Chapter 2

"As you can see," Alan handed his newest hire all their paperwork, "we have everything you need in place."

"And the security team?" This was the doctor's greatest concern.

"Well aware of your special circumstances and more than willing to do what is needed." He smiled at the young doctor. "I promise, everything will be okay."

Patrick knocked on the door before opening it up. "Alan, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes Dr. Drake, please come in." Alan stood up and indicated that the person in the chair should do the same. "Patrick Drake I would like to meet…"

Patrick couldn't believe his eyes as the doctor turned around and smiled at him. "Robin?"

"Patrick." Robin shook her head and smiled. "You're the head of neurology?"

"You're the new researcher?" He took two steps forward and picked her up in a tight hug. "This is great!"

Alan watched the two curiously. "You two know each other?"

Robin giggled as Patrick finally set her down. "Yes, we went to college together. Patrick was a groomsman at Roger and mine's wedding."

Patrick smiled at her. "Is he here?"

Robin's good mood instantly vanished. "I thought you knew – Roger died six years ago."

Patrick felt like he had been punched in the stomach. "Oh God Robin, I am so sorry. I didn't know." He looked at Alan. "If you are done with Robin I would like to take her for a walk and catch up."

Alan had been watching the two doctors very carefully – there was a certain spark between the two of them that he couldn't help but notice. He nodded his head. "Of course." Alan gave Robin a big hug. "I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to have you back in Port Charles."

"It's wonderful to be back. I will talk to you later." Turning to Patrick, Robin smiled at him once more. "Shall we Dr. Drake?"

Patrick opened up the office door and allowed Robin to walk through it before gently taking her arm and turning her in the direction he wanted to go. "Let's head to your office – it's just down the hall from mine."

"That would be great." Robin matched him stride for stride as they walked down the hall. "How did you end up at General Hospital?"

"Well, you always spoke so highly of Port Charles."

Robin laughed as she remembered telling him about Jason and how Port Charles had more mobsters per capita than most big cities. "Plenty of chances to operate, right?"

"Actually, that was how I ended up staying in Port Charles." He opened up his office door and let her enter before him. She sat down on the couch and he joined her. "I came out here to help my dad – he had joined AA and wanted to make amends with me. I wanted to be there to help him however I could. While I was here Jason Morgan needed brain surgery and I was the only one who would do it."

"My ex, Jason?" Robin couldn't believe what a small world it truly was. One of her oldest friends ended up doing life saving brain surgery on her ex-boyfriend.

"Yes, that Jason." Patrick had almost turned down the request because he knew about how Jason had treated Robin but his ego won out. "Alan was so impressed with the surgery that he offered me a position on the staff."

"How is your dad?" Robin had met Patrick their sophomore year in college, a few years after his mother had died, and been a great sounding board for him. She understood what is was like to lose a parent – both of her parents had been presumed dead after an explosion – and she had used that experience to help him work through it. Noah's decision to turn to the bottle instead of his son had hurt Patrick greatly. "Is he still…"

"Yeah, eight years now. He even managed to hold on to his sobriety when Matt showed up."

"Who's Matt?"

"My brother." Patrick couldn't help but laugh at her response. "No, I didn't know about him but he is a neurosurgeon here at GH. He is a really great guy and someday he may be as good a surgeon as I am."

"Wait – Matt Hunter? As in Maxie's Matt?" Robin could not believe that her cousin was dating Patrick's brother.

"Yes." Patrick thought about it for a second and finally made the connection. "Oh my God, I completely missed it."

"It's okay." She sighed. "Wow – that is a lot to take in at once." Robin couldn't imagine Patrick being someone's brother.

"Robin, what happened to Roger?" Roger had been a couple of years older than them in school. Patrick and Roger had met in a class after Roger had starting dating Robin.

"He ended up becoming a firefighter. One night he went on a call and never came home." The sadness in her voice was hard to hide. It was amazing to her that it still hurt to talk about it after all this time. "He died doing what he loved."

Patrick took Robin's hand in his. "I am so sorry. Robin, if I had known…"

"I know Patrick." She sighed.

"How's Michelle?" Roger had had sole custody of his little girl when they met. By the time Robin and Roger married, Michelle was six years old and completely loved her new mommy. Robin had told Patrick that she considered it the perfect situation – she was certain she would be unable to have children because of her HIV status and Michelle needed a mom. Michelle's own mother had walked out of her life right after she was born. Less than a year after their marriage, Robin had legally adopted her.

Robin stood up and headed to the door. "Oh no, I need to get down to the nurse's station – I'm meeting her…"

Patrick followed her. "I'll walk you there – hopefully she'll remember her Uncle Patrick. Is she in college now?"

Robin nodded her head. "We had a few tough years but she just got accepted into Port Charles's nursing program."

They arrived at the nurse's station and Robin relaxed when she saw that Michelle wasn't there yet. "Good, it will give me a chance to tell you something. Patrick, I…"

Robin stopped speaking when a little body ran into her and hugged her legs tight. Robin laughed and gently picked up the beautiful brown haired, brown eyed little girl. "Did you get to see the daycare?"

The little girl began speaking a mile a minute. "They have books and blocks and dolls and…"

"Rylee – I told you to wait for me." Michelle came running up to the nurse's station, almost out of breath. She kissed Robin on the cheek. "I swear mom, this kid is going to be the death of me."

Patrick watched the scene closely. This little girl was no more than three years old but Roger had been gone for six years. "Robin – is this your daughter?"

Robin and Michelle both started laughing at his comment. Robin finally spoke to the little girl she held in her arms. "Rylee, who am I?"

The little girl rolled her eyes at the silly question. "You're Grandma Robin."