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Chapter 7
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"She's going to be all right?" Noah asked when Patrick came out of CICU.
Patrick nodded and toyed with the pen he carried in his left hand.
"Why so grim, then?"
Patrick shook his head and walked past his father down the hall, his white coat flaring out behind him in his rush.
"Patrick?" Noah called out. When Patrick didn't slow down he walked quickly after him. "Patrick. Son?"
Suddenly Patrick stopped and turned around, his brown eyes spitting fire. "Don't you call me, Son," he hissed.
"Whoa, what's going on?" Noah reached his son, more concerned than insulted.
"That, that woman." Patrick pointed back down the hall. "Has more courage in her pinky finger than you or I have in our entire bodies."
"Probably, but what are you talking about right now?" Noah asked reasonably.
"She wouldn't, hasn't let herself die. Shows endless compassion for everyone around her. She…" Patrick broke off and put a hand over his chest and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath. Another. His head dropped and he swayed a bit.
"Patrick, are you all right?" Noah put his hand on his son's shoulder.
Patrick flinched at his touch and backed away, his eyes snapping open. He shook his head and tried to turn away. "Forget it. I'm not going into this again."
Noah grabbed his arm again. "I wanted to tell you that if you're still willing I'll take you up on your offer of a liver."
Patrick stopped and turned back to his father, his eyes wet, looking hopeful.
"You're right, about everything. This nightmare showed me I can be of use. That's what I was waiting to tell you. I hope that you meant what you said about redemption. For us." Noah still gripped Patrick's arm.
After staying silent for a moment, Patrick finally spoke. "I understand now, Dad."
"You understand?" Noah shook his head in confusion.
"I don't know what I would have done if the unthinkable happened. If she had died." Patrick's voice was barely above a whisper.
"I didn't think you knew," Noah said, surprised.
"I never wanted to know. I never wanted to feel as much for someone as you felt for Mom that it destroyed me." Patrick rubbed his hands over his face and let out a deep breath. "She came storming into my life only months ago and now she's…vital."
"Scary, isn't it? Before your mother I wasn't the settling down type myself."
"I've heard some stories since coming to Port Charles." Patrick dropped his hands and smiled weakly at his father.
"Let's get you some sleep. I have a liver in there to take care of."
"Not too long. I want to monitor Robin's recovery."
"I'll take care of that while you're sleeping."
"Thanks, Dad."
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Noah had found Anna and Robert in the waiting room arguing. "To your corners," he ordered.
Both looked at him, annoyed and stunned at the interruption. He smiled at their expressions. "Robin regained consciousness. Patrick was able to remove the plastic bubble and she's sleeping peacefully now. I thought the two of you might want to see her. One two conditions – no fighting in her room and if she gets upset both of you will leave and won't be allowed back until she's completely recovered. Got it?"
"I want to see her first," Anna demanded.
"Why? We can go in together," Robert protested.
"Over my dead body. You can wait. You've done enough damage. She needs me, I'm her mother."
Noah held up his hands to let Robert know he was on his own when it came to dealing with the fiery woman.
Once Anna had scrubbed to her satisfaction, she walked into Robin's room. Her tears streamed down her face as she touched her daughter's hand. When Robin felt her touch, she opened her eyes slowly. "Mom?" Her voice was weak but clear.
"I'm right here Luv. I'm not going anywhere."
Robin smiled. "Patrick said you were here."
"That Patrick, he seems like a nice guy."
"Are we talking about the same guy? Patrick Drake?"
Anna laughed. "Yeah that's the guy. He's been very, um, protective of you."
"Momentarily weakness on his part. I'm sure he'll be over it in a day or so. Maybe someone should check him for a fever."
"He's done an admirable job of handling your father and your husband." Anna chuckled.
"Shhh! No one here knows about Simon."
"Uh-oh."
"What do you mean uh-oh, Mom?"
"Well it appears the cat is out of the bag so to speak."
Robin groaned and closed her eyes. "Who knows?"
"Patrick. He overheard me having a talk with Dr. Nicholls."
"Damn."
"I'm sorry Luv. I had no idea it was a secret."
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Patrick had been sure that sleep would come now that Robin was awake but it still eluded him. All he could think about was how weak she sounded when she first spoke.
"Dammit Drake, get a hold of yourself. Scorpio is going to be fine. She's got her mother, father and husband here to help her. She doesn't need you."
He closed his eyes again to try to sleep. He was saved from failure by the sound of his pager. All that was there was Robin's room number. He threw the blanket back and raced for her room.
Noah was outside the door and motioned for him. "I had a feeling you wouldn't actually be sleeping."
"Good instincts. What's wrong?"
"Robert just went in to talk to Robin. Thought you might want to monitor her vitals. You might need to rush in, all knight in shining armor-like."
Patrick smirked at his father but kept a close eye on the monitors still keeping track of Dr. Scorpio's health.
Inside the room he watched as Robert moved closer to Robin's bed. She inched away as much as she could in the small hospital bed.
"Don't touch me Robert."
"Come on now Luv."
"Don't you dare 'Luv' me!"
Anna watched closely as the two began their sparring. She was ready to jump in and lead Robert out by the ear if necessary. She caught a glimpse of the young Dr. Drake outside the window and realized he had the same idea in mind. She smiled at the thought of this young man looking out for her daughter. They both seemed to have met their match in each other.
"Can't we call a truce? I know you're mad as hell at me. But you are my daughter and believe it or not, I do love you."
"I don't believe it. Why should I? You let me grieve for you for years. You sent one of your minions to spy on me. And then you show up here without warning."
"I know you don't understand why I did the things I did. Maybe you never will. But know that when I saw you lying in this bad, covered by that plastic and hooked up to all these machines, I knew that if something happened to you and I never told you I love you, I would regret it for the rest of my life. Me being around is obviously upsetting you and I know Patrick is probably out there watching me, ready to throw me out. So I'm going to go. But I'll only be a phone call away if you need me."
Without waiting for a response, he walked out of her room with a nod to Patrick and Noah. Robin started to cry as Anna held her. "Why can't I hate him?"
"Because he's your father and you love him."
"But I can't forgive him. Not yet."
"I know."
Patrick waited a few moments before interrupting the mother/daughter time. "Sorry to intrude. I just need to check on my most ornery patient."
Anna stood and smiled. "I'll be outside."
Patrick checked Robin's blood pressure. "A little high. Not surprising after talking to your dad."
She smirked. "I feel like a zoo animal with everyone watching me."
"Keep getting better at this pace and you'll be out of here in no time."
"Don't tease."
Patrick leaned closer. "I don't tease about medicine. We'll talk more about teasing when you get out of here. You still owe me a second date."
Robin looked at him, surprised. "I didn't think you'd want to go out with me again."
"And why not? You weren't that dull."
Robin laughed. "Two reasons actually. Carly for one."
"Carly Corinthos?"
"Do you know another Carly?"
It was Patrick's turn to laugh. "Well no. Do you honestly think I was interested in her?"
Robin nodded.
"Damn Scorpio. I thought you could read people better. I only went out with her to get to you. Evidently it worked!"
Her face flushed. "I told you why I didn't think you should go out with her."
"So what was the second reason?"
"You found out about Simon."
"That he's your husband you mean?"
She looked down at her hands folded in her lap. "Biggest mistake of my life."
Patrick sat down on the edge of her bed. "We all make mistakes. Besides, what makes you think I care if you're married to that loser?"
Robin looked at him. "You don't like him do you?"
Patrick shook his head. "He's cocky. That's my job." Besides, he thought, that jerk hurt you.
Robin laughed again. What was it about this man who could always make her laugh, even when it infuriated her? "So when do I get to go home?"
"That anxious for our date?"
"That anxious for my own clothes and my own bed."
"Hopefully only a couple more days." His pager sounded. "Duty calls. If you need anything, you page me got it?"
She nodded then closed her eyes to sleep.
