Chapter 21

Robin took another drink of water as she reviewed the file, hoping to stave off her cough. Rylee was finally back in daycare and she had a lot of work to catch up on from being off work to take care of the little girl.

"Knock, knock." Keith popped his head in the door and smiled at Robin. "I take it Rylee is better?"

Robin nodded her head. "Yes, she is back at daycare and doing much better thank you."

He sat down in the chair across from her desk and smiled at her. "Great – then maybe I could convince Grandma Robin to take a night off and have dinner with me?"

Robin sighed. As much as she hated to admit it, Jason had been right about her feelings for Patrick and it was time to end things with Keith before they went too far. She had no intentions of leading the man on to a future that didn't exist for them. "Keith, I have enjoyed our time together but…"

Keith sat up in the chair. "But what?"

"But I am afraid that you and I are just on different pages regarding how we feel about each other." She stood up and sat down in the second chair next to him. "I like you but only as a friend."

"Come on Robin, you can't deny that there is something between us more than friendship." Keith had never been dumped before and Robin certainly was not going to be the first.

"I just don't see you that way. I've tried but…"

"This is about Drake, isn't it?" The words came out a lot snarkier than he had intended but there was no denying he meant it.

"No," Robin shook her head, "this is about me and how I feel. Whether or not I am interested in Patrick has nothing to do with my feelings for you. I told you…"

"You told me that you would give me a chance and you haven't done that." Keith stood up and began pacing the office. "You think I haven't noticed the way you and Patrick look at each? The way you light up when he comes around? The time he spends with you, Michelle and Rylee? When did you ever invite me to do something with your family?"

Robin's guilt overwhelmed her. Unfortunately, Keith was right and she knew it. "You're right and that is why I never should have dated you – it wasn't fair to you."

"He's going to break your heart. To him, you are just a challenge, another woman to bed." He sat back down in the chair and took her hand in his. "Give me a real chance Robin, let me prove that you deserve better than a womanizing, egotistical jerk who will never put you first."

Robin shook her head. "I'm sorry but no."

He studied her for a moment before he stood back up and headed for the door. He turned around to look at her one last time before leaving. "Fine – I'll back off for now but I am not giving up. I will give you some time and I know you will see that I am the better man."

Keith slammed the door behind him as he left and Robin finally relaxed. Although it was hard, it was the right thing to do. Keith deserved the chance to be with someone who would appreciate him.

She went back to her desk and grabbed the sweater off the back of her chair – it was freezing in her office. She checked the thermostat and was surprised to see it was set at 70. "Must be broken."

She sat back down at her desk and briefly considered calling maintenance but her phone rang before she could do it. "Hello?"

"Hey short stuff – got time for a consult?" Patrick was reviewing the MRI for a bicycle accident.

Robin laughed. "Of course. Your place or mine?"

He knocked on the door. "Yours?"

Robin hung up the phone. "Come in."

Patrick walked in and approached the desk, films in hand. "So…" He stopped and studied her for a moment. "Cold?"

"Yeah, I was about to call maintenance – I think my thermostat is broken." She shivered and a covered her mouth as she coughed. "Sorry, dry throat."

Patrick dropped the file on the desk and quickly went around it to her. He placed his hand on her forehead. "Damn it Robin, you have a fever."

"No, it's just…"

Patrick cut her off by picking her up off her chair and carrying her to the door. "Shut up – you're my patient now and you will do what I say."

Robin leaned her head into his chest. "Aren't you the forceful one?"

"You have no idea." He kissed her forehead and carried her to the nurse's hub. "Epiphany, do we have a free exam room? Dr. Soltini is running a fever."

Epiphany didn't even hesitate. "Exam room 5 is open and I will be right in to do a blood draw and anything else you need." She had grown to love Robin and her family in her short time here at GH.

"I want a throat culture – she was taking care of Rylee while she had strep throat." Patrick carried her into the exam room and gently set her down on the cot. "You stay here and rest."

"But your patient…"

"You're my patient." He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and made a call. "Matt, there is an MRI on the desk in Robin's office. Could you please get it and take over the case for me?"

"Of course but…" Matt knew his brother would not just give him a case for no reason.

"Robin's sick and I am getting her checked out." Patrick ran his hands through his hair as he noticed that Robin's eyes were closed and she seemed to be napping. His voice got soft. "She's got a fever Matt."

"Say no more – I will take care of this as long as you let me know how she is doing." Matt knew that Patrick's fear for Robin was not unfounded. Because of her HIV status even a minor infection could be dangerous.

"Thank you." Patrick hung up the phone and got out the ear thermometer. "102 – damn it Robin."

"Your bedside manner stinks." Robin had closed her eyes because she had a headache, not because she was napping.

"Robin…"

"I have taken care of my girls for years and I will always take care of them." Robin opened up her eyes and smiled at him. "Though it is kind of nice to have someone take care of me once in a while too."

Epiphany came through the door with the equipment and smirked at the couple. "Enough with the mushy stuff. Let's figure out what is wrong with you Dr. Soltini so we can get you better and back to work."