Chapter 35

Patrick was at home reviewing the list he had given Jason for the hundredth time. He wanted to be sure he wasn't missing a single medication, anything that could possibly lead to Robin. This was the only way he had found to be helpful in the search and he would be damned if he screwed it up.

He put the papers down, laid back on the couch and closed his eyes, resting for just a moment. He shook his head and was just getting ready to pick up the list to study it again when the doorbell rang.

"Just a minute." He got up and answered the door. There stood Robert and Anna. "What are you two doing here? Do you have any news?"

Anna looked at Robert and nodded her head. Robert responded to his son-in-law's question. "We have found out who the replacement doctor is."

Patrick smiled. This was exactly the kind of lead they were hoping for. "That's great! Who is it?"

He had been so concentrated on Robert and Anna that he didn't even notice that there was a third person standing behind them. "That would be my daughter, Britta."

Patrick glared at the woman standing before him. Liesel Obrecht had been a part of faking Robin's death and a constant threat to them for years. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I see your manners are still as deplorable as ever Dr. Drake. A gentleman, like my Cesar, would have already invited us in to his home."

Patrick shook his head at the woman but gestured the group into his home. "There are many words I would use to describe Faison but gentleman is not one of them and I really do not care what you think of my manners. You kidnapped Robin and faked her death. You tortured my wife, mentally and physically, for years and never had to pay for it so excuse me if I choose not to be polite to you."

"Please Dr. Drake, water under the bridge." Obrecht stated as she sat down on the couch.

"Patrick," Anna knew it was up to her to play peacemaker, "you know that there is no love lost between any of us and this woman but, for now, we need her help. Nikolas has apparently taken Britt so she can be Robin's doctor. Knowing who the doctor is will help us with tracking down the medicines on your list."

Obrecht picked up the list and reviewed it while Patrick asked what he thought was an obvious question. "Why Britt? She isn't an HIV specialist, she's an obstetrician." He thought for about it for a moment and looked at Anna, concerned. "Do you think he knows?"

Obrecht looked up at Patrick, "Knows what?"

"That our daughter is pregnant." Robert hated telling her but she needed to know why Britt may have been taken.

Obrecht shook her head at them - they still didn't get it. "How far along is she?"

"Almost three months." Patrick didn't like the look Obrecht got on her face. "Why?"

She got straight to the point. "Then we do not have much time left. He will figure out that she is already pregnant soon enough and he is very volatile due to the treatments that quack Endicott used on him."

Patrick got stuck on the words already pregnant. A sickening realization hit him. "Oh my God, he wants to have a child with her." He sat down in the chair, running his hands through his hair and trying to control his anger.

"Yes Dr. Drake. He wants the chance to experience the entire pregnancy with her, from conception to delivery. He feels that he was cheated out of it both times." She saw no reason to sugarcoat the news.

Patrick was confused, both times? "But Mal isn't his son, he's mine. You made sure of it."

Obrecht reached into her purse and pulled out the letter and picture she had received from Dr. Endicott right before he went into hiding. She handed them to Patrick. "You're right Dr. Drake, Mal is your son but she is Nikolas's and Robin's daughter."

Patrick looked down at the picture. It was of Mal's 'little sister' from pre-school, Stephanie.

"Oh my God. How did this even happen?"

Liesel rolled her eyes. "A surrogate of course. It does not matter at this time."

Patrick looked at Anna and Robert. "It most certainly does. This changes everything." He glared at Obrecht. "Unlike you, Robin could never willingly abandon her child. We have to rethink our entire approach so that we can get both of them away from Nikolas."

"That bastard!" Robert was furious that Nikolas not only now had a permanent tie to Robin, it was one that Robin had had no say in. He began pacing the room. "He knows that about Robin, that she would never abandon her child, and I guarantee you that he certainly won't let either one of them go without a fight."

He stopped and looked at Patrick. "You need to call Jason and let him know what we just found out. We need to reevaluate our entire strategy. Any insights on that list Herr Doctor?"

"I would add in fertility drugs. My guess would be that he is using the medicine to not only try and control her, but to also get her ready for the pregnancy."

As much as they all hated to admit it, this was a great idea. Patrick picked up the phone to call Jason and let him know about this latest turn of events.