General Hospital Synaptics Research Lab
Robert turned off his cell phone. "Sean's not answering and Tif has no idea where he is."
"Did you try the PR office?" asked Anna.
"Yeah, your new receptionist, Sarah, says that he was in and then left for a business meeting," replied Robert.
Anna groaned. "Oh, it's that damned exhibit for the museum. I think we were supposed to have a status meeting with all the other project vendors."
"He should at least answer his phone."
"I'll try him a little later."
"He's been hard to get a hold of lately," observed Robert. "You don't find that unusual?"
"He has other interests, Robert. We're wrapped up in our business, aren't we?"
"That's not what I mean," said Robert. "I sense something, I don't know, something off with him."
"He moved himself and his family back here in a short time period while helping us with our problems. I'm sure he's got a million things to do for his own family," said Anna.
"Whatever it is, my internal radar is picking up something different. It's like he's distancing himself."
"I don't think so. I think he's ... tired. He's taking a step back to recharge and focusing on other projects." Anna stood close to Robert. She laid a hand on his arm. "On the topic of other projects, did you talk with Tom?"
"Yes, ma'am, the Hardy doc is onboard with everything," answered Robert.
"I hate putting so much pressure on him."
"We're going to need help running interference and covering up. I'm having the devil of a time keeping Morgan and Corinthos out of her room."
"She doesn't want to see them. She said so. They'll just upset her and Patrick."
"Our people have their orders. The news is leaking out though." Robert moved a strand of her hair. "Have you talked to Monica?"
"Yes. I told her about Eve. She's incredibly disturbed about the whole thing but like you say, we need help. I want to tell Bobbie. She needs to know."
Robert nodded agreement. "But that's it - Monica, Tom and Bobbie."
"What about Matt and Noah?" asked Anna.
"That's Patrick's call," said Robert. "Have you discussed funeral arrangements with him?"
"He's shattered, Robert," said Anna. "I've lost one child already. It gives me a little perspective but not much. I'm functioning and thinking but Patrick is incapable of either right now. I did talk over a few things. Things that I need to discuss with you."
"Fire away."
"Per the funeral arrangements, I'm doing that according to Eve's wishes. It's to be completely private and she wants to be buried at the Villa."
Robert interrupted. "I have the perfect spot. There's this little hillock before the orchards with a view of the river and the house."
"I leave the site planning to you then. We come to Emma," Anna bit her lower lip. "Patrick would like me, us, to take care of Emma until he gets his life under control."
"What does that mean? A guardianship agreement?"
"I'm not sure and I don't believe Patrick is sure either," admitted Anna.
"You know I adore the little one but we're no spring chickens, Anna," said Robert.
"Speak for yourself, please."
"You are quite capable of handling an active toddler on less than two hours of sleep. I cannot say the same for myself," clarified Robert. "How ... for how long are we talking about here?"
"Patrick can't say. He's living minute to minute," said Anna. "Someone has to shove food at him to make him eat. He doesn't know day from night. Too many things hitting him all at once and most of it out of his direct control. He's not used to that lack of control. We can hardly expect him to be able to make coherent decisions. Aren't we both exceedingly familiar with that mental state of limbo after the loss of a spouse, Robert?"
"All right, all right. Agree to whatever arrangement he wants. You know I'll support you as much as my back will tolerate. It's not the retirement I'd envisioned but whatever. Come to think of it. Andrew has more than enough energy to spare chasing after Emma when she starts walking." Robert's eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute. Wouldn't a guardianship work better if we were already married?"
"You're thinking of an adoption. We're not going that far. Let's not overanalyze this," said Anna. "I've asked Roger Hollander for advice. He suggested something called a Declaration of Guardianship where I would be declared Emma's legal guardian and all that that entails. It would allow me to make decisions on her behalf as a parent would. Once Patrick is able to take over, the Declaration is revoked as there will no longer be a need for a guardian."
"Retirement options - relationship, marriage, one teenager, one adult child, lots of animals, a mortgage - check. Diaper duty isn't on that list, Anna," Robert sighed. "But I suppose raising a baby won't cramp my style too much and we do have a surplus of babysitters on the payroll. Have Roger put both our names down."
"It may only be for a month or two, Robert, but I do appreciate you making the ultimate sacrifice. We're backing up Patrick. That's all. He wants to make sure that someone's there for Emma if something happens to him."
"LIfe happens. Roll with it," Robert grinned. "Roger? Robin's first boyfriend? He's the one with his own band, right? I still remember him helping me put up the Christmas tree and talking about his bandmates."
Anna laughed. "He's turned out to be a very good lawyer. Quite discreet, too." Anna sobered. "We'll have to tell him about Eve."
"Too right we do," said Robert. "This is ... getting really convoluted. What are we going to do when Robin's found, and she WILL be found? Is she going to need a new identity? We're going to have another long lost child?"
"Anything is possible," said Anna. "We'll think of something."
The office phone rang. Robert picked it up. "Yes, Monica? I see. We'll be right there."
"What's wrong?" asked Anna.
"We have to get downstairs, luv. Monica ... she thinks it's time."
While donning hazardous environment apparel, Anna and Robert talked to Monica. Through the window into Eve's room, they could see her pale form under the oxygen tent with Patrick holding her hand.
"Her seizures, the Kaposi's sarcomas and the onset of pneumonia I can understand. But tuberculosis coming on in the blink of an eye? This is ... unnatural," exclaimed Monica.
"She shouldn't be having tuberculosis?" asked Anna.
"Yes and no. A patient in this stage could get infected with tuberculosis. However, the progression of the infection is too rapid," explained Monica. "Noah, Matt and I have been reviewing everything we can get our hands on for this case. The speed of onset is unique. Every symptom of AIDS is accelerated in just the last forty-eight hours. If I didn't know better, I would think someone was out to kill her by using her own body against her."
"You're describing a weapon," said Robert quietly.
"Who would use such a thing?" asked Monica shaking her head sadly.
"Likely the same kind of people who has my child," said Robert. "Is she in pain?"
"No. Her body is failing. I don't think she's aware of pain any longer," Monica sighed. "There's not much else we can do for her but wait. Eve's no resuscitation order is on file."
Anna and Robert went inside. Anna hugged Patrick trying to give him a portion of her strength.
"Has she regained consciousness?" asked Anna.
Patrick shook his head. "Not for a minute. She's barely moving. I ... I don't know what to do anymore."
"Just be here for her, Patrick," advised Anna.
A monitor alarm began to sound louder and louder. Other monitors were showing all her vital signs dropping. The oscilloscope's normally squiggly line was flattening into a straight line.
Patrick rushed back to Eve's bedside. Tears coursed freely down his cheeks. In gasps and sobs, he spoke of his love, their life together and their child. On the other side of the bed, Anna and Robert held each other close. Robert held Eve's hand in his with Anna's hand over his.
In the antechamber, Monica and Bobbie waited out the clock while comforting each other. After twenty minutes, Monica declared the date and time of death for Eve.
Unknown Location
Water droplets slid down the tiled walls. From the shower streamed jets of water that were barely noticed. Robin stood on tiptoe. Her hand felt around the top of the shower head mount for the piece of loose tile. With the practice of many months, she removed the tile to reveal the wooden studs behind the shower wall. A piece of wood cutting across two studs made for a rough shelf. On top of the shelf was a plastic bag. Robin pulled it down.
She opened the ziplock bag and added a long hair pin and a single twenty Euro note. She made sure that the sheets of journal paper she had painstakingly extracted from her journal book were inside. Obsessively, she counted the number she had collected of each of her medicines. After she had satisfied herself that she had a thirty-five day supply, she browsed through the various currencies she had collected over the past three years - Euros, dollars, yuans, yens, pounds, Australian dollars, rupees and pesos.
"Wherever I am, some of this should be useful," murmured Robin. Since she had nearly escaped three years ago, her handlers had learned their lesson. She was watched nearly every minute. Her private space was closely watched and occasionally swept for illicit items that she could use in an escape. She could not hoard clothes or take metal objects from the lab. Neither could she use hunger strikes or refusals to take her medicines as bargaining tools as she had done before. She was now required to take one meal and one dose of her cocktail while being watched and recorded.
Due to these restrictions, her carefully hidden bag of supplies was vitally important to her. The next time she escaped she would not be weakened by a lack of medication or hampered by not having any money at all. She vowed that her next escape would be her last.
She had bided her time for three years lulling her captors into believing she had resigned herself to her situation. She had begun a project that was nearly completed and only she knew of it. If they ever found out what she had done, her life would be worthless.
"I have to get out before my luck runs out," said Robin under her breath. She returned the bag to its hiding place then resumed her morning shower. After a few minutes, she heard Hilda calling her for breakfast.
"I see on your calendar that you're off to the main lab first thing," said Hilda. "A bit early for you."
Robin toweled her hair dry. "I have a lot to do."
"You work too hard, Robin."
"I ... I have to prove my value, don't I?" said Robin sarcastically. "Keep myself useful."
Hilda had the grace to look away. She liked Robin but she could not afford to forget her role because failure had too high a price. "You finish your breakfast while I make arrangements."
"Before I forget, I need a new journal. I'm nearly done with this one." Robin flipped through the last pages of the journal as proof. Per protocol, they would take this one away from her when it was filled. "Can I get a different color cover?"
"I'll see what I can do," Hilda leafed through the journal ascertaining herself that it was due for a replacement.
Overhead, the lights flickered.
"Not again!" exclaimed Hilda.
"Generators not working?" asked Robin scooping eggs unto her plate.
"We're on city power but being on a-" Hilda cut herself off abruptly. "I"m sure they'll get it fixed. Eat your breakfast."
Robin dug into her meal seemingly not noticing the small bits of information that Hilda had let out. Her thoughts began to churn through two new things - she was in a city and on something. On a peninsula, she thought, on an island? She saw snow through her skylight.
I'm in a cold city in January and maybe on an island. Just wonderful. How do I get off an island?
Author's Note: This story was begun and posted on September 2010 on my home page. It's similarity to any current GH storyline(s) is coincidental. This is a sequel to The Telltale Lie. Though it's not necessary to read that previously, it would be helpful. Please see my profile home page on the status of this story.