Chapter Five:

Patrick opened his eyes and stared into the huge blue eyes of his Goddaughter Natalie. He smiled and reached to wipe her tears behind her glasses.

"Hi mini red," he said softly.

"Hi," she said through her quivering chin, her cheek resting in her hand.

"I'm okay," he sat up more. "Come here."

She crawled onto the bed and snuggled next to him, being careful of the tubes and wires. She knew all too well what being in the hospital represented and she was a pro at being gentle.

"Where's your daddy?"

"Talking to the doctors. He wanted to know how you were doing. He was pushy and I don't think they like him."

Patrick chuckled.

"You know how he gets when he's worried," Patrick smoothed her hair back. "But I'm going to be just fine."

"Promise?" she asked him. "You said we wouldn't have to go to the hospital anymore."

"I know. I promise," he kissed her forehead and sighed. He hated worrying her after everything she had been through with her mother. Both Tommy and Natalie had been through more sadness than any person should have to handle.

"We flied on an airplane to get here. It was really fun. Daddy said I should tell you that if I could fly, then you could fly."

Patrick raised his eyebrows.

"Is that right?"

"Yes. He said if I was brave, then you could be brave."

Patrick ran his hand over her hair.

"You are a very brave young lady," he smiled.

"Oh, thank goodness you're up," Tommy said as he walked into the room. Natalie didn't move from her spot on the bed, but she smiled at her father.

"I need to find out if they found Robin. Have you heard anything?" Patrick asked.

"Who is Robin?"

"She was on the train. She was hurt and she was the one who saved my life when I almost," he stopped and looked at Natalie. "She fixed me."

"I'm not stupid, Uncle Patrick. I'm ten."

Tommy smiled at his daughter and Patrick sighed.

"You're getting too grown up. You need to stop that," he grinned.

"I'll see what I can find out, but the nurses weren't all that helpful," Tommy said. "You said her name is Robin?"

"Yes. Dr. Robin Scorpio. She is the researcher who I was supposed to meet with."

"The stuffy researcher?" Tommy teased. "She saved you?"

"She isn't stuffy, she's strong and beautiful and she needs help."

Natalie sat up and smiled at them.

"I'll find her. Mommy always said that sometimes a woman can succeed where a man can't," she jumped off the bed and Patrick looked at Tommy.

"If Robin is your friend, then she is my friend too. We have to help her," Natalie said and shrugged. "It's what's right."

Patrick looked at the little redhead who physically fit the description of a five year old more than a ten year old. She was incredibly smart and insightful and wise beyond her years.

"Thank you," Patrick said and watched as Tommy walked out with Natalie. The little girl turned around and smiled.

"Don't worry Uncle Patrick. I've got this."

Robin was finally in a room and the nurses had left to find out what tests they needed to run. She had been poked and prodded and she felt like they had drained all of her blood. Her head was pounding and her body ached and she just wanted to know how Patrick was doing. She had asked, but the nursing staff was too busy to look for him with all of the injured being brought in.

She understood that, but she couldn't relax until she knew he was okay. She looked around and saw she was in Pennsylvania, close enough to New York that she felt they would let her go home as soon as her tests checked out.

Her hearing was better, but she noticed a dull ringing in her ears and she wanted to talk to a specialist. She heard a noise and looked up to see a little girl with long red hair standing there with a nurse.

"Is this your mom?" the nurse asked.

"Yes, thank you," she said and ran to Robin, winking at her.

The nurse left and Robin looked at her.

"I know I hit my head, but I'm pretty sure I don't have a daughter."

"I'm Natalie and my Uncle Patrick was looking for you. You're Robin aren't you?"

"Oh, is he here? Is he okay?" she was so happy to hear that.

"He is here. I told them to leave it to me because sometimes a woman can do what a man can't."

Robin grinned at the precocious little girl.

"You are correct, but I don't want your daddy or mommy to be worried. I'll call the nurse to take you back."

"Do you have HIV?" Natalie asked.

Robin was stunned.

"Why do you ask?"

"My mommy had HIV. When she was in the hospital, she had the same colors on her door. I like you. You remind me of her."

Robin smiled as her eyes filled.

"I like you, too," she looked up as a handsome man in his late 30's walked in.

"Natalie, are you okay? I didn't know where you went. You know the rules about wandering off," Tommy said.

"I didn't wander off. I told the nurse I got separated from my mom and that her name was Robin. She brought me here. I told you I would find her," Natalie beamed.

Tommy smiled at Robin.

"Hi, I'm Tommy Williams, Patrick's friend. I apologize for my daughter's intrusion."

Robin laughed and shook her head.

"She is welcome anytime. I was hoping to see Patrick. Do you know if he's okay?"

"He is, and he said it's because of you. I can't thank you enough."

Robin shook her head and smiled.

"I'm just glad he's okay. As soon as I can get up, I'd like to see him."

"He can come here," Natalie said.

Tommy put his hand on her shoulder.

"How about we go and tell Patrick where Robin is, and then he can decide what to do."

"But she's his friend, daddy, and that makes her our friend. Besides, she's like mommy."

Tommy was surprised.

"What do you mean?"

"She has the colors on her door, just like mommy. That means she's special."

Robin blushed and Tommy felt the familiar lump form in his throat.

"I'm sorry," he said to Robin. "We didn't mean to intrude."

"It's okay. Thank you," she smiled and looked at him. "Patrick doesn't know yet."

Tommy nodded and looked at Natalie.

"Come on mini red. Let's go tell Patrick that his friend is here."

Natalie took his hand and they left.

Robin watched them leave and realized she was excited to see Patrick again.

"She seemed okay?" Patrick asked Tommy after he heard about Robin.

"I spoke with her and she seemed to be alert and happy. I don't know about anything else," Tommy smiled and looked at Natalie who had fallen asleep on the big chair.

"I want to see her," he said.

"I know. She was taken for a CT scan and then she'll be back. I'll make sure you are taken to her as soon as she's done."

Patrick nodded.

"I'm really glad you're here," he said.

Tommy smiled.

"Maybe you'll get over your fear of flying now," he teased.

Patrick chuckled.

"Maybe I will."

Chapter Six:

Patrick was finally going to see Robin. He had made Tommy take Natalie back to the hotel to let her rest and keep her on her med schedule. Once Patrick knew Robin was nearby, he simply wanted to see her and thank her for saving his life.

The nurse came out of Robin's room where she had left Patrick in his wheelchair. She went to make sure it was okay for him to visit.

"She's sleeping, but you can sit with her if you'd like," the nurse smiled.

"That would be great, thank you," Patrick said and the nurse pushed him in. She left him by the side of the bed and walked out.

Patrick didn't notice anything but her face. She really was so beautiful. He noticed the deep bruise on her temple and he knew how much pain she must have been in. He wondered why it took her so long to be rescued. He wondered how much she had endured.

He looked at her hand and picked it up in his own, touching her for the first time. He saw the medical bracelet she wore and his breath caught in his throat. He looked around the room and saw the hazards. She was HIV positive.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when he felt her move. Turning to her, he smiled as she opened her eyes.

"Hi," he said softly.

She stared at him and smiled, taking her hand back.

"Hi Patrick," she said sweetly. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"I'm okay because of you. You saved my life," he reached to her head and looked at the bruising. "How are you doing? That looks bad."

"I'm okay. I've been having some trouble with my hearing, but I think it's better," she said and then moved a little. "Listen, I need to tell you something."

He inspected her bruise and then looked at her.

"I know you are HIV positive."

She was surprised, but realized he probably saw the signs everywhere.

"Oh, well, that wasn't exactly how I wanted you to find out, but I suppose there isn't any good was to say it. I just wanted you to know that I didn't expose you. I had gloves on and I made sure I had no open wounds on anything that touched you. It is totally within your rights to go on a protocol to make doubly sure, but I just wanted to ease your fears."

He smiled and shook his head.

"I'm not concerned. I would have died if you weren't there. You saved my life, Robin, and that means I owe you," he grinned.

"Is that right? What exactly do you owe me?"

"Well that's up to you, isn't it?" he wiggled his eyebrows.

"I need you to save my cousin's husband," she said. "It's the reason I found you in the first place. I don't need anything else from you."

He sighed. She seemed angry with him.

"I'll see what I can do, but it looks like a pretty dire situation," he said.

"I thought you were the best. I thought you had the arrogance to prove you were the best. I need this, Patrick. My cousin can't lose her husband," she pleaded with him and her eyes were wet. "It's hard enough for her to deal with my status without having to lose him. I just have to find a way to help him."

"That's a lot of pressure," Patrick said. "I don't think I appreciate you putting the weight of the world on my shoulders." He really worried, for the first time, that he would fail. It was a thought that made him extremely uneasy.

Robin sighed.

"I'm sorry. You're so right. I just can't see Maxie losing another person she loves. I realize I'm not being fair."

He wheeled away from the bed and rubbed his forehead.

"I am the best. If there is a medical solution that will save him, then I will be the one to do it. I just don't like to tie emotions to my work and that's all you're doing."

"Sometimes emotions are good, Patrick," she said. "They show us we're alive. They motivate us to do more and they help us succeed.

"They also make us weak," he said in a whisper. "I think it's time for me to head back to my room."

"Does my HIV make you uncomfortable?"

He was surprised.

"No, why would you think that?"

"You found out and haven't said anything. You also seem distant and I guess I just wanted you to know that if I bother you, I will make sure I'm not involved in the case."

"You think I'm uncomfortable about you being HIV positive?"

She sighed.

"It's understandable. I had my hands in your body. I didn't give you a choice. It makes sense that you would feel weird with me," she felt her eyes fill and shook it off.

"Your HIV status doesn't make me uncomfortable. The way you look at me and the things you expect of me make me uncomfortable."

She chuckled.

"Well that's great. I think you're right and it's time for you to leave."

"So now you're mad?"

She glared at him.

"You are acting like a child. The way I look at you? The things I expect? Get over yourself. I look at you as a surgeon and the one person who might be able to help my family. I expect you to try because that's what we do as doctors. Whatever you are reading into my expression is all on you, and I think you need to go find someone who will cater to your issues, because I won't. If you can't operate on Matt, then so be it, but I'm not going to worry about your fragile ego," she lay back and closed her eyes, the pain on her face.

He moved closer and saw the pain.

"What hurts? Tell me what's wrong?"

She looked at him and wiped her eyes.

"I really want you to leave now."

"I don't care. I need you to tell me what hurts."

"My head hurts and," she stopped and her panic was evident.

"What is it?" he said.

"I can't hear. I can't hear at all!" she began to panic and Patrick pushed the call button as he held her hand. His heart dropped as she began to seizure.

He hopped out of the wheelchair and sat on the side of the bed, holding her arms down at her sides. The nurses ran in with the doctors and they gave her something to help.

"You need to leave," the resident said.

"I am one of the top neurosurgeons in the world. I am not going anywhere," Patrick said as he sat back in the chair.

"As far as I know, she doesn't require brain surgery and you are not licensed to practice here. Now get away from my patient or I will have you restrained," the doctor said and Patrick quieted down.

He watched them work on her and he felt such a range of emotions. In one short conversation, she had hit on every one of his insecurities. She read him so well and she was also completely on target.

She didn't know what he had been through. She didn't know what happened when he let his emotions take over. She didn't understand.

"You can sit with her, but she is sedated and will be out for the rest of the night," the doctor said.

Patrick nodded. He wheeled himself back to the bed after they all left and he watched her.

"I'm sorry," he said as he took her hand. "I just don't know how to let you in. I don't think I can."

Patrick sat in his hospital room the next morning and waited for Tommy to come. He had stayed with Robin for a while, but they made him come back and take care of his leg for the night. He still felt terrible that she felt he was turned off by her HIV, but it was nothing about her that made him feel that way. This was totally on him and what he had lived through.

He wanted to see her chart and try to help if he could. Her hearing was most likely indicative of some damage to her eardrum or it might be something worse. He needed to help if he could.

"Hi Uncle Patrick," Natalie smiled as she walked in with her little crutch.

"Hey mini red. What's with the crutch? Your leg hurting you this morning?" Patrick hugged her as Tommy walked into the room.

"Just a little, but it will be fine. Daddy made me bring it but I didn't want to."

Patrick looked at Tommy and smiled.

"Well your daddy is right. You don't need to be in any pain," Patrick tickled her.

"So how are you feeling this morning?" Tommy asked as he sat down.

"I'm great. I was able to get up and use the bathroom and I walked a little down the hall."

"That's awesome," Natalie said. "You need to get better so you can come home."

"That's the plan," Patrick ruffled her hair.

"Can I go say hi to Robin?" Natalie asked them.

Patrick sighed.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?" Natalie asked.

"What did you do?" Tommy asked at the same time.

Patrick rolled his eyes at them.

"She had a rough night and I think she wants to be alone," he said.

"That's silly. Nobody likes to be alone when they are in the hospital," Natalie said. "You can stay here, but I'm going to say hi."

Tommy raised his eyebrows at her.

"Excuse me?"

She crossed her arms and Tommy swore he was staring at his wife.

"She's alone, daddy, and she is special like mommy was. I think she needs me," Natalie said.

Tommy nodded.

"Okay, I'll walk you over," he said and looked at Patrick. "I'll be right back."

"I don't know if she will want to see you," Patrick sighed.

Tommy nodded. "Don't worry. We'll fix what you did," he winked at his friend.

Patrick laughed and figured if anyone could, it was the little redheaded spitfire.