CHAPTER 2

The General Hospital fourth floor elevator doors opened and closed several times in the fifteen minutes Robin had been watching it. Sometimes crowds of people would rush out, or sometimes only one or two people would emerge. Some of those people Robin recognized as co-workers, some as other Port Charles residents, some even as friends. Most of them were strangers though.

Robin found herself wondering what the lives' of these people were like; what their names' were, where they came from, where they were going. She even began inventing stories about them. Like, the young woman who just walked out of the elevator in the jeans and polo shirt – she just got engaged to her high school sweetheart. They've been best friends since they were children, and naturally fell in love as they grew up next door from each other. He just proposed on Christmas Eve as they were walking through the park, the snow falling around them as they sipped their hot chocolate and held hands, laughing. He told her that he loved spending all these Christmases with her growing up, and wanted to do so for the rest of his life. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a ring, bending down on one knee in the middle of the park. And she said yes.

Robin imagined they all had these great stories. She wished she could have her own.

"Looking for anyone?"

A familiar voice caused Robin to snap back to reality. She turned around and saw Liz staring at her. Robin attempted to busy herself as she shifted through a stack of files on the desk in front of her.

"No, no one. Why do you ask?"

"Well, you've been staring at that elevator since we've started both our shifts' half an hour ago. I just thought you might be looking for Dr. Drake."

Robin snorted.

"Please. He's the last person I want to see. I think I'd rather see Carly than Patrick – I mean Dr. Drake."

Elizabeth smiled politely and grabbed a patient chart, walking away. Smooth, Robin. Real smooth. Robin scolded herself as she turned back to watch the closed elevator. Not that she was looking for Patrick or anything. No, she was just bored. Although she did notice Patrick was in fact late for his shift. Thirty-four minutes to be exact. Not that she cared or anything. She just didn't want to have to pick up his work load as he's out gallivanting with women all over Port Charles.

Sighing, Robin looked down at the charts in front of her. She bet he went home with one of the several floozies checking him out at the bar last night. Just one? Who was she kidding. He probably took home two. No wonder he wasn't at work today.

Robin gave up. He obviously wasn't coming in.

Just then, the elevator dinged and the doors opened. Robin automatically glanced up, even though she just promised herself she wouldn't.

Patrick Drake strolled out of the elevator with a smug grin on his face. Robin felt her heart beat slightly faster as she saw him head in her direction, but then he stopped and turned around. Carly walked out of the elevator as well, towards Patrick. They were chatting about something, but they were too far away for Robin to hear.

Liz saw them as well and went to stand next to Robin, watching her watch them.

"I think you might have jinxed yourself by saying Carly and Patrick's names' in the same sentence."

Robin nodded. "If that's true, let me try that again: I'd rather see Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt than Patrick Drake."

Robin closed her eyes as Elizabeth laughed.

"Did it work?"

"Nope."

Robin opened her eyes and sighed.

"Oh well. It was worth a shot."

Elizabeth laughed again before turning back to the charts in front of her.

More laughter was heard, only this time, it came from Patrick and Carly. They were standing near the nurses' station, obviously flirting. Robin casually inched closer, pretending to search for some missing paperwork.

"I'm so grateful for the way you treated Jason and Michael." Robin heard Carly say.

"Well, I'm always around if you ever need me." Patrick grinned. "For anything."

"I just might take you up on that offer, Dr. Drake."

Robin rolled her eyes.

"Please, call me Patrick."

"Well, Patrick, how about dinner tonight?"

Robin's head shot up. What? Dinner? Tonight? There's no way he'd say yes.

"That sounds great. I'll pick you up at eight." Patrick said while jotting down what Robin assumed was his cell number.

Robin glared openly at both of them. Who did he think he was? He had made plans at the bar last night to go out with Robin tonight! Granted, she wasn't actually serious when she agreed to go on their "date," but she thought he was. She was looking forward to crushing his ego in front of everyone today by admitting that hell would freeze over before she'd ever go out with him. Although it was far from the truth, she'd never give him the satisfaction of knowing that.

As Patrick and Carly debated about where to go to dinner, Robin walked over to where Elizabeth was standing.

"Remember when Emily decided to date the next man who walked out of the elevator? And it turned out to be Patrick?"

"Yeah..." Elizabeth answered, wondering where this was going.

"Well, that's what I'm going to do. The next man to walk out of that elevator is my Prince Charming."

Robin and Elizabeth both turned towards the elevator expectantly as it opened and a short, balding and not particularly attractive man walked out, screaming on his cell phone.

Elizabeth looked at Robin.

Robin looked at Elizabeth.

"The next man." Robin turned back to face the elevator once more. "The next man to walk out of that elevator will be my Prince Charming."

Just then, Carly sauntered up to the nurses' station with Patrick close behind her.

"Well, well. Look who we have here." She spit out at Robin.

"Well, Carly, I do work here. I think the question is, what are you doing here?"

"I just stopped by to make a date with Patrick." Carly fake smiled. "We're going out tonight."

"Well, thanks for telling me, not that I know why you'd think I care."

"Then I guess you won't care that he'll most likely be spending the night." Carly smugly smiled.

"Most men often do." Robin smiled back.

Carly's smile quickly turned into a glare.

"I could see how you'd be jealous. I mean, with your HIV, who'd want to hop into bed with you?"

Robin's cool facade swiftly disappeared. Bringing up the HIV issue was a low blow. That was going too far, even for Carly.

"You know what Carly? I don't have time for this. Don't you have someplace else to be? Don't you ever go home?" Robin sighed. "You know, the place that isn't where Jason or Sonny are?"

Carly ignored Robin's last comment and turned towards Patrick. She grabbed his face and kissed him passionately. Robin was shocked and more than a little upset, but she knew it was more for her benefit than Carly actually wanting Patrick.

As they pulled apart a few moments later, Robin tried her best to keep an impassive expression. Patrick looked confused, but pleased nonetheless. Carly smiled back at Robin, thinking she had won.

Just then, the ding of the elevator was heard. Robin glanced over and saw a man walk out. He looked to be in his late twenties – very attractive, although a little scruffy, with disheveled dirty blonde hair and a tight band shirt on as well as jeans.

Prince Charming? Maybe not. But he'll do.

Without thinking, Robin walked around the nurses' station and up to the stranger.

"Kiss me."

The man stopped walking and stared at her. "What?"

"I'll explain later. Just kiss me."

The man smiled slightly before leaning down and gently kissing her lips. He smelled of cologne and sweat and a smell uniquely his own. It was intoxicating, and Robin got caught up in it, especially since she hadn't kissed anyone in a very long time.

The kiss grew more intense and Robin almost forgot that there were people watching. The word there being 'almost'. How could she forget, with the eyes boring holes into her back?

Finally she pulled away, looking up at the stranger she had just had a make-out session in the middle of the crowded hospital.

"Follow my lead." She whispered as she led him over to where Patrick, Carly, Elizabeth, and a few others were standing, watching.

"Everyone, I'd like you to meet..."

Damn. What was his name?

"Dominic Griffin. Dr. Dominic Griffin." He thankfully filled in the blank, and quickly too, so no one seemed to suspect she had no idea who he was.

He extended his hand to Patrick, who was sizing him up.

"Doctor? Really?" Patrick asked suspiciously. "Where did you get your credentials? Online Medical School?"

"Try Harvard. But close." Dominic answered. "I just came here to consult with Dr. Scorpio on a case."

"Me." Robin quickly blurted so he would know he was standing next to the person he was looking for.

Surprise crossed Dominic's features briefly, but he covered it up smoothly. Robin could tell he was shocked she was a doctor. Whenever she wasn't wearing her white coat, patients often mistook her for being much younger. Must do with her height, as Patrick so often nicely points out.

"Yes, and after we go over the case, I was hoping we could go out or something." Dominic slowly asked.

To everyone else, it must've seemed like he was making plans with her like they always did, seeing as he's her 'boyfriend', but to Dominic and Robin, they were planning their first date. Or at least that's what Robin thought. What if he was only asking her as part of the plan?

"Say, dinner?" Robin sweetly suggested, glancing at Patrick and Carly out of the corner of her eye.

"Perfect." He smiled at Robin. He then turned towards the rest of the group. "Nice meeting you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go back downstairs to check on my patient."

Dominic casually kissed Robin's cheek and winked before walking back towards the elevator.

For the first time that day, since she started watching the elevator, Robin felt like she had her own great story. Or at least one was beginning.

TO BE CONTINUED...