Chapter Forty-Five:

Patrick woke up and realized he was alone in bed. He rubbed his face and looked at the clock.

"Robin?" he sat up and looked to the hallway. He could see the light coming from down the hall and he got up. He was happy his incision felt much better and he knew being in a real bed helped.

He made his way down the hall and froze when he saw the reflection from the bathroom mirror. Robin was on the floor. He rushed to the second bathroom and saw her lying on the tile floor, her t-shirt barely covering her.

"Robin? Hey, look at me," he knelt next to her and moved her hair away from her face. She opened her eyes and saw him hovering above her.

"Oh, Patrick, what time is it?" she sat up and held her head.

"Did you fall? Let me see your eyes," he held her face and was in full doctor mode.

"No, I fell asleep. I'm okay."

"You are lying on a cold tile floor in the bathroom in the middle of the night. I hardly think that's okay."

She let him help her up and they walked into the family room where she sat down and shivered.

"I'm okay. It's not unusual," she said softly.

He grabbed the blanket she had on the couch and put it around her shoulders. He took her hand in his and checked her pulse.

"What do you mean? Do you spend a lot of nights on the bathroom floor?"

She smiled at him and shook her head.

"No, of course not. I usually stay in bed."

He sighed and she wiped her eyes.

"My meds are hard to take, Patrick. I have to stick to a very strict schedule, and if I don't eat with them, it makes for a difficult night. It doesn't happen often, but it happens. I didn't mean to stay on the floor, I just fell asleep."

"Because you're exhausted. You've been running around taking care of me and Natalie and you haven't taken a minute to take care of yourself. I'm sorry. I'll do better," he said. "Please let me take care of you."

"I don't need you to do anything, Patrick."

He looked taken aback and she felt her tears come.

"I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I just don't want you to see my HIV before you see me. I don't want to have to be taken care of. I want to be strong and capable."

"Robin, you are strong and capable. Shit, you're the strongest woman I have ever met, and the way you approach every day makes me admire you even more. What has happened the past few months has been crazy, and anyone, regardless of their medical status, would be exhausted and would need time to recharge. I don't want to help you because you're HIV positive, I want to help you because," he stopped and sighed.

Her brown eyes searched his and he couldn't hide if he wanted to.

"What is it?" she asked as she touched his cheek.

"Because I love you," he said simply. "You make me happy and I want to make you happy. I don't look at you as a woman who is HIV positive, I look at you as the woman who makes me a better man."

She was stunned and he sighed as he stood up.

"I should go. I don't know what I was thinking, saying something like that at a moment like this," he ran his hand through his hair and went to walk back into the bedroom.

"Wait," she said softly and then she stood up. "Patrick, please."

He turned to look at her and he couldn't meet her gaze. He felt absolutely at her mercy.

"It's customary to allow a woman a minute to absorb a statement like that."

He blushed as she approached him.

"I've never been good at customs."

She stood before him and placed her hands on his chest, looking up into his eyes.

"That was the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me," she stepped back and shrugged as she looked at him again.

"You can't imagine what you've done for me. From the moment I saw you on the train, you changed my life. You took all of my notions about what my life should look like and you tossed them out the window. You challenged me to believe in family and watching you with Natalie and Tommy gave me a glimpse into the real you. When you kissed me the first time, I felt like I was dreaming. When you touched my body and brought me back to life, I felt like I was finally home."

She felt her tears fall and she brushed them away as he moved closer to her.

"I don't know when it happened or how, but I'm so glad it did. I love you, so much," she looked at him and his mouth was on hers, searing and passionate. She felt his hands around her waist, holding her against him and leaving no doubt in her mind that he was right where he wanted to be.

They broke apart and Patrick ran his fingers over her swollen lips.

"Do you think they have any openings at General Hospital?"

She smiled and hugged him.

How did this happen? How did everything go from so great to so bad? What is the purpose of such heartache?

Tommy looked out the window from the surgical lounge and felt like a part of him was gone. He wondered how he could receive such a miracle with his wife and in the next instant, watch his daughter struggle just to live. It wasn't right.

"Tommy? What the hell is going on?" Patrick and Robin came into the lounge and saw him.

"What are you guys doing here?" he asked in a daze.

"Maxie called us. I told her she must be crazy because if something had happened, there is no way you wouldn't have called me," Patrick said angrily.

Robin put her hand on his arm and sighed. They had an amazing morning together after their declarations in the middle of the night. When Maxie called, it sent Patrick into a panic. She knew he was terrified, but taking it out on Tommy wasn't right.

"How is Natalie?" Robin asked him.

"Back in surgery. They are inserting some drains and hoping the kidney is viable," he said void of any emotion.

"Is she rejecting it?" Robin asked.

"Possibly. It's also possible that her body simply can't take any more. We've put her through more than any human being should ever have to go through. It's possible that she's had enough."

Patrick glared at him.

"You're full of shit. She can fight through this."

Tommy walked away and sat down.

Robin shook her head at Patrick and they walked to the chairs.

"Where is Brittany?"

"Resting. They had to sedate her after Natalie crashed in front of us. Britt's pressure went crazy and they couldn't get her to calm down. She began to have some sort of memory episode that thrust her back into whatever hell she had been in before," Tommy looked at Patrick. "She doesn't remember her attack."

Patrick shook his head.

"Shit, not at all?"

"No. She knows she is HIV positive, but she doesn't remember how. I was trying to figure out when to tell her everything. It's like a huge ball of wonderful news that keeps getting better."

They were all quiet and Tommy got up and walked to the window before he kicked the garbage can. Patrick looked at Robin and sighed.

"Maybe you should sit with Brittany? I'll talk to Tommy."

She nodded and kissed him.

"Go easy on him. He's scared to death."

Patrick nodded.

"I know. Me too."

Chapter Forty-Six:

Robin walked into the room and saw Brittany sitting up in the bed, trying to get up. She rushed to her and put her hand on her arm.

"Hey, you need to stay put," she said softly.

"My baby," she said brokenly. "Husband. Need me."

"Patrick is with Tommy and Natalie is in surgery. I came to talk to you and maybe explain a little bit about what's happening."

Brittany looked at her and Robin had never seen eyes so blue.

"You a doctor?"

"Yes. I'm a researcher. I am the one who brought Patrick here, and because of that, I was lucky enough to meet your husband and daughter. Natalie helped me so much. She is an amazing little girl and I believe she's going to get better."

Brittany sighed and wiped her eyes. The bandages were off and she just had some gauze wrapped around her palms.

"You have a very nice Uncle."

Robin smiled and nodded.

"Uncle Mac basically raised me and my cousin Maxie. He is an amazing man and he has a huge heart. He told me how amazing you were the whole way here. I am so glad he found you. Tommy was so lost without you."

Brittany felt her chin quiver as she heard that.

"I don't know why I can't remember things," she said in a frustrated tone.

"But your voice is getting stronger, so that's good."

The beautiful redhead nodded.

"I haven't spoken in over a year. I think that's why I was held for so long," she said tearfully.

"What? Why would you not talking have anything to do with it?"

Brittany played with her long hair and her tears fell.

"When I woke up, I was in a room with a piano and a microphone. They wanted me to sing," she said and rubbed her forehead. "I couldn't make any noise. I don't know why."

Robin couldn't imagine what that must have been like.

"You may have had trauma to your throat. Did you receive any treatment?"

Her fear was evident as Brittany looked at Robin and it was obvious something bad had happened.

"You know what? It doesn't matter. You're here and you're going to be okay."

Brittany nodded and Robin walked to sit opposite her.

"You were able to take your meds?"

"They put them on the tray of food."

"Have you been checked since you've been here? We need to make sure you're taking the right cocktail."

"I don't know," she said. "I want to see Tommy, please."

Robin nodded and helped her up. She made sure her IV was covered and she led her out.

Patrick sat next to Tommy and neither one of them had said anything since Robin left.

"You should have called me," Patrick finally said.

"I know, but you needed to rest and Robin needed to sleep. I recognize the fatigue from Britt. The meds can be debilitating."

Patrick felt his eyes fill with tears.

"Matt thinks he's my brother."

Tommy turned and stared at him.

"What? Why the hell would he think that?"

Patrick smiled at how defensive Tommy was.

"He found some similarities in our blood work. It's not important right now, but he had a DNA test run without my consent. We don't have the results back yet."

"Wow. How do you feel about that?"

"I don't know. I can't even process this. I don't understand who I should even be angry with. Was it my mom or dad? I mean, I figure it was my dad, but did he know? Did my mom? Is it even true?"

Tommy nodded and exhaled.

"He may have gone about it the wrong way, but it's good to know for sure."

Patrick nodded.

"I guess."

They were quiet again and Patrick broached another subject.

"Did you get your blood work back?"

"Yeah. It's nothing serious. No cancer."

Patrick was so relieved.

"That's awesome, man. You should have told me. Robin and I were so worried."

Tommy nodded and stood up, pacing.

"Have I fulfilled all of my obligations yet? I should have called you about Nat. I should have told you about my tests. I should have been able to help my daughter. I should have looked for my wife," he started to yell and Patrick stood up.

"Hey, it's okay, Tommy, I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that I'm thankful you're okay," he paused and looked at the pale and sweaty complexion of his friend. "You are okay, aren't you? What did the tests show?"

"I said I'm fine. It's not cancer, so drop it."

Patrick grabbed him by the arm and stood in front of him.

"What the fuck does that mean? You don't get to be like this with me, Tom, I know you. We've known each other since we were six years old. I'm here for you and your family."

Tommy nodded and shrugged.

"I can't control any of this, Patrick. Everything and everyone I love is in pain and suffering and I can do nothing," he spoke and his tears fell as the words were as truthful as anything he could have said. It was his reality, and it was breaking him. "Everything I've ever touched has been destroyed. Everyone who has loved me has been taken away or has gone through unimaginable pain," he looked at Patrick and his expression was blank. "I've just had enough."

"No," Brittany said as she and Robin walked out, having heard the last part.

Tommy looked at his wife and she walked into his arms as Patrick walked to Robin.

"You are the reason I survived. You and Natalie were the only thing that kept me going. I may not remember everything, but I remember you. Please don't doubt that. I love you so much," she said and held his face in her hands, her fingers able to stroke his cheek.

"But I never searched. I never helped you and you were put through so much, again. I don't know how you can forgive me," he cried and Robin wiped her own eyes as she watched.

"You were put through the same pain. The way you've loved me and our daughter means the world to me. To know I was always on your mind makes me feel like holding on was worth it. You are my everything, Tommy. I'm finally home and we will move forward together."

He was overcome by his love for her and by the words she spoke. He held her to him and she wrapped her arms around him.

"I need you and Natalie needs you and we are going to heal together. Whatever I need to remember will come with time. I remember the most important things, and that's my love for you and Nat. I don't care if I never remember another thing, Tommy, because you and Nat are all I need."

Tommy held her again and wished that were true. He knew remembering everything was going to be horrible, but he also knew that together, he would do everything in his power to love her through it.

Patrick sat down and put his head in his hands and Robin sat next to him.

"You okay?" she asked through her own tears.

"I'm just so glad you're here. I need you so much and I feel like the luckiest man in the world," he reached to run his hand through her hair and she leaned in to kiss him.

"I love you," she said. "I am so blessed to be here with you."

Both couples were lost in each other when Matt came out of the OR. Tommy and Brittany turned to face him and Patrick and Robin stood up. Matt pulled off his hat and it was clear he wasn't about to tell them good news.