Beauchel Health Institute, Switzerland
Whirr ... click.
The motion sensor at the main gate activated the security camera in the portico. The security officer and concierge consciously straightened their collars and ties. The Beauchel Health Institute had a world-class reputation and they were not about to disgrace it by being sloppy.
The red Porsche Boxster glided through the gates and nimbly navigated the winding curves up the hill. The car had barely stopped before the driver tossed her driving glasses into the passenger's seat, untied her head scarf with a flourish and exited the car. With regal self-confidence she strode through the double doors leaving the two men gaping in her wake.
Alert eyes took a quick survey of not only the understated entrance hall but also the placement of every security camera, visible alarm and security personnel. She assessed the clerks at the front desk approvingly.
She spoke, "Anna Devane to see Robert Scorpio.”
"Ah, Madame Devane, yes, we have been expecting you. I am Henri Louis Renard, general manager of the Institute,” Renard smiled ingratiatingly at Anna. Renard was a slight man whose receding hairline was artfully camouflaged by a comb over. "Please follow me. As you will see, we have followed your instructions to the letter.”
"The institute came highly recommended, Monsieur Renard. I'm sure that I will not be disappointed.”
"Henri, please,” Renard could feel himself flushing at a compliment given with such warmth and sincerity. He straightened his posture a bit. "We hope you shall not be disappointed. Should you desire any change, we would be delighted to comply. No request is too small, believe me, Madame."
"Please call me Anna." Anna forced her legs to match Renard's leisurely pace as he led her through the opulent lobby. "How has Robert been? Difficult? Impossible? Demanding?”
Renard cleared his throat. "Well, um, Anna, Mr. Scorpio, like all patients, is not in his normal environment and condition. Some ... some tension is expected. We are, of course, trained to facilitate a patient's recovery no matter the ... the situation.”
"You don't need to mince words, Henri," Anna chuckled. "I did warn you that Robert would be a terrible patient. He can try the patience of two saints.”
"As you say, Anna." They reached the top of the stairs. Renard motioned for them to proceed down a long hallway. "I will admit that we all are looking forward to Mr. Scorpio's full recovery. Soon.”
~*~
As they made their way to Robert's room, faint voices reached their ears. As the voices became more distinct, Anna had to suppress a laugh.
"Look, I understand that it's protocol but can't we bend things just a little," Robert said. "I've lived in America a long time and I've got bad eating habits because of it. So, why not indulge me and just get me a pizza. A small one, personal sized.”
A high pitched, strident female voice replied. "Pizza is not included on the nutritional plan appropriate for your condition.”
"What do you mean not on the plan?!" Robert fired back. "Are we reading the same plan? It's listed right here in the good for me column — cheese, lean beef, green vegetables, bread. Pizza has all that ready made easy as you please.”
"Processed foods will exacerbate your condition. The colon is a very sensitive organ of the body.”
"You wouldn't know sensitive if it-"
"What was that, monsieur?”
"Nothing, nothing. All right. I give up ... for today. Let's see what medically approved lunch I've got.”
Anna leaned on the doorframe just outside of Robert's suite. After the draining emotional highs and lows of the last few months, hearing his voice so strong and light-hearted unraveled something tight and hard inside of her. She had always found Robert's petulant nature equal parts amusing and exasperating. Amusement was winning out this time. Anna composed her features to sternness and entered the suite's sitting room.
"Robert, whatever they serve you, you'd better eat it and be grateful." Anna walked to the couch, crossed her arms and glared. "You do want to get well, don't you?”
“Anna.” Sitting on the couch, Robert held her gaze for a moment.
She looked over the open food tray. "This smells delicious. Much better than pizza. My compliments to the staff.”
Renard gestured to the valkyrie-like woman dressed in dark slacks and a green silk blouse. "Anna, may I introduce our head nutritionist, Inga Hanson. Inga, this is Anna Devane, Mr. Scorpio's, erm, ah -“
"Long suffering ex-wife.” Anna shook Inga's hand. "My sister, Dr. Alexandra Marick, recommended Beauchel. I see she was absolutely right, as usual.”
Both Renard and Inga preened at the professional compliment.
Robert straightened his pajama collar and smoothed down his burgundy robe. He took a sip of water then said. "If I'd known you were coming, I would have dressed up.”
"I thought an unannounced visit was best. You look fine, Robert. Not so pale. Have you gained a little weight?”
"Oui, Madame Devane. The patient has increased significantly,” Inga added quickly. "For the most part, he has followed the recommended regiment.”
"You do look less, um, cadaverous. Have you been giving them a hard time, Robert? Hmm?" Anna asked.
"I've been a good boy I'll have you know — getting treatment, exercising to regain my strength. My prognosis is very positive.”
"And the pizza thing?”
"Even prisoners are allowed one phone call. Me patient, me want pizza.”
Renard smiled genially. "Mister Scorpio has been most creative in his requests for pizza.”
"And persistent," Inga put in.
With a sly look at his ex-wife, Robert said, "My REGULAR nurse would give me pizza or find a way to get me one.”
Anna's lips quirked up at the corners. "It's not good for you.”
"The pizza or the nurse?”
"In your condition, I doubt you could handle either one.”
"The proof is in the pudding, my dear.”
"You have a regular nurse? Perhaps it would be better for your recovery if we were to hire her or him," said Renard.
"Um, no. She has a very exclusive clientele. And Robert is ... is out of favor at the moment." Anna said.
"I'm working on that." Robert said softly. His eyes trained on Anna implied far more than his words. "If it's still within reach. Is it?”
"Anything is possible," Conscious of their audience, Anna looked away from Robert. She pushed the dinner tray towards him. "I'll make sure he eats his lunch. Every bite I promise you. He'll behave himself with me.”
With that unsaid but implied dismissal, Renard and Inga left the room. Renard closed the door leaving an awkward silence behind him.
ANNA & ROBERT IN A NUTSHELL
Reconciliation before Robert leaves GH for Switzerland - alone.
Robert sent out an olive branch first. "I'm sorry for leaving you like that.”
"It didn't bother me." Anna's nonchalant tone did not fool anyone least of all someone who knew her as well as Robert did. She had made arrangements to accompany Robert to Beauchel and help him through his treatment. Robert being Robert had other ideas. He had snuck out of the hospital without Anna or their daughter Robin any the wiser. The note he had left for Anna had been little consolation - I'll be waiting with the mai-tais once I'm back to myself.
"It was the coward's way out.”
"No argument there," said Anna curtly as she crossed her arms.
"I can put bad guys into jail but colon cancer is ... is harder to handcuff." Robert said.
"Say what you mean, Robert. It was the no-win scenario that had YOU handcuffed," asked Anna shrewdly.
Robert sighed. "We never got training for facing up to cancer, did we? Agents are trained to survive and to win against all odds except this.”
"You didn't have to fight it alone, Robert." Anna chided. "But, as you've always said, you prefer to work alone.”
"How could I put you and Robin through more stress and strain?" Robert swallowed hard before replying. "I wanted to fight but I didn't think it was winnable, not in the long run. A ten percent survival rate is not encouraging. Experimental treatments like this don't have guarantees.”
"But, you've closed yourself off again, Robert, from me, from Robin, from Mac, from everyone who cares about you."
"By necessity not choice believe me on that,” he said earnestly.
"For Robin's sake, I want to believe you."
"Is that why you're here because of Robin?" asked Robert sharply.
Anna took a hesitant step closer to Robert. "Despite the changes in our personal relationship, Robert, I thought we were ... that we could still be there for each other.”
"We are. Always. My stubborn streak got in the way,” Robert added.
"Stubbornness or simply a lack of ... of desire?" she asked.
"It just happened so fast. I crash my plane, discover my daughter is expecting, get my brain drained, lose a brain tumor I didn't know I had, find out I've got cancer, sink into a coma and reconnect with the two most important people in my life. That's a lot to handle, Anna. I'll tell you one thing. You will never know how glad I was when I woke up and saw the two of you there. I can still recall how I felt."
"We were pretty glad to see you, too.” Anna smiled. "We all needed time to think and just be together.”
"Together." Robert patted the space next to him. "This couch is very comfortable.”
Anna stayed where she was not ready to allow herself to be so easily manipulated.
"Have a seat, please.”
Anna locked eyes with Robert. Her voice was soft. "After this treatment, were you coming back to us, Robert?”
Robert explained. "This was my fight to win. If I won, then I would have come back as the man you remembered. If not, then you'd still remember me as I was ... not any other way. That was important to me.”
"It wasn't important to me or to our daughter." Anna's eyes reflected hurt and disappointment. "We were ready to share our lives with you and then you run off.”
"No excuses.”
"None taken," countered Anna.
"I am sorry for hurting you, Anna." Robert said. "All or nothing. That's the way I've lived my life. You're the same way. Win the war or don't both bother.”
Anna closed the space between them. She reached out to touch his silvery hair. With visible effort, she lightened her tone. "It looks like you're winning the war. Your hair is growing back nicely.”
"It's just hair." Robert pulled her closer towards him. He was inwardly delighted at her lack of physical resistance. "One of the things I'm learning all over again is that there are other more important things in life.”
Anna swayed into his arms but refused any eye contact. "You seem very comfortable here. I love the view out the window.”
"You've seen one snow-capped mountain, you've seen them all. Mountains are challenging just like some women." Robert nuzzled her neck. "I'm sorry for missing the wedding.”
Anna picked at some imaginary lint on Robert's robe. "I'm really glad that ... that your doctors are seeing definite improvement. At least you're listening to them.”
Robert continued his campaign of verbal groveling. "I'm sorry for not being there for Robin, and for you, mother of the bride. I should have been there. A father should have at least watched his daughter walk down the aisle. I don't know how I'm going to make that up to her.”
"You can stop apologizing, Robert!" Anna tapped Robert gently but firmly on his shoulder. "Robin understood that your treatment took priority.”
Robert tipped her chin up. "And did my Anna understand?”
"I'm here, aren't I?" She stroked his cheek. "Apologies accepted. You're very hard on the women in your life. You do know that don't you?”
"I'm working on that, too.”
"Just as I understand you completely, you want to go change on me?”
"Hey! It's never too late to teach THIS old dog new tricks. I'll prove it to you and to Robin." Robert dropped a kiss on Anna's forehead.
"You don't have to change on our account.”
"I want to. Besides, I wouldn't want to be the grouchy granddad that Emma can't bring to Show and Tell times at school.”
Anna jumped out of his arms. "Oh, my god, Emma, how could I have forgotten!"
"Something wrong?”
Anna rummaged through her purse. "That's why I'm here. I ... I wanted to tell you in person.”
Robert's expression shifted from surprise to concern. "Just tell me that Robin is all right. She IS all right? Is it Patrick?”
"The wedding has been rescheduled. Robin needs some time to recover from the birth trauma and the coma.”
"A second wedding? Robin takes up after you all right." Robert chuckled. "Wait. Wait! What coma?!”
"It was a short-term coma due to some sort of complication post labor. She and Patrick are doing great! Don't worry." Anna sat down by Robert's side and brandished a photo album. She flipped the album open and gave it to Robert. "Grandpa Robert, may I present Emma Grace Scorpio Drake, our grandchild."