Chapter 11

Robert didn't like this at all. People poking and prodding him all day. He didn't even know what all he was tested for or what they were looking for. He was fairly sure they'd even done a ct scan. His head wasn't hurting now which was nice, they had given him something and it had helped. Robert has been told that once they have some results he will, most likely, be able to leave but he does need medical treatment.

He didn't like it here. He wanted to leave and if he couldn't leave he wanted Anna here with him. Robert heard the beeping speed up and knew that would bring a nurse or someone in again. They didn't like that his heart rate or blood pressure would go up like this and wouldn't listen to him saying he'd be fine and that he just wanted his wife to be there with him. That is what would help him handle this situation better, Anna being there. Knowing where she is.

Ever since she had found him, Robert did not like them being apart for any length of time. He needs her, this time he literally needs her to make sure he gets home safe and that he gets the help he needs. But he also needs her here so he can relax, so he isn't in his head worrying about everything that could and has gone wrong. Her presence gives him peace of mind.

"Mr. Conner, you need to relax. Getting worked up like this isn't good. Every time your blood pressure goes up it could affect the head injuries you have. You don't want to risk making it worse."

"Where is my wife?" he asked, not hiding his frustration.

"Right here. I'm here darling." Anna stepped into the room then around the nurse standing there.

"Oh, thank god." he sighed in relief. "She can stay while I wait, right?" Anna had already walked over to him and taken his hand.

"Yes, the doctor just wants to see the results before he prescribes you some medication," Anna told him.

"Remember this is only a temporary fix. You need to see your doctor as soon as you get home, Mr. Conner. You may need surgery. I would strongly suggest you think about getting treatment before you return home but understand you might feel more comfortable once you're home." Robert had been told he had suffered head trauma from a blunt force type incident and that there was concern about a possible brain bleed.

Anna gasped, "I knew it was bad."

"Don't worry yet. Once you've spoken to your doctor and they have done an examination I feel they will tell you the same thing. It should be a simple procedure but it shouldn't wait much longer. I have to look at all the test results before I can tell you what we're dealing with. As for the memory loss, how the treatment goes will determine how that is resolved," Dr. Palmer explained.

"Alright, we can do that. Is he alright to travel? A surgery that's going to take time to arrange, once we get home. Does he have that kind of time? How long will medication help? How long can he be on medication?" Anna knew she was asking a lot at once but she needed to know what they were dealing with.

"The medication will help. It isn't a permanent solution and I wouldn't suggest staying on it for more than a couple of months. I know you're going to have to do a lot of thinking once you've talked to your doctor and you do have time to make a decision about what treatment to go with but, Steve, getting worked up does not help. I want to strongly suggest that you don't wait very long. It seems like he's already been living with this injury for a couple of months. There has been some healing but not enough and one area of concern has gotten a little worse over time but from what I was able to determine, as long as Steve keeps taking the medication I am going to prescribe then it shouldn't get worse."

"What about the memory loss? Is that permanent?" Robert asked.

"No, I don't believe it is. When you see your doctor they can tell you more, they will be much more thorough about your treatment plan. Who will you be seeing?"

"Dr. Tony Jones. He's the neurosurgeon there." Anna answered she didn't think it mattered if this doctor could figure out they were from Port Charles.

"Yes, I've heard of him. He should be able to answer all your questions and provide the treatment you need."

"Alright, thank you," Anna said. Hearing that actually made her feel a little better. Robert wouldn't be getting his treatment in Port Charles but it was good to know they didn't need to find a specialist.

The doctor that had led her into the room, turned to read the printout from the monitor. Then he turned to the nurse. "She stays in here with him. Mr. Conner was right, he needs her in here with him." Then he looked over at Robert and Anna. "Keep him calm, don't let him get worked up or overly excited. None of that will help his condition. Now if you'll excuse me, I want to have a look at those test results and then I'll be back with a prescription. I will explain a little more what you're dealing with. After that, this lovely lady can take you home."

"Thanks, Doc." Robert held tight to Anna's hand as Dr. Palmer and the nurse finished their work then left. Once they were alone he let her go and patted the bed beside him. "I don't like hospitals do I?"

"I don't think it's hospitals you have a problem with, it's being a patent that seems to drive you batty," Anna told him as she sat down beside him. "Oh, and the poor staff that has to deal with you."

"That bad, eh?" he asked with a grin as they got comfortable.

Anna turned and smirked, "Whatever you're thinking, make it about ten times worse then you'll be close to how bad you can get."

Robert laughed, "You took care of me recently, yes?"

"Yes, because the staff at GH had had enough of you and Steve ran out of nurses willing to deal with you," she told him with a laugh.

"I wish I could actually remember this stuff."

"I know you do. Once you get the treatment you need you will be back to your old self. Until that happens, I need you to promise me you will try not to get worked up, you heard what the doctor said."

Robert rested his head on hers as Anna cuddled in. "I will do my best but I need something from you too. Don't leave me alone. When you aren't around if I'm stuck waiting for you. I can't help it, I start getting agitated. I can feel it building, this need to know where you are, to know you're safe. There's a need to get out there and find you because something might have happened. That I need to find you because we need to run."

Anna turned and touched his cheek. "I will do my best." She leaned in and kissed him tenderly then put her head on his shoulder again. "I'm not going anywhere without you."

Robert put his head back and closed his eyes. Anna could feel his tension ease as they sat quietly together. She smiled thinking about what he had said, not that it was good that he would get worked up causing his blood pressure to go up. What had made her smile was that the part of Robert that needed to protect her, that hated her being in any kind of pain, is still there. They are on the run, they don't know who they can trust or who it is that could be looking for them. Of course, he is going to worry when she goes out and is gone for any length of time. He worries because the idea of something happening to her and him having to live without her scares him. It scares him as much as the idea of her having to live without him, scares her.

Sometime later, Dr. Palmer came back into the room. He walked over and looked at the printout on the monitor. He smiled seeing that since his wife had joined him, Mr. Conner had remained calmer than he had during all the examinations he had throughout the day.

"Hello again, Mr. Conner. I've got this for you." The doctor handed Robert a bottle. "That's only enough for a couple of days. Here's your prescription. Now, remember, these aren't a solution, these will only help for so long so don't put off seeing your doctor."

"I will make sure he does," Anna told the doctor. She was now standing by the bed.

"I thought you might say that." The doctor went on to explain what Robert was being prescribed and how he expected them to work. The types of side effects they should watch for. He answered some more of their questions and once that was taken care of the doctor left, Robert and Anna left shortly after. Both feel better about Robert's condition than they had that morning.

…

Mac knocked and walked into Sean's office, "I'm tired of this Sean! Now there are WSB agents camped out basically right in front of the house. Robin has to have noticed them by now. They can't even be bothered to hide the fact they're there. You have to do something about this." Maybe he was blowing that a little out of proportion but Mac had had enough of the WSB.

Sean looked up, Mac was more than just a little upset. "Wait what?"

"The last three days there's been a car parked across the street, there's always someone inside. Are they trying to get a reaction out of me?"

"That might be exactly what they are doing. If they are starting to believe whoever it is they are waiting for, has already been here. If they can push you into a confrontation, maybe get you angry. Then you might let slip something you don't want to."

"Bastards! I almost confronted the guy in the car this morning." Mac started to pace, annoyed with himself.

"You would have played right into their hands." Sean got up and started walking around the office. "I know I'm being watched, you are and the house is. Do you think Robin is?"

Mac stopped and looked over at Sean, "I assume she is. If either of her parents were here, they would want to see her."

Sean stopped and turned looking right back at Mac. He smiled as he pointed at him, "When you're right. You're right."

"What am I right about?"

"Who is the one person here that Robert and Anna would want to see?"

"Robin!" Mac couldn't believe he hadn't thought of this sooner. That would even explain why Robin had made that comment a while back. "Anna's been here. That's who the WSB is waiting for."

"You sound pretty sure about that," Sean said with a grin.

"I feel pretty sure about that. I don't know what happened but I'm willing to bet Anna is now the one on a rescue mission." Mac was now smiling, he felt certain that had to be what has happened.

"So Devane snuck into town, came to see Robin and got out again before the WSB got here. She's good but someone still would have to have been helping her."

"Robin, if Anna had contacted her. Robin would have done anything her mother asked," Mac suggested.

Sean shook his head slowly, "No, Anna wouldn't have put Robin in that position. Yes, she would have wanted to see her but she wouldn't have asked her for help."

"We can figure that out later. Other than seeing Robin, what would Anna need?"

"She's going to need ID, money, probably a few other things," Mac answered quickly.

"Right, and I happen to know where the Scorpios keep their fake IDs. You need to let me into their secret room."

"I checked it, I even checked their safe. Nothing is missing."

"Just get me in there. Then we'll see what's missing."

"Alright, it can't hurt." Mac and Sean left the commissioner's office. This was a more important matter than any of the ones the PCPD were working on and it needed Sean's attention.

When they got to the Scorpio house Mac led them straight to the den and then opened the secret door in the den. "Why don't you know the code for this room?"

"I think for the same reason you don't know about this." Sean stepped into the room then grinned at Mac as he took down a picture to the left of the desk. There was a second safe there that Mac knew nothing about. "The only way we could ever check this, was if both of us were here and were worried enough about them to do it."

When Sean opened the safe he knew instantly things were missing. There should be six sets of ID, there were two. There was a lot of cash gone, even a few credit cards. Sean ran his hand over his face, "One of them has definitely been here."

"What's missing?" Mac asked as he tried seeing over Sean's shoulder.

Sean reached in and pulled out the IDs that were still there and checked them. Molly and Gary O'Neil didn't go on any rescue missions. Sean looked over at Mac, "We need to search any recent activities of Lyle and Elizabeth Thompson and Stephen and Roxanne Conner. They are now people of interest in this investigation."

"This is an investigation now?"

"Yeah, it always has been. They're out there. I don't think the WSB is helping them and who knows what they are up against. They need back up, you and I are the cavalry."

Mac smiled, they are finally going to start searching for Robby and Anna. "Alright, general. Where do you want me to start?"

"You search for the Thompsons, I'll search for the Conners, then see what we get."

"I'll work here."

"I'm heading to my place. I'll call you when I have something." Just like that Sean was gone again.

"Alright." Mac pulled out the chair, sat down at the desk and turned on the computer. They had some work to do. He looked up at the still open wall safe he'd had no idea was there. What other surprises are hidden in here he wondered, with a grin, then he got to work.

…

After leaving the hospital Anna decided it was best if Mr. and Mrs. Conner checked into a different hotel, something a little further from the airport. Now they had a nice view of the ocean, Robert was leaning on the railing of their little balcony breathing in the sea air. It had been two days since they had been to the hospital. They might not have gotten him all the help he needs but it bought them time and they know a little more about what they are dealing with.

The memory loss is most likely the result of the injury he sustained and only temporary. There is still pressure in his brain and if it goes untreated there is a list of possibilities, from stroke to death. None of which he wanted. The medication he was now on may help relieve the pressure some, but it might just keep things from getting worse. The doctor had told him if there was going to be any improvement it might take up to a week for him to notice but not to worry if that doesn't happen. The biggest thing was he had to keep from getting too worked up. Having his blood pressure go up for whatever reason was not going to help.

Anna walked out onto the balcony, she ran her hand along his back, her other hand placed on his arm as she leaned against his side. Robert looked over at her and grinned then turned back to the view without moving. "This is one of our things. Standing looking out at the water. It clears the head, helps focus on what matters right then."

"We spent a lot of time talking on the docks when I first came back into your life. I needed you to hear me out but you were still angry, still hurt. We could talk and not be overheard. You did listen and we became friends." Anna wrapped her arms around him, still standing at his side. "After that, we both always seemed to go down to the water when we needed to think. I don't know if you did that before I came to Port Charles but there were a lot of times we'd end up finding the other standing looking out at water thinking."

"I knew we did that. That's why I liked going down to look at the water with Juan. I felt closer to you there."

"Like I might just show up there one of those nights."

"Yeah." He tilted his head resting it against hers. "What do we do now? How do we get back home?"

"We need to figure out who is after us. We need to find out what kind of danger we're actually in."

Robert started to turn, "Then we should have lunch and find a library. I think this afternoon will be spent in front of computer screens doing some research. Check news stories, strange happenings, anything that might help."

"I think you're right." Anna smiled up at him as his arms went around her. "I want to get you home so we better get to work."

He leaned in and kissed her tenderly, "Alright Devane, let's get going."

…

When Sean walked back into the commissioner's office, he gave Mac a quick smile. "Guy told me you were waiting." Sean closed and locked the door, it had been almost forty-eight hours since they started looking for Robert and Anna. "I take it you've found something."

Mac held up several papers, "You bet I did."

"So have I," Sean told him with a grin. "How's Robin doing? Has she said anything about the surveillance?"

Mac let out a chuckle, "Yeah, she was looking out the window yesterday and shook her head, 'when are they gonna give up?' she asked. I'm not sure if she was talking to me or not. Robin knows about it and seems to be unbothered."

"That's good." Sean walked around and sat at his desk. "Tell me, Mac, what have the Thompsons been up to?"

"Lyle is who Robert was travelling as. I was able to find a few different hits from before the explosion. Nothing on him since then though. I've been able to find a few hotel rooms that were rented by Elizabeth Thompson recently. She's down in the Caribbean, she must have found some leads."

"Or they are smart enough to switch the ID they are using to make it harder to track their movements if someone did figure out the alias they are using."

Mac grinned as he looked up at Sean. "You said, they!"

"I did. Roxanne Conner started her vacation alone but has been joined by Stephen and they are now travelling together. There were missing pieces in their route so I assume you have those missing parts under Beth Thompson. Roxie and Beth, you know he's shortened both those names."

Mac was grinning from ear to ear, "My brother's alive! You're telling me my brother is alive!"

"Alive and in the care of Devane. I assume he must not have had ID if you haven't found anything for Lyle since before the explosion."

Mac nodded in agreement, that would be the most logical explanation. "Where are they now?"

"The last one I have was The Bahama's five days ago."

"Let me see those." Mac moved over to the desk and started going through what Sean had found. Sean picked up what Mac had brought with him and started flipping through those.

"They're making their way north. Do you think they are coming here?" Mac asked after looking through the papers.

"I don't think we should be expecting some grand entrance. I could see them wanting to get closer to home. We don't know what they are dealing with but it seems like they are trying to make sure their movement goes unnoticed."

"They could still be in danger," Mac concluded.

"I assume so yeah. Come on, we are only a few days behind them. We're heading to my place and we're working on this until we find them."

"Alright." They picked up the papers with their findings then left Sean's office on a mission.

…

Colin Ross knew his plan could work. He just needed all the pieces to be in place. There was a smile on his face because he was feeling very confident at the moment. They might not know where he is yet but Cesar Faison is alive and he was in Panama not all that long ago. There had been two confirmed sightings of him, as well as possible ones in similar areas of Panama. That made Ross very hopeful.

For now, staying in Port Charles was his best move. If he's here the WSB will be satisfied he's doing what they want while his team tracks Faison. The team here had better come up with something. If Anna or Robert show up alive that could really complicate what he has worked out as his plan. Ross knows if he is going to lure Faison into the trap then the Scorpios were best off staying hidden, whatever that might have to involve.

Then again, if Ross starts dropping little hints about a certain dark-haired lady, even if it wasn't the right woman, Faison would still be intrigued. The resemblance was uncanny and a few grainy pictures showing up of this woman should be enough to make Faison want to see her for himself. That man is deranged and Ross was going to use his own obsession to bring him down.

Ross sat back in his chair then looked at his watch. There was still another twenty minutes before the evening debriefing. These damn meetings were depressing already, the same thing over and over. Scorpio and Devane's daughter going on with her life the best she can. Hangs out with a few people, stays at home. She's getting over the loss of her parents not harbouring them. He knew that but she is the one person Robert or Anna would contact. When they should up here, and they will Colin Ross would bet his WSB badge on that, their daughter is who they will want to see.

He didn't care that this was tedious work, watching the Scorpio house, their daughter, day after day. Both these agents had been up on Crow's Nest and let Anna escape. Them having to suffer through this boring assignment suited him just fine. With that thought in his head, Ross sat forward and started flipping through the reports in front of him. They are going to get a break, in this case, he can feel it.