We're feeling so generous on the holiday, here's another chapter!

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Chapter 11
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Patrick took one last look at the chart in his hand before putting it back in its assigned slot. He had been staring at chart after chart for two hours and his eyes were crossing. He wondered for a moment if Robin was still in the hospital, but figured her visit with Robert would be over by now. He turned to head towards the surgical exam rooms when he saw Noah heading in the same direction.

"Dad?"

Noah turned to face him, smiling. "I have to say I like the sound of that."

"How are you feeling?" Patrick smiled back stiffly.

"Still a little tired but I'm managing. You?" Since he had agreed to Patrick's offer of part of his liver he had decided to have an open and honest policy with his son, hoping against hope that Patrick would eventually do the same.

"Amazing as always." His cocky attitude was back in full force.

"And humble I see. I assume that means Robin is still doing well." Noah chuckled.

The cocky smile was temporarily replaced with one that belied his affection for the diminutive doctor. "She was fine last time I talked to her." He rubbed his hand over the back of his hair, ruffling it as he dealt with the unaccustomed urge to reveal something personal to his father. Then he put his hands on his hip and strengthened his usual veneer of blasé arrogance.

"Did she fight you staying there last night?" Noah had been involved in the scheming with Anna the night before to make sure that Robin was watched over her first night out of the hospital. Though Anna could have done it easily herself, she pretended she couldn't wait another night to hash things out with Robert once and for all. Noah had seen the matchmaking glint in her eyes and was more than happy to go along with it. And so was Patrick as evidenced by his not pointing out the obvious flaws in their logic that his sharp mind must have detected. It said a lot to Noah.

"At first but as always she was just another woman who couldn't resist my charm."

"From what I've seen that's a first with Robin for you," Noah pointed out.

Patrick gave an arrogant smirk and said nothing, but mind drifted back to falling asleep with Robin nestled comfortably in his arms; and, he barely suppressed a chuckle, her desperate attempt to slip out of bed this morning without waking him. He had been so tempted to open his eyes and nail her, but he had decided to cut her some slack thinking it the more prudent course if he ever wanted to find himself in her bed again.

Noah shook his head in amusement. "Well give her my best if you talk to her any time soon." He had no doubt that Patrick looked forward to doing just that sooner than he would like to admit.

"I'm on my way to the lab for the pre-surgery blood work," Patrick said in implicit invitation and change of subject.

"So am I. Maybe we can get lunch afterwards?" Noah proposed casually as they walked down the hall together.

Patrick thought briefly about tracking Robin down, just to see if she was resting as she should, and hastily pushed the idea away with a frown. He was thinking about her too much for his peace of mind, though it was probably just habit after a month of twenty-four-by-seven proximity. He could check in on how she was doing, medically, later. And maybe finish that kiss from this morning? Caught up in his own tumbled thoughts Patrick missed his father's growing disappointment.

"If you have other plans?" Noah said, his voice tinged with disappointment.

"No." Patrick, still frowning, shook his head. "Lunch would be fine. I just have to finish rounds after this test."

"I can wait. I'm meeting with Alan about his offer to come on staff. I told him I wouldn't, but he wants to talk anyway."

Relieved for the change of subject Patrick stopped outside the exam room they were scheduled for. "Don't turn it down on account of me. I'm not sure if this hospital is big enough for two Drake egos, but you could use the competition."

"I could, could I?" Noah laughed and clapped Patrick on the shoulder. "Then we'd best get this surgery under our belts." Suddenly serious Noah squeezed Patrick's shoulder. "This is a major surgery. I know, I know you know that. Let me be the father here for a change. I want you to really think about what you're offering to do. This isn't an easy surgery for the donor. I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to you. That's why I refused in the first place." Noah's face was suddenly doubtful again.

"I'm not going to change my mind. And neither are you," Patrick said sternly seeing where his father's thoughts were going. "You're not giving up and I'm not giving up on you."

"Deal. Let's get these tests done and you can page me when you're ready for lunch." Noah held the door open for his son to walk in first.

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"How did you talk go with your father?" Simon didn't look up from the paper he was studying when Robin came walking into his temporary office. He had recognized her light, but determined step.

"Fine."

"So I guess it's my turn now?" Simon looked up and put the paper down on his desk. He leaned back in his chair and waited for her to say her piece.

Robin sat down in the chair across the desk and studied the man who had once meant so much to her. For months they had work and played together. She had let him into her life in a way she hadn't with anyone, possibly ever. They complemented each other in the lab and their conversations outside it were heated, fierce and interesting. Somewhere along the way they had fallen into bed, dazzling each other with romantic gestures and adventures that ultimately had led them to a hasty nuptial during a long weekend in the South of France. Four days later he had packed up and disappeared leaving behind only a hastily scrawled note and some of his clothes.

For weeks she had been almost inconsolable, throwing herself into her work with a vengeance and obtaining results that should have taken twice as long. After that she had been furious, even more so with the French courts who blocked her dissolution of the ill-advised marriage. Then she just stopped caring. About the divorce, about him and about her heart. She had created a well-ordered cloister out of her work for the past year.

And now here they were.

He was undeniably attractive. Tall, lithe, mussy blond hair she knew he worked hard to maintain, sparkling light green eyes, full red lips and he did nothing for her. There was no pull, physical or emotional.

Because of him she was going to be a divorced woman, though, and that made her want to kick his ass.

"I've listened to my father, now I'm ready to hear your story." She crossed her arms and waited, her face impassive.

Simon laid it on thick. Feelings. Passion. Shared vision. Goals. Take the medical and scientific communities by storm. Work side by side. These familiar buzz words jumped out at Robin, but the truth was she could hardly be bothered to listen. Not even to honor marriage vows did she feel compelled to turn her thoughts and emotions his way again.

"Damn," she whispered under her breath. It was blindingly clear as Simon spoke earnestly in front of her that Simon was nothing more than a fling that went too far. Putting aside the whole really working for her dead father, lying to her and deserting her, it wasn't really love. It was good sex and compatibility.

She didn't even feel half of the things she felt about and for Patrick Drake for this man. She never had.

She shook her head and thought back on her mother's words.

She most definitely was not in love with Patrick, definitely not. But she was drawn to him and his bad boy ways, his arrogance, his brilliant mind and his smoking hot body. She might end up as nothing more than another notch on his bedpost, but to be fair she knew that he respected her and in some way cared about her. That didn't mean she was actually going to sleep with him, that was too intimate and important a territory to navigate or decide on just yet, but why not explore the flirtation and friendship he offered?

"Are you even listening to me?" Simon's angry voice interrupted her deep musings.

"Actually, I wasn't, Simon."

Simon seemed to shrink in his chair right before her eyes. "You're not interested in trying to make our marriage work?"

"It's simply not possible." She shook her head.

"What about our work?"

"We could try and work together again, I think we're really compatible there." And not so much in bed, Robin flashed on the almost kiss with Patrick this morning that churned her up more than any time she had spent with poor Simon.

Robin laughed out loud at herself. This man lied, married and abandoned her and she pitied him! It was so freeing. Her mother and Brenda would be so proud when she told them.

"Simon, get yourself a lawyer and let's get this divorce handled sooner rather than later. Then we can talk data." Robin stood up and walked out.