Chapter Eight:
"Robin? Are you okay?" Patrick asked again as he walked out of the bathroom.
She looked at him and nodded.
"Yeah. I rolled over on your phone. I hope it's okay," she said and handed it to him. She was a whirlwind of emotions and she needed to figure this out. She didn't say anything else.
"Oh, well it's fine," he smiled and put it on the table. "The men should be back soon and we can start helping you to feel better."
"Okay. I'm really tired, so I'm going to rest," she said and turned a little to face away from him.
Patrick noted the change in her demeanor, but he figured it was probably the stress of everything she had been through. He sat back and watched her and about a half hour later, the men came back.
"We need to start an IV and push fluids. I got some vials so we can run some blood work and figure out what's next. I also called Britt and she is going to arrange to have her jet come and get us," Tommy said.
"What? Seriously?" Patrick asked.
"Yeah. She is back home for a while until the next leg of the tour kicks up and she was happy to help. You know how important Robin is to her," he smiled when Robin opened her eyes.
"Hey," Tommy grinned at her. "Will you let Patrick start an IV?"
Robin sat up a little more and they all saw she looked better after the bath, but some of the spark was gone.
"Can you do it?" she asked Tommy. "You work with children, so you have a softer touch."
Patrick was surprised, but nodded.
"She's right," he said.
Tommy nodded.
"Your wish is my command," he said and looked at Patrick. "Why don't you take a walk with your dad so he can fill you in on things."
"Okay," he said and looked at Robin, but she didn't meet his gaze.
Tommy put his gloves on and took her hand, expertly prepping her for the IV. She felt almost nothing as he put in the needle and he took a few vials of blood before he hooked the fluids up to the bedpost. He took her temp with the thermometer they bought and then he cleaned up and sat down, taking her hand in his.
"You're going to be okay," he said softly. "If your viral load is too high, we'll kick it in the ass."
She smiled and her tears came.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Been there. Britt has struggled so much her numbers, but we always," he leaned in and smiled. "Always show it who's boss. HIV is no match for all of us. You have so many people who love you and are fighting for you. Patrick will never let you give up."
She nodded. Brittany had been HIV positive almost as long as Robin and it was a terrible but beautiful connection that always bonded them. Tommy had never veered from his wife's side.
"Can you tell me why you look so sad?" Tommy asked. "Don't you believe me?"
She blinked and looked at him.
"Patrick wasn't waiting for me, was he? He moved on."
Tommy was quiet and she sighed.
"I think this is a conversation you need to have with him. He loves you, Robin, so much. He's been beside himself without you."
"I saw pictures on his phone. He wasn't sad or beside himself. He was with Sam and there were images that looked like they were a family with her son and Emma. How could that be? Where is Jason? Why didn't anyone come for me sooner?"
Tommy wished he had an answer for her.
"I don't know. I didn't know you were even gone until he called me to come visit a few days ago. Whatever he did or didn't do, he wants to fix it now. I know that might not mean anything to you, but I think you need to let him explain."
They heard the door lock and she held his hand.
"Please don't say anything to him. I need to figure things out and then I'll talk to him, okay?" she pleaded.
He nodded.
"Anything you need. Please know I'm here for you, okay? Medically if nothing else, tell me what you need."
"Maybe you can get Britt on the phone for me later? I would love to catch up. How is Natalie?"
Tommy took out his phone and showed her.
"Look at that long red hair! She's the spitting image of Britt as a child," Robin said.
"I know. I'm in so much trouble," Tommy grinned and put his phone away. "I think maybe a visit is in order when you get home. Both my girls would love it."
"I would love that, too. Thank you," she said and they looked up as the men came in.
Patrick walked over and Tommy smiled.
"She is resting and I need to get these vials to the lab. I'll wait for them and then get the meds."
"Okay," Patrick looked at Robin. "Thanks."
Tommy nodded and smiled at Robin before he left.
"We got Mac and my dad another room and Tommy will get one, too. That way we can have some privacy," Patrick said.
"Can I stay with Uncle Mac and you stay with someone or alone? I need to talk to him and I want some time to catch up."
Patrick was surprised.
"Of course you can," Mac beamed. "Any chance I have to help my niece."
Patrick went to object when Noah shook his head.
"Patrick and I will be right next door, okay?"
Robin nodded, grateful.
"Thanks Noah."
Patrick grabbed his bags and went with Noah to the other room.
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Tommy went to the hospital lab and dropped off the vials of blood. He sat and thought about what Robin said and he felt terrible for his friends. HE would never betray her confidence, but he needed Patrick to be honest.
Robin deserved to know the whole truth.
He was also angry with himself for not realizing earlier that Patrick was in trouble. He knew Robin left and he didn't understand why. He should have flown in then and helped his friend.
He felt like he truly failed them.
The lab called and he went to pick up the results. He saw someone from Helena's compound and he hid.
Why were they there? Did they even know Robin was gone?
He saw the man pick up a bag and leave and Tommy walked to the young woman who sat at the desk. He flashed a million watt smile and brought out the British accent.
He wasn't leaving without answers.
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"She knows something," Patrick said as he paced in the room with Noah. "Everything was fine and she suddenly shut down."
"Was she okay in the tub?" Noah asked.
"Yeah, just tired and overwhelmed, but she was okay."
"So what do you think changed?"
Patrick sat on one of the beds.
"I don't know, but maybe I should go talk to her."
Noah shook his head.
"No, she was pretty adamant about wanting to be alone with her Uncle. She is probably a mess of emotions and he is grounding her. This isn't about what you need, son, but what makes her feel better. Let's give her that for now."
Patrick sighed.
He was worried.
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Mac made some hot tea and put some lemon and honey in it before he handed it to Robin. She was sitting up in bed and he smiled when she took it.
"You always know what I need," she said softly as she sipped the warm liquid.
Mac sat on the side of the bed and looked at his hands.
"I wish that was the case. I wish I had known you were in trouble. I would never have left you for so long, Robin."
"I'm sorry," she said and he put the tea on the nightstand. "I only had time to make a quick Skype call and I called Patrick. I guess I thought he or mom would call you."
Mac fumed again at that.
"Me too, but why not tell me when Victor came to you? I could have helped you. I don't know why you didn't trust me. I have always had your back, Robin."
Her tears came and she nodded.
"I know. I'm sorry Uncle Mac. I did everything wrong and it appears I've lost everything because of it. I'm really sorry."
He leaned in and gently hugged her.
"Shh, I didn't mean for you to apologize. I'm just so mad at myself. I should have known something wasn't right."
She sighed.
"You're right. You are everything to me and I know that. I guess I wasn't thinking. So much had just happened. Sabrina was pregnant and Patrick had hesitated for so long. When I heard Jason might be locked away suffering, I just didn't think twice. I had to try and help. I thought it would be okay. I was wrong."
He took her hand and smiled.
"You have Scorpio disease."
Robin smiled.
"What do you mean?"
"We have the annoying need to help everyone at no regard to our own happiness."
She chuckled.
"I'm not sure that's a great way to be."
"Well, when it comes to family, it's what needs to happen. There is nothing, at any time, you or Maxie or Emma could tell me or ask me that would make me turn away. Ever."
Robin wiped her eyes.
"You can't know how much that means to me. Thank you for being in my corner."
They were quiet for a minute and then Robin looked at him.
"Do you know what happened to Jason?"
Mac was surprised.
"Patrick said you told him you were unable to save him. That's the last I heard."
"What? No, it worked. I mean I did tell Patrick that, but only because Victor threatened him and Emma. Before the clinic exploded, Jason and I got away. I dropped him off in front of Sonny's place and drove to the Metro Court to see Anna. When I got there, Helena was waiting and I was taken again. Jason isn't with Sonny?"
Mac ran his hand through his hair.
"No, he never resurfaced."
Robin was so confused, but she was also exhausted.
"How about you sleep for a bit and we can talk more later, okay?" he said, seeing her fighting sleep.
"Okay," she said and closed her eyes. "I love you."
Mac held her hand and wiped his tears.
"I love you forever."
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Tommy couldn't believe what he heard and what he found out. He had flirted his way to answers and then he picked up the labs. He texted Patrick that he was leaving and Patrick told him they got another room.
He made his way out to grab a cab when there was a bag over his head and everything went black.
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