Chapter 45
"Noah?" Robin approached the older doctor in the hallway. "I need to talk to you about the Donaldson case. Something has come up so I have given my notes to Dr. Case and he will be consulting with you."
"Wait," Noah grabbed her as she tried to walk away, "I specifically requested you on this case. Why are you passing it off to another doctor?"
Robin refused to look Noah in the eyes. "I just thought that…"
Noah got a sinking feeling in his stomach and made a decision. "Why don't we have this discussion in my office?" He led her into his office and sat down with his son's girlfriend. "Robin, what is really going on?"
"Nothing." She played with the cuffs of her lab coat. "I just bit off more than I can chew."
"And if I talked to Mr. Donaldson and asked him why you are no longer his doctor, what would he say?" Noah wasn't about to back down.
Robin bit her lip and sighed. "Don't say anything to Patrick, please? This is the last thing he needs to worry about."
"So he refused to work with you because of your HIV status?"
"Yes." She finally looked at Noah. "I can handle this, it's not like this is the first time it has happened but Patrick has enough to worry about and he gets a little overprotective."
Noah reached over and held her hand. "Robin, his first test came back negative."
"Thank God. He told you?" Robin was worried that Patrick would keep what had happened in the OR a secret from his father and was glad he wasn't. He would need all the support he could get over the next six months.
"Yes and Matt and I were with him when Alan gave him the initial test results." He was hoping to get her to relax a little bit and confide in him. "He said he had something to take care of and that he would call you later."
"Okay." Robin felt a little of the tension she had been carrying with her leave her body. Patrick was on the PEP protocol and his first test had come back negative so chances were good that he would remain that way. "Thank you for telling me."
"Not a problem and now you can return the favor by telling me exactly what happened with Mr. Donaldson." Noah wanted to be prepared when he met with his patient.
"Please Noah, don't make a big deal about this." Robin could see he wasn't going to let this go so she finally told him what had happened. "Fine – he recognized my name from the article about the epidemic. He said that he didn't feel comfortable having someone who was sick taking caring of him and requested that I find another, healthier doctor for him."
"Son of a bitch." His voice was soft but full of emotion. He hated that she had to go through this even in this day and age. "Robin, I am so sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. Besides, it will free up more time to help your son." She stood up and headed to the door. "I really need to check on April one last time before I head home – it's my night to take Ry to dance class."
Noah followed her to the door. "Well don't let me stop you – I would hate to have Ry mad at me because I stopped Grandma from getting her on time." He kissed her cheek. "I will talk to you later."
"Ok," she gave him a quick hug, "bye Noah."
Patrick set two beers down on the table as he sat down. "Thank you again for meeting with me."
"You said it is about Robin." Mac picked up the beer and took a sip. "I would do anything for my girls."
"I know and she needs you now." Patrick grabbed his beer and saw the bandage from his earlier cut as he took a drink. "I had an accident during surgery today – I stuck myself with a needle covered in a patient's blood." He took another drink. "A patient with end-stage AIDS."
"Oh my God. Are you okay?" Mac was horrified that Robin's boyfriend had been exposed.
"My first test came back negative and I started the PEP protocol within two hours of my exposure but we won't know for certain for another six months. I have no reason not to be optimistic at this point in time." He played with the label on the beer bottle. "The reason I want to talk to you is that I am worried about Robin and you may be the best person to talk to her."
"Why?" Mac knew that Patrick loved his niece, even if he hadn't admitted it to her yet. He also knew that Patrick wouldn't be here if he weren't truly worried.
"She's been so supportive and understanding but she's not okay. She's covering, I can tell."
"How?"
"She's too level, almost brittle, like she's holding a lot inside." He took another swig from the bottle. "We both know that Robin has lived with HIV for a lot of years but I think she's more scared than she's letting on. The fact that her first boyfriend died of AIDS I'm sure doesn't help. It's bringing back a lot of bad memories."
Mac nodded. "She is a very stubborn and strong woman."
Patrick sighed. "That's no doubt but everyone has their breaking point and I think Robin may be getting to hers."
"Thanks for the heads up." Mac was worried for his niece too. He remembered all too well the hell Robin went through during her teen years with Stone's death and discovering her own HIV positive status. "Are you going to see her tonight?"
Patrick shook his head. "Robin has Rylee tonight – Michelle is working the night shift at the ER for her clinicals. I was told by Miss Rylee herself that I was to be gone tonight and let her have a night alone with her grandma."
Mac laughed. "That little girl is so much like Robin it's scary."
"My only plans tonight are to go home and make up a pitcher of my dad's hangover cure – he swears it will help me with my nausea. Then I just want to curl up in bed and leave today behind me for a few hours." He doubted he would sleep but he didn't want to ruin Robin's plans for the night because of his accident.
"Meanwhile I will crash my niece's party and try to get her to talk to me after Ry goes to bed." He finished his beer. "Thank you for letting me know what is going on."
"I just want what is best for Robin."
"I know you do." Mac stood up and smiled at the man. "You know, if you need someone to talk to, I have been told I am a pretty good listener. I had to be raising three girls."
Patrick laughed for the first time since his accident. "I guess so."
"Do you like hockey?" Patrick nodded his head. "The Stanley Cup finals start this weekend and it would be nice to watch the games with someone who actually knows what is going on." Mac laid his business card down on the table. "My cell number is on the card – why don't you give me a call and I will tell you what time to be there."
"I'd like that Mac." He felt better having talked to the man and wanted to get to know Robin's uncle better.
"Good, I'll be waiting to hear from you." He put his hand out to Patrick. "Have a good evening Dr. Drake."
Patrick finished his beer and stood up to shake the man's hand. "You too Commissioner Scorpio."
