Chapter 17

It was a beautiful morning, there was a light breeze cooling his skin. The sun came up on the horizon as Robert listened to the city wake up around him. As peaceful as it was, Robert couldn't relax. He had gone out on the balcony so as not to disturb Anna since he had awoken so early. Now, leaning on the railing, he looked out at the view just trying to put his thoughts in order.

Later this afternoon he has his follow-up appointment with Dr. Palmer. Robert sighed because he knew there was still too much missing. Sure he has remembered his family and some of his friends. He has remembered things and events but not all the details. He has names for people he knows and can even remember doing things with them but can't picture them. It can be so frustrating because he should know them, he can remember events but can't be sure of who was there with him. Unless Anna or Robin were a part of it Robert wasn't fully confident in what he was remembering and that was far more frustrating than he had expected. Not being able to fully trust the things he might know.

He didn't want Anna to know how infuriating this could be for him. Robert also didn't want this to be one more thing for her to worry about. Anna was already dealing with enough. With any luck, Dr. Palmer will tell them that with more time his memory will get better but he didn't believe that was the case. Robert was sure he would be told he needs to go see another doctor. That he needs more medical attention before he will get his full memory back.

What if he doesn't get it all back? What if there is something else wrong and they can't fix it? Will he have to figure out how to live with portions of his memory gone? Robert put his head down, don't get carried away, he told himself. He doesn't know what the doctor is going to tell him. There was no way of knowing how long the healing process was going to take. That had been made very clear to him. Could he be putting too much pressure on himself?

He jumped slightly when he felt a hand touch his back. "Sorry, darling. I didn't mean to startle you."

Robert turned and took her in his arms. "I was just lost in thought. I'd come out here so you could keep sleeping." Anna nodded in his arms, she understood he couldn't sleep. "We still have a long road ahead of us. I should have remembered more by now and I know I am going to be told I need to see another doctor. I guess I was hoping for more from the surgery."

She knew he had a lot on his mind today. "You are doing great," Anna leaned back a little in his arms. "You have remembered so much and if you need some extra help to get it all back then that's what we'll do"

"I just want to be better already. I should be recovered and helping you more."

Anna grinned, "Helping me do what exactly?"

"Get home." He stepped back a little. "We want to get home, I should be helping you figure out how we are going to do that."

He looked so serious but she couldn't help it and started to laugh a little. "I believe the only thing either of us is doing at the moment is working on healing. I pass on information. I hang out with a handsome guy who I get to have sex with now. I order food once in a while. Tell you what, I'll let you order dinner tonight if you want." When he smiled up at her, Anna stepped closer again. "If you need more medical attention, then we will get you more medical attention."

Robert grinned as she stepped back into his arms. She has a point, all they are doing at this point is waiting. "I guess I'm being impatient."

Anna nuzzled into his chest, "A little, yeah but that's what you do."

He nodded as he rubbed her back. "I don't remember as much Dr. Palmer thinks I should have, I know that. I'm sure I will have to have more medical attention."

"Then that's what we're doing next. Our team is working on the other stuff for us. You getting better is still the only task we have. That is our number one priority."

Robert finally let out a little laugh, "You're right." He kissed the top of her head then they stood there looking out at the morning a little longer. No point stressing about what they can't control.

"How do you think Robin is handling all of this?" Robert asked after some time.

"By putting one foot in front of the other. That girl is made of some strong stuff."

"And she's been through it a few too many times for someone her age. We've played dead before but this is taking it to an entirely new level. They had a funeral and she had to mourn us. She didn't get to come to give us a hug to know we are alright."

Anna wiped at the tear, in the corner of her eye. She didn't want to think about how hard this all must have been on their little girl. Yes, she has people there that love her and will look after her but they are not her parents. What had made Robert think about her like this today? Maybe he is just missing her a little more today. "I got to hug her. It was only for a brief time but we sat and talked. Your buddy is looking out for her too. Oh, I miss Friday."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this. You miss furface?" He dropped his head slightly. "I miss him too. He's a good dag and he's got a soft spot for the ladies."

"Just like you," she teased.

"Only a select few." He took her hand and led her to one of the chairs. Robert sat down and Anna climbed onto his lap and he wrapped his arms around her. "I honestly need to know how you think Robin is doing."

His concern for their daughter touched her, but he also needed a little reassurance. "You're right, she's been through this before but she had the proof needed to keep going. Robin has that now, she knows we are okay. There are so many of our friends looking out for her. You left her in good hands." Anna turned slightly so she could look at him. "Our daughter is eating up the fact she is in on all of this. This has been hard on Robin, but right now. I believe Robin is doing well. She might struggle at times having to play the part of mourning us but she misses us every day and that everyone will see and understand so she doesn't have to lie."

"She's doing alright?" he asked, just needed to be sure.

"Yes. I believe she is," Anna said, hoping to reassure him.

He closed his eyes, taking in her words. "Thank you."

Anna stroked his cheek and gave him a little half-grin. "You are such a wonderful father. She is very lucky to have a Daddy like you."

He smiled for a moment, "I hate to admit this but I think I'm a little jealous that you got see her and hug her but I am so grateful that you did. She needed that so much. She needed her mom to make it alright."

Anna grinned, "She gets that from you."

Robert put his head back a let out a laugh, a real smile on his face now. "Yes, she does. I don't know how you do it but you bring this peacefulness I need. You can also have the opposite effect when you want to put yourself at risk."

Anna laughed a little, she knew what he meant. "I promise I will try to limit that behaviour in the future."

"Oh, you'll try?"

"For you? I think I could," she told him and they both laughed.

"For me, for Robin, for a bubb, if we were so blessed."

"Awe," Anna covered her mouth, as tears came to her eyes. "I would love to have your bubb."

"We should look into that when we get home. Well, you should think about it." He didn't want to tell her what to do but he would love it if they could try to have a baby.

Anna only thought a moment then said, "I will. I think we should too. What does it hurt to know?"

"I think it's better to know. You are an amazing mother and any kid would be lucky to have you be their mom. If we could have one, I think we should know that."

Anna pushed on his chest a little. "Enough making me tear up this morning."

"I'm sorry but it's true." He leaned in and kissed her tenderly, then Anna put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

Robert watched the morning sky as he slowly rubbed Anna's back. Her arm was now around his waist and he was fairly certain she had fallen asleep. Moments like these made him truly grateful she had walked into his life. This woman is all he needs, she makes everything better just by being there. His eyes started to feel heavy, there was no point trying to fight it and a little more sleep wouldn't hurt. Resting his head on hers Robert drifted off to sleep as well.

…

Sean was pacing in his home office. There were a few things he needed to tell Robert and Anna but mostly he wanted to know what Robert had found out today. Sean couldn't help it, he knew he was letting himself get worked up about this. He knew Robert still wasn't completely himself. There is still a lot missing, he can hear it when they talk, there are things Robert kind of knows but isn't sure of. There are things that Sean felt Robert still hadn't remembered at all. What all was Robert still facing?

The worst part was having to keep quiet about all of this. He wanted to talk to Tiffany and tell her how worried he is about Robert. He wants to tell her their friends are alive and will come home but he can't. He hates keeping this from her but they can not risk anyone finding out that Robert and Anna are alive. As long as they aren't sure what all the threats out there are, it was just safer for them to stay 'dead'.

Robin had talked to them last time, they usually didn't let her in on the medical update calls just in case there was some troubling news but she will be there today and should be arriving anytime.

Sean wished they could go to Halifax, that he was hearing what the doctors were telling them right away. That Robin was there with her parents. Sean trusts what they are telling him but knows there are things they are forgetting or leaving out. He just wants to know that Robert will be alright, that he will be his old self again. He looked at his watch again, there was still another fifteen minutes before the agreed-upon call time. Sean knew he was more on edge today but also knew it was the not knowing causing that.

When there was a knock Sean went to answer the door, glad for the distraction. Robin had insisted that she would be the one telling her parents about what Ronda had told her. He smiled seeing Robin standing there when he opened the door. "Hi, sweety. Come on in, it's almost time to call them."

"Sorry, if I'm a little late. I was out with Felicia and Maxie and we were having a great time."

He could see a hint of sadness in her eyes. She felt bad about having a nice time. "You should be enjoying yourself, Robin. Don't apologize for having fun and you aren't late at all."

Robin smiled up at him, "Okay, thanks, Uncle Sean."

They turned and walked back to his office. "I think it's close enough, we might as well call them."

Robin hurried over to the phone, "Yeah, I think you're right," she said as she picked it up.

After they were put through to their room Sean put them on speaker. He wanted to hear everything today.

"Hello."

"Hi, Mom! Where's Dad?"

Robert grinned, standing right beside Anna so he could hear as well. "Hi, sweety. I'm right here too."

"Hey, Daddy." Robin smiled, she needed to hear both their voices. It made her feel better and made all of this a little easier to deal with.

Robert and Anna smiled at each other. They could both hear how happy she was hearing their voices. "I wish I was there with you so I could pull you into my arms and hug you so tight."

"Me and Mom?" she asked. "You always get us both in your arms and I love it."

"I know. Soon darling. Hopefully, that can happen soon."

Robin could hear the sadness in her father's voice. "You need more help first, don't you?" she asked, there was no point beating around the bush.

"Yeah, I do," he said with a little nod. "I guess I might as well just tell you guys this. I haven't gotten enough back for the doctor to be satisfied with my recovery. I remember certain people and things almost completely but other things still aren't there or only parts have returned. My doctor here wants me to go see another doctor that's here in Halifax. He is actually conducting a study about memory loss and the links to head trauma versus illness. This part shouldn't involve surgery but that is not being ruled out further down the line either."

"Alright, so when would you be meeting with this other doctor?" Sean asked. He saw the concern on Robin's face and wanted her to hear what they were facing.

"I have an appointment with him in three days. It sounds like he even has a team of doctors working on this with him," Robert explained.

"I think this will be good," Anna added. "I feel like this will help him."

"It should help I think. They know I was injured in an accident and that that is how I lost my memory. Since I am exactly the type of case they are studying they should be able to provide the help I need. That's the goal anyway."

"This is a good thing then. You need to lay low for now so this is perfect," Robin said excitedly.

"Why do we need to lay low, what have you heard now, hon?" Anna asked. This must be why Robin was the one that called them.

"The other day after I had breakfast with Olin, Ronda was waiting for me. She made sure that it just looked like she was giving me a ride and made sure Olin didn't see us together."

"Why did she need to talk to you?" Robert asked. He still wasn't totally comfortable with Robin being a go-between but knew it was what they had to work with.

"She wanted me to pass on some information." The look Sean was giving her matched her parents' on the other end of the line. "It's not bad. She didn't ask me to confirm anything she just wanted the right people to know. She doesn't want to know if you've contacted us. She let on that the WSB knows neither of you is in Argentina any longer."

"Go on," Sean said, for all the adults.

"She wanted me to tell you guys that for now the best thing you can do is stay out of sight. That the WSB isn't even really looking for you and would only pursue you if you were seen somewhere."

"Well I'm not going anywhere yet," Robert told her.

"That's good. Ronda also told me that Agent Ross has some plan he's put into motion now. He is going to use someone that looks enough like you, Mom, that Faison will be fooled and risk coming out of hiding to find out if it really is you. It sounds like he wants to use some poor unsuspecting woman as bait so he can bring Faison out in the open."

"What?" Anna cut in. She couldn't believe this was actually their plan.

"Yeah, Ronda didn't know all the details but knows there is a woman that looks like you and is being used to lure Faison."

"Do you know where they are trying to lure him to?" Robert asked. "Could they know where we are and it is Anna they're using, not someone else as the bait?"

"I asked that exact thing and Ronda doesn't believe Mom could be the bait. Ross' plan has been in place too long for it to be Mom."

"That makes me feel a little better but I also feel bad for this poor woman," Anna said as Robert put his arm around her holding her close to him.

"I told Ronda that he killed his own mother and that they are putting that unsuspecting woman in danger," Robin explained. "Ronda says she knows they are but can't interfere, she doesn't want to let on about how much she knows or what she's overheard."

Robert covered the mouthpiece. "Could this be a trap? Would she use our daughter to get to us?" he whispered.

"No, I don't think so. She is a nice person and I could see her having issues with the way Ross runs ops."

Robert tilted his head, "Nice doesn't count in our line of work. You know that."

"I don't believe she would be feeding our daughter fake information to trap us. I don't think she understood I was her prisoner at the time. If she has figured that out now, I could see you wanting to help us."

Robert nodded, "Alright." Then he uncovered the mouthpiece. "If any of you hear where they are setting this trap we need to know. The further away it is from us the happier I will be."

"We will, you can count on that," Sean told them.

"Is Mac still getting visitors at his club?" Robert asked.

"Once in a while but he doesn't let on that he knows who they are so they don't stick around all that long. He did tell me he will flirt with Ronda, not sure what the angle is but he seems to enjoy it."

"Oh, they'd make a cute couple," Anna whispered but they all still hear her.

"You're right Mom. They would," Robin agreed with a grin, Sean was smiling as well.

"We can play matchmaker for my brother later."

"It would be better than him and Holly," Robin muttered under her breath.

Robert and Anna shared a look that said, 'Well alright then.' None of that mattered at the moment so Robert asked, "Are any of your connections paying off, Sean?"

"Not really. Robin seems to be getting the best intel at the moment," Sean admitted. "Colin Ross is scared of losing his job is about all I'm hearing. They know he's plotting something but either he's keeping it quiet or there's a reason no one is willing to pass on what they know."

"I think he's keeping it quiet. Ronda overhears a lot of what he's got going on. He doesn't seem to mind talking on the phone while he waits for the team to get there so Ronda told me she started showing up a little earlier," Robin explained.

"I am liking this Ronda woman more and more," Robert said with a grin.

Anna was thinking about Ronda. She wasn't a plain woman, she was pretty in an understated way. Someone might notice her but could just as easily overlook her in a crowded room. Average height, average build, brunette shoulder-length hair. Ronda Norris would not necessarily stand out in a crowd. Then Anna grinned it wouldn't take much to change that. The right clothes, different hair-do, change the makeup. "She's a knockout playing church mouse. Good for her," Anna said with a grin. "We need to know for sure that she's on our side but I think you're right, Sean. For now Robin you are our direct connection to what the WSB is up to. I think she is using her training on Ross. Go unnoticed and collect information."

"Information she is passing on to me," Robin grinned proudly. She couldn't help it. She loved that she was a part of this. Her parents are going to come home someday and until they do she is part of the team working on making that possible. "I think I mentioned this before. She is not happy about being here or what is being done to either of you or to her for that matter. She seemed like she was in a lot of pain the other day when we were talking," Robin told them.

"She doesn't like the team she got stuck on and they don't care about her or her health," Sean noted, "I might want to have a chance encounter with Agent Norris, get my own take on our little helper."

"That's a good idea, Sean. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt," Robert agreed.

"Alright, why don't we talk again in two days, same time?" Anna suggested.

"That works for me."

"Me too," Robin answered with a grin.

"I miss you so much, Robin. I can't wait to give you the biggest hug," Anna said as a tear came to her eye.

"I want to see you both so badly. I just want us all cuddled up, maybe watching a movie. Friday right there waiting for us to drop something." Robin couldn't help the tears that started to fall.

"That's what we're working towards. All of us together again in our home living as a family. We're going to come home to you, Robin," Robert told her confidently.

"Yes, we are." Anna looked up at Robert. They are going to see their daughter again and it had better be sooner rather than later.

"Alright Scorpios, till next time." Then Sean ended the call then pulled Robin into his arms and hugged her tight. Just because her parents aren't there to do it doesn't mean she can't feel that kind of comfort.

After she hung up Anna took Robert's hand and lead him over to the bed. She grinned the laid down, "Come here. I want to snuggle and we should talk."

"I don't want to talk but I definitely want to snuggle." Robert grinned, then got on the bed beside her. He put his arms around her as she snuggled in nice and close. "I don't know what to think about having to see other doctors. I don't know how I feel about having to talk to more people about this. It would be a lot easier if I was Robert, not Steve. The memories I have or don't have wouldn't have to be edited to fit our cover story."

Robert was right, that was way too much to be thinking about at the moment. "Yeah, let's not talk about that." She leaned in and kissed him lovingly. "How amazing is our daughter?"

"Chip of the old block. Both blocks." Robert stroked Anna's hair, "Let's hope she decides to pick a career that doesn't require these skills." Anna laughed a little at that, she couldn't agree with him more. "I think I could use a little nap before dinner. Stay here with me?"

"Of course, I will."

Neither of them was all that happy about the fact Robert would still need more medical attention but they knew Robert getting his memory back was the only thing that mattered. Their team will let them know of any threats but for now, they are safe and focusing on Robert's health is what matters. They cuddled in and before long they were asleep in each other's arms. Today had already been a long day and both were feeling the emotional drain of all they had learned. Besides, naps were now rather common for them.