Chapter 7

The paramedics flew through the door with the cot. "GSW to the lower left quadrant, patient has been down for approximately 10 minutes, pulse is 72 and thready, BP is 70/40, pulse ox is 98% on room air, respirations are 12. Responsive to painful stimuli."

Dr. Tom Hardy took over. "Get her into Trauma 2! Epiphany, get me an OR now." Before Patrick could move, Robin was whisked out of sight. Patrick started to follow but Liz stopped him.

"Patrick you know you can't go back there. Let them do their jobs." Liz led Patrick over to a chair and sat him down. "Do you want me to call everyone? Where are the kids?"

Patrick put his head in his hands. "They're at Jason's. We were on our way over there when…" He stopped for a moment. "Someone tried to kidnap Emma and Stephanie tonight. Cam and Milo stopped them."

Liz reached for her phone, Cameron was her son, but Patrick stopped her. "They are fine, I promise. Jason's guards were taking them all to the Quartermaines."

Liz nodded and put her phone away. Patrick had no reason to lie to her. "What about her parents and Mac?"

"Jason's taking care of that." Patrick stood up and began to pace the room. "I can't lose her Liz, I just can't."

"Patrick, this is Robin we're talking about. She has survived a gunshot wound before and under much worse circumstances. At least this time she doesn't have to have Carly sewing her up."

Patrick gave Liz a little laugh. Liz was right, Robin had been shot before and the circumstances were much worse. Emily Quartermaine had actually operated on Robin in the lobby of the Metro Court hotel using office supplies. Robin had survived that and the wound was even in almost the same spot.

"Patrick, how is she?" Anna ran up to her son-in-law with Robert, Mac and Felicia close behind her.

"She is in with Dr. Hardy now." He noticed Anna was staring at his shirt and Patrick realized he was covered in Robin's blood.

"Patrick, why don't we get you some scrubs and get you cleaned up? Do you have any open cuts?" Liz knew that Patrick wasn't thinking about himself right now but Robin would kill her if she didn't ask.

"I'm not going anywhere until I know what is going on with my wife!"

"Then let me tell you." Tom was walking out of the trauma room and had heard Patrick's outburst. "We are getting her prepped for surgery right now. We did an x-ray and it looks like the bullet is lodged in some scar tissue. Was Robin shot before?"

"Yes, in 2007. I noticed it was in almost the exact same spot." Patrick couldn't believe the coincidence.

"Well it's a good thing, it looks like that scar tissue may have prevented the bullet from doing too much damage. She's stable and we are heading to the OR in 10 minutes. While I am doing the surgery I want you to get cleaned up. I am also going to get you started on the PEP protocol. I know you get tested regularly – when is your next test scheduled?"

"Next week."

"Okay, I want to go ahead and do another draw tonight and then keep your regular schedule. Go get cleaned up and let me take care of Robin. I'll have her up and fighting with you in no time." Tom walked back to the trauma room and Patrick leaned against the nurse's hub. After a minute he slowly slid down the side of it and finally let the events of the past hour get to him as the tears he had been holding back finally came out.

Anna ran to his side but Patrick warned her off. "No Anna, don't touch me." Anna jumped back at his words. "I know Robin's blood doesn't scare either one of us but it still scares her, even after all these years. Let me get changed and cleaned up. I have some clothes in my locker, I'll take a quick shower and then be right back out. Twenty minutes tops. Liz, you'll know where to find me if…"

Liz nodded her head. "What about the kids?"

Patrick sighed. "Jason and Sam are going to talk to them. The hard part will be keeping them away. I want them to stay at the Quartermaines for now, out of the line of fire I hope. Jason is going to call me as soon as the kids know so I can talk to them. I will see you in a few minutes."

Patrick went to wash up and change clothes. As he headed towards the locker room Robin was rolled by on her way to surgery. Tom stopped the gurney for a moment. "Hey beautiful, you behave yourself in there so they can get that bullet out and get you home to me and the kids because we need you. I love you, beyond reason."

He kissed her softly and then watched as Robin was rolled down the hallway and to the OR for surgery.