Chapter 44
Patrick took a moment to compose himself before entering April's room. His blood had been drawn, his prescription picked up and he was fighting the nausea from his first dose but he was bound and determined not to let his patient see it.
He took a deep breath and entered the room. "Hello Miss Gilbert." He went about quickly taking her vitals and doing an exam. Within a minute he was done and headed towards the door. Thanks to the PEP protocol, he needed to get to the bathroom as soon as possible. "Everything looks good – I will be in to check on you later."
Robin was walking down the hall and saw Patrick running out of April's room. "Patrick?"
He didn't even nod in her direction, just kept running down the hall. Robin grabbed April's chart and entered the woman's room. "Good morning April, you are looking good today."
"Thank you for noticing. The other doctor was barely in here long enough to say hello."
Robin winced. "Dr. Drake has a few things going on right now…"
"Then he should leave his problems out in the hall and not bring them into my room. I have problems of my own." April was trying to figure out why the doctor was so cold. "Is it because I don't have insurance?"
"No, April he fought to keep you from being transferred to County." Robin knew she would have to tell April what had happened. "April, something happened during your surgery."
She rolled her eyes. "Did he leave in a sponge in there? Don't worry, they can pick it up during the autopsy."
"Dr. Drake cut himself with a needle covered in your blood." Robin sat down on the bed. "His bedside manner isn't great on a good day but given the circumstances…"
"Given the circumstances he was pretty good to me." April took a moment to absorb the news and then looked at Robin. "Be there for him – you have no idea what he is going through."
"Actually I do." Robin smiled at the woman. "I'm HIV positive."
April paused for a minute before asking her question. "Do you mind me asking how you got it?"
"No." Robin heard a noise and turned around to see Patrick in the hall. She gave him a small smile and turned back to April. "I got it from my first boyfriend."
"Was he an IV drug user?" April couldn't believe that the woman she saw before her used to be a drug addict.
"No, but he did have unprotected sex with someone who was before he and I got together."
"How long ago was that?" April could see that Dr. Soltini was in good health.
"Over twenty years ago. Stone, my boyfriend, was diagnosed first and was already in full blown AIDS by that time." Robin felt a tear coming but she didn't try and stop it. She still shed tears for the men she had loved and lost from time to time. "He had six months from the time he was diagnosed until he passed away."
"I didn't mean to upset you."
"You didn't – talking about it hurts but it also makes me realize how far I have come and how much I have to be grateful for." She wiped away the tear. "I was lucky – I got on the protocol as soon as it became available and have been able to maintain my health through the years."
"Unlike me." April wanted to explain what had happened to her. "I got it from my boyfriend too but neither one of us knew we had it. One night he got drunk and we got into a fight. He hit me, I fought back and the cops were called. They took us to the hospital and I found out I had AIDS. My boyfriend took off and I haven't seen him since."
"Why didn't you go to the clinic?" Robin was curious about why the woman wouldn't take advantage of their services.
"Denial – I just couldn't believe that I was infected." April shook her head. "Besides, what was the point? I am not just HIV positive, I have full blown AIDS. Face it doc, I'm toast."
"But you have a chance to live a better life than the one you have been living." Robin took April's hand in hers. "The medications we are giving you will help you live a longer, better life."
"I can't afford this."
"Don't worry about it." Robin smiled at her. "The Quartermaine Foundation is assisting with the hospital bills and the Stone Cates Memorial AIDS wing is helping with the medications."
Tears filled April's eyes. "I don't know how to thank you."
"Just get better and be patient with Dr. Drake. He fought for you April, please remember that the next time he comes in. If you give him a chance, you will find he is a very good man and an even better doctor. " Robin got up. "I need to go check on my other patients but I will be by later to check on you."
April couldn't help but notice how protective Dr. Soltini was of Dr. Drake. "I will see you later."
Patrick stood at the nurse's hub trying to catch his breath. He had been listening to Robin's conversation with April when another wave of nausea had hit him but he was unsure if it was from the protocol or guilt for the way he had treated April. After a trip to the bathroom he had went by April's room to see the women but Robin was already gone and April was sleeping.
He opened up a chart, determined to at least read the lab results before he got sick again when a hand grabbed his shoulder and shook him. Patrick paled and grabbed the counter. "Please don't do that."
"What's the matter sport?" Noah went around to the other side and looked at his son. "Rough night? If you are going to be doing that I need to give you the recipe to my hangover cure."
Patrick barely had a chance to respond before Matt came up and joined them. "I heard about your surgery earlier – everything go okay?"
Patrick looked at his brother and father before waving them over to the lounge area. "Let's sit down." The three men sat down and Patrick took a deep breath. "There was an accident during surgery. There was a power surge in the OR and my hand slipped while I was stitching up a bleeder. I cut myself."
Matt paled at the news, he knew the patient's HIV status, but Noah had just come in for his shift and didn't have a clue. "So you and the patient have some testing done but I am sure it will all be…"
"The patient has end-stage AIDS." Patrick saw the news hit his father. "I've been exposed."
"Oh my God." Noah leaned over and took Patrick's hand. "We are going to get through this. Did you have your first test?"
"Alan is running it as we…" He stopped speaking as he saw Alan approaching them. "Alan?"
"I have the results from your first test."
"You can go ahead and tell me Alan."
"I'm pleased to say that your first test is negative." Alan saw the three men relax. "You will need to finish your PEP protocol and retest in six months but you are over the first hurdle."
Patrick nodded his head. "Thank you Alan."
Noah could sense something was still bothering his son so he waited for Alan to leave before saying anything. "Patrick, this is good news."
"I know." He stood up. "I have something I need to do. Dad, if you want to text me your hangover cure, I would appreciate it."
Noah and Matt both stood up and grabbed Patrick pulling him into a group hug. "We love you."
"I love you guys too." He pulled back. "If you see Robin, tell her I will call her later."
Patrick walked to the elevator and pulled out his phone. "Do you have a few minutes to talk? It's about Robin."
