"Dr. Scorpio?"

Robin looked up, breaking away from her trance. "Yeah?"

Liz smiled at her. "Boy, you sure seem lost in thought today."

Robin let out a sigh, trying to let out her thoughts about the previous night as she did. "Sorry. I…didn't get much sleep last night," She tried to explain; and it was true, to a point—Robin hadn't slept much last night. She'd been thinking about Patrick.

"Hot date?" The accused asked, interrupting their conversation—and succeeding in invading Robin's thoughts once again. Patrick treated her to a cocky grin. "And here I thought you had no social life…"

How the man could be so infuriating, Robin didn't know. He knew exactly where she was last night, so why was he toying around? She swallowed, recalling how such a different part of him had been revealed that night. A part that he seemed to so easily shunt aside in place of a flirtatious façade.

Who was the real Patrick Drake? Robin wondered. And she'd do everything she could to find out.

"Hello?" Patrick waved his hand across her face. His grin grew wider and he winked. "Last night must have been pretty amazing."

"Yeah," Liz agreed. "I've never seen you this distracted. Care the share the details?" She looked at Patrick. "Once the good doctor gets to work…"

"Is that my cue to leave?" Patrick smirked.

"You're wanted in room five, anyway," Liz answered, smiling as she handed him a manila folder.

"Well then, ladies, gossip away," Patrick made a sweeping bow in jest and left.

"So," Liz prompted, elbowing Robin in the ribs.

"So what?" Robin feigned ignorance.

"So, spill!" Liz exclaimed. "Did you have a date last night?"

Robin blinked, trying to compose herself. She'd never been any good at lying. "No, of course not. I spent the night researching. I guess I just had a touch of insomnia."

"Ah." Liz nodded, and Robin wondered whether or not she should be insulted that Robin bought the lie so quickly.

"Yup," Robin continued, "So no story to tell, sorry."

"Make sure to tell me when there is," Liz said earnestly, and then broke out into another grin, "but in the meantime, are you up for a cup of coffee?"

"No, sorry," Robin shook her head, "I have an impromptu meeting in a few minutes—we're discussing the possibility of Manny faking his sudden personality change. Rain check?"

"Sure," Liz patted her on the shoulder. "Have fun at the conference."

Robin doubted she would. There was a lot of controversy over whether or not Manny's recovery was real and tension was running high. She and Patrick were the only doctors going, but Alexis, Ric, and Durant were going to be there too. The mix of people there wasn't going to help matters either.

She walked towards the conference room, wondering how it was going to go, when she bumped into the very last person she wanted to see.

"We meet again," Patrick Drake said mock-ominously.

"Yes, unfortunately," Robin turned away and crossed her arms.

Patrick tilted her chin up, "Why 'unfortunately'?" Patrick asked, grinning complacently. "I think it was very fortunate."

"Fortune it for me, no doubt." Robin's patience with his arrogance was running very thin. Why had she picked the biggest—not to mention bigheaded—flirt to like? Maybe she had imbalanced hormones or something.

"You wound me, Robin," Patrick's tone was light but Robin could see a hint of seriousness in his eyes. Had she hurt his feelings?

"You really think I'm that arrogant?" Patrick continued in a hushed voice, his dark brown eyes bore into Robin's with such intensity that Robin felt a chill go down her spine. "You think I don't have feelings for you?"

Somewhere between losing her breath and wanting to melt, Robin found her voice. "Have you given me reason to think otherwise?" She countered.

"Haven't I?" Patrick tossed back.

"No. You flirt with any and everything in a skirt. You act like a—"

But Robin didn't get to finish. Patrick cut her off by placing his mouth on hers. It was gentle at first, but grew more and more passionate. Patrick's arms were around her, and she had lifted hers to put around his neck when she regained her senses and shoved him instead. "How…dare you!" Robin gasped, shock speaking for her before reason could.

Patrick's gaze hardened as he frowned down at her. "You're colder than I thought. I give up, Robin. I'm done." He turned away then, forcing Robin to watch his retreating back with complete and utter regret.