabouts," said Genji.

"She is," answered Tiffany. "But she asked Sean for a favor and he caved."

"It's for Robin, mama," insisted Belle. "I couldn't say no, could I?"

"Your father gives in to you too much. I'm going to have to talk to him. Again." Tiffany followed Belle and Genji into the Barn. "Tell me. What IS this project?"

Belle grinned. "It's Andrew's plan and -"

Tiffany narrowed her eyes at her daughter. "I love that boy to death, you know I do, but if he drags you into another scheme, I am gonna -"

"It's for Emma, Mama. We're adding the EMZ into the ESZ."

"What? In English, please."

Andrew came up the secret stairs from the monitor room. He said, "They stand for the Emma Merriment Zone and the Emma Security Zone. Belle is going to give the EMZ the feminine touch. If that's all right with you, Tiffany."

"That depends. What exactly is she to do?" asked Tiffany.

"The minions will be turning half of the gathering room space here into a playroom and nursery for Emma, her own zone of happiness," explained Andrew. "The Barn, the Monitor Room and the Blue Room are all part of one security zone. We can be assured that Emma is always overseen and close enough to the Blue Room if there are threats of any kind. Of all the buildings here, this is the most secure and best protected. I'm doing my utmost to see to her safety, health and happiness. I have to."

"We're all going to be there for her no matter what," said Tiffany.

"The room is a bit too masculine and not baby friendly. So, I asked Belle if she wanted to help us ... me ... make the place cheery and safe. Put toys and things about to amuse Emma," Andrew looked at Tiffany. "I do know it was wrong for me to involve Belle in my, um, escape plan."

"Don't forget I did volunteer first," added Belle. "In fact, it was MY plan."

"I'm older and should have known better. Something could have happened to you, Belle," replied Andrew. He turned back to Tiffany. "I want to apologize to you and Sean for that ... that miscalculation. It won't happen again."

"Never say never around a Scorpio," mused Tiffany. She smiled. "Apology accepted."

"The grounding is over?" asked Belle with hopeful eyes.

Tiffany scoffed. "Ha! No good deed goes unpunished. It's thirty days, sweetie, and not a day less."

Saint-Jean-de-Losne, France

The houseboat Joli Coeur rubbed very gently against the riverbank of the Meurthe River. Inside, Vincent Cassini was packing a duffel bag In went a small album, a number of CDs and a jewel box with a cameo locket inside. He added a few articles of clothing to fill the bag. As he zipped the bag shut, pain shot up his left side. It was a souvenir from his last assignment.

Vincent looked around for his painkillers. His phone rang. "Si?"

"Vincent, it's Anna," came Anna's voice. "Sorry to wake you up."

"I was awake. Is there something you need?" asked Vincent. "Our mutual acquaintance is not hiding any longer."

Anna sighed. "His sudden and inexplicable desire to know his fans via these gatherings in various cities. I don't buy it. It's a smokescreen for something else. It has to be."

"It does make it easier to find him."

"One thing I know too well about him is that he NEVER does anything without a reason that doesn't ultimately serve his needs," said Anna. "PK Sinclair is not why I'm calling you. I need to ... to ask you ... tell you about Robin. I mean -"

"Is something wrong with her? Or Emma?" asked Vincent in alarm. "I was packing to return there and -"

"You were?"

"Yes. I had promised Robin that I would return and bring pictures," Vincent said. "I would have returned sooner but I had an assignment for Interpol I could not defer."

"When are you scheduled to come in?"

"I leave in a few hours, Anna. I shall be there mid-morning your time."

"Good. Send me your itinerary. I'll have a driver pick you up," said Anna. "You said you were bringing pictures?"

"Yes, I am. Robin requested them specifically."

"I see," said Anna. "Could you bring any and all pictures you do have of my daughter? Not the ones of a personal nature or classified, of course."

"I do not have that many. We were together only a few weeks."

"Just, please, bring what you have. It's important."

"You are not answering my questions, Anna. What is wrong?"

"I can't discuss this over the phone, Vincent," Anna explained. "I'll explain when you get here."

Belle footsteps on the stairs alerted Andrew. He looked up from his consoles as she came through the door of his Lair carrying a small tray.

"Andrew, we're done upstairs. Mama got a little carried away once she got into it. I think Emma will like it," said Belle. She placed the covered tray on his desk.

"I'm sure she will," said Andrew.

Belle studied his face. "You look paler than pale. Why not get out? Have a change of scenery? Or are you not allowed to drive anymore?"

Andrew half smiled. "Too much to do. Research."

"Maybe you should get an assistant or something, Andrew."

"Or something," said Andrew. "What … what happened to Andy?"

"What?"

"You don't call me Andy anymore. Why not?"

Belle looked uncomfortable. "Oh, that, um, Andy doesn't fit you."

"You thought it did before."

"I was being silly. You didn't like it when I called you Andy."

"Nothing wrong with being silly," said Andrew. He cleared his throat. "You started with Andrew after … after what happened in the hospital. Admit it, you're scared of me going bonkers just like everyone is."

"No, I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm scared for you. You're one person and … and someone is always after you," said Belle. "What kind of life is that?"

"I'm used to it."

"Maybe you shouldn't be." Belle removed the cover off the tray. "You're probably going to work through lunch. At least have a sugar rush. Here you are. Banana split ala Donely!"

Andrew laughed. "Thank you."

"We're going back to the hospital. Later!" Belle clattered up the stairs.

Andrew started on the banana split.

Dr. Tom Hardy's office, General Hospital

Tom went to and fro between a stack of boxes and a bookshelf carrying books and knick knacks. His left hand held his cell phone against his ear.

"It's his decision, Simone," said Tom. "He wants to be around familiar things and people. I don't see the problem. It's a year. He can change his mind at any time."

Robert paused at the door. Tom saw him and motioned him inside.

"If you're so worried, then come over and ... and decorate his new apartment, stock his refrigerator. Do whatever you want. Goodbye, Simone." Tom turned his phone off. "Hi, Robert, what can I do for you?"

"You didn't have to cut your call short for me," said Robert.

"Don't worry about it. When Simone start going 'round and 'round in verbal circles, it's time to get off the line."

"Problems? I hope she's doing well."

"She's fine. It's Tom Jr, Tommy, that has her in full maternal mode."

Robert grinned. "Yeah, mothers can go overboard where their kids are concerned."

"Tommy has decided to transfer to Port Charles University for a year from Stanford. Simone isn't happy about that," said Tom. "She thinks it's a step down and will hurt him down the road."

"Speaking as a parent, I'd rather my kid be around where I can keep an eye out on him or her. You're here. What's wrong with PCU?" asked Robert.

"Tommy wants to take care of some prerequisites first. He feels pressured at Stanford. Simone isn't listening to him. Tommy's not a type A personality like Simone was at that age. She thinks it's wrong that he's in the top five percent of his class. Tommy just tunes her out which makes her crazy," said Tom. "You know I envy you and Anna as co-parents. You always seemed to agree on decisions about Robin when she was growing up. Simone and I can't agree on too many things at all."

Robert snorted. "Robin was very self-motivated. She was into every club in the school. We got lucky because we were not model parents. We're human and made our share of mistakes. But one thing we always agreed on was that Robin had to feel loved and valued. That certain things she believed in had to be rock solid like her parents always being united in the big decisions. That whenever she wanted to talk to us, we were there for her. That last didn't quite work out the way we hoped but we're still working on it one day at a time. Which brings me to why I'm here."

"Is it Robin?" Tom's bright blue eyes shone with pain and sympathy. "I don't know what to say, Robert. I'm sorry is so inadequate."

"We can only take things hour by hour. I actually wanted to talk to you about two things," said Robert.

Tom shut the door close. "Sure, anything."

"I need your help in sorting out something that's messing me up. I've been coping with it on my own but now with everything happening, it's, uh, controlling me and I can't have that."

"What is it? A medical condition?"

"I was previously diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I refused treatment at the time and it's biting back hard now. I've been keeping myself in check a lot and it's not working anymore. I'm too close to exploding too often. I certainly can't avoid stress, can I?"

"Hmm, I did remark to Anna once that it seemed to me that you two had switched places. She became the more aggressive one," said Tom. "And you seemed muted, more in the background and that's not like you."

"She's been doing her best to shield me and taking more than her share of lumps for it. But compensating for me takes away from letting her do what she's good at. It's making her weak when her strength is needed most," admitted Robert. "This is MY problem and I ought to face reality and deal with it. We're getting married again and I want nothing like this between us."

"Congratulations, Robert. You and Anna give new meaning to the phrase 'try, try again'," said a beaming Tom.

"It's mutual stubbornness I think," said Robert. "This is the LAST shot. We both know that. We're both trying anything and everything we can think of to make a go of it. I beat cancer. With your help, I can get over this disorder. I HAVE to. Until I do, I'm not going to be at or close to a hundred percent."

"Physically, you seem recovered. Now, it's time to deal with the psychological baggage, do I have that right?"

"Yeah, past time," said Robert. "I'm leaving town tomorrow but I wanted to set things straight with you and -"

"What? Leaving town? With Robin -" sputtered Tom.

Robert sighed. "That's the second thing I need to fill you in on. You need to know so you can help Patrick."

"Know what?"

Robert gestured for Tom to have a seat. "What I'm going to tell you is with the understanding of complete secrecy. All right?"

Tom nodded. "You have it."

"The reason I'm leaving is because I have to find my daughter. And that person that you thought ... think is Robin isn't her." Robert paused waiting for Tom's reaction.

"I know that it's hard to accept the death of a child, Robert, but having delusions about-" began Tom in a gentle voice that one would use on a toddler.

"I've accepted her as mine, Tom, that's not in question. It's just that she's not Robin." Robert began to explain how Eve Montrose became Robin Scorpio.