Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Summary: When Jesse wakes up from his surgery, Maxie discovers something startling and Patrick and Robin finally confess how they feel for each other, but when tragedy befalls Robin, Patrick also discovers some shocking news. Will Jesse and Maxie and Robin and Patrick be able to hold on to the love that they have for each other?
Pairings: Maxie/Jesse and Robin/Patrick
A/N: I'll keep it short and sweet. I apologize for the long wait and I know I keep saying after each chapter that the next one will be up sooner and I'm sorry for disappointing all of you who are reading my fan fiction and are looking forward to the next chapter, but I have a lot of time on my hands now, so I am really hoping to have each chapter up more quickly now. Thanx for being patient. Till next time.
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"So, are you finally ready to go home?" Maxie asked Jesse, who was slowly trying to get into the wheelchair the doctor's had brought a few minutes earlier.
"I guess," Jesse said, uncertainly. "Why do I have to get into this thing, anyway," he added, changing the subject.
"It's doctor's orders," Maxie said, trying unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh.
"What's so funny?" Jesses asked, emitting a small smile.
"Well," Maxie said, gently running her hand through Jesse's thick, dark hair, "look at you. It's kind of funny watching you getting into the wheelchair." Maxie's smile faded, as she saw the uncomfortable look on Jesse's face, and she quickly pulled her hand away. She broke eye contact with Jesse, so he would not be able to see the hurt evident on her face.
"Um," Maxie said, gesturing to the wheelchair with her hands. Without saying anything else, Maxie took up position behind the wheelchair. She wiped her hands on her legs and heaved an inconspicuous sigh, before putting her hands on the handles of the wheelchair and finally saying: "Let's get out of here…but first I want to stop by to see Robin. Mac said she's in really bad shape; she might not make it through the night. I just want to see if I can do anything."
"That's Dr. Scorpio, right? Your cousin? What happened to her?" Jesse asked, turning in his wheelchair as much as he could, so he could look into Maxie's eyes while she spoke.
"Mac stopped by a little while ago-while you were sleeping-and told me that she was in a very serious car accident; she was hit by a car. Can you believe that? I mean, who would want to do that?"
"I don't know," Jesse said, sympathetically, "but maybe Mac has a better idea."
Maxie nodded and began pushing Jesse towards Robin's room.
What was happening to Robin right now just reminded Maxie how short life was and how one should never take it for granted. Robin was a prime example of this. Patrick and her were finally in a good place-she was happy with him-and then something like this happens; a tragedy that threatens to tear them apart before they had really even begun.
As Jesse and Maxie turned the corner, she saw Mac pacing back and fourth in front of, what was obviously, Robin's hospital room. "Dad," Maxie said. Even from a distance, Maxie could see the pain in Mac's step and fear in his eyes. "How is she?" Maxie asked, pushing Jesse to where Mac stood.
Mac shook his head. "Not good."
Maxie put her hand on Mac's shoulder and looked through the large glass window at Robin's helpless body. "Oh my God," she whispered, quickly covering her mouth with her hand.
As Jesse watched Mac and Maxie interact over Robin, he couldn't help but sympathize with Maxie. He felt a connection with her, in that he knew what she must be feeling; she had just, in a sense, lost the man she loved and now she might lose a member of her family.
"Maxie," he heard Mac say, "why don't you and Jesse go home? I'll call you if there's any change."
Maxie hesitated for just a moment, then she wrapped her arms around Mac, who returned the hug, and said, "Okay…I love you, Dad."
"I love you too," he replied.
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"Well, this is home," Maxie said an hour later, as she opened the door to their quaint apartment above Kelly's.
"It's…uh…it's small," Jesse said, looking around.
"What did you expect for an apartment above a diner," Maxie laughed.
Jesse didn't answer. He walked further into the room, with slow, deliberate steps, and looked around in more detail, until his eyes landed on a photograph of him and Maxie on the desk beside Maxie's computer.
Jesse walked over to the desk and picked the picture up. They looked so happy. His arms were wrapped around her neck and he was kissing her cheek, while Maxie-looking even more radiant with the sun shining on her face-was leaning into his chest.
He held it up, over his shoulder, so Maxie could see it, and asked, "When was this taken? Where?"
When Maxie didn't answer, he turned around. He had just opened his mouth to ask the question again, when she walked to where he was standing and she placed her hand on his shoulder.
She gently took the picture out of Jesse's hand and looked at it with longing in her eyes; a longing, Jesse knew, for what they had had and what they couldn't get back.
"This," she said, letting a few tears slide down her cheeks, "was taken last summer at the gazebo in the park. When you're feeling better, I'll take you there." She placed the photograph back on the desk. "Why don't you start your recovery now by getting some rest. God knows you need it."
"There's only one bed, though."
"I know. That's why I'm going to sleep on the floor."
Before Jesse could protest, Maxie was already pulling extra blankets and pillows out of the linen closet. As she began laying them down on the hardwood floor at the foot of the bed, Jesse gently grabbed her arm, making her stop. He waited until she looked into his eyes, then he said, "Don't be ridiculous. We're both adults and this is a double bed. There's room for both of us. Look, I know how upset and disappointed…"
"Jesse…" she cut in, shaking her head.
"Just let me finish. I know how upset and disappointed you are that I can't remember you or living here with you, but this is your room too, so I'm not going to ask you to sleep on the floor just because I'm a…little uncomfortable."
By this time, Jesse had let go of Maxie's arm, allowing her to move to her side of the bed.
"Well, if you're sure," she smiled, as she pulled back the blankets, and climbed beneath them, "then who am I to argue?"
"Okay, then. Now that we have that settled, why don't you tell me a little about my past? I have all night," he said, as he too, climbed beneath the covers.
"Well, I did just meet you last summer, so I don't know that much about it, but I can tell you what I do know."
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Patrick ran his hand down his face. He was tired and angry, but most of all, he was scared. He was scared that Robin would never wake up and he'd never be able to apologize for the misunderstanding. And he was scared that he'd never be able to tell her that he loved her.
He had never felt this way about any other woman and it scared him to find out what it would be like to live without her. He tried to grasp the concept that he might just have to find a way to live without her, but he couldn't. He just couldn't, so he went to the one place that gave him hope she'd pull through this.
He sat silently in the hospital chapel, watching the shadows from the flames of the advent candles flicker on the darkened walls.
He had lit one when he had left Robin about ninety minutes ago and then he had sat in the front pew and prayed. He had prayed to God for a miracle, but he had run out of things to say twenty minutes ago. Now, he was just thinking of Robin and all the good times they had had in the few short months they had known each other.
"I'm sorry Robin," he whispered into the silence, as a few lone tears traveled down his cheeks. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
He quickly wiped the tears away when he heard the chapel doors creak open. He turned his head and sighed angrily, as he watched his father enter, quietly shutting the doors behind him.
"Look Dad, I'm not really in the mood, so if you're here to yell at me some more, then you can just turn around and leave."
Noah shook his head, as he made his way to where Patrick was sitting and sat down beside him. He gently put his arm across Patrick's shoulders and comfortingly said, "I'm not here about that, Patrick. I'm here because I…I just heard about Robin and I'm sorry. I know how much you care about her."
Patrick looked at his father quizzically and shrugged away his arm. "How much I care about her? You wouldn't know the first thing about our relationship. All you've done since you found out that Robin and I were sleeping together is try to push us into a real relationship, so you don't know how I feel."
"Look, Patrick," Noah replied, "I came here because you're my son and I love you and I care about Robin, but if you don't want me here, then I'll leave. I just have one question first." He waited until he received Patrick's compliance, then he went on. "Do you love her?"
Patrick hesitated in his answer and while he did so, he tried to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat, but was unsuccessful due to the tears that were threatening to fall again. It wasn't until he felt Noah's hand on his arm a few seconds later, that he gave his answer in a melancholy nod. "I tried not to Dad. I swore to myself that I would never fall in love because I didn't want to end up hurt, but then I met Robin and I realized all bets were off. The more time I spent with her, the more I realized how incredible she is and I couldn't help myself; I began falling in love with her. But now, the one thing that I was scared of is actually happening. She's lying in that hospital bed and she may never wake up. Dad, I don't know what I'll do if she dies."
"Son," Noah said, trying to reassure him, "I know Dr. Cosby said that there's a good chance Robin will die, but you and I both know all too well that there's a chance he's wrong; there's always a chance. And right now, I think you need to trust in that and believe that she's going to be okay. I think it might do the both of you some good if you go and sit with her."
Patrick nodded, realizing his father had a point. He needed to spend as much time with Robin as he could, just in case she didn't make it.
Patrick watched Noah get up from his spot on the pew and when he reached the chapel doors, he asked, "Are you coming, son?"
"Yeah," Patrick replied, not needing to pause in hesitation. He took when last look at the advent candles flickering at the front of the chapel, then he, too, got up and followed his father from the chapel.
