Jason and Robin after her break-down over the protocol

Jason and Robin are at his room at Jake's. He helps her put on a sweatshirt. Earlier that night she had broken down on the bridge about her HIV status and taking medication.

R: I don't know why I'm shaking, I'm not even cold.

J: It's from the adrenaline. This probably won't help but it won't hurt either.

R: Thank you.

J: Uh, for fixing you tea or giving you a sweatshirt?

R: My Uncle Mac would try to make me feel better. So would Brenda. I'd pretend for them but... I am so scared Jason. I have been since the day I found out I was HIV-positive. What if the new protocol doesn't work? What if all it does is just take away the things I have left?

Jason and Robin are sitting on his bed, facing each other.

R: I was at the hospital today.

J: I figured you were.

R: And I didn't tell you. Why?

J: I guess for the same reason I keep things from you. I don't want you to worry. But, the difference is what I don't tell would hurt you worse if you knew.

R: Well that's reassuring!

J: That just means it's nothing you could really help me with. Not that I think I'm helping you, what you do. So just tell me. (She looks down, and this haunting music starts to play)

R: Alright. Um, I had a viral load test. (She looks up at him) I'm at 7900. Alan said it's not a big increase, it's just that the test has gotten more accurate. But all of a sudden I... I feel like there's no

time left. Something inside me is awake now, and it's getting stronger. And, I have to decide right now if I'm gonna take the drugs or not. And if I say no, I'll die. If I say yeah, maybe I'll still die. (Jason is looking at her with a scared expression) But I'll take a lot of pills first, and for what? Why should I sign up to be a sick person before I have to? (Jason continues to look at her with worry)

J: Do you feel any different? (She shakes her head) No, so the only thing that changed is the test. How well it measures what was already there but you're the same.

R: Yeah but for how long? They say the sooner I begin treatment-

J: The better your chances, right. But if you're not ready just wait.

R: For what? If I'm going to start the protocol anyway why shouldn't I just start when it's most effective?

J: Because it's going to be harder to start if you're afraid!

R: How would you know! You're not even afraid of anything! (She stops, shocked at what she said. She puts her face in her hand)

J: You told me.

R: I cannot believe I just said that. I am so sorry-

J: It's okay-

R: No, it's not. You're just trying to help me and what do I do? Lie at you and snap at you? I don't wanna do this to you. I don't wanna be this sick and terrible and self-centered. (He sits closer and rubs her back)

J: You're just scared. I can tell... even if I don't know how it feels.

R: I think you do. I think you're scared for me.

J: Well I would take the pain, if I could. I'd take everything. I would die for you Robin.

R: I don't want you to. I want us both to live, loving each other and being together. (She smiles) Do you still think about Switzerland? (He looks surprised)

J: Sometimes.

R: When Sonny was in the hospital I thought about it a lot. How fast things change and how we might have to run. Man... I'd go with you. I couldn't stand it if you left me behind.

J: I won't. I promise. (She smiles)

R: Then I had this dream. We were running and we were almost there and they caught us because I had to stop and take my stupid pills! (Jason laughs)

J: Well it was just a dream.

R: Well it could be real. You know that.

J: Well, wherever we'd go I'd have more than two million dollars in the bank and I could buy you any drugs that you need. Don't tell me they don't have the stuff in Switzerland!

R: (smiling) That's not what I meant.

J: I know. (He smoothes her hair) But if for some reason, if you do this you think you're gonna lose me... you won't, ever. (She looks at him as he caresses her face)

R: I'm not scared I could lose you. If I start the protocol, I have to stay on it. Never miss a day, never miss a dose. And if I can't tolerate one drug they'll try a substitute. But I have to stay on it

or else the HIV will build up this resistance, and then no drug they know of will be able to help me. If the protocol doesn't work, for whatever reason, I'll be carrying a virus that's even more dangerous. Not just to me... to you. (Jason looks down) Jason, if I start this, and if something goes wrong... I'll be afraid to touch you.

J: I wanna show you something. (He gets up and takes some magazines and books out of his desk drawer. Robin sits on the edge of the bed as he brings them to her)

R: Medical journals?

J: Yeah, I get them from the newsstand across from the hospital. And I have a dictionary for the words I don't understand. These are pretty interesting. They're better than that book you made me buy.

R: You don't like Vampire of Lestat?

J: It's just, I don't know. It's too much for me to imagine, gives me a headache.

R: And these don't? What are they about? (He puts the dictionary down and kneels before her)

J: AIDS, mostly, and HIV. I'm just, I'm looking for something to convince you there's no risk if we have intercourse. (She smiles)

R: And?

J: Uh nothing, so far, but I'm not giving up. (He takes her hand) What they all say is... (He takes her hand and holds it to his cheek) You cannot give me HIV by touching me, and what we do is safe. And no matter what strain of the virus, it will always be safe. (He kisses her) If we never have sex that's fine... but we're gonna keep making love. (She smiles)

R: Even if we have to stop in the middle so I can take my pills?

J: Even then. (He smiles and goes to kiss her, then stops at the last moment) Unless, you decide you don't want me anymore. (She smiles again)

R: I will always want you. I love you.

J: I love you too. (He kisses her passionately, taking off the sweatshirt, then both fall back onto the bed, still kissing)