Chapter 51

Patrick stepped back into Robin's room and smiled at the sight that lay before him. Robin and Emma were lying together in her bed sleeping, Emma curled up against her mom's chest. He slowly walked over and stood over them just taking in the sight.

"You could join us you know." Robin opened her eyes and smiled at him.

"I think I will." Patrick kicked off his shoes and slowly slid onto the bed, being careful to not disturb Emma or hurt Robin. He wrapped his arms around her and managed to reach the daughter as well. "This feels right."

"Yes it does." Robin sighed and leaned back against him. "Where's Noah?"

"Making a few calls – letting everyone know that you are okay." Patrick closed his eyes and pulled his two girls even closer.

"Did they catch them?" Robin could see the guards still standing by her door.

"Marcus got away." Patrick took a moment to let the news sink in before continuing. He felt her tighten up in fear and kissed the top of her head. "Robin, your parents will find him and they will stop him."

Robin relaxed a little bit. "And Grant?"

"He's dead."

"Dead? How?" Robin couldn't believe she was finally free of him.

"Robin, I swear it was an accident."

Robin shifted in the bed so she could see Patrick, slowly sliding Emma onto the bed. "Patrick, what happened?"

Patrick shook his head. "I saw him throw you to the ground and then you weren't moving. He was going to grab you again and I…"

Robin reached up and gently cupped his face in her hands. "It's okay – you can tell me."

"I just pushed him out of the way." Tears fell down his face and he recounted the story. "I just wanted to get him away from you. He lost his balance and fell off the bluff." He turned away from her. "I killed him."

Robin began crying, not for Grant, but for the hell Patrick was putting himself through. "Patrick, look at me." Patrick did what she asked. "You did not kill him – it was an accident. You were trying to stop him from taking me away from you and Emma again. You didn't shoot him or stab him, right?"

"No but he went over that bluff…"

"He went over that bluff because he was trying to kidnap me. If he had not been trying to take me, then you would not have had to push him away from me. Grant and Marcus caused this – not you." Robin wiped the tears from Patrick's face. "I know you – you would never willingly take a life. Hell, you couldn't kill Rafe and he was responsible for Gabriel death."

"I thought about it and I thought about killing Jason after the lab exploded."

"But you didn't because you are not that kind of man. You save lives, not take them." Robin kissed him softly on the cheek. "Patrick, you weren't trying to hurt Grant, you were saving me. You need to believe that."

"You don't understand." Patrick stared her straight in the eyes. "Robin, now Marcus is going to come after me because of what I did and he will use you and Emma and my father to get to me."

"As opposed to his using you and Emma to get to me?" Patrick looked at Robin in shock – he hadn't made the connection. "If you are willing to stay with me through all of this, then I sure as hell am going to stay by you. You saved me today and you need to remember that."

"But Robin…"

"I think you need to go to the counselor and talk about this but I need you to know that I do not look at you any differently than I did yesterday. You aren't like my parents or Jason or even Mac who killed people by their own choice – this was an accident and it would have happened whether it was you or Lucky who pushed Grant. It was his time and not a moment too soon as far as I am concerned." Robin looked at him once more praying that she was getting through to him.

Patrick waited a moment before leaning down to kiss her. She responded immediately and intensely, without a moment's hesitation. Patrick pulled back and smiled at her. "You mean that, don't you?"

"Of course I do. Patrick I love you, so much. We'll get through this the same way we have gotten through everything else we've dealt with – together." Robin kissed him one last time then turned back around, wrapping his arms around her once again. "But now we need to sleep and just enjoy being together again."

Patrick wrapped his arms tight around her and Emma once again and closed his eyes. Robin was right – they had gotten through so much together and they would get through this together too. He heard Robin begin to softly snore and allowed himself to fall into a deep sleep with her and their little girl.