Chapter Sixteen:

Patrick was getting the OR prepped and Robin was sitting with Matt and Maxie. Patrick had been able to stabilize him, but the situation was dire and the tumor needed to be removed.

"I will be fine," Matt said softly to his wife.

"I know. I mean you have to be fine, right? It took me too long to break you in. I can't do that to anyone else," Maxie smiled through her tears and they all laughed.

"So he is the best, right?" Matt asked again.

"Dr. Drake is the best there is, especially when it comes to neurosurgery. I don't think I have ever met anyone more full of themselves, but with the stats to back it up."

Maxie smiled.

"Well he has his work cut out for him. He doesn't want me on his case if anything goes wrong."

"Maxie, you know that medicine isn't a perfect science. If anything happens, it isn't Dr. Drake's fault."

"Whatever," Maxie grumbled. "I just need you to be okay. You know what you have waiting here for you."

Matt pulled her to him for a kiss.

"I always know that. I have my heart."

Maxie cried and Robin stood up.

"I'll go see how much longer we have until they are ready for you," she was worried and hoped this worked out for all of them. She walked out and was surprised to see Tommy and Natalie sitting there.

"Hi Robin. Patrick said you could hear again," Natalie smiled. "That's cool, but I liked my cards."

Tommy rouged up his daughter's hair and she giggled.

"We're very happy the swelling has gone down," he said and glared at his daughter.

"We are," Natalie agreed.

"How come you two came? You didn't have to be here," Robin sat down; secretly glad they were there. She had come to really enjoy their company. They were very comfortable people.

"Patrick called and told me what happened. Sometimes we work together on cases, and I thought he might need me. Besides, you're like family, so this is where we need to be."

"Family? You guys are so sweet, but you hardly know me. I don't know that I deserve such praise," she smiled as she looked at them.

Natalie pushed her glasses up on her nose and looked at her.

"Don't you want us to be your friend?"

Tommy looked apologetically at Robin who smiled warmly at them.

"Of course I do," she hugged the little girl. "I'm just worried about Matt."

Natalie shrugged.

"Well that's silly because Uncle Patrick can fix anything. He is the best mommy and daddy doctor there is. My daddy is the best baby doctor. You should tell Matt he will be fine."

Robin laughed and felt her eyes fill with tears.

"You know what? You make a lot of sense. Would you like to meet them before they take him in?"

Natalie nodded and looked at Tommy.

"Can I?"

"Of course," he said, knowing that Robin knew what Matt might be able to do for Natalie.

Robin took her hand and led her into the room.

Maxie and Matt smiled at Robin and Maxie wasn't sure she had ever seen a cuter little girl.

"Matt and Maxie, this is my new friend Natalie. She is Patrick's niece and one of the smartest little girl's I have ever met."

"Hi Natalie. It is very nice to meet you," Maxie said and walked over to shake her hand.

"It is very nice to meet you, too," Natalie grinned.

Robin walked her to the bed and noticed how Natalie held her arm for support. She worried about the little girl's hips.

"Hi. I'm Natalie. My Uncle Patrick is going to fix you."

Matt smiled at her and could see immediately the health problems the little girl had.

"I think because you said that, I believe it."

Natalie beamed and put her hand on Matt's arm.

"I get scared a lot when I'm in the hospital, but I always imagine my momma holding me and then I don't feel so scared. When you're scared, you should just remember that we are out here waiting to hug you. That will make things okay, right?"

Matt looked at Maxie and Robin and smiled.

"I have no doubt about what I have to live for. I will be fine."

Natalie took her small purse and pulled out a small stone. She put it in Matt's hand.

"This is for good luck. I think it has special powers, but daddy said it's just a rock. I know that when mommy died, I found this stone on my pillow and I think it was from her. I keep it with me so I feel her and I think you should let her help you, too."

Matt felt his eyes fill.

"Thank you. I will be glad to hold it for now and I will make sure you get it back soon."

"Okay."

Tommy opened the door and smiled.

"Excuse me, but I figured maybe you wanted a minute alone, or sans Natalie before you went in. Patrick will be in soon."

"I know that means without me, daddy," she said and crossed her arms.

They all laughed and Tommy walked to her and picked her up, kissing her cheek.

"You are in awesome hands, don't forget that," he smiled and walked out with his daughter.

Matt and Maxie looked at Robin.

"She is a trip," Maxie said.

"She is," Robin grinned.

"Her mother died?" Matt asked.

"Yes, in a plane crash. She was the famous singer Barbara Rose."

Maxie's face lit up.

"Oh my gosh! No way. I love her music."

Robin smiled and Matt looked at her.

"She is a sick little girl, isn't she?"

"Let's just say that she could use your help, so you need to get better," Robin said and wiped her eyes.

Matt smiled.

"I think that's just what I will do."

Surgery had been going on for hours. Everyone was worried, but so far, things seemed to be stable. Patrick warned it would be a long and arduous procedure and not to worry if it took hours. Natalie had been great, and Tommy helped keep everyone's spirits up.

"Excuse me, are you Dr. Williams?" a nurse came out to them.

"Yes," Tommy smiled.

"Dr. Drake asked if you would scrub in," she said. "Now."

Tommy looked at Natalie, who was asleep on the couch in the waiting room.

"I'll watch her, go," Robin said.

He nodded and followed the nurse.

Maxie walked back in from the bathroom and looked around.

"Where did he go?"

"He went to help Patrick."

"What? Why?" Maxie asked in a high-pitched voice. "Is something wrong?"

Robin smiled and put her arm around Maxie.

"Nothing is wrong. Many times a surgeon has someone they feel comfortable with especially during tough procedures. Patrick has that with Dr. Williams and I think it makes sense he wants him there."

Maxie nodded and wiped her eyes.

"I wish Mac was here," she leaned against her cousin.

Robin smiled and smoothed her hair back.

"I know, but he's off somewhere with the WSB on assignment. You know if he could have been here, he would have."

"I know."

Robin watched Natalie and saw the little girl wake up. She squeezed Maxie's shoulder and went to her.

"Where is my daddy?"

"He went to help Patrick," Robin smiled. "You okay?"

"I need to check my sugar. I don't feel great," she said and Robin watched as she expertly pulled out her purse and the supplies.

"Do you need any help?"

Natalie shook her head.

"No, I can do this in my sleep," she smiled and Robin watched her prick herself and check her sugar.

"I need to turn my pump a click," she said. "Maybe two, but I don't know. Daddy always helps me."

Robin was amazed at how in charge of her diabetes Natalie was.

"You have a pump?"

Natalie nodded.

"Can you help me turn it up a click?"

Robin nodded and took her hand.

"Let's go into the room where it's private and I'll have them ask your daddy what he wants you to do."

Natalie nodded.

"Can Maxie come? I don't want her to be alone," Natalie said.

Robin hugged the little girl.

"Of course. Now let's get you feeling better."

Chapter Seventeen:

The surgery was over and Patrick was on his way out to talk to Maxie. Robin held a sleeping Natalie on her lap and the little girl had been trying her best to stay awake, but she was exhausted.

Robin had gone into the OR and told Tommy what happened and he told her what to do to adjust the pump. Natalie was sleepy, but he said it would kick in soon. Robin knew there was more going on than Natalie's diabetes, but she didn't want to pry.

Maxie came out of the bathroom and paced, waiting for Patrick to come out. She jumped when Tommy came out and he smiled at her.

"Patrick is on his way. Your husband is stable," he said warmly and then smiled apologetically at Robin who was being smushed by his daughter.

"Sorry," he went to take her when Robin smiled.

"I don't mind. She's been helping both of us. I think she's feeling better, but I don't know if she would tell me the truth," Robin grinned as Natalie woke up.

"I don't lie," she said sleepily. "Hi daddy!" she grinned at him and he picked her up in his arms.

"Hi mini red. Robin said you had some trouble earlier. What happened?"

"I needed a drink cause my mouth was cottony," she said and yawned. "I told her I needed a click or two."

"How is your mouth now? Still dry?"

She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"No. I'm just tired," she said.

He sat down on the couch and she lay against him.

"You just rest," he held her and kissed her forehead. "Daddy loves you."

"Mini red loves you, too," she murmured as she fell asleep.

Tommy felt his eyes fill as he held her. He would give his life if it meant she felt better. How could a pediatrician be so completely useless when it came to his own heart and soul?

Robin was choked up at the scene and Maxie smiled, too. Tommy closed his eyes, tired himself and Patrick finally walked out. He smiled at Tommy and Natalie and motioned for Maxie and Robin to come into the conference room.

"So it was a success?" Maxie asked. "He's going to be okay?"

Patrick exhaled.

"I was able to remove the tumor and the surrounding tissue. I anticipate he will do well, but until he regains consciousness, it isn't clear if he will be back to himself or not. There is no guarantee he will be able to operate again, but I am hopeful he will make a full recovery."

Maxie squealed and ran to hug him, catching him off guard and he almost fell out of his chair. He laughed and saw Robin watching him with an admiring stare.

"He is being moved into a room down the hall. If you go out to the nurses station, they will take you as soon as he is in a room."

"Thank you so much," she said and wiped her eyes. She turned to Robin who motioned for her to go, Maxie practically skipped out of the room.

Patrick rubbed his eyes and put his head in his hands.

"You okay?" Robin walked over and rubbed his back.

"Yeah. I just think I need to elevate my leg. That was a long time to stand."

She covered his hand with her own.

"Will you let me take you to my place for the night? I can order in some food and pamper you," she smiled. "Tommy and Natalie can come, too. I have 3 bedrooms."

"Are you sure? We are a lot to handle," he said, secretly thrilled at the invite.

"I think it would be nice. You guys don't need to stay in a hotel. My place isn't far."

He nodded.

"I think that would be nice. I'm going to check on Matt and talk to the doctor on call and then we can go."

"I'll go talk to Tommy," she said.

A few hours later, Natalie was asleep in Robin's guest room after a bath, and the adults were sitting in the family room, enjoying some take out. They were all exhausted, but Tommy was telling some embarrassing stories about Patrick.

"You act like you never did anything wrong," Patrick said as he drank a beer. "I mean, before Brittany, you dated everything. It's not like you were very selective."

Tommy grinned at him.

"I just let you think that way, so you wouldn't feel badly about some of the um, "choices" you made."

They all laughed and Tommy stood up.

"I'll leave you guys alone. Natalie will probably wake up in a little while and I don't want to bother you. We'll be in the bedroom if you need anything."

Patrick smiled.

"I think we'll be fine," he winked.

"You never know," Robin rolled her eyes.

Tommy laughed and went to the room.

"He's really a great guy," Robin said to Patrick as she cleaned up.

Patrick nodded.

"He's amazing. He and I are brothers, even those we aren't related by blood. He's the closest thing to family I've ever had. He and Britt were there for me through a lot of stuff and what they went through when Nat was born, well it just shows what people are really made of."

"There's a lot more going on with Natalie than just her diabetes, isn't there?"

He nodded.

"She was born with only a tiny part of one kidney. She went through hours of dialysis from birth and received a transplant a few weeks later. She was also severely premature and Britt almost died giving birth."

Robin felt terrible.

"I can't imagine what Tommy must have gone through. Watching his wife and daughter almost die?"

"He was a mess. It was a terrible time, but it was also amazing, because they were both such fighters. Natalie brought them so much closer and for me, it was life changing, watching the family they became while going through such fear."

Robin wiped her eyes and Patrick sighed.

"It doesn't matter. None of it matters because in the end, Brittany died a terrible death and Tommy is alone raising his daughter. Life doesn't work out like you hope."

She moved to sit next to him.

"I don't know about that. It seems to have made you a little human," she grinned and he chuckled.

"You don't know what I was like before."

"But you didn't deny it," she grinned. "Besides, I've met enough playboys in my life that I can recognize the traits."

He looked at her and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear.

"I'm not that person any longer. I don't want women anymore."

She smiled when he blushed.

"That didn't come out right. Of course I want women. I love women. I just don't want meaningless sex anymore."

She touched his knee and looked into his eyes.

"Sometime meaningless sex can be helpful."

He grinned. She was always surprising him.

"Is that right?"

"Sure. We are all sexual beings, Patrick. Sex is a great release. It takes the tensions in your body and lets them flow out. It can be very satisfying," she whispered and then stood up to clean some more.

He felt his pants tighten as she spoke and he swallowed, trying to calm his body down. This was new. He was getting a lecture on meaningless sex from her? What parallel universe did he fall into?

He walked into the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe.

"So tell me something about you."

She turned and smiled at him, the way he leaned against the wall was the sexiest thing she had ever seen.

"What do you want to know?"

He didn't think, he just blurted it out.

"How did you become HIV positive?"

Her face clouded over and he could have kicked himself. What the hell was he thinking?

"I'm sorry. It's none of my business."

She turned and leaned against the counter.

"No, it's a valid question. We've kissed a few times and I just talked about meaningless sex, so I'm sure you're probably making some judgments about me."

"No I wasn't. That wasn't why I asked. I'm not judging you, Robin," he said sincerely and she nodded.

"When I was 24 and in med school, I had a roommate who was really troubled. She got mixed up with the wrong crowd and became involved in an abusive relationship. To make a long story short, I came home one day and she had tried to kill herself. She was bleeding out and I ran to help her, but there was a ton of shattered glass on the floor. She had broken a glass and used it to cut her femoral artery."

"Oh my God," Patrick said. He walked to the table where she had sat down and he sat across from her.

"It gets better," she said sadly. "I fell onto the glass and sliced a gash in my side. I pulled off my shirt and tried to make a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, but she bled out pretty quickly. I used my body to lie on her and I tried to save her. The paramedics came, but she was gone. We found a suicide note that she left, saying she was sorry, but she had tested positive for HIV from her boyfriend."

"And because you cut yourself, you tested positive?" he was horrified.

"It was kind of the perfect storm. Not only did I cut myself, but I took off my shirt and laid my body across her, allowing easy transmission. It was like I learned nothing in med school. I was so incredibly stupid, Patrick, and I've been paying for that mistake since."

He didn't know what to say.

"Robin, I'm so sorry you went through that. I can't imagine what it must have been like to lose a friend that way," he reached and took her hand.

She loved how his hand felt in hers and she made no move to take it back.

"I just wish I could have helped her sooner. I missed so many of the signs because I was so busy with school. If I had been a better friend, she might still be alive."

"And you wouldn't be HIV positive," he said softly.

She stood up and walked into the other room.

"I've been living with this disease for years, now, and I am grateful for the life I've made for myself. It's only recently that I've kind of found myself angry again."

He followed and stood watching her.

"Why?"

She sat down and looked at him.

"Because up until recently, I never cared that I would be alone. I never saw anyone in my life and I never felt like I would have any kind of family."

"But something changed?"

She looked at her hands and shrugged.

"I met Natalie and Tommy. I see what an amazing child she is and how she was born from a woman who was HIV positive and she is such a beautiful and giving little person. I also see how Tommy and Nat are alone and it isn't because of HIV. I was living scared, Patrick, and I don't want to do that anymore."

"So it was just because of Tommy and Natalie?" he asked as he walked closer.

"No. Matt being so sick also made me think about my own mortality."

Patrick went to move closer when his leg buckled and he almost fell, but he caught himself. She jumped to help him.

"I'm okay," he said as she put her arm around him. "I just did a lot of standing today."

"Come into my room and let me help you. I think I know what you need," she said and he smiled at her.

"Why Dr. Scorpio, is that what the line is?"

She rolled her eyes.

"Relax. I just meant that I give a great massage to get blood flowing." She looked at him. "Are you scared?"

Yes.

"No way. Bring it."

She laughed and led him into her bedroom and he sat down on the bed while she went to grab some things. Before she walked into her bathroom she turned to him.

"It was also you," she said.

"What do you mean?"

"You asked what changed. I met Tommy and Natalie, and that made a big impact on how I saw my future. But you are the one I met who made me see something else."

He smiled at her and realized how happy that made him.

"What else did you see?"

She shrugged.

"Hope."

"I like that," he said, a little choked up.

"Me too. Now sit tight while I get things ready."