Chapter 24

Patrick walked into Robin's room and smiled as he heard her on the phone. "Really? You beat Georgie four times at Memory? That's my girl." She saw Patrick standing at the end of the bed. "Ry, Grandma has to talk to Uncle Patrick but I love you baby girl." She smiled. "Yes, I'll tell him – good bye."

Patrick sat down next to her on the bed. "Tell him what?"

"That she loves you and you better fix Grandma right up." Robin bit her lip and sighed. "Judging by your lovely hazmat outfit I am guessing that is easier said than done."

"Yeah. First off I want you to know that Keith is fine. I knew you would be worried since you saw him right before you got sick." Keith had been rather upset that Patrick wouldn't let him see Robin yet.

"Good to know – now tell me what we are dealing with. I know you stopped the Tamiflu."

He ran his hands through his hair. "Because this isn't a known strain of influenza – the representative from the MRA said it was manufactured and there is no known cure."

Robin considered what he was saying. "How many cases?"

There was no reason to sugarcoat it. "Twenty seven."

"Do they know who…"

"The Cassadines, not Nikolas of course, but his grandmother." Patrick knew that Nikolas and Robin had been friends years ago.

"Helena, although this seems like a major step down from trying to freeze the world." Robin couldn't help but giggle at the look on Patrick's face. "A story for another day."

Patrick decided to redirect the conversation. "How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good all things considered. My fever is down and I have been getting plenty of rest." Robin sat up. "So, when do I get to meet this MRA person?"

Patrick tensed up at her question. "You don't."

"But Patrick…"

"Robin, your immune system is already compromised and I am not going to let some guy who has been traipsing around the world chasing diseases anywhere near you." Patrick was happy to have a legitimate reason to keep Robert away from Robin. He knew from the recent experience with Jason that she would probably be furious with his decision but he didn't care – her health was the important thing right now and he would risk her anger later to protect it.

"But I could help figure out a way to fight this." Robin took a deep breath. "Patrick I'm sick, not dying, so please don't treat me like I am. I'm not asking to go to the lab or for you to bring samples in here, just put the lab results on a laptop and bring it in to me so I can review them."

Patrick considered what she was saying. Normally, he wouldn't even consider her request but she was one of the top researchers in the nation and bringing her the information would keep her in her room and lessen the chance that she would run into her father. "You'd have to be monitored closely – even the slightest hint that your health is declining and I will personally pull that laptop from your bed and restrain you to it."

"Aye aye captain." Robin was happy to finally be able to do something. "Now go get my stuff while I take a nap. I want to be well rested before I dive into those labs."

"You got it short stuff." He leaned over and pulled down his mask, kissing her softly on her forehead. "I'll see you in a little bit."


Patrick was in the lab going over what was to be put on Robin's laptop when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "If you will just wait a minute…"

"Certainly Dr. Drake." Gwen stood behind him and shook her head. "I just wanted to see what I could do to assist you?"

"Continue to monitor your patients and let me know if there are any that show a sudden decline." Patrick walked out of the lab with Gwen close on his heels.

"I was wondering if you needed any help with your HIV positive patient?"

"What?" Patrick couldn't believe that she knew about Robin.

"Come on Patrick – don't hog all the glory for yourself. She's the most susceptible to this disease – if we can find a cure and keep her from dying than we could ride that wave of publicity to a ton of speaking engagements and funding." Gwen all but panted with excitement as she spoke.

"And what if she doesn't make it?"

She shrugged. "Well, with her compromised immune system it's not like we would be blamed for her death."

Patrick spun around and stared Gwen straight in the eyes. "Let me make this clear to you – you will not go anywhere near Robin. I am the only doctor on her case and, if I am not available, then my brother will step in."

Gwen stepped back in shock. She had never known Patrick to be this passionate about a patient. "I take it you know her?"

"She is an amazing doctor and a wonderful person." Patrick stepped closer to her. "Do you know that she is currently waiting for me to bring her a laptop with all the lab results so that she can analyze them in hopes that there may be a way to manufacture a cure? Not because she wants it for herself but because she wants to save other people. She isn't in it for the glory or the money, she's in it to save lives."

Gwen sneered at him. "How noble."

"You wouldn't understand so I won't even bother trying to explain. Just stay away from me and stay away from Robin." Patrick's pager went off. "I have to go – please go check on your patients and if you can't do that then I suggest you tell Alan so he can bring in a doctor who gives a damn about them to take over."

Gwen didn't say another word, just turned on her heel and stormed off.

"Bitch." Patrick shook his head and walked up to the nurse's station. "You paged?"

Epiphany shook her head and pointed to the man sitting in the lounge. "He did."

"Great." Patrick walked over and sat down. "What do you want Robert?"

"How is she?" Robert had been at the hospital for hours now and it was killing him to be so close to Robin and unable to even see her.

"Her fever is down and she is insisting on helping us review the blood work and throat cultures."

"Is that wise given that she is sick?"

Patrick nodded his head. "She and I have already discussed this and the moment I think her health is being impacted she will lose her laptop. Until then, it can't hurt to have someone as brilliant as Robin working on this. She has a wonderful way of analyzing things and noticing the little details other miss."

"You're in love with her." It was a statement of fact, not a question.

Patrick didn't respond to the man's statement, he just stood up. "I need to get back to the lab and check on that laptop. We have several older patients as well as a lupus patient who are declining rapidly."

Robert nodded his head. "Then go and Drake, take care of my little girl."

"I will sir." Patrick ran back to the lab to retrieve the laptop. It was time to consult with the brilliant Dr. Soltini.