Chapter Thirty-One:

Patrick was laughing as Kevin tried to remember the rules David was telling him. The boy seemed to be coming out of his shell and he was funny and smart. Shelly smiled at how her husband also seemed to be warming up to Amber's friend. They were all startled when Amber ran out to the backyard.

"Help, please come and help," she cried.

David and Patrick flew to where she was. "What is it? What happened?"

"There is a man in the house and he has Robin," she began and Patrick ran into the house.

"Robin? Robin?" He ran from room to room and saw nothing. "Amber?" He yelled as he ran back out. "What the hell happened?"

"I had this diamond; I didn't know I had it. I thought it was the chain we bought for dad but Robin saw it and she got really scared and we went to leave when some man was there and said I wasn't going anywhere. She pushed me out of the way and he must have taken her or something. She saved me again, Uncle Patrick. We have to find her," Amber was hysterical and they all noticed that Kevin stood back.

"You," Patrick said and went after him. He grabbed Kevin by the shirt and the other adults tried to stop him.

"Patrick, what are you doing?" Shelly pulled at her brother.

"Your uncle was that piece of shit that held her, wasn't he. Who was the man that took her?" Patrick yelled inches from the frightened teen's face.

"What? What are you talking about?" Shelly asked and David had the police on the phone.

"Robin overheard this punk talking on the phone to someone and he mentioned Uncle Scott," Patrick said as David pulled him back. He looked at his brother in law. "He knows where she is."

David looked at Kevin. "You better start talking."

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to go ahead with the plan so I ignored him. He must have come here to get her because I didn't answer," Kevin said.

"Who?" Patrick asked.

"My dad," Kevin said softly.

"Where would he take her?" Patrick yelled.

"He didn't want her, just the diamond. He wanted me to get the diamond. He never said anything about hurting Robin," he said the last part quietly.

"What is it? What aren't you saying?" Patrick was livid.

"He blamed Robin for my mom's death. Scott said Robin would be able to save her but she didn't. My dad hates her."

Amber walked over to Kevin and slapped him hard across the face. "If one hair is hurt on Robin's head, I will kill you."

David held Amber back and Shelly put her arms around her daughter. "Where would your dad take her? Back to your house?"

Kevin sniffled. "I don't know. I think Uncle Scott's house, probably."

"Fuck, that piece of shit pit she was tortured in? How could you let this happen?" Patrick yelled at him.

"I don't think he will take her there. He doesn't need her," Kevin said.

Patrick heard a crash and ran back into the house, followed by the rest. They saw Robin struggling with a man and when Patrick ran in the man held a gun to her head and everyone stopped.

"Robin, are you okay?" Patrick asked as he stood back, looking at her.

"This piece of garbage wanted to take me out of here, but I decided this needed to end," Robin said, looking at Patrick with a sense of purpose.

He felt such a rush of love for her and her strength. "I agree with you. This needs to end."

"Shut up," the man said as he tightened his grip on Robin's arm. She winced and Patrick froze.

"Just let her go, please. The police are already on their way," Patrick said.

"Dad," Kevin ran into the room.

"Kevin, get away from this. Go home," his dad said.

"No, you don't want to do this. We don't need to hurt anyone. I'll work more jobs and we can make more money. Please don't hurt her."

"Your mother died because of her. Eight years she had to fix her, eight years, and now she's dead and Uncle Scott is dead. What do I have to lose?"

Amber walked up to Kevin and looked at the man holding Robin. "You have your son. He loves you and he needs his father. I know what it's like to be without my dad and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Kevin needs you."

Robin felt the man's hand loosen and she tried to figure out what to do. She saw Kevin move closer and she looked at Patrick. "Dad, please don't do this."

He was about to let her go when the police burst through the door. Shelly pulled Amber to the ground and David covered them. Robin ran to Patrick and then there was a gunshot.

XXXXXX

"We need the medics in here," an officer yelled.

David stood up and helped Amber and Shelly up. "Are you okay?" He inspected them.

"We're fine," Shelly said and Amber wiped her tears. "Patrick?" They moved to Patrick and Robin and saw him holding her.

"Is she okay?" Amber cried.

Robin opened her eyes. "I'm fine, I just hit my head."

Patrick held her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. "Robin, can you focus on me?"

She held her hands over his. "I'm fine; really."

He stood up and helped her up. They turned to see Kevin on the ground, bleeding and his father being cuffed. "I didn't mean to shoot him. Is he okay?"

The police had him on the ground, his face pressed to the floor. "Please. He's my son."

Robin looked at Patrick. "Go, you can help him."

He didn't want to leave her, but he nodded and ran to the boy. Amber stood there and cried as her parents tried to shield her.

Kevin's dad was sobbing as the police stood him up and he was watching Patrick try and save Kevin. Robin stood up and David looked at her.

"Should you help? Aren't you a doctor?"

"My head is bleeding, so I don't want to get too close. The paramedics are here," Robin watched Patrick talk to the medics and then join Robin.

"He was hit in the chest. They need to take him into surgery."

"Is he going to be okay?" Amber sniffled as she watched them take Kevin out.

Patrick sighed. "It's hard to say what damage has been done internally. I'm sure they will do everything they can."

"Whatever. It's not like I care." Amber shrugged.

Shelly held her daughter to her and smiled. "Of course you care. You like him."

"He lied to me. He used me. I wish I had never met him," she cried and turned to run up to her room.

David looked at Robin and Patrick. "You should get your head looked at. That looks like a nasty bruise."

Robin smiled. "I'm okay, just a bump."

Patrick kept his arm securely around her. "I'll make sure she is okay."

David sighed. "I'm sorry about this."

Robin touched his arm. "This is not your fault. This is all about me and I'm truly sorry this touched your family."

"This isn't your fault," Patrick said. He looked at David. "I think I should take Robin home. I'll call you later?"

David nodded and hugged them. "I'm glad you're okay and that this is over."

They left and when they got to the car, Robin looked at Patrick. He was really upset and she could tell, but he wasn't saying anything. She let him drive and she didn't say anything. They got to his house and walked in.

"Sit here while I get something to clean your head," he said and walked to the bathroom. Robin sat down on the couch and let her tears fall. He came back with gloves on and a basin of water and a bandage.

"Patrick, please talk to me. I know you're upset," she began.

"Robin, please let me do this first," he said as his chin quivered. She kept her mouth shut and let him clean her temple. She winced as he covered the bruise and then he got up and cleaned everything.

She waited and when he came back in she looked into his eyes. "I'm sorry you're so upset."

He looked at her. "I thought you were dead. I thought I'd lost you forever." He put his head in his hands and she moved closer and pulled him into her arms.

"I'm okay, shh," she said as she held him. "I'm okay."

He moved to hold her face in his hands and leaned in to kiss her, mixing his tears with hers. "I love you so much."

She wiped his face with her fingers and smiled. "I love you, too."

"Did he hurt you? Before we got there, did he do anything to you?"

"I'm fine, it doesn't matter."

Patrick took her hand in his. "Don't do that. Don't bury it, Robin. Let this go tonight."

She shrugged. "After I pushed Amber away, he grabbed me and tried to get me to leave with him. He wanted to take me back to Scott's house." She stood up and paced. "I couldn't let that happen. Something snapped inside of me, Patrick. It was like I suddenly knew I was worth the fight. I thought of you and how my life has been so happy and I didn't want that to end. I fought with him and I guess it was long enough for you guys to come in. You saw the rest."

He was so proud of her; so proud of her strength and her courage. He walked to her and smoothed her hair. "I did see the rest. I saw you stand up and fight for your life. I saw the woman who holds my heart and I have never been prouder to love you."

She reached in her pocket and realized what she had. She pulled out the diamond and looked at him. "This was what was left for me. This is what caused so much trouble."

He took the stone and held it. "It's beautiful, but it doesn't compare to what our lives are going to look like." He pulled her to him.

"What do you mean?" She giggled as he kissed her neck.

"I just think that finally, we both are entitled to happiness and a life of adventure and love. I want to fight with you about what TV show to watch and I want to make up with hot sex. I want to go grocery shopping and camping and do nothing and everything with you. I just want a life with you," he said softly.

"I want that too, Patrick, but there is so much I still have to deal with, so much pain and so many fears. There is also my HIV, which adds another layer to the struggles I may face. Are you sure that's what you want?" She asked him sincerely.

"I know who you are and you know what I come with, too. I have a lot to still work out, and I know it won't all be pretty, but I want to work through it. I want to have a great life. Do you think you can face this with me?"

She moved to sit on his lap and she stroked his cheek. "I can face it on one condition."

He was surprised. "What's that?"

"That you marry me."

He grinned. "But you don't even have a ring."

She raised her eyebrows. "I have a red diamond," she looked at the stone.

"Nope."

"What?" She got up and walked away from him.

"I think this is my job," he said and got down on his knee. "Robin Scorpio, will you marry me?"

She pretended to think about it and he rolled his eyes. "Seriously?"

She laughed. "Yes. I would be honored to be your wife."

He pulled her to him and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She pressed her lips to his and they were lost in each other, but for the first time in both of their lives, they were truly found.

XXXXXXX

~The end~