Chapter 11
"I infected you. You have this disease because of me." Robin's tears soaked his shirt as Patrick rocked her in his arms. "I never wanted you to have this – to have to live with this. And the kids? How do we tell them what I have done?"
"First of all, this is not your fault. I don't blame you and the kids won't either." He gently lifted her chin and kissed her. "I have known, since that day at the Metro Court when you were fighting with Carly, that you are HIV Positive. I have always know and I have always wanted you. Robin, I love you and this disease has not and will not ever change that."
"Then why did you leave?"
"Because I knew how much you would blame yourself and I didn't want to hurt you that way. I needed to get my emotions in check so I could help you." Patrick smiled at her. "You and the kids are what matters. You have shown me for years how wonderful a life someone can live with HIV. You have been my rock and salvation through so many things and I wanted to make sure I was strong enough for you to lean on this time."
Robin felt a mixture of joy and sadness at his statement. Of course his first concern would be how she would feel, not the fact that he was now infected. "That's why you went to Georgia isn't it." Patrick nodded his head. "So I take it that Matt knows?" Patrick nodded his head again. "I'm glad you had him do the second test."
"What second test?"
"You had a second test run with a new blood sample, right?" Robin looked at her husband in shock as she realized he hadn't. "Patrick – what if there was an issue in the lab and the specimen was contaminated? Or they mixed up your results with someone else's?"
"To be honest, I was so blindsided by the diagnosis and worried about how I would tell you that I didn't even consider it." Patrick could see now what a mistake that had been.
"Okay," Robin started calming down, "I want you to call Tom right now and have another test run immediately. Maybe it was a false positive or the first test was wrong."
"And if it comes back negative?" Patrick was concerned that maybe the second test would be wrong. "Maybe my viral load is so low that it becomes undetectable in my system."
"But there would still be a trace – call Tom and get someone in here to take the test immediately." Robin didn't want to waste a single second. "Please, do it for me."
Patrick pulled out his phone and made the call. Within minutes, Tom and Liz were in the room getting the second blood sample. There were just finishing up when Matt walked in. "What is going on?"
Robin was holding her husband's hand as they took the sample. "He's getting a second test done."
Matt looked at his brother and scrunched up his face at him. "You mean you didn't have a second test run before you pulled yourself from surgical rotation and flew to Georgia?"
"You pulled yourself from rotation?" Robin glared at her husband.
"It was the responsible thing to do." Patrick felt the need to defend his decision.
"It was but I assumed you had had a second test run before you did it." Tom sighed. "Luckily we are always in need of great neurosurgeons. Dr. Hunter no matter what the test says – you have a position here."
Liz put the filled tube in the tray. "I'll take this right down to the lab." She looked at Tom. "I take it you want to supervise the test?"
"Yes, in fact I will take it down to the lab myself." He turned to the couple. "If it comes back negative, we will wait a week and have a third test run to confirm the results. If it comes back positive, I will personally review your protocol and take care of you." Tom took the vial from Liz's tray and headed towards the door.
Patrick was surprised. "I thought you weren't taking on any new patients?"
"I think I can make an exception for you. Nurse Webber, please arrange for Dr. Drake's medical records to be transferred to me. I am now his primary physician."
Robin smiled at their boss. "Thank you Tom."
"You are welcome. I will be back as soon as I can with the results. Until then, enjoy your family reunion." Tom and Liz left the room and Matt sat down by the side of Robin's bed.
"So, Patrick tells me you are in the middle of a grant proposal." He knew that they needed to think about something other than the blood test currently being run. "Tell me all about it."
"Dr. Hardy?" Richard saw the chief of staff coming down the hall and stopped him.
"Dr. King – I actually wanted to speak with you." Tom held the vial in his closed hand. "I am going to need all your files on Patrick Drake."
"Patrick Drake? Why?"
"Because I am taking over as his primary care physician. In fact, I am on the way to the lab right now to run a second HIV test on him. But I have to ask – why didn't you insist he have one done?" Tom stared the man straight in the eyes, waiting for the answer.
"I really didn't get the chance. He was so upset that I wanted to give him a little time to think about what he wanted to do. The next thing I knew he was headed to Georgia. I was planning on talking to him about it as soon as he returned." Richard didn't back down from the question. "It's not my fault he went off half-cocked."
Tom shook his head. Unfortunately Dr. King was right, Patrick took off without any notice so he couldn't completely dress the man down but he did want to give him a friendly warning. "Next time please do not leave the patient until you are certain that they understand a second test is in their best interest. I need to get to the lab but please have all of Dr. Drake's medical records in my office by the end of the day."
"Of course Dr. Hardy." Richard watched Tom head towards the lab before running back to his office.
He shut and locked the door before picking up his phone and making a call. "Something's happened. We need to meet as soon as possible."
