Chapter Seven:

"What do you mean? I understand you're angry, but everything has changed now. I don't want to watch from the sidelines. I need you to let me help you," Patrick said as he looked at Robin.

Something wasn't right. She was angry, and he understood that, but there was something more to it.

"Patrick, I need for you to let me go," she said brokenly. "It's too late."

"I don't believe that," he said and took her hand in his. "Shit, Robin, your pulse is racing."

"Will you make sure Emma knows I didn't want to leave her?" she asked with an urgency in her voice. "I need her to know I have always loved her and I should have never put anyone over my need to be with her. Please promise me you'll help her understand that."

He felt his own tears come as he nodded.

"Emma adores you. You have always been her hero. Please talk to me. What's going on?"

She was sweating and he could see her lips were turning blue.

"Robin? Robin?" he yelled.

"I need help here! I need my bag and oxygen. We need oxygen!"

Everyone scrambled to get him what he needed and Patrick started an IV while Robin fought to stay awake.

"What is it? What happened?" Mac and Robert looked at them.

"I don't know," Patrick said as he fought his panic. He looked at Robin as he adjusted the oxygen.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think it would be so quick. I thought I could move on and you would think I was over you," she said weakly.

"What would be quick? What are you talking about? I need to know so I can help you," he said.

Robin's eyes fluttered as she took a breath.

"Poison. I was trying to save Helena and it wasn't working. Jerry got mad and thought I was lying, so he injected me with something. Whatever was given to Helena. He figured if I had a cure, I would use it to save myself. I couldn't save her. I couldn't save myself," she said.

Anna looked at her daughter and then Robert.

"You killed him. We have no way of knowing what he used."

Jason turned and went to Nikolas.

"You did this! You poisoned Helena and now you poisoned Robin!"

Nikolas was sitting there, trying to wrap his mind around all that happened.

"What are you talking about? I never touched Robin. I never knew she was there."

Patrick ran to him and pleaded.

"I don't care what you've done. I don't care what your motivation was. Robin needs help and I need a way to start. What did you give to Helena? What did Jerry use? I need to save her, please."

Nikolas looked at him.

"I don't know."

"She saved you after the hostage crisis. She lied for you and your family has held her hostage for years. What more can she give up for you? What else does she need to do to prove her loyalty? She is going to die! Emma needs her mother and I need her. What the fuck is wrong with you?" Patrick yelled.

The plane hit some turbulence and they all were jostled around.

"We are beginning our descent into Port Charles and it's going to be a bit bumpy. Please fasten your seatbelts until we are on the ground," the pilot spoke over the intercom.

Patrick glared at Nikolas and Jason looked at him.

"Go sit with Robin. I'll get the answer we need."

Patrick nodded and went back to Robin.

Robert and Mac looked at Patrick as he sat down next to her and they went back to the front of the plane.

"Hey, how are you doing?" he asked as he smoothed her hair away from her face.

She looked at him and the light was gone from her eyes.

"I want to see Emma before I can't talk anymore. I need to try and help her understand. Do you think that's okay? Will it be worse if she sees me?"

"Look at me," he said as he stroked her cheek. "I'm going to fix this. I will find the answer and you're going to be okay."

"It can't be done," she cried. "I tried. I knew he was going to kill me and I tried everything to get home to you and Emma. I tried Patrick and I failed."

He shook his head.

"No, I failed, Robin. I failed and I won't do it again. We will fix this, but I need for you to fight. I can't have you give up, okay? I have so much to make up to you and I intend on doing just that. Please don't give up."

She held his hand tighter as the plane hit more turbulence.

"I'm tired. I'm just really tired."

He sat next to her and put his arm around her, holding her gently.

"I know. You rest and I'll do everything else."

She laid her head on his shoulder as they came in for a landing.

XXXX

Patrick was on the phone an hour later, arranging everything he could and calling in every contact of Robin's he could find. They were getting her settled into a private room at the hospital and Patrick wanted everyone vetted who was coming near her.

"We need her labs back asap!" he yelled at the nurse. "I need to know every single thing we find in her blood."

"Yes doctor," the nurse said and hurried to the lab.

"Patrick, what can we do?" Epiphany asked.

"I need you to make her comfortable. I don't want her to suffer anymore," he said as his chin quivered. "I need her to know she's loved and needed."

Epiphany smiled and nodded.

"That all goes without saying. I'll be with her until you can come back in."

"Thank you. I need to talk to Emma. I need to fix this."

"Let's wait for the labs and go from there. Dr. Ritens is on his way from the CDC. Robin has worked with him for a long time and she respects him. Maybe he can help."

Patrick thanked her and she went into the room. He turned when he heard his daughter.

"Daddy? Are you okay?" Emma cried as she ran into his arms.

"Hey baby," he smiled as he held her. "Is Aunt Maxie here with you?"

"Yeah, but she was talking to Grandma and Uncle Mac. I got worried."

He smiled and walked to the chair by the wall.

"I need to tell you something, but I need for you to listen carefully, okay?"

Emma nodded.

"Mommy is here."

"She is? She came home?" Emma asked excitedly.

"Yeah, she did, but there is something we didn't know about where mommy has been."

"What do you mean?"

"Mommy didn't want to stay away. She was in trouble and I didn't know. She was trying for a really long time to come home to us and she couldn't. She is worried you might be a little angry with her."

"I'm not angry, daddy. Can I see her? Is she in her office?"

Patrick's heart cracked a little more.

"There's more, Em. Mommy isn't feeling very well. She is sick and I'm going to work really hard to help make her feel better. I want you to see her, but I don't want you to be scared."

"She's sick? What's wrong with her?" Emma's eyes filled with tears.

"I'm trying to figure that out. How about I take you to see her and you can sit with her while I work on some medicine?"

"Okay."

He took her hand and they went to the room.

XXXX

Robin opened her eyes and saw a familiar face.

"Epiphany?"

"That's right. Only the best for my favorite researcher," Epiphany said as she choked back her own emotions. This woman was a shell of the doctor she knew.

"I'm so happy to see you."

"Well we are happy to see you, too," Epiphany said. "What can I get to make you more comfortable?"

"I just want to be able to talk to my daughter. I need her to understand. I also need to talk to Patrick. I made so many mistakes and now I need to fix what I can before it's too late."

Epiphany sat down and smoothed the blanket.

"Look, I don't know the specifics about what happened or where you've been. What I do know is that the love in Drake Juniors eyes hasn't been back in his eyes until now and the passion in his step has been missing since you left. Whatever happened, whatever took place, none of it matters when it comes to those we love. He adores you and he's been lost without you."

Robin felt her energy waning.

"I've missed him and Emma so much," she said and closed her eyes.

Epiphany looked up as Patrick walked in with Emma. She stood up and smiled at them as she walked out.

Patrick looked at Emma and smiled.

"Come on. Let's go talk to mommy."