GH Fic: Outward Together in the Same Direction - Chapter 15
So, I completely forgot to tell you guys that all my GH fics are now posted and current on lj. So, um, yeah. All of Chaos Theory is up now, and all of Outward Together. And since you are the ones stuck listening to me ramble and complain about fanfic and GH all the damn time, I'm giving you a little present: the next chapter of OTSD! Let's not talk about how long it's been since I updated anything.
I'm posting this here before the SB, because I *heart* everyone a whole lot. Consider it a late Valentine's gift? Except for how there's nothing romantic or even remotely happy going on in this chapter. Bwah. Enjoy!
Thanks to
empressearwig, who looked at this months ago and gave me edits and feedback (which I'm pretty sure I completely ignored...oops), and to
lapiccolina, who helped me with a particularly tricky section, even if she doesn't remember doing it. :)
*****
Title: Outward Together in the Same Direction
Author: Normative Jean
Fandom: General Hospital
Characters/Pairings: Robin, Patrick, Brenda, most of the town; Robin/Patrick-centric
Rating: PG-ish
Timeline: May 2006, after the Girls' Night Out; AU after that
Summary: After the disastrous "girl's night out" and her subsequent offer of casual sex, Robin decides that she can no longer wait for Patrick to decide he really is a good guy. As they both face their own fears of commitment and love, a new Nurse's Ball is being planned. Along with the help of some old friends from Robin's past, this might be the only thing to help them find their way to each other, and to happiness.
When last we left: Robin realized she'd been tricked into performing in the Nurses Ball with Patrick. Robin then got talked into performing in the Nurses Ball with Liz, Emily, Lainey, and Kelly. Robin was also very, very hungover after spending the night helping Brenda deal with her confrontation with Sonny. So of course, just when it seemed like life might calm down, Carly showed up and Robin vomited on her shoes.
Chapter 15
Robin remained doubled over, clutching her hands over her stomach, and tried desperately to ignore Carly's shriek of disgust.
"Oh my God!" The blonde woman jumped back, her face twisted as she stared at her ruined shoes. "What the hell is the matter with you?!"
"Sorry," Robin replied weakly, although part of her noted that she really wasn't sorry at all. "It's been a bad day."
"Don't stand there and try to make me feel sorry for you!" Carly snapped. "You just got your infected vomit all over me!"
Robin closed her eyes against her pounding headache; after everything else, she did not have the strength for one of Carly's tirades. "Well, actually--"
"God!" Carly spat, glaring contemptuously at the brunette. "I can't believe any hospital would let you work for them! I can't even imagine how much their liability policy must cost."
"Probably still less than Sonny's," Robin muttered, shaking her head very gently to dispel the lingering feeling of nausea. "Or the Metro Court's, for that matter." Burned to the ground and co-owned by a committed psycho with a history of being shot at? Robin thought. Carly's insurance carrier must love her.
Carly glared at Robin, her previous reason for visiting GH fading away. "As if you're one to talk," she laughed. "You don't seriously make the hospital insurance pay for your medications, do you? I mean, I've been accused of taking advantage of people, but something like that is way worse than anything I've ever done."
Robin rolled her eyes and gripped the desk ledge. "Carly, the difference between you and me is that I'm a productive member of society, and am therefore entitled to get something back. You, on the other hand--"
"I what?" the blonde woman seethed, leaning into Robin. "At least I've gotten men to love me enough to marry me. Jason never even brought the topic up, did he?" she asked haughtily. "I mean, he sure as hell never mentioned your name while we were together--"
"Good God, am I actually having this conversation?" Robin muttered, shaking her head slightly. At least vomiting seemed to have finally relieved her headache a bit. "Carly, I am actually incredibly busy, so if it's all the same to you, I'm just going to go do my job and save lives." She paused, then gave into the vindictive side she was sure Brenda's presence was bringing out in her and added, "Two concepts with which I'm sure you're unfamiliar."
Robin turned around and walked behind the Nurses Station desk, and began flipping through patient charts. "And I have no idea where Emily is, so you'll have to come back another time."
Fuming, Carly walked a few steps away, trying to come up with a new plan of attack. As if it wasn't bad enough that Sonny was sleeping with her boys' nanny, now she had to deal with self-righteous Robin thinking she could just insult her and get away with it? Carly needed an outlet for all her anger, and she knew that the puny brunette was always a perfect target. She just needed something to hit her with...
Carly stopped walking when a bulletin board caught her eye. A flyer for the Nurses Ball was posted, asking people who wanted to perform to call the organizing committee. Robin's name was at the top of the list, and Carly suddenly knew how she could return Robin's hurt.
"You know," she called out causally across the floor, certain that their conversation wouldn't be kept private, "I'm actually really glad to see that there's a new Nurses Ball this year."
Robin didn't even raise her head. "Mm-hm," she nodded.
"I mean, God knows you don't have much else to fill up your life with. Forget Jason. Hell, forget Patrick Drake. This has got to be the only piece of that Stone kid you've got left."
Bingo.
Robin's head shot up, her dark eyes glittering furiously. "You don't have any idea what you're talking about!"
Carly smirked and walked back towards the desk, enjoying the new direction of their little chat. "I know that got your attention," she said lightly. "Usually that only happens when something's been weighing on your mind. So, I've always wondered. How does it feel to have everyone you love leave you?"
"Shut up, Carly," Robin hissed quietly, her eyes narrowed. Of all the things this woman had done to her before...
"No, I don't think I'll shut up," Carly replied happily. "In fact, I think you and I are just getting started." Running a hand along the edge of the desk, she kept her focus on Robin's face. It was always so much fun digging into the holier-than-thou Saint Robin, and this time around, Carly had a lot more ammunition than she'd ever had in the past.
"I mean," she continued, "you can't even say that the people you loved have died anymore, can you? Let's take a look, shall we?" Facing the other woman, Carly began ticking off names in her fingers. "We've got your dear friend Brenda, who played dead and made you mourn her sorry ass, only to reappear in Port Charles again once, and let me emphasize this one, you left town." Carly smirked at the expression on Robin's face. "Not that I blame her for laying low until you were gone. I may hate the woman, but I always felt sorry for her having to deal with you."
"I mean it Carly," Robin said quietly, trying desperately to control her rage. "Shut up."
Carly laughed loudly, oblivious to anyone around them. She missed the sound of the elevators opening, and didn't see the man she had come searching for walk onto the floor.
Sonny Corinthos scanned the area, hoping to find Emily. Instead he was greeted by the sight of his ex-wife and his ex...Brenda's words came rushing back to him.
"You and Robin don't have a relationship. You saw to that when you chose Jason and that woman over your little sister and Stone's girlfriend."
"You were like her brother, Sonny. You were with her through everything, you knew how much she had lost, and you treated her like garbage!"
"Stay away, Sonny."
He knew that Brenda had been correct that night, he had let Robin down in more ways than he could count. More than once, Sonny had wondered if the hatred between her and Carly would still have grown to be as fierce as it was if he had kept Robin under his protection. Sighing wearily, Sonny was certain that it wouldn't have mattered in the slightest to Carly if he and Robin had remained friends; she had never been one to keep her opinions to herself about the women in his life.
Whatever was going on between them now, Sonny knew that it wasn't his fight. But he slipped around the corner, keeping watch over them and listening to the fight, just in case.
Brenda might have warned him to stay away from Robin, but Sonny had never been good at doing what he was told.
"Then, of course," Carly said, raising another finger. "We've got dear old Mommy and Daddy. I mean, it takes a lot to make not one, but both of your parents hate you so much that they'd rather fake their deaths and run around the world playing superhero than to stay with you."
"You don't have any idea what you're talking about!" Robin shouted, ignoring the people on the floor who were stopping to watch. "They couldn't come back! They didn't have a choice!" Throwing all her typical caution to the wind, Robin gave into the nastier impulses that tended to creep out in her whenever confronted with Carly. "Unlike you, who chose to abandon your son for the first year of his life."
"I came back!" Carly hissed, her temper snapping at the reminder that this...woman had ever been allowed near her son. "The same can't be said for your parents, can it? It took the entire town nearly dying for your father to show his face to you again."
"Shut up!" Robin screamed, slapping her files down on the desk. Tears clouded her eyes, obscuring from her vision the gathering crowd, and reducing her world, once again, down to one point: Carly Corinthos.
"No, I won't shut up! I have had it up to here with your self-righteous attitude! You think you're so much better than everyone else, you think you have some sort of right to dictate to other people how they should live their lives, but what makes you so special, huh?" Carly sneered. "What makes you so goddamned superior when everyone you've ever claimed to love has run as far away from you as they could possibly get?"
Sonny hesitated for only a moment before deciding to intervene, but that moment was enough time for the elevator doors to open again. Sonny took a step back, leaning around the corner, and watched Anna Devane and Robert Scorpio enter the fray. If even half the stories he'd heard over the years were true, he didn't think his assistance would be needed.
That thought made Sonny smile. For all the ways he knew he'd failed Robin, he was glad that she had her family back. Brenda was right; family was more important than anything.
"So why don't you try shutting your whining mouth for once, Robin," Carly continued, not seeing the two people walking up slowly behind her, "and just admit what you and I both know: you push everyone around you away because you don't know when to mind your own damn business! Sonny and Jason couldn't get rid of you soon enough, and I'll bet your parents both regret that you ever found out they were alive!"
"Excuse me!"
Carly whipped around, ready to tell whoever had interrupted her to go to hell, when her mouth was suddenly shut.
Forcibly. By someone else.
Carly landed on the floor in a heap from the force of the hit. Snapping her head up to look at her attacker, she saw a beautiful woman slightly older than herself shaking out her fist and smirking. "Who the hell are you?" she demanded, scrambling back up.
"The only regret this mother has," Anna said coolly, "is that I've not had the opportunity to do that before now."
Carly scoffed in disbelief. "You're Robin's mother?"
"Are you alright, sweetheart?" Anna asked Robin, ignoring Carly entirely.
Robert kept his attention on the blonde woman. "Do you have any idea how easy it would be for us to take you in?"
"On what charges?" Carly shrieked. "Believe me, my lawyer would have me out of jail and have you slapped with an assault lawsuit so fast it'd make your head spin." No one threatened her.
"Oh, I'm not talking about the PCPD lock-up," he said quietly, glancing over to make sure Anna was tending to Robin. "I'm talking about someplace where no one will ever find you. It's the least we owe you, after all."
Her eyes widened. "You're bluffing!"
"Am I?" Robert asked lightly. "You just viciously attacked my daughter. I dare you to test your theory."
"Dad, it's fine," Robin interrupted, smiling wearily at her father. "This is par for course when we're both in Port Charles at the same time."
"This is so typical of you," Carly snarled, refusing to show any intimidation to the newcomers. "Always hiding behind other people, never fighting your own battles--"
"You do realize that Robert and I are licensed to carry concealed weapons, don't you?" Anna piped up. "It's just a thought you should keep in mind."
Robin couldn't hold back the smile that threatened to break free over her face. She didn't think she would ever get used to having her parents back in her life, defending her. She hoped she had a lifetime to never get used to the feeling.
Carle snarled out a laugh, not at all liking the boxed-in feeling she was getting from Robin having her parents there. She thought back to her breakdown the year before, how Bobbie, Carly's own mother, hadn't even jumped to her daughter's defense right away. Bobbie and Carly had had a solid relationship for years, and she still hadn't been able to support Carly's anger at Reese and Sonny until Carly had fallen completely over the edge.
And now here she was, Saint Robin, with both of her parents back in her life after years of not being there for her, jumping to their daughter's defense, when Carly had struggled and bled just to finally reach a place of mutual love and understanding with her own mother? Screw that, Carly thought viciously, no way does Robin get a free pass just because Mommy and Daddy were there to coddle her again.
"You know what, Robin? Take it," she said icily, narrowing her eyes in preparation for her final blow. "Take Mommy and Daddy's love and attention. Let them fight your battles for you, because you know what? Just because they came back doesn't mean that anyone else ever will." Carly went in for the kill.
"They'll realize soon enough how big a mistake it was to let you back into their lives. And that's why your precious Stone's death was such a blessing in disguise," she spat. "At least he had the mercy of death to set him free, so he wouldn't have to spend a single moment longer stuck with you than he had to!"
Robin's vision faded out, and she saw red.
"Don't you dare!" she screamed, breaking away from a startled Anna's grasp. Robin flew at Carly, slapping her across the face on the same side her mother had hit only minutes earlier. "Don't you ever say his name! Don't you even think it!"
"Get off of me, you bitch!" Carly shrieked, pushing against Robin's attack.
"You don't get to say his name, ever!"
"Robin!" Anna shouted, wrapping her arms around Robin's shoulders in a fruitless effort to hold her still. "Robin, darling, please! Calm down!"
Robert similarly gripped Carly's arms to keep her from flying at Robin.
Patrick and Elizabeth walked down the hall towards the nurses station at that moment. They both stopped and gaped at the scene before them: Anna holding a struggling, crying Robin back as she tried to go after Carly, and Robert holding Carly back as she spat worse cruelty than Patrick had ever believed she was capable of.
Sonny stepped around the corner to intervene, even as Carly kept up her verbal assault.
"The only reason you're so mad is because it's true!" Carly hissed, flailing against Robert. "Sonny loved that boy, and that still wasn't enough to make him want to stick around if you were there! Dying was the only way to get away from you!"
"Shut up!" Robin cried, her anger swiftly fading into bone-deep sorrow at Carly's harsh words.
"Carly!" Sonny snapped as he came into view.
"Hell," Carly continued, heedless of the scene they were causing. "I know that I'd rather be dead than be anchored to you! I've felt sorry for Stone for a lot of things, but every time Sonny talked about him, I always thanked God that he was at least free from you!"
"Shut up!" Robin screamed again, hot tears pouring from her eyes as she struggled against her mother's arms, now wrapped around her waist.
"Robin!" Anna said desperately, her eyes promising a bloody, painful end for Carly once her daughter was safe.
"Carly, Goddammit!" Sonny shouted for his ex-wife's attention. "Stop it right now!"
"Are you kidding me?!" Carly whipped her head around furiously, her body still stuck in Robert's hold, even as she kicked against him. "This is none of your damn business, Sonny!"
"The hell it's not!" he barked back. He should never have allowed it to go this far, he should have stepped in as soon as he saw Carly go after Robin. Damn Brenda for guilting him into leaving Robin alone; he should never have left Robin alone in the first place. Damn Brenda for being right about that, too.
Elizabeth marched up to Robin, stepping between her and the still-struggling Carly. "What the hell is the matter with you?" she hissed.
Patrick was stuck, watching the entire horror unfold with mute shock. He knew he had missed whatever had led up to this moment, but it didn't even matter what had been said before he got there. He felt a sharp bitterness rise in the back of this throat. He had seen Robin and Carly go at each other before, and it had always intrigued and slightly amused him, and he had certainly never stopped an encounter between the two women from occurring, but this...he had no idea, whenever he let loose on Robin about Carly -- or let Carly herself loose on Robin -- that this level of violence existed between them. He hadn't believed Robin -- or Brenda, or Elizabeth, or anyone who had ever tried to tell him so -- that Carly was capable of this.
"Dammit, Carly!" Sonny yelled again, this time making Carly calm down enough to listen to him. "What the hell were you thinking?!"
Elizabeth snorted. "It's Carly, Sonny. She doesn't think."
"Oh, you can shut your mouth too, you prissy little--"
"Carly!" Sonny tried again. She ignored him.
"--as bad as perfect little Robin over there! How many men have you driven away, Elizabeth?"
"That's enough!" Sonny bellowed. Carly broke away from Robert's grasp, and Sonny saw the older man's fingers twitch near his side. Sonny knew that movement all too well; it was the instinctive reach for a gun when he felt the situation called for it. He had to end this disaster now.
Carly crossed her arms and frowned at her ex-husband. "Sonny, don't stand there and tell me you're actually going to defend the woman who nearly ruined Michael's life!"
"Carly," Sonny breathed slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. It amazed him sometimes, just how ignorant to any and all danger Carly could be.
Robin had stilled, weakly pulling out of Anna's arms. Tears were still streaming down her face, no matter how furiously she scrubbed at them. She stood ramrod-straight and looked like she might snap in half from the tension. Adrenaline was a real bitch, she thought distantly.
"No, I'm serious, Sonny!" Carly continued on, focusing her energy on the reason she was at the hospital anyway. "You know what she did to Michael, you know that she almost destroyed his life! He was just a baby and she didn't even care!"
Both Robert's and Anna's hands twitched. Robin, if it were even possible, seemed to wind up even more tightly.
"Carly, please," he nearly begged, knowing that things were about to erupt again. Brenda was right; he hated being powerless.
The blonde whirled around to face Robin again. She smirked slightly when she saw Patrick standing a little behind Robin, a shocked look on his face. Good, she thought cruelly, at least now he'll know the truth about the sainted Robin Scorpio.
"I guess it's a damn good thing that Patrick found out all about you now, huh?" she threw out, wrenching away when Robert made a grab for her arm. "I actually like the guy, and it would be a shame if another person in your life had to disappear just to get away from you."
Robin, Anna, and Elizabeth snapped, each reaching for Carly. Patrick fell against the nurses station desk when the women pushed him out of the way, and he continued to watch in stunned silence. Robert spun around with a vicious snarl, and did reach into his jacket for a sidearm. Sonny pushed Robert's arm down before he could fully draw his weapon and stood between the mother of his children and the people who wouldn't have any problem drawing her blood just then.
Carly took Sonny's actions as a sign that he was on her side, just like she knew he always would be. "I guess Stone really was the lucky one, huh?"
"You bitch!" Robin screamed.
Sonny felt his composure finally snap. "Walk away, Carly," he said tightly, whipping around to face her furiously.
The color drained from her face when she saw his thunderous expression. "But Sonny--"
"Walk away!"
Carly's eyes widened and she took an involuntary step back. She looked around, seemingly aware for the first time just how large a crowd her fight with Robin had attracted. And they all looked ready to step between Carly and defend Robin, just like the idiots in this town always did. Carly's lip curled at the thought of how many people Robin Scorpio continued to fool.
"God, Sonny," she spat, shaking her head in disbelief. "First this thing with Emily, and now taking Robin's side over your kids'?" Sonny opened his mouth to respond, but Carly cut him off, determined to, if nothing else was salvageable, at least get the last word in. "You know, you're making it really hard for me to think our current custody arrangement is a good idea." With that, she spun around and stormed onto the elevator.
The group she left behind exploded.
"That bitch!"
"Seconded, Luv."
"Don't call me that, Robert! I'm still mad at you!"
"Oh my God, I hate that woman! Robin, are you okay?"
"I should've stepped in sooner."
"Robin, sweetheart?"
"Luv?"
"Robin?"
"Robin?"
"Robin?"
The last voice -- Patrick's, God -- snapped Robin out of her stupor. She looked up at all the people standing worriedly around her. She opened and closed her mouth several times, trying to find the right words to say, as if there were the right words for all the things Carly had thrown at her.
"I don't..." she stuttered, beginning to shake from the adrenaline again. "I can't..."
Patrick took a step forward and rested a gentle hand against her arm. He had never seen Robin look so shattered. He hadn't known she was capable of it. "Robin?"
Robin's eyes snapped up to meet his. They were wide and nearly all pupil, and she held Patrick's gaze for all of three seconds before breaking through the small crowd and bolting down the hallway.
"Robin!" he called after her, as Robert and Anna both started after her.
Elizabeth had a feeling that Robin wouldn't want to face anyone just yet. She had enough experience dealing with Carly to know that a nice long cool-down was usually required, and god knew that Carly had said far worse things to Robin just then than she ever had to Elizabeth. Robin was her friend, Liz decided firmly, and she deserved a break. Looking coolly at Patrick, Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. Robin also deserved a little payback for all the times Patrick had ever even hinted that he preferred Carly in some way.
"Just so you know," Elizbaeth said casually, catching Robert and Anna's attention. "Patrick's been saying for months that Robin should be more like Carly."
Patrick gawked in shock at her. "What?! No I haven't!"
Elizabeth shrugged indifferently. "He's also been using Carly to get a rise out of Robin. A lot."
The two former spies halted their pursuit of their daughter and turned their full -- and, Patrick gulped, angry -- attention on him.
"Is that a fact?" Robert asked quietly, sharply.
Anna raised an appraising eyebrow, and her face told Patrick that she found him decidedly wanting. "Has he now?"
Elizabeth nodded, crossing her arms. "If it were anyone but Carly, I wouldn't say anything. But I think we all know," she looked pointedly at Patrick, "how awful she is to Robin."
Patrick leaned down to hiss in Elizabeth's ear, "You traitor!"
She pulled back and cocked a hand on her hip. "I'm on Robin's side for this one, you idiot! You've been throwing Carly in her face ever since you found out there was bad blood between them! Did you ever even bother to ask yourself 'why?'"
Patrick gaped like a fish as Anna and Robert advanced on him, both talking over each other about Patrick's apparent -- he had to grant them this one -- stupidity. That didn't mean he wasn't going to try to defend himself against the two angry parents, especially since it seemed that Elizabeth would be more than happy to help them flay him alive.
Sonny hung back, watching as Robin's parents and her friend distracted themselves for the time being with Patrick. He glanced down the hallway where Robin had run, and back at the others again, before making his decision. After one last look to make sure no one was watching him, he slipped away and followed the same path Robin had taken.
Damn what Brenda said. He needed to find Robin.
I'm posting this here before the SB, because I *heart* everyone a whole lot. Consider it a late Valentine's gift? Except for how there's nothing romantic or even remotely happy going on in this chapter. Bwah. Enjoy!
Thanks to
empressearwig, who looked at this months ago and gave me edits and feedback (which I'm pretty sure I completely ignored...oops), and to
lapiccolina, who helped me with a particularly tricky section, even if she doesn't remember doing it. :)
*****
Title: Outward Together in the Same Direction
Author: Normative Jean
Fandom: General Hospital
Characters/Pairings: Robin, Patrick, Brenda, most of the town; Robin/Patrick-centric
Rating: PG-ish
Timeline: May 2006, after the Girls' Night Out; AU after that
Summary: After the disastrous "girl's night out" and her subsequent offer of casual sex, Robin decides that she can no longer wait for Patrick to decide he really is a good guy. As they both face their own fears of commitment and love, a new Nurse's Ball is being planned. Along with the help of some old friends from Robin's past, this might be the only thing to help them find their way to each other, and to happiness.
When last we left: Robin realized she'd been tricked into performing in the Nurses Ball with Patrick. Robin then got talked into performing in the Nurses Ball with Liz, Emily, Lainey, and Kelly. Robin was also very, very hungover after spending the night helping Brenda deal with her confrontation with Sonny. So of course, just when it seemed like life might calm down, Carly showed up and Robin vomited on her shoes.
Chapter 15
Robin remained doubled over, clutching her hands over her stomach, and tried desperately to ignore Carly's shriek of disgust.
"Oh my God!" The blonde woman jumped back, her face twisted as she stared at her ruined shoes. "What the hell is the matter with you?!"
"Sorry," Robin replied weakly, although part of her noted that she really wasn't sorry at all. "It's been a bad day."
"Don't stand there and try to make me feel sorry for you!" Carly snapped. "You just got your infected vomit all over me!"
Robin closed her eyes against her pounding headache; after everything else, she did not have the strength for one of Carly's tirades. "Well, actually--"
"God!" Carly spat, glaring contemptuously at the brunette. "I can't believe any hospital would let you work for them! I can't even imagine how much their liability policy must cost."
"Probably still less than Sonny's," Robin muttered, shaking her head very gently to dispel the lingering feeling of nausea. "Or the Metro Court's, for that matter." Burned to the ground and co-owned by a committed psycho with a history of being shot at? Robin thought. Carly's insurance carrier must love her.
Carly glared at Robin, her previous reason for visiting GH fading away. "As if you're one to talk," she laughed. "You don't seriously make the hospital insurance pay for your medications, do you? I mean, I've been accused of taking advantage of people, but something like that is way worse than anything I've ever done."
Robin rolled her eyes and gripped the desk ledge. "Carly, the difference between you and me is that I'm a productive member of society, and am therefore entitled to get something back. You, on the other hand--"
"I what?" the blonde woman seethed, leaning into Robin. "At least I've gotten men to love me enough to marry me. Jason never even brought the topic up, did he?" she asked haughtily. "I mean, he sure as hell never mentioned your name while we were together--"
"Good God, am I actually having this conversation?" Robin muttered, shaking her head slightly. At least vomiting seemed to have finally relieved her headache a bit. "Carly, I am actually incredibly busy, so if it's all the same to you, I'm just going to go do my job and save lives." She paused, then gave into the vindictive side she was sure Brenda's presence was bringing out in her and added, "Two concepts with which I'm sure you're unfamiliar."
Robin turned around and walked behind the Nurses Station desk, and began flipping through patient charts. "And I have no idea where Emily is, so you'll have to come back another time."
Fuming, Carly walked a few steps away, trying to come up with a new plan of attack. As if it wasn't bad enough that Sonny was sleeping with her boys' nanny, now she had to deal with self-righteous Robin thinking she could just insult her and get away with it? Carly needed an outlet for all her anger, and she knew that the puny brunette was always a perfect target. She just needed something to hit her with...
Carly stopped walking when a bulletin board caught her eye. A flyer for the Nurses Ball was posted, asking people who wanted to perform to call the organizing committee. Robin's name was at the top of the list, and Carly suddenly knew how she could return Robin's hurt.
"You know," she called out causally across the floor, certain that their conversation wouldn't be kept private, "I'm actually really glad to see that there's a new Nurses Ball this year."
Robin didn't even raise her head. "Mm-hm," she nodded.
"I mean, God knows you don't have much else to fill up your life with. Forget Jason. Hell, forget Patrick Drake. This has got to be the only piece of that Stone kid you've got left."
Bingo.
Robin's head shot up, her dark eyes glittering furiously. "You don't have any idea what you're talking about!"
Carly smirked and walked back towards the desk, enjoying the new direction of their little chat. "I know that got your attention," she said lightly. "Usually that only happens when something's been weighing on your mind. So, I've always wondered. How does it feel to have everyone you love leave you?"
"Shut up, Carly," Robin hissed quietly, her eyes narrowed. Of all the things this woman had done to her before...
"No, I don't think I'll shut up," Carly replied happily. "In fact, I think you and I are just getting started." Running a hand along the edge of the desk, she kept her focus on Robin's face. It was always so much fun digging into the holier-than-thou Saint Robin, and this time around, Carly had a lot more ammunition than she'd ever had in the past.
"I mean," she continued, "you can't even say that the people you loved have died anymore, can you? Let's take a look, shall we?" Facing the other woman, Carly began ticking off names in her fingers. "We've got your dear friend Brenda, who played dead and made you mourn her sorry ass, only to reappear in Port Charles again once, and let me emphasize this one, you left town." Carly smirked at the expression on Robin's face. "Not that I blame her for laying low until you were gone. I may hate the woman, but I always felt sorry for her having to deal with you."
"I mean it Carly," Robin said quietly, trying desperately to control her rage. "Shut up."
Carly laughed loudly, oblivious to anyone around them. She missed the sound of the elevators opening, and didn't see the man she had come searching for walk onto the floor.
Sonny Corinthos scanned the area, hoping to find Emily. Instead he was greeted by the sight of his ex-wife and his ex...Brenda's words came rushing back to him.
"You and Robin don't have a relationship. You saw to that when you chose Jason and that woman over your little sister and Stone's girlfriend."
"You were like her brother, Sonny. You were with her through everything, you knew how much she had lost, and you treated her like garbage!"
"Stay away, Sonny."
He knew that Brenda had been correct that night, he had let Robin down in more ways than he could count. More than once, Sonny had wondered if the hatred between her and Carly would still have grown to be as fierce as it was if he had kept Robin under his protection. Sighing wearily, Sonny was certain that it wouldn't have mattered in the slightest to Carly if he and Robin had remained friends; she had never been one to keep her opinions to herself about the women in his life.
Whatever was going on between them now, Sonny knew that it wasn't his fight. But he slipped around the corner, keeping watch over them and listening to the fight, just in case.
Brenda might have warned him to stay away from Robin, but Sonny had never been good at doing what he was told.
"Then, of course," Carly said, raising another finger. "We've got dear old Mommy and Daddy. I mean, it takes a lot to make not one, but both of your parents hate you so much that they'd rather fake their deaths and run around the world playing superhero than to stay with you."
"You don't have any idea what you're talking about!" Robin shouted, ignoring the people on the floor who were stopping to watch. "They couldn't come back! They didn't have a choice!" Throwing all her typical caution to the wind, Robin gave into the nastier impulses that tended to creep out in her whenever confronted with Carly. "Unlike you, who chose to abandon your son for the first year of his life."
"I came back!" Carly hissed, her temper snapping at the reminder that this...woman had ever been allowed near her son. "The same can't be said for your parents, can it? It took the entire town nearly dying for your father to show his face to you again."
"Shut up!" Robin screamed, slapping her files down on the desk. Tears clouded her eyes, obscuring from her vision the gathering crowd, and reducing her world, once again, down to one point: Carly Corinthos.
"No, I won't shut up! I have had it up to here with your self-righteous attitude! You think you're so much better than everyone else, you think you have some sort of right to dictate to other people how they should live their lives, but what makes you so special, huh?" Carly sneered. "What makes you so goddamned superior when everyone you've ever claimed to love has run as far away from you as they could possibly get?"
Sonny hesitated for only a moment before deciding to intervene, but that moment was enough time for the elevator doors to open again. Sonny took a step back, leaning around the corner, and watched Anna Devane and Robert Scorpio enter the fray. If even half the stories he'd heard over the years were true, he didn't think his assistance would be needed.
That thought made Sonny smile. For all the ways he knew he'd failed Robin, he was glad that she had her family back. Brenda was right; family was more important than anything.
"So why don't you try shutting your whining mouth for once, Robin," Carly continued, not seeing the two people walking up slowly behind her, "and just admit what you and I both know: you push everyone around you away because you don't know when to mind your own damn business! Sonny and Jason couldn't get rid of you soon enough, and I'll bet your parents both regret that you ever found out they were alive!"
"Excuse me!"
Carly whipped around, ready to tell whoever had interrupted her to go to hell, when her mouth was suddenly shut.
Forcibly. By someone else.
Carly landed on the floor in a heap from the force of the hit. Snapping her head up to look at her attacker, she saw a beautiful woman slightly older than herself shaking out her fist and smirking. "Who the hell are you?" she demanded, scrambling back up.
"The only regret this mother has," Anna said coolly, "is that I've not had the opportunity to do that before now."
Carly scoffed in disbelief. "You're Robin's mother?"
"Are you alright, sweetheart?" Anna asked Robin, ignoring Carly entirely.
Robert kept his attention on the blonde woman. "Do you have any idea how easy it would be for us to take you in?"
"On what charges?" Carly shrieked. "Believe me, my lawyer would have me out of jail and have you slapped with an assault lawsuit so fast it'd make your head spin." No one threatened her.
"Oh, I'm not talking about the PCPD lock-up," he said quietly, glancing over to make sure Anna was tending to Robin. "I'm talking about someplace where no one will ever find you. It's the least we owe you, after all."
Her eyes widened. "You're bluffing!"
"Am I?" Robert asked lightly. "You just viciously attacked my daughter. I dare you to test your theory."
"Dad, it's fine," Robin interrupted, smiling wearily at her father. "This is par for course when we're both in Port Charles at the same time."
"This is so typical of you," Carly snarled, refusing to show any intimidation to the newcomers. "Always hiding behind other people, never fighting your own battles--"
"You do realize that Robert and I are licensed to carry concealed weapons, don't you?" Anna piped up. "It's just a thought you should keep in mind."
Robin couldn't hold back the smile that threatened to break free over her face. She didn't think she would ever get used to having her parents back in her life, defending her. She hoped she had a lifetime to never get used to the feeling.
Carle snarled out a laugh, not at all liking the boxed-in feeling she was getting from Robin having her parents there. She thought back to her breakdown the year before, how Bobbie, Carly's own mother, hadn't even jumped to her daughter's defense right away. Bobbie and Carly had had a solid relationship for years, and she still hadn't been able to support Carly's anger at Reese and Sonny until Carly had fallen completely over the edge.
And now here she was, Saint Robin, with both of her parents back in her life after years of not being there for her, jumping to their daughter's defense, when Carly had struggled and bled just to finally reach a place of mutual love and understanding with her own mother? Screw that, Carly thought viciously, no way does Robin get a free pass just because Mommy and Daddy were there to coddle her again.
"You know what, Robin? Take it," she said icily, narrowing her eyes in preparation for her final blow. "Take Mommy and Daddy's love and attention. Let them fight your battles for you, because you know what? Just because they came back doesn't mean that anyone else ever will." Carly went in for the kill.
"They'll realize soon enough how big a mistake it was to let you back into their lives. And that's why your precious Stone's death was such a blessing in disguise," she spat. "At least he had the mercy of death to set him free, so he wouldn't have to spend a single moment longer stuck with you than he had to!"
Robin's vision faded out, and she saw red.
"Don't you dare!" she screamed, breaking away from a startled Anna's grasp. Robin flew at Carly, slapping her across the face on the same side her mother had hit only minutes earlier. "Don't you ever say his name! Don't you even think it!"
"Get off of me, you bitch!" Carly shrieked, pushing against Robin's attack.
"You don't get to say his name, ever!"
"Robin!" Anna shouted, wrapping her arms around Robin's shoulders in a fruitless effort to hold her still. "Robin, darling, please! Calm down!"
Robert similarly gripped Carly's arms to keep her from flying at Robin.
Patrick and Elizabeth walked down the hall towards the nurses station at that moment. They both stopped and gaped at the scene before them: Anna holding a struggling, crying Robin back as she tried to go after Carly, and Robert holding Carly back as she spat worse cruelty than Patrick had ever believed she was capable of.
Sonny stepped around the corner to intervene, even as Carly kept up her verbal assault.
"The only reason you're so mad is because it's true!" Carly hissed, flailing against Robert. "Sonny loved that boy, and that still wasn't enough to make him want to stick around if you were there! Dying was the only way to get away from you!"
"Shut up!" Robin cried, her anger swiftly fading into bone-deep sorrow at Carly's harsh words.
"Carly!" Sonny snapped as he came into view.
"Hell," Carly continued, heedless of the scene they were causing. "I know that I'd rather be dead than be anchored to you! I've felt sorry for Stone for a lot of things, but every time Sonny talked about him, I always thanked God that he was at least free from you!"
"Shut up!" Robin screamed again, hot tears pouring from her eyes as she struggled against her mother's arms, now wrapped around her waist.
"Robin!" Anna said desperately, her eyes promising a bloody, painful end for Carly once her daughter was safe.
"Carly, Goddammit!" Sonny shouted for his ex-wife's attention. "Stop it right now!"
"Are you kidding me?!" Carly whipped her head around furiously, her body still stuck in Robert's hold, even as she kicked against him. "This is none of your damn business, Sonny!"
"The hell it's not!" he barked back. He should never have allowed it to go this far, he should have stepped in as soon as he saw Carly go after Robin. Damn Brenda for guilting him into leaving Robin alone; he should never have left Robin alone in the first place. Damn Brenda for being right about that, too.
Elizabeth marched up to Robin, stepping between her and the still-struggling Carly. "What the hell is the matter with you?" she hissed.
Patrick was stuck, watching the entire horror unfold with mute shock. He knew he had missed whatever had led up to this moment, but it didn't even matter what had been said before he got there. He felt a sharp bitterness rise in the back of this throat. He had seen Robin and Carly go at each other before, and it had always intrigued and slightly amused him, and he had certainly never stopped an encounter between the two women from occurring, but this...he had no idea, whenever he let loose on Robin about Carly -- or let Carly herself loose on Robin -- that this level of violence existed between them. He hadn't believed Robin -- or Brenda, or Elizabeth, or anyone who had ever tried to tell him so -- that Carly was capable of this.
"Dammit, Carly!" Sonny yelled again, this time making Carly calm down enough to listen to him. "What the hell were you thinking?!"
Elizabeth snorted. "It's Carly, Sonny. She doesn't think."
"Oh, you can shut your mouth too, you prissy little--"
"Carly!" Sonny tried again. She ignored him.
"--as bad as perfect little Robin over there! How many men have you driven away, Elizabeth?"
"That's enough!" Sonny bellowed. Carly broke away from Robert's grasp, and Sonny saw the older man's fingers twitch near his side. Sonny knew that movement all too well; it was the instinctive reach for a gun when he felt the situation called for it. He had to end this disaster now.
Carly crossed her arms and frowned at her ex-husband. "Sonny, don't stand there and tell me you're actually going to defend the woman who nearly ruined Michael's life!"
"Carly," Sonny breathed slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. It amazed him sometimes, just how ignorant to any and all danger Carly could be.
Robin had stilled, weakly pulling out of Anna's arms. Tears were still streaming down her face, no matter how furiously she scrubbed at them. She stood ramrod-straight and looked like she might snap in half from the tension. Adrenaline was a real bitch, she thought distantly.
"No, I'm serious, Sonny!" Carly continued on, focusing her energy on the reason she was at the hospital anyway. "You know what she did to Michael, you know that she almost destroyed his life! He was just a baby and she didn't even care!"
Both Robert's and Anna's hands twitched. Robin, if it were even possible, seemed to wind up even more tightly.
"Carly, please," he nearly begged, knowing that things were about to erupt again. Brenda was right; he hated being powerless.
The blonde whirled around to face Robin again. She smirked slightly when she saw Patrick standing a little behind Robin, a shocked look on his face. Good, she thought cruelly, at least now he'll know the truth about the sainted Robin Scorpio.
"I guess it's a damn good thing that Patrick found out all about you now, huh?" she threw out, wrenching away when Robert made a grab for her arm. "I actually like the guy, and it would be a shame if another person in your life had to disappear just to get away from you."
Robin, Anna, and Elizabeth snapped, each reaching for Carly. Patrick fell against the nurses station desk when the women pushed him out of the way, and he continued to watch in stunned silence. Robert spun around with a vicious snarl, and did reach into his jacket for a sidearm. Sonny pushed Robert's arm down before he could fully draw his weapon and stood between the mother of his children and the people who wouldn't have any problem drawing her blood just then.
Carly took Sonny's actions as a sign that he was on her side, just like she knew he always would be. "I guess Stone really was the lucky one, huh?"
"You bitch!" Robin screamed.
Sonny felt his composure finally snap. "Walk away, Carly," he said tightly, whipping around to face her furiously.
The color drained from her face when she saw his thunderous expression. "But Sonny--"
"Walk away!"
Carly's eyes widened and she took an involuntary step back. She looked around, seemingly aware for the first time just how large a crowd her fight with Robin had attracted. And they all looked ready to step between Carly and defend Robin, just like the idiots in this town always did. Carly's lip curled at the thought of how many people Robin Scorpio continued to fool.
"God, Sonny," she spat, shaking her head in disbelief. "First this thing with Emily, and now taking Robin's side over your kids'?" Sonny opened his mouth to respond, but Carly cut him off, determined to, if nothing else was salvageable, at least get the last word in. "You know, you're making it really hard for me to think our current custody arrangement is a good idea." With that, she spun around and stormed onto the elevator.
The group she left behind exploded.
"That bitch!"
"Seconded, Luv."
"Don't call me that, Robert! I'm still mad at you!"
"Oh my God, I hate that woman! Robin, are you okay?"
"I should've stepped in sooner."
"Robin, sweetheart?"
"Luv?"
"Robin?"
"Robin?"
"Robin?"
The last voice -- Patrick's, God -- snapped Robin out of her stupor. She looked up at all the people standing worriedly around her. She opened and closed her mouth several times, trying to find the right words to say, as if there were the right words for all the things Carly had thrown at her.
"I don't..." she stuttered, beginning to shake from the adrenaline again. "I can't..."
Patrick took a step forward and rested a gentle hand against her arm. He had never seen Robin look so shattered. He hadn't known she was capable of it. "Robin?"
Robin's eyes snapped up to meet his. They were wide and nearly all pupil, and she held Patrick's gaze for all of three seconds before breaking through the small crowd and bolting down the hallway.
"Robin!" he called after her, as Robert and Anna both started after her.
Elizabeth had a feeling that Robin wouldn't want to face anyone just yet. She had enough experience dealing with Carly to know that a nice long cool-down was usually required, and god knew that Carly had said far worse things to Robin just then than she ever had to Elizabeth. Robin was her friend, Liz decided firmly, and she deserved a break. Looking coolly at Patrick, Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. Robin also deserved a little payback for all the times Patrick had ever even hinted that he preferred Carly in some way.
"Just so you know," Elizbaeth said casually, catching Robert and Anna's attention. "Patrick's been saying for months that Robin should be more like Carly."
Patrick gawked in shock at her. "What?! No I haven't!"
Elizabeth shrugged indifferently. "He's also been using Carly to get a rise out of Robin. A lot."
The two former spies halted their pursuit of their daughter and turned their full -- and, Patrick gulped, angry -- attention on him.
"Is that a fact?" Robert asked quietly, sharply.
Anna raised an appraising eyebrow, and her face told Patrick that she found him decidedly wanting. "Has he now?"
Elizabeth nodded, crossing her arms. "If it were anyone but Carly, I wouldn't say anything. But I think we all know," she looked pointedly at Patrick, "how awful she is to Robin."
Patrick leaned down to hiss in Elizabeth's ear, "You traitor!"
She pulled back and cocked a hand on her hip. "I'm on Robin's side for this one, you idiot! You've been throwing Carly in her face ever since you found out there was bad blood between them! Did you ever even bother to ask yourself 'why?'"
Patrick gaped like a fish as Anna and Robert advanced on him, both talking over each other about Patrick's apparent -- he had to grant them this one -- stupidity. That didn't mean he wasn't going to try to defend himself against the two angry parents, especially since it seemed that Elizabeth would be more than happy to help them flay him alive.
Sonny hung back, watching as Robin's parents and her friend distracted themselves for the time being with Patrick. He glanced down the hallway where Robin had run, and back at the others again, before making his decision. After one last look to make sure no one was watching him, he slipped away and followed the same path Robin had taken.
Damn what Brenda said. He needed to find Robin.