Chapter 6
Robin hadn't seen much of Brad but she knew he was working hard on her place. Alexis was able to get a court date quickly. He showed up to support her. Patrick had Carly, Liz, Maxie, Mac, Anna, everyone speak on his character to the court and how he handled being a single parent. Robin had Nikolas on her side. Alexis was able to question Patrick's witnesses and turn it in favor of Robin.
Robin had requested that Alexis not go after Patrick but when Diane called her to the stand she was shocked by how she went in on her.
"You were kidnapped and gone from your daughter's life for nearly three years correct?" Robin nodded.
"Yes but…"
"Answered. You have been back for three months correct?" Robin answered.
"Emma took time to adjust to life without her mother and while I empathize with your plight it can be traumatic for a child to be uprooted. Then there is the issue of Jerry Jax one of your captors being at large is that correct?" Diane asked.
"I don't know. He is presumed dead." Diane looked at her.
"But so were you as was he for that matter numerous times. Dr. Scorpio tell me about the day on February 15, 2012 when you went into the lab knowing that there were gases leaking?" Robin looked at her.
"I pulled Patrick out. I am a doctor and I had worked for days to get the serum. I thought I had enough time to get it and get out." Diane pondered the information.
"But it was because it was for a friend, an ex-lover and mob enforcer Jason Morgan, correct?" Robin looked at her.
"Jason was those things but I would have made the same decision for any patient." Diane nodded.
"With no consideration for your child, Emma, or the family and friends you'd leave behind?" Robin glared at her.
"In a crisis sometimes we react and act without thought." Robin defended.
"But you knew you were pregnant when you went into the lab twice is that correct?" Robin was silent as Alexis objected.
"Your honor this goes to the plaintiff's character. If she is willing to risk her unborn child how can she be trusted to put her child first?" The judge looked at her.
"I will allow it but careful counselor. Answer the question Dr. Scorpio." Robin looked at the judge.
"I was not pregnant when I entered the lab." Diane looked at her.
"Excuse me but you told my client that you were pregnant." Robin glared at Patrick.
"Your client eavesdropped on a private conversation. He made assumptions and when he asked me I lied." Diane looked at her.
"Then I am confused. Did you or did you not miscarry." Robin looked at her.
"I was not pregnant when I entered the lab. Rather or not I miscarried is irrelevant to this case and is very personal." Robin argued.
"Permission to treat the witness as hostile." The judge looked at Robin.
"Not yet. Dr. Scorpio please answer the question." The judge ordered.
"I did miscarry." Diane looked at her.
"When did you miscarry?" Robin looked at her.
"I don't know. I was in a coma. I woke up when they were performing a procedure. They didn't feel the need to give a coma patient anesthesia. I heard her say that the fetus was not viable. I was in unspeakable pain and I blacked out." Diane softened a little then.
"Are you saying that my client was not the father?" Robin looked her in the eye.
"I spent months shackled to a bed. You figure it out. I was not pregnant when I left." Diane looked at her. Alexis objected again.
"Perjury is against the law and I am sure you are well aware of that Dr. Scorpio." Diane said and Robin laughed.
"I have not lied. He said it was like playing Russian roulette only there were drugs to make sure there was really no risk of getting the bullet." Diane swallowed her emotion.
"Why lie?" She asked then cleared her throat. "Why put him through that kind of torture?"
"Because I know him. It was easier to allow him to blame me. It was easier for it to be a mistake than I made rather than relive the nightmare and pass it on to others. I am a good mother and I am being punished for things not within my control. I have a home and a job. I could have attacked your client but I chose not to." She refused her tears.
"Your honor I strike to move to recess." Robin looked at Alexis.
"No. I want to get this over with. I am the last one up. Why stop now?" She looked at Diane.
"Any other questions?" She asked.
"No further questions." Alexis crossed examined asking about work and therapy. They made closing arguments and waited for the judge's decision.
The judge returned with a decision. "Dr. Scorpio I want you to know that I have considered your fairness. There was no mudslinging on your side. However, you have been through a terrible ordeal and must navigate getting your life in order. We must heal ourselves before we can truly be good for others. This is a child's life at stake here. I am granting a temporary order of full custody to Dr. Drake for a period of six months at which point we will revisit the issue of custody in my chambers. During that time I want you both to attend parenting classes. I want access to your progress reports from your therapy sessions." The judge looked at Patrick.
"I question your character. You bring the mother of your child into this court to take her child away. You have fought a nasty fight without any compassion or understanding. However, I must base my opinion on the best interest of the child. I order that Dr. Scorpio have weekly supervised visits." The judge banged his gavel.
Robin walked out of the courtroom after thanking Alexis. She ignored everyone who called out to her. She ran out of the court house. She saw the truck coming and she kept running. She felt it when she hit the ground. It was all a blur. His arms were wrapped tightly around her, he picked them both up off the ground and got into the cab that was parked outside.
"Pull off hurry up." Brad could see her family and Patrick trying to get to her but she didn't hear them. The cab obeyed.
"Where to?" He asked her but she didn't hear him. "Just drive." He told the cab driver. They drove in silence for an hour.
"Stop here." She said finally. The cab looked at her. She paid the cab then got another one. Brad followed in silence. "I want to go to New Haven."
"That is a long way." She nodded.
"I know. I need you to keep it quiet okay?" The cab nodded. "I need to stop at that ATM up ahead." He stopped. She withdrew enough cash to last a few days. She got back into the cab.
"Brad I am good from here. Thank you." She said.
"I am not leaving you." She looked at him.
"I'm…"
"No you are not." He argued gently.
"I am not your problem. I am a little…" She sighed.
"I thought we were friends right? I know we didn't start off as such but I thought we amended that. It is okay to fall apart. You're allowed." He went to hug her but she moved.
"Turn off your phone please. My mother will hack into it to find your location." Brad turned the phone off and she did hers.
"She was all that I have left." She said quietly.
"I don't think that is true." He said then the silence remained.
Outside of the courthouse Aiden went off on his aunt and Patrick. "How could you do this to her? She is your daughter." He barked.
"I was ordered to speak on his behalf as well as hers. They are both good parents and I didn't have all of the details. We thought that the judge would rule in favor of joint custody." She turned to Patrick.
"Is that what this was about? You were angry with her and you blamed this whole ordeal on her? If it hadn't happened in the lab that day they would have gotten her another day. You said you loved her. How could you make her relive that awful time in front of the world Patrick? She never did that to you when your ex lunatic was stalking her. She didn't even bring it up." Sabrina looked at Patrick.
"Anna Patrick…"
"I was not talking to you." She pointed at Patrick. "You are going to make this right. I don't care what the court says you will make this right or so help me God you will pay. Do you understand me?" Patrick stared at her fighting tears.
"I didn't know Anna. I I…" Nikolas looked at him.
"She warned you when she asked you to back off. She told you things would come out and you did it anyway but let me guess? It had to do with Brad right? Because heaven forbid she not pine over you for two seconds. Heaven forbid she has a moment of happiness without you." Patrick glared at Nikolas.
"I am sorry for the way it turned out but Robin proved today she is not mentally stable. Did you see her eyes? " Nikolas looked at him.
"Were you mentally stable when she died? Did you or did you not have a chemical crutch? Who the hell are you to judge?" He walked away before he hit him.
"I have got to find Robin. My poor baby girl." Anna covered her mouth.
Chapter 7
Mentally unstable with the ability to be irrational and lack emotion because she could not handle emotion. That is what they thought of her but she was still brilliant. She had created a fake identity for times like these. They checked into a hotel in New Haven. Brad got a glimpse of her fake credit card and ID. He sat on the bed.
"Kidnapping Emma will only keep her from you. I know six months seems like a long time but maybe Patrick knowing the truth… Maybe he will reconsider." He advised. She looked at him.
"I need to be alone. Could we meet in an hour at the bar?" He shook his head.
"I will wait for you." She became annoyed.
"What is this suicide watch?" She snarled.
"Honestly? You ran right for that truck. So yes it is." She laughed.
"I would not put my little girl through that again." She stood then went into the bathroom. She started the shower and sat on the ground and cried as silently as she could. She must have cried for an hour because Brad knocked on the door.
"Are you okay in there?" He asked.
"There is money in my wallet. Can you possible get me something to wear from the boutique?" He looked at the outfit he had chosen.
"I did. I got a dress because I wasn't sure what else to get." He called down and ordered it. He opened the door closing his eyes then hung it on the door knob. He closed the door and waited.
Robin splashed her face with water and dried her hair. She then got dressed and decided she had enough self-pity for one evening. The truth was out and she would have to deal with it. If she were honest it almost felt like a weight lifted. People made assumptions about what happened to her and she knew that people gossiped. She would have to develop an even thicker skin if she were to ever get her life back.
Robin and Brad went to the lounge. Robin ordered a bottle of tequila and a couple of beers and a host of bar food.
"DO you think that is a good idea?" He asked and she gave him a curious look. "Drinking when you are so upset?"
"I don't have an addictive personality. Trust me I love control too much and it is only a half-bottle." She smiled. "I will be fine I just have to pick my chin up and think of a new strategy. You made a good point. It is six months and it seems like a long time but if I cooperate… And he really didn't look good… And it is the same judge. When you have been in solitary confinement for so long it is hard to focus on the positive. Besides, I had my father brought here so that I can work on bringing him out of his coma. I have a lot to do." He smiled at her.
"Are you close to your father?" He asked and she smiled.
"When I told you about the tree house that was the truth. I had three godfathers and a stepfather who adored me but I was always a daddy's girl but then he died. Faked his death because he was an agent… Long story. He came back 15 years later and it took me a long time to get over it but see… Now I get it. She was going to inject me but he found me and fought her off but she injected him and put him into a coma. Now I have to bring him out of it. In fact I am obsessed with that form of research these days." She took her shot as did he.
"I met my father when I was seven." She explained. "Well tell me about the Seagraves?"
"My biological father split before I was born. My mother met John Seagraves when I was one and he adopted me. I am the oldest of three. I have two sisters. I come from a middle class working family and really boring in comparison." He smiled.
"It is odd because considering the life my parents had I was expected to be this kick ass offspring but I lost so many people early on in life…" She filled their glasses then looked him in the eye. "I just tried to be quiet and stay out of the way. The straight A student with a crush on the jock, golden boy. I volunteered. I worried for people. Then I met Stone and it was like… I don't know he challenged me. We were so different yet drawn to each other. Then when he died and I was diagnosed I withdrew." She sighed.
"But you survived." She nodded.
"I felt I had to for Stone. I was barely hanging on and one night on this bridge where we spread his ashes I met golden boy only he was different. He had been in accident and he was like a clean slate. He was the boy with no past and I was the girl with no future. Eventually we fell in love and he saved my life by convincing me to go on the protocol." He took a sip of his beer as he digested that information.
"Why hesitate?" he asked.
"Survivors guilt and fear. I didn't want to hope." He wondered how Patrick fit into the story.
"How does Patrick fit into it?" She took a shot.
"Jason and I had a nasty breakup. I had been accepted into the Sorbonne. I came back one summer because my best friend needed me. Her fiance called and asked me to come to help out. Jason was pretending to be the father of the child of a woman he once cheated on me with. Eventually we get back together and my friend is an accident and presumed dead. Jax gives me her cottage. She moves in later to be close to her son. She had post partum and had been away for a time. Eventually I tell the truth and he bans me from his life." He looked at the bottle and then at her.
"Why tell the truth?" He asked.
"She was using the child to control him and AJ was his brother and my friend. I tried to get him to tell the truth many times but he never did. She was going on and on about how Jason would do anything for her and the like and I snapped. So if you are wondering yes part of it was to blow her lie apart. I am not proud of it but I had been through so much with that bigoted bitch." He looked at her.
"Anyway, I went back to Paris and became a doctor. A friend of mine called. Jason had been having these seizures and had lost his memory they wanted me to use one of my protocols. I came home, helped him regain his memories but he needed surgery and I went to find Patrick's dad but he couldn't do it so I found Patrick. I thought he was a jerk and we bantered all the time. So much it bordered on high school level behavior. We have been through a lot. The rest is as they say history. You mentioned that you were married once." He nodded.
"I am a simple guy. I suppose I was too simple for her. I don't like drama. She manufactured a lot of that. She thought that I lacked passion but I never understood what she wanted. Not long after you left she shows up with a kid in tow. Seeing as how I never knew my father I didn't ask questions. I took her back for the sake of the child. She starts to have an affair with some broker she met in the city. Instead of leaving she had a DNA test. She served me with the results and said she was moving on." Robin shook her head.
"What a bitch." She was a little buzzed at that point.
"You said it." He laughed. She leaned in. She wondered how such an experience would shape one of the good guys.
"So have you become this jaded man incapable of letting anyone into your heart?" He sighed.
"I am cynical but that experience taught me a lot about making the right choice. It made me question my judgment. You know how it is in retrospect you begin to look for the clues and there they are glaringly staring you in the face." She looked at him, her eyes searching his to find out if he was genuine.
"So what was it about her that made you marry her?" She asked.
"She was smart, pretty, and funny. She was a lot of fun. We were young so I suppose I didn't look deep enough. What about Patrick? He cheated, why take him back?" Brad wondered why the good girls always held on to the bad guys.
"He was smart, gorgeous, brilliant and he challenged me like no one had before. We worked well together. He had rough edges but there was this vulnerable side that he didn't show anyone. I got an up close and personal view into the why he was who he was and it had a lot to do with his dad. In retrospect I took a lot of shit from him and coming back I have had to look at the hard facts." He raised an eyebrow.
"Don't leave me in suspense now." She frowned.
"He could have anyone woman in the world and he chose me. He wanted me and he loved me. I believed that. This is hard to admit but I have dated other guys, lesser guys. Part of me wondered if realistically being a mother and having HIV if I would ever have that chance again. Being a woman who has had three very different loves could it happen again? I mean I pretty much resigned myself to it not and I am not looking for it. But I wonder if that had a lot to do with my reasons. I realized life was short and Emma deserved to have what I had growing up. So we went to therapy. I think couples therapy is often designed to tell the woman it is all her fault." She laughed.
"I suppose it depends on the therapist. I believe that they tend to bring part of their beliefs into the sessions." She looked at him.
"So you have been?" He nodded.
"Ehh, a few times. No one should ever have to settle Robin. No matter your status. Jason was healthy and so is Patrick and from what I can tell so are you. Don't sell yourself short." She just shrugged.
"I laid a lot on your plate Brad. I am surprised you are not running in the opposite direction." She laughed.
"Well I have hit my head a lot." He teased earning a smile from Robin.
"That explains it." He smiled. "How did you know you had an adoptive father?" She asked.
"My biological father found me when I was 17 needing bone marrow. It was odd seeing him. So many questions for the guy I look a lot alike. I wasn't really angry. I am close to my father so I just… I was really ambivalent. I didn't ask questions. MY mother was honest with me. She waited until I was old enough to handle the adoption because she wanted me to be part of the decision." She smiled.
"She sounds amazing." He smiled.
"She is. I agreed to be tested and I was a match. I asked basic questions. Likes and dislikes. I had the procedure and he thanked me. He said that he loved me and wanted to come to my graduation only he never showed. I was like his stop at a blood bank or something. My family was so great about it that I did not miss him. He sent me a card with money and an apology. I sent it back with a picture telling him that I was fine. I didn't expect anything from him and if he ever wanted a chance to know me he blew it." He shrugged.
"That is sad." He shook his head.
"Not really. I was lucky. I could have been angry and resentful but for what? I had a great life and if he had been in it feeling like he was trapped that could have all been different. I am glad my mother found someone to love her. If anything I was angry with him for leaving her pregnant and alone." She looked at him.
"Looks like your mom and dad did an amazing job. Patrick didn't want to be a father. That and his need to flirt with a certain nurse is the reason we broke up and I decided on artificial insemination. My cousin was murdered. She and her sister were like my sisters. My uncle raised us most of our lives. Patrick and I did the grief sex thing and I had no idea we had used a faulty condom. I went to have the procedure and found out that I was pregnant. I had no intention on telling him but I realized I was being a hypocrite. I just didn't want him to be tied down. I still kept him at arm's length and he tried to sue me for access to an unborn child." She explained.
They had spent the night talking.
Chapter 8
Robin had fallen asleep. She tossed and turned through her nightmare until she finally sat straight up. She took calming breaths. She got out of bed and got a bottle of water and guzzled it down. Brad sat up.
"Are you okay?" She nodded.
"I didn't mean to wake you." He yawned.
"I have been a wake for a couple of minutes. Bad dream." She went back to her bed.
"I wish." She closed her eyes. "It was after the first time I tried to escape. I was pretty drugged up but I could feel him, I couldn't move. He came back days later. I didn't imagine he would take his life in his own hands like that. But that time he taunted me. I don't think I remembered before now or I blocked it out. I wasn't going to be his victim ever again so I pretended to want him. I coaxed him into kissing me." She wretched.
"Then when he put his tongue in my mouth I bit off what I could of it. He punched me in the face but I kept biting. I can taste the blood right now in this very moment. This is part of the process that I hate because it is like I am there. He is dead now. Faison believed through some sick and twisted delusion that he was my father and was doing me a favor. He had him killed in front of me when he revealed himself to me in Switzerland. He thought it would bring me over to his side but the thing is I didn't feel anything. I didn't care. I also didn't cooperate. I am too damn stubborn for my own good." He moved to her bed.
"I don't want to invade your space. Is it okay if I sit?" She nodded. He sat up in bed while she lay on pillows. "Who is Faison?"
"An international terrorist and overall maniac. He was obsessed with my mother. We thought he was dead." She closed her eyes. "One day at the clinic where they had moved me to in Switzerland Duke walks in, he was my stepfather. He died in an explosion or so we thought."
"I don't mean to sound…"
"Yes it is a theme in Port Charles. Only Duke was setup and sent to a Turkish prison for 20 years but we will get there. I thought he was dead but for a split seconds after months of captivity I had hope. But he was acting strangely. I ask him two questions that only Duke would know and he peels off his mask. It is Faison.
When I was a kid, he had this boy bully me. I guess he figured being a Scorpio I was bound to give in to my baser nature of kicking ass. I slap the kid with my back pack and I shove him down. I get suspended so my mom calls a meeting. His parents didn't show and when she went Faison was there. He kidnapped her and later me. He had this painting of us in some family portrait. He wasn't successful kidnapping me then. His mother pretended to be my nanny and she spoiled the plan so he killed her." She sighed.
"Anyway, he tells me why he did what he did." She explains. "Turns out Duke was in that clinic. He had put holes in his story so my mom would figure it out. My father did and they were looking for Duke when they came to the clinic. He found me and took the dose of toxin meant for me. She was going to kill me because Faison was jailed. She took me to Jerry a violent criminal and terrorist who held the Metro hostage and shot me in the stomach. Jerry's brand of torture was different. Dr. O was cruel but Jerry taunted me with the life I had been missing. Then he realized he could use me so he took me to a lab to work on cure for his polonium poisoning." She continued and he listened intently. It felt good to let it all out without worrying about the impact it had on the other person.
"Did you find the cure?" He asked.
"I used some of that bitch's research combined with my own to find a temporary cure. I did find the actual cure later. I documented the false chemical make-up but remembered the actual cure on my own. I used it to barter with Jerry to help me escape. He double crossed me as I knew he would but what he didn't know was that I knew that Luke Spencer was looking for the cure. I hacked into my research at GH and left a signal. Ellie couldn't decipher it so they called in my research assistant Kavi who knew how to crack the code. My mother and Luke came for me but Jerry escaped like the slime he is but before he did I gave him the cure. Only it was a placebo enhanced with levels of polonium extracted from his blood. He should be dead now." He stared at her.
"You do realize that this all sounds like some sort of James Cameron movie or something?" He was at a loss for words.
"I was thinking more like Scorsese. I imagine Dillon will be the first in line for the movie rights. Dillon was my cousin's husband a film student." She looked at him. "I don't blame you for being freaked out. To a normal person this sounds bananas as Emma would say."
"I am blown away but I am not scared. My dad is a former marine. We know a lot about protecting ourselves. I don't remember a lot about being a military brat because he retired when I was eight and thankfully was not called to serve again. He served in Nam. So Rochester is where I remember growing up." She looked at him.
"What does he do now?" She asked.
"He is a carpenter. It is our business I just expanded it into development and construction." She looked at him and he laughed. "I'm a civil engineer. Carpentry was my side gig. When we met I was going through that process of asking myself was I doing what I really loved. I had lost my job and decided to do carpentry for a while. When my ex basically said I was a loser who loved mediocrity I reevaluated to fund a happy medium. Still I am pretty simple. I like a good beer and a good burger. I am laid back and I don't sweat the small stuff." She shrugged.
"Sounds like a good motto to have. Life is far too short to sweat the small stuff." He smiled.
"But we do have to face the big stuff head on and work through it." She yawned. They fell asleep like that sitting up.
Chapter 9
Robin and Brad were both were awakened by Patrick walking into the room.
"How the hell?" Robin got up.
"Spinelli likes me. Cozy. So what is he the new Jason? I need to talk to my wife if you will excuse us." Brad smiled at him.
"Your wife is, well I assume she is in Port Charles." Patrick glared at him.
"If you don't mind I'd like a witness present while we talk. You have a habit of taking me to court for things that you misunderstand." Patrick bit his lip.
"Cut the bullshit Robin you answered the question of your own free will." Robin snorted.
"Does sugar lump hear you speak that way?" He swiped his hand over his face. "Leave Sabrina out of it. She has been raising our daughter for two years and has done a great job of it and she has supported me." Robin smirked.
"Well I never knew that you were into docile teens because I may have reconsidered my changed opinion about you." He sat on the bed across from them.
"She is older than she looks." He said offhandedly.
"Did you ask before or after you popped her cherry?" His head shot up. "I mean really Patrick if you are going to start dating Emma's playmates I think Sabrina should ensure that you hire a grandma for a nanny." He chuckled.
"If you are done with the insults why didn't you just tell me? You are projecting right now because you don't want to have this conversation. How can we get to the place where we are friends and co-parents if you can't talk to me?" She ran her hand through her hair.
"I didn't want you to blame yourself." She finally admitted.
"Because you blame me?" Brad stood squeezed her shoulder then walked out. "Why would I blame myself? I am not responsible for where you ended up. So somewhere subconsciously you blame me and I don't get that. You wanted me to move on." She played with her fingers.
"I loved you as much as I did the day I was taken. Do you think this has been easy for me? Do you think I want to fall into the pattern of relying on you? Of sharing these things that I wish I didn't remember with you? To allow you to try to comfort me when at the end of the day you are going home to your wife and your child? You promised me forever and you never looked for me. You gave up. I called you and you ignored the message. Blame you? No but am I angry? Yes. She came into my life and took it over." She wiped her tears.
"Not to mention you thought you knocked up Faison's daughter what is with you and these women? I mean… Were you dying to go bareback? Pardon the crude language." He stared at her.
"How can you ask me that? I never had a problem with our sex life and you have to know that." He argued.
"I don't know that. You hooked up with a chick you barely knew in the shower without protection. Was my life struggle not enough of a cautionary tale?" He was silent as he choked back emotion.''
"Robin when you were taken my life imploded. I was not in the best frame of mind. I was a zombie battling an addiction. That is no excuse and yes I should have known better. I am sorry for how this has all become one more big disaster. I am truly sorry. If you talk to me then I will better know what I am dealing with." She looked at him.
"I don't trust you. I see the looks. You think that I am emotionally damaged and maybe I am. But I am still capable of loving my daughter and being better for her." He sighed.
"That is a lot of weight for a nine year old to carry. You have to do it for you." She stared at him thinking he had some nerve.
"Did you learn that in NA?" She sniped.
"Yes because after an intervention I did it for Emma but I learned I had to do it for me." She stood to get a drink of water.
"I can tell you the surface things. The things that I will share with the judge. But I can't share this with you. I am not your problem and you are not my savior. You have a family. That bond between us cannot be repaired and especially not now." He looked at her fighting tears.
"And you are what forming it with him?" She sighed then looked at him.
"Some things are easier said to someone not close to the situation. I wouldn't call it a bond. I am sure he will go running far away after today. He probably thought I was suicidal or something and stayed to make sure that I didn't hang myself." She rolled her eyes. "Besides I am done with that. I have had it and cherished it. I don't mind being alone." She shrugged.
"About Emma. Let's try a couple evenings a week and then transition into weekends then transition into joint custody. When we appear before the judge I will agree to that." She nodded.
"I can live with that if you mean it." She smiled.
"I never wanted to take her away from you. I am not looking to replace you. I just… I am scared for you and for her." He hugged her. "You have no idea how much we missed you. I reacted poorly. I am very sorry. You didn't deserve that." She patted his back.
"You didn't deserve to have things thrown in your face either. I just. I can't do this journey with you. It isn't pretty and it is not fair to your wife for you to go on this journey of healing with me. Respect that and don't undermine because I am not going about it in a Patrick approved way." He caressed her face.
"I can do that."
"Do you need a ride home?" He asked and she shrugged.
"I am going to rent a car. It would be awkward the three of us driving back to Port Charles together." He smirked slightly.
"Not for me." She shook her head.
"I think Brad may have assumed we would leave together and left. Still I would rather hang around to be sure. You go ahead. I will be fine." She said and he looked at her. He sighed and relented. He left. She took a quick shower and changed into her clothes from the previous day.
When Brad returned Robin was getting ready to check out. "I am surprised that you are still here. I rented a car but I didn't want to leave and risk you being stuck. So I decided to come back to check it out." She looked at him.
"I am grateful but I was just about to rent a car. You have done enough." He shook his head.
"But I would rather not drive alone. Pretty boring. I already have a car so let's get you back to Port Charles." He smiled. She relented but only because she was drained emotionally.
"Did you get everything worked out?" He asked her as she drove.
"I am being granted evenings as a test run and if I am proven to be stable enough in his eyes then weekends and then joint custody." She said bitterly. She had missed two years of her daughters life.
"Enough about me. Did you ever establish a new relationship?" She looked at him.
"I did but it didn't work out. We are friends. It was an amicable split. It turned out we were better as friends didn't have a lot going on as lovers. I haven't been looking." She frowned.
"You are a good guy. You should get out there." She looked out the window. He didn't make the same suggestion because he knew that she was not ready.
"I am a good guy but you know what they say about nice guys?" She chuckled.
"It isn't true though and yes I have gone for bad boys but it just happened. I wasn't looking for it. I guess of the nice guys that I know personally…" She drifted off.
"Proves my theory. So why didn't you choose one of them?" She laughed.
"Well, Jax had eyes for my best friend but she had eyes for Sonny. Sonny was also a friend of mine. Still she loved him but she and Sonny had something different. Something she never quite let go of. Spinelli, I chose him to be the father of my child once but he was just a friend and donating genetic material. He is was with my cousin, Maxie but Maxie makes decisions sometimes that is not in her best interests and it is usually because she feels that she doesn't deserve to be happy. He did find a nice girl who adores him though." She smiled.
"Well then I am happy one of the good guys won." He winked.
The ride home was quiet as Robin had withdrawn into herself. Brad pulled up at the house she was renting.
"Listen, I want to thank you for everything." She started.
"I didn't do anything. Don't mention it." She smiled sadly.
"Someone used to say that a lot and it was never true. Seriously, I guess I needed to vent more than I thought so thank you." She started to get out of the car but he stopped her. He opened her door.
"Chivalry isn't dead Robin." He grabbed her bag and walked her to her door. "You are tough. Give yourself the time you need. Be angry, cry, scream, and maybe even punch something. It is a lot better coming out than it is eating you up. Take care." She nodded.
She went inside. She was saddened by the dark emptiness of the house. It was kind of like her life at the moment. She turned on the lights. For two years she was alone, she wasn't supposed to feel so alone once she was back home. She locked her front doors then went out back to let the dog in. She locked up. She felt bad for leaving him alone. She fed him then took a long hot bath.
Chapter 10
Robin had put in her application at Mercy Hospital. There was no way she was going back to GH. It had been three days since her breakdown and she decided to launch herself into her work. There was a knock at the door. She answered the door to find Monica standing on the otherside.
"Hey Monica. Come in." She called Rocco off.
"Good morning Robin. I got a call from Mercy this morning. They wanted a reference." Robin gave her an apologetic look.
"I do apologize. I did not put you down as a reference because…" Monica put her hand up.
"You are being recognized all over for your cure. You are a brilliant doctor and you are dedicated. That is what I told them. I just want to offer you the Chief of Pathology and Research position. Dr. Earbaugh retired two months ago and well we had tried to make do with having a lab manager but the truth is he needs to be managed as well as the entire pathology department. You will still have your research responsibilities but you will be paid more and involved in helping us get grants and conduct medical trials." Robin smiled. It sounded like a dream come true.
"Can I offer you something to drink?" Monica nodded. "Coffee?"
"I would love some." Robin headed to the kitchen. She returned with two cups of coffee then sat on the couch next to Monica.
"Two creams and one sugar the way you like it." She paused. "GH was always the place I wanted to end up but with everything that has happened." Monica put her hand on her shoulder.
"Robin you are one of the strongest woman I know. I knew you would be just watching you as a child." Robin tensed. "I know it will be difficult but you can do this. Don't let Patrick take that away from you because we both know your reasons are grounded more in him and his new wife." Robin took a sip of her coffee.
"Well you just cut right to the chase. I need to think about it. They are having a child Monica." Monica closed her eyes.
"I heard about what happened. I am so sorry. I did not think about that. We can immerse you in research grants to give you time. Robin the board is demanding that we hire someone soon. So please consider it." Robin nodded.
"I will do that." She smiled. "I have not had the chance to tell you how sorry I am about Jason." Robin said sadly.
"I worried every day about receiving that call. You were his friend and the woman I wanted him to spend his life with. He missed you." Robin looked at her.
Robin missed him too. He would be the one that she could talk to about all of this. Even though he was a friend he was good at being objective.
"I miss him terribly. He was happy with Sam. Danny is very cute." Monica smiled. She did love her grandson.
"You have met him?" Robin shook her head.
"Alexis handled the divorce and custody hearing. I did see pictures." She smiled. "He is adorable."
"He is very quiet like his father. I have never seen a baby so cool about everything. You do know about AJ?" Robin nodded.
"I know a little. I will have to reach out to him to catch up." She looked at the clock. "I was actually heading to the lab to work on my father's case. Thank you for arranging that." Robin stood.
"I did it hoping you would come back." Monica admitted as she stood.
Robin had to roll her eyes when Felix started to loudly discuss whatever they were buying for the baby. Getting her medical license back had been easy due to the recognition she received for finding a cure for polonium. Obrecht had injected her father with Propofol but Robin couldn't figure out why he had not woken up. Duke had ingested the drug and woke up a week later. It had been a year for her father. It was risky but she decided to use the drug that had brought Laura back. She just needed to review her findings with Dr. Legassi.
"Hey Epiphany. Did Dr. Legassi come in yet?" She asked.
"You know that I am happy that you are back right?" Epiphany looked at her. She was still sassy.
"I know you are not my personal messenger. He just may check here first." She smiled.
"Robin I believe he called and Patrick took the message." Sabrina chimed in.
"Thanks Sabrina." She smiled. She had no issue with Sabrina. "Do you know what he said? Did Patrick write it down?" She asked.
"Patrick never writes down messages." Felix said. "Now come on sexy mama we have a crib to purchase."
"Felix give it a rest." Sabrina said.
"It is not like she wanted the baby." Felix said under his breath as he turned away.
"What did you just say?" Sabrina looked at her apologetically.
"I am sorry he has no filter." Robin crossed her arms.
"Obviously. Listen, my child would be loved no matter the circumstances and you have no right to speak of things you know nothing about do you get that?" Robin approached him.
"I was out of line, I apologize." Robin turned to Sabrina.
"Emma's crib was Patrick's old crib. We had it refurbished. I know this is your first child but you could do the same. Kind of keep it in the Drake name. It is up to you." She walked away and into Brad.
"Hey." She smiled at him. "What happened?" He looked embarrassed.
"Nothing. I was just checking on a guy from my crew. He was in a car accident. He is doing okay, has a concussion. I told you I am not always so clumsy. You just made me nervous." She laughed.
"Sure I did." She shook her head.
"How are you?" She sighed.
"Busy." He looked at her. He wondered if she was embarrassed because of the things she had confided. She seemed to be avoiding him.
"Robin Dr. Legassi called." Patrick approached.
"So I heard. You could have written down a message." He smirked.
"I did do that. I went by your place but you were gone. He cannot make it in but I faxed him your findings and he believes it will work with minimum risk." She smiled. She could hug him.
"Thank you." She turned to Brad.
"I have to go. Maybe I will see you around." He smiled.
"Can I use your phone?" He asked. She looked at him curiously then fished her phone out of her pocket and handed it to him.
"I have your number." She reminded him.
"I know you do. I have your home phone number and I know you won't call me so I figure if I put your cell in my phone, I can call you. You seem like you would rather answer your cell." He programmed the number into his phone.
"Enjoy your day Dr. Scorpio." He smiled then walked away.
"Well he isn't subtle. I don't like him." Robin turned to Patrick.
"He was innocent that was all on me and he has been a good guy through all of it." She shrugged. "Will you consult on my father's case?"
"Sabrina has an appointment in ten minutes." Robin resisted the urge to roll her eyes that time.
"That is okay. You should be there. I will page Marucci." She walked away. Patrick looked at Felix.
"I thought that the appointment was at 3?" He asked Sabrina.
"It is. I was trying to help you out of an awkward situation." Felix explained. Patrick had dealt with him all through Britt's pregnancy.
"I don't need your help. Robert is my daughter's grandfather and he deserves the best." He barked. "Don't play games with me Felix and don't play games with Robin." Felix glared at him.
"You should be more concerned with your pregnant wife and not your ex. I get that he is Emma's grandfather but Marucci can handle it. Things are raw right now. Don't you think you need space?" Patrick looked at Sabrina.
"Does my working with Robin make you uncomfortable?" He asked.
"It makes me a little weary." She admitted.
"You have nothing to worry about and after I drug her through the mud she would never want anything to do with me beyond a co-parenting relationship. We aren't even friends." Sabrina didn't want to notice but she did notice that it seemed to bother him.
"You sound really broken up about it. You know what Patrick? Why don't you just go ahead." She stormed off. Patrick shot a death glare at Felix.
"If you want to keep the ring on it you need to man up." He followed his friend. Patrick sighed then headed to meet Robin in Robert's room.
Chapter 11
When Patrick walked into the room Robin was sitting at her father's side. She looked up.
"He is stable. I paged Marucci." She said calmly.
"I am here and Marucci is in surgery." Patrick examined Robert as much as he could.
"I sent his blood work to the lab. You don't need to be here. Sabrina's dog toto will be sure that you are the one in the doghouse." Patrick smiled.
"You don't like Felix I take it." Patrick looked at her. He knew that Felix was protective of Sabrina and it was likely because she had no family in Port Charles. "He is really protective. She has no family here and neither does he for that matter. Well he does have his sister but they don't get along too well." Patrick tried explaining but all Robin could think was that she really doesn't care about Felix.
"As long as he stays out of my way I am fine. He insinuated that I am okay with Sabrina's pregnancy because I did not want my child. I set him straight. I get being protective but he lacks compassion." He looked at her. He wanted to punch Felix.
"It is a common misconception that a woman would not want a child conceived in…" She looked at him.
"Rape. It was difficult for me to say for a while. I am learning to deal." Robert heard her voice in the distance and it was getting closer. He moved his hand.
Robert's mouth felt dry and his throat seemed just as try. He tried to speak but no words came out. Robin noticed. She rushed to get him water.
"Drink slowly dad." She smiled. He was foggy for a moment. He focused in on her face.
"It wasn't a dream?" She hugged her.
"No daddy it wasn't." Tears escaped down her cheeks. She moved away from him and went into doctor mode along with Patrick. It wasn't long before Robert grew annoyed with the fuss.
"I am fine and ready to get out of this bed. Where is Obrecht?" He sat up.
"Dad there is time to explain. Obrecht is behind bars as is Faison." Robin explained. Patrick felt as though he was intruding on a private moment so he walked out.
"How long have you been back?" She sighed.
"Three months. It has been a long three months." She smiled.
"Emma must be ecstatic." Robin smiled and nodded. She didn't have the energy to get into the details. She had gone to Rochester a couple of weeks after being home. She came home right around spring. It was not June 2014. It all seemed so surreal to her. She spent time catching him up on current events but he knew there was something more going on.
Sabrina walked into the room. "I'm sorry Robin but we are short staffed today. So I am filling in as Mr. Scorpio's nurse. I am here to take his vitals again and his blood." Sabrina explained.
Robert noticed her name tag. "You married Patrick's brother? Don't tell me ole Noah is trolling high school proms these days." Robert chuckled.
"Dad!" Robin warned. "She is Patrick's wife. They were technically married Thanksgiving of last year but my being alive put a damper in that. So I gave him a divorce and they remarried in a private ceremony. No hard feelings. Emma adores her." Robert knew better.
"Do you want another nurse?" Sabrina asked meekly.
"No he doesn't. It is fine Sabrina. Right dad?" She smiled at him.
"I will do what you need me to in order to get out of here. I have some unfinished business." Robin sighed. She knew what the unfinished business was but she kept her mouth shut. She had taken care of Jerry. Faison and Obrecht were in jail. She just wanted to get back to a normal life.
"Looking good Mr. Scorpio. I will get this down to the lab and will make sure they get back in a timely fashion." Robert smiled at the young nurse.
"Aren't you just a sugar plum? Better than nurse sassy." Robin chuckled at the reference to Epiphany.
"Behave or I will tell her to give you a sponge bath." Robin teased.
"And I'll walk right out of here." Sabrina smiled on her way out. "Okay what is going on here?" He asked his daughter.
"Dad, I don't want to talk about it. I am fine trust me." She assured him but Robert had his ways and he was going to find out the truth. She knew that but she wasn't ready to have that discussion with him.
Robert waited until he had a moment alone. He called in a favor and had all of the information regarding Robin's capture and her return. He had dressed and checked himself out of the hospital but was hanging around the hospital waiting for Patrick. He spotted the doctor and did not hesitate to grab him by his shoulder, turn him around, then punched him to the ground.
"You deserve that and don't you dare take it out on my daughter. You were supposed to take care of her. You failed her, we all did but you punish her for it? Just be glad it was just a punch." Patrick stood. Felix and Sabrina ran to his side.
"Look Mr. Scorpio, no one knew…" Robert pinned the young man with a glare that chilled him to the bone.
"Are you going to be a problem for my daughter? Believe me I have no trouble taking out the trash. I am sticking around and I have ears everywhere. You'll do best to remember that." Robert walked away.
"You failed her more than once." Patrick called after him. Robert stopped walking. He turned slowly then approached him.
"I did it to protect her. When you screwed your psycho ex while married to her, you didn't protect her. You allowed her to be gas lighted and waved a flag of no proof in her face to absolve your own guilt. God she was only happy for a couple of months because of that psycho taking her meds. So don't you dare talk to me about failing her. I know I have not been the best father and I own it. My decision was my sacrifice and that is the only one you get because next time you will be confined to a wheel chair." Robert walked away and into Robin.
"Dad what did you do?" She frowned.
"I was just having a chat with Patrick and his mates. Nothing for you to concern yourself with Luv." He grinned at her.
"You shouldn't be out of bed." He rolled his eyes and dodged her grasp.
"My blood work was fine and I am feeling like myself. I am famished so why don't you treat me to lunch?" He hooked his arm with hers. He glanced at Patrick. "You might want to put some ice or frozen peas on that." She dragged him away.
"You are not helping me. In six months we go before a judge." Robin started but Robert waved her off.
"He won't be winning custody luv. Leave it to dear old dad." Robin pinched the bridge of her nose then took slow calming breaths. She knew her father was overcompensating and she wanted to protest more but she was too darn happy to have him back.