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Chapter 13
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Patrick watched Robin pick at her food from across the table. "Is it that bad?"

Robin looked up quickly. "No! It's good! I just can't eat much yet." She shrugged and looked down at her plate.

"Understandable. You went quite a while without solid foods. There will be plenty of leftovers for you to snack on. Why don't you go sit in front of the fire while I clean up in here?"

"No way. You cook, I clean up. That's only fair," She protested.

Patrick sighed. "Nice try but no. You need to rest Robin. I'm serious about this. Your body is still trying to recuperate. I won't compromise on this."

She wanted to fight him but the flicker of concern in his eyes stopped her. "Okay, on one condition."

"And that would be?" He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

"I do the same for you after your surgery."

Patrick was stunned to silence for a moment. "I only have a hot plate and a microwave in the hotel room so that might be hard." He grinned, trying to convey indifference.

"Clean up and we'll talk about that." Without giving him time to answer she stood up from the table and went to go settle in front of the fire as he had suggested.

After the dishes were done and leftovers put away, Patrick settled down next to Robin. "So talk." He rubbed his damp palms on his jeans and wondered where she was going with this.

She smiled at him. He felt an unfamiliar flutter in his stomach when she looked at him. "A hotel room is nowhere for you to be when you're recovering from major surgery."

"I'll be fine Robin. It's not a big deal, really."

"That's where I disagree. I think you should stay here. In the guest room," she added quickly. "You took care of me when I needed it and are still doing it. I want to repay the favor."

"I'm a doctor, I did my job. No need to feel obligated." He stood and looked out the window.

Stunned at his abruptness she said nothing for a moment. "Patrick?"

"Yeah?" He didn't turn to look at her.

"I don't feel obligated."

"No?"

She walked to the window and stood next to him, putting her hand on his arm. "No. I want to do this. Not out of obligation, I just want to."

Her words slowly sank in. Here was this amazing woman who was still recovering from a life-threatening situation wanting to take care of him. Wanting to. No ulterior motives, no selfish purpose. "In the guest room, huh?" He mustered up a leer to cover up his inner turmoil.

"Yep. Take it or leave it."

"I'll take it," he said, grinning with his dimple in full display.

She smiled back at him, but he could see the weariness in her eyes. "Now that you've given me my rules for after surgery Dr. Scorpio, I'm going back to being the doc in charge. It's time for you to get to bed."

"I don't even have the energy to argue with you," she admitted ruefully.

"There's a first time for everything. Let's get you upstairs." Before she could move, he scooped her up in his arms for the second time in as many nights.

"Patrick! I can walk! Put me down."

He shook his head. "Nope." He easily mounted the stairs.

"Please? I'll go straight to bed, I promise."

His eyes were full of disappointment. "Ok take all of the fun out of it." He placed her feet back on the floor outside her room.

She looked at him questioningly. "What fun is that?" They stared at each other silently.

"Forget it, I was just going to say something else glib," Patrick shrugged and flashed a dimple. Where was all this seriousness coming from all of a sudden, he wondered as he looked over her head into her bedroom?

"No I don't think you were." She could feel the heat radiating between them. Could he feel it too, she wondered?

How could this woman get to him this way just by being near him? He shrugged both to the question in his mind and to her statement. "Just thought it would be fun to tuck you in, that's all." He shoved his hands into the back pockets of his jeans and rolled back on the balls of his feet.

She smiled softly. "I need to change out of these clothes anyway and you know I'd make you leave the room for that. Then you can say goodnight." Her heart was pounding its way out of her chest, she was sure. She had no idea what she was doing and she was loving every second of it. She hadn't felt this alive in ages.

He snapped his fingers. "Damn! You got 10 minutes." He winked and moved back towards the landing.

"Yes sir!" Laughing, she walked into her bedroom and closed the door.

Patrick stood staring at the door for a moment, all traces of humor gone from his face.