Chapter Two:

"Do you think he's right?" Sam asked Patrick after Jason left. "Could Robin be in trouble?"

Patrick couldn't talk about this with her. He was a mess of emotions and thoughts and all of the nagging suspicions he had pushed down for months were poking through.

"Sam, I think we need to talk."

"Okay, about Robin?" she asked as they sat down.

"No. About us. I spoke with Elizabeth earlier at work and she told me you were still helping Jason. You want him to remember everything, and I get that, but after Thanksgiving, I think it's clear that your heart is still with him."

"Patrick, I chose you. I told you after Greece that I was able to let him go. I saw the Jason I knew was gone and besides, he is in love with Elizabeth."

Patrick took her hand and nodded.

"So much is wrong with that statement, Sam."

"I don't follow," she said. "Patrick, what are you saying?"

"None of your reasons are because you love and want me. Everything you said is about Jason and how he is someone different. He isn't who you remember and he's with someone else. Nothing in those words scream love for me."

"I do love you, Patrick. I want to get married and I want to be here for you and Emma."

He smiled and nodded.

"I know you do and for the longest time, I thought I wanted that, too."

"So what, now you don't? Jason mentions Robin and you have to go be the man she needs? Is this all a competition?" Sam asked as she stood up. "Were we just holding a place in your home until she decided to come back?"

"Sam, it isn't like that," he said sadly. "I think we've both known for a little while that something is missing. I love you and I know you love me, but the passion, the desire and the need isn't there. I know that because I saw it with you when you saw Jason. I know it because I felt it with Robin. It's okay for is because we were happy, but now that Jason is back, you deserve to find out if he is who you want."

"I did. I told you I didn't want the man he is now."

"But you're actively helping him try to rediscover his past. I know you want that and I don't blame you. I just can't be a placeholder. Emma deserves more and to be honest, so do I."

"So this has nothing to do with Robin?" Sam asked as she wiped her eyes.

He stood up and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"I'd be lying if I said no. Robin is the love of my life and I think I've done a terrible job of being someone she could count on. What Jason said struck a chord, not because I believe him, but because I have known for a while that something isn't right with Robin. I've ignored it and she deserves so much more. I'd like to be the man she always thought I could be. I'd like to give Emma her mother back."

"I understand that," Sam said. "I'm sorry that this is ending. I really wish things had been different."

Patrick kissed her forehead and smiled.

"I don't. You got your husband back. That's what you wanted and I believe you will find a way to help him."

She nodded and sighed.

"I'll pack a bag and take Danny back to the penthouse. We'll get the rest of our things later."

Patrick hugged her and she rubbed his back.

"I'm grateful for you, Patrick. Thank you for teaching me how to love again."

He smiled and stepped back.

"Thank you for being in my life," he said softly.

She went to get Danny and leave.

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Robin was scared. For the first time in the year she had been held, she was scared.

For her own life.

The threat had always been against Emma and Patrick. She did everything she could to stay in line to ensure their safety. Now things had changed and Robin knew it was going to be bad.

Her protocol didn't work because Helena was dead. It didn't matter what progress she had made. Nobody cared. Helena was dead and Robin was no longer useful to them.

The guards who cared for her, if you could call it that, had been by with threats and anger. They had been withholding her food and the last time they came by, they told her she was no longer useful and they were waiting for the orders to kill her.

She had her laptop and knew they were destroying most of her other equipment. She was out of options, and if nothing else, before she died, she would send a message to her daughter. Emma needed to know the truth. She needed to know that she was loved and wanted.

Robin had no way of knowing if the message would go through. There was no wifi in her cell and she hoped if she recorded a message and sent it, when they took the computer out of the room, the message would send.

It was all she could do and her time was up.

She turned on the monitor and began recording.

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Patrick met Emma outside her school the next afternoon and smiled when she ran to him, surprised to see him. Sam was coming by to pack her things and he needed to explain to Emma what was happening.

"Hi daddy! I didn't know you were going to be here," she said and put her bags in the car.

"I know, but I thought we could go to the park and have some ice cream."

Emma sighed and nodded.

"Okay."

Patrick hated this, but he needed to be honest with her. He drove them to their favorite ice cream shop and then took her to the park. They walked and ate and then sat on a bench.

"Sam is leaving, isn't she?" Emma asked.

Patrick smiled and nodded.

"We decided to end things. She loves you and that won't change, but she and Danny will be moving out. I'm so sorry, Emma."

She wiped her eyes and looked at him.

"Are you gonna be okay daddy? I don't want you to be sad."

Patrick pulled her onto his lap and kissed her forehead.

"I'm going to be just fine. I think maybe it's time for you and me to figure things out on our own. I love you and I want you to be happy, so I think I pushed a little too hard to make a family for you."

"You didn't love Sam?"

"I loved her, but it was a different kind of love. Your mommy and me had one kind of love and with Sam it was different. We were both lonely and you and Danny both got along so nicely, so it worked out for us. It just wasn't meant to be."

"Is it because Danny's daddy came back?"

Patrick smiled.

"That wasn't the main reason, but it was a part of it. Sam loves him and even though he is with Aunt Elizabeth, it's important for them to figure out where they all fit together. I think I just realized that I was happy to be your daddy and I didn't need to pretend anymore."

"Sam loves that man like you loved mommy?"

Patrick nodded.

"Yeah, she does."

"So she's going to help him remember? That's a good thing to do. You should help those you love, even if they don't seem to want it. That's what you do when you love someone, right daddy?"

His eyes filled with tears as her words hit hard.

"That's right, Em."

"I love you, daddy."

He hugged her and smiled.

"I love you forever."

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Patrick was putting away the groceries he and Emma picked up on their way home while she went to her room for a bit. He wanted to make her a nice dinner and just spend time together. It was a new normal for them, but he felt rejuvenated.

He was okay alone.

He just missed Robin. This was the life they were supposed to have together.

He also couldn't get Jason's reaction out of his mind.

How did he get to the road where he was hit?

He said he found her chained to a wall. Was that even possible? Robin skyped with Emma a lot. Wouldn't she have made an effort to tell him something was wrong?

Another memory flashed before his eyes.

Patrick: Robin, five months. You've been here this whole entire time.

Robin: Patrick, I-I wanted -

Patrick: I think about you every day, and I picture a desert or an ocean between us or a vast stretch of ice between us.

Robin: There may as well be, because -

Patrick: No, but there isn't.

Robin: Patrick, it doesn't matter how close I am or how far I am -

Patrick: Actually, yeah, it does, because you're an hour away from me and your daughter. Do you remember your daughter?

Robin: Don't do that.

Patrick: Yeah, the one that you left behind to say you had to go help a friend? The one that you're choosing not to visit.

Robin: I don't have a choice!

Patrick: I don't understand what is going on. How can you be this close to us and not visit?

Robin: Patrick, I am so sorry, but this is where Victor brought me, and this is where he needs me to stay.

Patrick: Right. Because you can't cross Victor, right? You can't tell him that you need to go see your family? I guess, clearly, you don't.

Robin: I get that you're angry.

Patrick: Oh, that's good. I'm glad that you get that I'm angry.

Robin: But I can't talk about this right now. I need to know - how did you find me here?

Patrick: How did I find you?

Robin: I'm sorry, but I have to ask you.

Patrick: I haven't seen you in months, and your only concern is how I found you?

Robin: Patrick, I wouldn't even ask you if I didn't really need to know.

Patrick: Let me ask you a question. Why didn't you use your famous mind to come up with a cover story so you could come back and see your family for one or two days?

Robin: I can't leave here for one of two days. I can't even leave here for an hour.

Patrick: I needed you, Robin. I needed you when my son was dying, when you couldn't be bothered.

Robin: That's not fair.

Patrick: No, no. Obviously, this is more important, right? More important than your husband, when he needed you, when my son's brief life was ending. But no. You had to give life to the all-mighty Jason Morgan. Well, message received.

Robin: And what message is that?

Patrick: That me and Emma and your mother, your family - we don't mean anything to you anymore. That Jason is more important.

Robin: If you only knew, Patrick.

Patrick felt the weight of all he had missed as it fell around his shoulders.

Had he even listened to her?

He asked if she was being held against her will and she said no. She said there were no chains or bars.

He never asked if the threat was against someone else.

"Daddy!" Emma screamed.

He raced to he, fear coursing through his veins.

"What is it? What happened?"

"Something is wrong with mommy! I need to help her but I don't know what to do."

Patrick breathed easier seeing she was okay.

"What do you mean?"

"She sent me a message but we weren't supposed to talk. Something was different. Will you watch it?"

Patrick nodded and took the laptop. Emma pushed play and he sat down with her.

Robin's face came onto the screen and his breath caught in his throat.

She looked tired and gaunt and the light was gone from her eyes.

"Is this where mommy usually calls from?"

"No. She never looks so sad. It's always light and she smiles. Something is wrong, daddy."

Patrick nodded and continued watching.

"Hi baby. I don't have a lot of time to talk, but there are some things I needed to tell you and it's important for you to know them.

I never wanted to leave you and daddy. I thought I was able to help my friend and it turns out I was, but when it was done, I tried everything to come home to you. I wanted nothing more than to hold you and watch you grow up and be with daddy. Be a family.

I tried to come home but my friend and I got separated and I wasn't allowed to find you. I had to lie and I know daddy and I have always told you never to lie, but I had no choice. I broke your heart and your daddy's heart and I can't tell you how sorry I am.

I have been working on something for months and if it worked, than I was going to be allowed to come home to you. Unfortunately, things changed and I am afraid I won't be able to see you. I'm not sure if I will ever be able to get out of here."

Patrick saw her eyes fill with tears and he could read her expression perfectly.

She was terrified.

"Emma, I don't mean to scare you, but please listen to me. You are the best thing I have ever done in my life. You are smart and sensitive and kind and giving. You love with your whole heart and that makes those of us who know you so very lucky.

As you grow up, I want you to know that I will be with you. I will hold your hand when you go to school and I will hug you tight when you need me. Every time you look in the mirror, I want you to see me in your eyes and know that I love you. I'm sorry, baby. I made the wrong choice. I should have never left to help Jason and because of that, you and daddy think I didn't want to be with you. That isn't true. All I have ever wanted was to be with you and daddy."

She wiped her tears and kept glancing behind her.

"I need to go, but if you ever see this, I hope you know that the only thought in my heart is you. You are my light and my hope and my reason for fighting. Emma Grace, you have my heart. I love you. Mommy."

Patrick didn't stop his tears.

He had been so blind.

"Daddy? Did mommy go and help Danny's daddy? She said his name was Jason, right?"

Patrick looked at his daughter.

"Is that why you had them move in? Were you helping mommy?"

"No Emma," he said a bit angrier than he meant.

"Is mommy okay? I think she needs me to help her," Emma cried.

Patrick had a million thoughts running through his mind.

"No, she needs me to help her and it's time I did just that."

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