Chapter 7

Patrick sat in Kevin's office, nervously twiddling his thumbs. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice – I really do appreciate it."

"Of course Patrick." Kevin leaned back in his chair. "So do you need a consult?"

Patrick shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "No, I actually wanted to see you as a patient."

Kevin was surprised and his was sure his face reflected that. "Did something happen? Did you lose a patient?"

"This isn't work-related. I'm sure you have heard by now that Robin is back in Port Charles and that she is married to Nikolas Cassadine." Patrick waited for Kevin to nod his head before continuing. "What you may not know is that, even though I told everyone she was in Paris working, she was really being held hostage by Helena Cassadine."

Kevin took a moment to think about what Patrick was saying. "Did you know?"

"No." Patrick shook his head as tears filled his eyes. "Looking back it is obvious but I, Kevin, I didn't see it at the time." He paused as he wiped the tears away. "I turned away from her and left her to them. She told me she was broken and I didn't even try to find her."

"She told you she was broken?" Kevin couldn't believe those words came out of Robin's mouth.

"She said that she couldn't give Emma the kind of life she deserved but she knew I could." Patrick was now haunted by that call and the visit to the clinic before that. He had been replaying those incidents in his mind constantly, wondering how he could have been so blind as to not see the pain and fear in Robin's eyes and actions. "Then there is the fact that I didn't even know that my brother was let out of prison. I have let some of the people I love most in the world down and I need to know why I did it. Why I was too blind to see what they were going through."

Kevin thought about it. "What do you hope to get out of therapy?"

Patrick thought about it only briefly before giving Kevin a one-word answer. "Forgiveness."


Robin walked with Monica down the hall at GH, trying not to look too nervous. As Cassadine Industries/ELQ liaison with GH, she was expected to come to the hospital and make sure that their money was being spent correctly but she wasn't ready to run into Patrick again after their meeting this morning.

The walk to the launch had been very quiet and Robin had been happy to reach the pier and her car. She said goodbye to Patrick before heading off to the office for a brief meeting with Matt. The way things were set up, Matt would handle more of the day to day operations while Robin was overseeing the spending and which projects they would pursue. She had also warned Matt that Patrick was coming over the next night and she encouraged him to speak to his brother. Matt was still hurt about Patrick's not even knowing about his release from prison and his pain, just like Robin's was not going to go away overnight.

"As you can see, things really are not that much different than they were when you were here before."

"Except Obrecht is no longer Chief of Staff." Robin had felt better about taking on the liaison position once she had learned that Liesel was no longer employed there.

"Thank God we were finally able to get rid of that woman. I am only interim chief but I know you will work with the board to help them find a proper replacement." Monica was planning to retire as soon as a new chief was hired and properly trained.

"You are irreplaceable Monica, you know that. So, do you have any decent candidates?" Robin and Monica stopped in the lounge and sat down on the couch.

"Several very good candidates: Dr. Collins, Dr. Marucci, Patrick…"

Robin interrupted. "Patrick?"

"Yes – he threw his hat in the ring a couple of weeks ago and, I must say that he is one of the leading candidates." Monica watched Robin's reaction carefully.

"Patrick was a wonderful chief of staff and I know he would still be great in the position. I think he is a great candidate." Robin was about to say something else when she saw the door to Kevin's office open and Patrick walked out. His eyes were red and it was obvious he had been crying.

A part of Robin wanted to run over and pull him into her arms, assure him that it was all going to be okay. She wanted to tell him that she understood why he didn't see what was going on with her and that she forgave him but she just couldn't – not yet. She was still too raw from her experience. Still…

"Monica, would you please excuse me? I have some things to take care of before I leave and I know you are busy." Robin watched as Patrick headed towards his office. "I will see you again next week?"

"Sounds wonderful and Robin, I know you are working for Nikolas now," Monica still hated Robin's husband for stealing ELQ out from under her family, "but should something change, we would love to have you back on staff. Maybe even as chief of staff?"

Robin shook her head. "I'm not interested in working 80 hour weeks anymore – that's time away from my daughter. Maybe after Emma goes to college but not now." Robin and Monica stood up. "I'll see you later."

Monica hugged Robin. "It is so good to have you home. I'll see you later."

Robin nodded at Monica and turned her attention back to the hallway Patrick had disappeared down. She thought about it for only a second before she grabbed her purse and made her way to Patrick's office.