A/N: I gotta keep reminding myself it's a soap. It's supposed to be melodramatic.

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If You're Not the One – 14
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And though I can't be with you tonight
And know my heart is by your side
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After standing silently with Robin for awhile in the hallway, Patrick had gone back again and again trying to convince his father to fight to live, but even as Noah's liver failed and his time shortened he remained steadfastly determined to die; his son remained just as a steadfast that he would live and Robin remained as steadfast as Patrick had asked her to be. She kept urging him on despite his resistance and his seeming ingratitude. As the days wore on and Noah's condition deteriorated there was no time or energy for anymore close moments, no more tender handholding, no stolen kisses. It was almost as if they had never been on the verge of something, except for that fact that Patrick, for all his resistance, always took Robin's advice and went back in fortified for another shot at changing his father's mind.

And then Noah slipped into a coma, putting into the effect the power of attorney and living wills that Noah had put in his son's name giving Patrick the opportunity to change his father's mind for him. That was when Robin discovered that Patrick had done a lot more than just try and convince his father to put his name on the donor list.

Shortly before Noah had slipped into a coma Robin had gone into the records room, hesitating for a split second as she always did now before entering, to check the liver donor registry. To see if Patrick convinced Noah to go back on the list how soon he would be able to get to the top; maybe to even sign him onto the list herself if it came down to that, though she wasn't thinking very directly on that point yet. When she signed onto the database and was shocked by the first entry, "Dr. Noah Drake, Surgeon" was already at the top of the list.

"Patrick," she whispered when she realized she had underestimated him. She leaned back in the chair and rubbed her hands over her face.

She was tired, more than in body, also in spirit. The fight to keep Noah alive was eating at her almost as much as it was Patrick and her pain wasn't just for the father, it was also for the son. The son who, she couldn't deny anymore, she had formed very deep feelings for. But just as she felt herself falling for him, he seemed to be pulling away from her. She knew it was just that he was caught up with his father's situation, but the knowing wasn't enough to settle the chaos in her head or the growing ache in her heart. She was scared, terrified, that she was going to get hurt; but she was even more terrified what would happen to Patrick if Noah didn't make it.

With a sigh she checked her watch and decided that she was going to go take a break and get something to eat before she tried to figure out how to back Patrick up in what he was doing. And maybe, just maybe, begin to deal with her own father before it really was too late for her as well.

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"Still lurking in the hospital halls?" Robin came up behind Nikolas Cassadine who was obviously coming from the NICU.

"Hey Robin. Carly let me hold John today." He rubbed his hands together and smiled.

"Did Jax change his mind?" Her stomach sank when Nikolas shook his head. "She has an angle, Nikolas. She's not doing it from the goodness of her heart, she barely has one."

"I know and I don't care. He's such a…I can't even explain what it was like to hold him. He's getting so much stronger. Carly says they might be moving him out of the NICU soon."

"I'm glad to hear that, Nikolas. But be careful." She shook her head. "I don't know why you men insist on getting involved with her."

"I'm a Cassadine, Carly doesn't worry me. Hell, she messes with me my grandmother might take care of her." He and Robin shared a ghoulish grin, then Nikolas frowned and leaned in closer. "You look tired."

"I am tired. I'm just going to go get something to eat and get something to bring back to Patrick."

"I'll come with you. How are things going?"

"Not well." Robin sighed and unconsciously leaned into Nikolas when he put his arm around her as they walked down the hall. "Noah is slipping away and it's killing Patrick." Nikolas was silent, prompting Robin to look up at him.

"I was just wondering who's taking care of you while you take care of Patrick and his father."

"I don't need anyone to take care of me, Nikolas." Robin pulled out of his arm and looked up at him. They stood facing each other in the hallway. "I'm a grown woman and a doctor."

"Who happens to be human and looking more tired than she should. I'm worried about you, Robin. I don't want you to get sick because of this." His last words were whispered as he had a hard time getting them out. He had some idea of how much Robin hated to be reminded of her HIV status and any limitations it might place on her. But since Robin knew he was only coming from a place of caring she didn't get upset.

"Nikolas, I appreciate your concern, but I assure you that I am taking care of myself. I just need to get a good night sleep tonight and some food. So how about you buy me lunch?"

"You promise you'll get some sleep?" Nikolas leaned down in her face.

"I promise."

"Good." Nikolas put his arm around Robin's shoulder and they went to get some food.

Neither saw Patrick standing in the doorway watching them with a heated expression on his face.

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The door was ajar and Patrick sat hunched forward talking to his father. Robin hesitated, wondering if she should step back and leave them alone, but the tears evident in Patrick's voice held her riveted to that spot. As he spoke something inside her moved, changed; this was the Patrick she had seen during the epidemic, the first glance she'd seen underneath the tough guy act of something truly worthwhile, amazing.

"Dad, dad, dad. Determined to be the bane of my existence till the bitter end. You won't take a transplant because you don't think you deserve it. Won't take part of my liver, either, because you don't want to risk my health or you can't stand the thought of owing me that much. Expect everybody to just sit around, twiddle their thumbs, and watch you die. Well, I have a problem with that. See, I save lives. That's what I do and you can only blame yourself for that. You gave me the love for healing, a role model of sensitivity and brilliance. I didn't get much of the sensitivity part, but you have to admit, I took your brilliance and raised you one. What I'm trying to say is you gave me my life, twice. And now you expect me to not try and save yours? I've never lost a patient, not once. You're not going to be my first. I am not going to let you haunt me."

Robin closed her eyes as he repeated her own words to him. Sometimes she had wondered if she was getting through. She opened her eyes and found him looking at her, tear tracks on his face. He didn't look angry, or surprised to find her there. He said nothing, just turned and looked back at his comatose father.

A minute went by, then another and he still didn't turn away from Noah so Robin walked into the room. "I brought you a sandwich. You should eat something."

"Thanks." He didn't look at her so she put it on the side table. "You should get some sleep. You look like hell."

"So do you." Robin reached a hand out, but pulled away before she put it on his shoulder. His anger was palpable, she thought it was just about Noah, but she was wrong.

"How about you take off the Florence Nightingale cap for one evening and get some sleep, Robin."

Robin stood for a moment. "Will you look at me?" He turned and looked at her. As their eyes caught his shoulders drooped and he leaned back in his chair and licked his bottom lip and looked away and the back again. "You should eat something and get some sleep, Patrick." He just nodded and looked chagrined. She shrugged and turned to leave.

"Wait." He reached out and caught her wrist. She turned back to face him.

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