Chapter Fourteen:

Patrick looked at his watch and felt a twinge of worry. He left money on the table and sipped his coffee, debating if he should go to the ladies room and get her. He worried that she would feel like he was monitoring her like the jackass always did. She needed to feel like she could take all the time she wanted and it was okay. On the other hand, he worried Scott was just crazy enough to try and get to her.

"Excuse me, sir?" The waitress said.

Patrick smiled. "Yes?"

"I don't know if this is my place, and I may be breaking some kind of woman code here, but I think the woman you were with is in a bit of trouble."

Patrick stood up quickly. "What happened?"

"I saw her standing outside of the bathroom and there was a man who had her by the arm being rough with her. I wasn't going to intrude, but she looked petrified and you seemed like a nice man, so I figured," she stopped when Patrick ran to the bathrooms.

"Robin?" He yelled, looking around for her. He didn't see her anywhere and he looked for the waitress. "Hey, did you see which way he went? Is there a door outside from back here?"

She nodded and led him to a back door. Patrick ran out and saw them at a car. He ran to the car and yelled. "Robin, stop. Don't go with him."

Scott turned and looked at Patrick. "This doesn't concern you. Robin was confused, but now she has things clear. Get out of our way."

Patrick ignored him and walked to the other side of the car and looked at Robin. She kept her head down and didn't meet his gaze. "Robin, you don't have to go with him. You don't have to do this. I can help you."

"Robin, get in the car," Scott commanded.

"Shut up," Patrick said to him. "You are a sick fuck who deserves to be locked up for what you did. You won't get away with this," he turned back to Robin.

"Whatever he said, it isn't true. Nothing will happen to you. Please come with me."

She finally looked up at him and her face was pale and her eyes were empty. "I don't care what happens to me. I'm not the one to worry about."

"Robin, the car, now."

"Did he threaten someone else? What is he holding over you? Please don't do this."

"I'm sorry," she whispered and got into the car.

Scott sneered at Patrick. "You have no idea who you're dealing with."

Patrick walked to him and stared him down, having three inches on him easily. "No, asshole, you don't know who you're dealing with," he punched Scott in the gut and the shorter man doubled over in pain, dropping the car keys. Patrick grabbed the keys and threw them far into the wooded area behind them. He ran to the other side of the car and looked at Robin. "Please trust me. Please let me help you."

She looked at him and reached her hand to him and he pulled her out and took her back into the restaurant and through the people to the front door. He led her out and helped her into his car before he sped off. He glanced at her and she was silent, looking at her hands and shaking. "It's going to be okay."

"Where are Amber and Shelly?" she asked quietly.

"I think they are home, why?"

"He threatened to find the people I care about. He knows I don't have anyone in my life except my Aunt, but he can easily find out about you and your family. I was going to go with him because he said he would get them. Can we go make sure they are okay?"

Patrick picked up his phone and called his sister. He spoke for a minute and hung up. "They are fine. She took Amber for a spa getaway and they will be there for a few days."

She sighed and wiped her eyes. "Why don't you drop me off at a hotel?"

He saw a small park ahead and pulled into an empty area of the parking lot and turned the car off. "Robin, you're safe. He won't get you. He has nothing over you."

She looked at him. "I think I'm going to be sick," she got out of the car and ran to vomit the small amount of food she had eaten. She got up and walked away from him before she collapsed to the ground and put her head in her hands.

He ran and sat down next to her. "Robin, please, it's okay."

She looked at him and shook her head. "I'm so scared. I don't know how to do this."

He gently cupped her face in his hands and wiped her tears with his thumbs. "I'll figure it out with you, okay?"

She moved closer and gently leaned into him as he wrapped his arms around her. He felt her trembling and he got up, gathering her in his arms and carrying her back to the car.

He pulled into his garage and they walked inside, Robin still not talking. He locked the door and walked to her. "What do you need?"

She looked at him and shrugged. "I guess maybe I should take a shower. My whole body hurts."

"I can run you a bath. Shelly brought some bath salts over that she said would be soothing. I think it would help you."

She looked at him and was confused. "Aren't you afraid of my being in the tub?"

"Why would I be afraid?" He didn't understand what she meant.

"Never mind. I think maybe I'll just lie down for a bit."

"Robin, why haven't you taken a bath in so long?"

"He wouldn't let me."

"Why?"

"He didn't like the possibility of contamination."

"From water? There is no way water could have done anything," he said, confused again.

"A bath was a privilege and I didn't deserve it."

"Why didn't you deserve it?"

"Because I am HIV positive."

This was so messed up.

"HIV isn't transmissible by water, you know that."

"Scott didn't like to be confused with the facts."

"Well he isn't here, Robin. You deserve to feel better and I think a bath will help you. Will you try it?"

She shook her head. "I don't think I can. I'm sorry. Do you mind if I just lie down?"

He walked to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "You can do whatever you want. Everything you feel is perfectly fine."

She smiled and walked a few steps, but stopped.

"What is it?"

"You saved me today, Patrick. No one has ever stood up for me before. Whether or not it looks like it, that means everything to me."

He swallowed the lump in his throat. "You deserve to feel that way every day."

She went to say something else, but stopped.

"What is it?"

She walked back over to him and smiled. "You deserve to feel that way too."

He sighed. "I don't think so."

"Why not?"

He turned to walk away and she followed. "Hey, you can't expect me to be all open and then shut down on me," she said and then stopped. "I mean, you can, of course. I'm sorry."

He turned and smiled at her. "If you are going to get feisty with me and then quickly apologize, it kind of loses the punch."

She grinned. "Sorry. I mean I'm not sorry, not at all. I demand that you talk to me," she tried to keep a straight face but couldn't.

He loved seeing her playful. He wanted more of that, but he didn't want to discuss this. "Look, there is a lot about me that I'm not proud of. There is a lot I've done that I can never take back. I've seen things that I can't forget and even if I work my whole life to try and fix it, I won't be able to." His voice hitched and he wiped his face. "Go take a nap. I've got things to do."

"Are you dismissing me?"

He turned and looked at her, "No, I didn't mean to make it seem like that. I just don't feel comfortable talking about this."

"Fair enough. I would like the opportunity to bring it up again later."

"Can we make a deal?"

She glanced at him. "What kind of deal?"

"I'll tell you more about my demons if you relax in the tub," he said softly.

"Why do you want me to get in the tub so badly?"

"Because it's something you have been denied. It will make you feel better and you deserve to be taken care of. I want you to know your worth."

"And a bath makes me know my worth?"

"You are being obtuse."

She looked at him and smiled.

"What is it?"

"I can't remember the last time I was in an argument. I missed that."

He chuckled. "Glad I could help."

They were silent for a minute and she walked over and sat down on the couch. "I'm afraid to take a bath," she whispered.

He walked and sat next to her. "What if I sit with you?"

"In the tub? I don't think so."

"Not in the tub, don't be so forward," he smiled as she rolled her eyes. "I can sit on a chair and distract you."

She felt her eyes fill with tears. "I don't think I want you to look at me."

He took her hand and she went to pull it away but he held on. "I won't look at you. You can wear a bathing suit or undergarments and I will fill the tub with bubbles. This isn't for you to feel uncomfortable, Robin, but for you to feel pampered."

She turned and surprised him by hugging him softly. "Thank you."

He returned her hug and felt his eyes grow moist. What was he getting himself into?

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