Title : How to Get a Player to Commit
Author : Steph
Rating : PG
Pairing : Robin/Patrick
Category : Romance/Humor/Drama
POV : Robin
Disclaimer : I do this out of a love for this couple. No infringement is intended.
Spoilers : Picks up after the cabin, so includes all of that.
Summary : Robin decides she wants a commitment from Patrick and comes up with a set of rules to follow in order to get her man.

Note: It seems was experiencing some problems with the review feature, so I'm sorry if you tried to leave a review for 6 and couldn't. Thank you for taking the time and making the effort! Hope you enjoy Rule #7 and please let me know what you thought. -Steph

---How to Get a Player to Commit: Rule # 7 - Keep Him Guessing ---

I walk into the nurses' station and flash Epiphany a smile. "Good morning, Epiphany."

"Speak for yourself," she grumbles.

My brow furrows. Dare I ask what's gotten her into such a bad mood so early? Epiphany frightens me, although I'll never admit that to anyone. I'll take snakes and bounty hunters over her anyday.

I bite at my bottom lip. "Is something wrong?"

She frowns, placing her hand on her hip. "You tell me."

Huh?

"Excuse me?"

"A certain sexy neurosurgeon has been making the lives of every nurse in this hospital miserable for two weeks now. And the only thing we can come up with to explain this sudden change in behavior is you."

My eyes widen. "Me? What did I do?"

"I don't know. But that boy's been pouting like a four year old and snapping at us every chance he gets. I remember back when you two started whatever it is you have going on. Back then, he was all smiles and everyday was filled with rainbows and sunshine. Then something happened. Don't think I haven't noticed how you've been ignoring that poor boy. So, you want to tell me what happened between you two?"

I feel my face flood with red. I had no idea anyone had noticed what was going on between us or that it had affected anyone else. It had been two weeks since I had told him we should only see each other at work and to have sex. It had been nine days since our encounter at my apartment. Since then, he has gone out of his way to avoid me.

I've been missing him so much I can't stand it. We've barely spoken more than three words since what happened between us at my apartment. Yesterday, I found him in the locker room. He was changing and I walked in when he had his shirt off. My eyes landed on his chest and froze there. Normally, he would have grinned and made some comment about how badly I wanted him. This time, he just put his shirt on and brushed past me without saying a word or meeting my eyes. I followed him and couldn't help what blurted out of my mouth. I told him to meet me at my place after work. His eyes had flashed with something I couldn't read, but he nodded. We were both going through withdrawal. We hadn't been together physically in too long. I wanted him so badly.

But the moment he disappeared from view, I knew it was a bad idea. So, I decided to stick to Rule # 7. I would keep him guessing. I wouldn't show up and I would confuse him even more. I need to keep him off-balance. Patrick will never give into his feelings if he feels sure about himself and where we stand. His confidence and self-assuredness when it comes to women are what allows him to put up barriers where his feelings are concerned. I need to catch him in a moment of weakness. A moment when he can't help but confront what he's feeling.

I realize I've been so lost in my thoughts that I haven't answered Epiphany's question. She's staring at me, when the elevator doors slide open. Our gazes move to the elevator and land on Patrick.

Epiphany smirks. "Well, speak of the devil. And the devil doesn't look happy."

Patrick stalks out of the elevator and walks into the nurses' station. He takes me by the elbow and leads me to the waiting area. He stops in front of me, hands on his hips.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought we were going to see each other last night. I'm pretty sure it was you who told me to meet you at your place after work. I remember making a special note in my mind because it was the first time you'd acknowledged my existence in two weeks."

I refrain from mentioning he's been doing a pretty good job of ignoring me for the last nine days.

I shrug. "Something came up."

His jaw tightens. "Something came up? And you couldn't have bothered to call me? I waited hours for you. Did you even bother to check your voice mail? I left you about a thousand messages on your cell and at home. I called here looking for you, but no one had any idea where you were." He drops his eyes, his voice lowering. "I was worried that something happened to you, Robin."

My face softens and I suddenly feel bad for worrying him. I start to wonder if in my quest to get Patrick Drake to commit, I'm doing damage I may not be able to undo.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you."

He shakes his head, his voice just above a whisper. "I'm just glad you're okay."

We stand in awkward silence for a minute.

I finally shrug and begin to speak, "Well, I should probably start my rounds before-..."

He cuts me off, leaning in towards me. "What the hell is going on, Robin? I can't figure you out. You agree to no strings sex, then blow me off every chance you get. I realize we're not supposed to see each other for dates, but I thought we were still agreed on the sex part. Did I do something to piss you off that I'm not aware of?"

"Nope."

"Then help me understand what changed because I'm at a loss."

I suppress my smile. I love that Mr. Oh-So-Sure-of-Himself is questioning what he may have done.

"I guess I've just been busy."

"No, I don't buy it. Something's going on. Maybe I was right the first time. Maybe you are just trying to trick me into committing."

"Paranoid, aren't you?"

He sighs in frustration. "Look, do you just not want to be with me at all? Is that it? Because if it is, just tell me. I'll stop wasting my time."

I look at him for a long moment. "What if I said that we should stop seeing each other at all? What if I said we should be purely professional? What would you do?"

He licks at his lips. "I just told you. I'd stop wasting my time."

"Then I guess you'd have a lot more time on your hands."

"I'd manage." He pauses and then places his hands on his hips. "But I'd also want to know why. I know it can't be about the sex because I know I'm the best you've ever had."

I scoff at that, my bangs blowing upward. "Oh, please."

He takes a step forward, his eyes meeting mine. "Don't even try to deny it." My heart begins to beat faster at his closeness. He slowly runs his tongue along his bottom lip, his voice husky, "Just like I won't try to deny you're the best I've ever had."

My breath catches in my chest. Did he just say what I thought he said? Is it even possible that he's telling the truth?

I mean, he's undoubtedly my best, but, then again, he doesn't have too many to compete with. Stone and Jason are the only ones worth mentioning. With Stone, I was still a kid. I was just learning about sex and love. It was all so new. With Jason, it was about being with someone for the first time after contracting HIV. It was about realizing that someone could still want me...that I wasn't broken or damaged. It was about getting over my insecurities and allowing myself to love and be loved again.

But with Patrick...with Patrick, it's different. He makes me feel free. All of the things that hold me back in my every day life, disappear the moment he touches me or I look into his eyes. And when we make love, it's not about firsts or second chances. It's about two people who have been through a great deal in their life and have come through on the other side. Who somehow found each other when it was least expected. It's about connecting in a way I never thought I would connect with someone else. It's about unbridled passion and expressing what we can't yet express with words.

That's how it is for me. That's why he would have won by a landslide, no matter the competition.

Patrick, on the otherhand, has had many conquests, so what makes me the best he's ever had?

A smile slowly crosses my lips. Of course. It's because this is the first time there have been any feelings involved for him. It's the first time he's ever made love. He probably doesn't even realize that's why it's so unspeakably amazing between us.

I shake my head free of the thoughts and try to laugh him off. "You must really want to keep sleeping with me to say that."

His eyes focus on mine. "I told you the truth. Now why don't you try doing the same? Why would you want to change your mind about our arrangement?"

I blank. I can't think of a response. My mouth goes dry.

He eyes me. "You can't handle it, can you? You've realized that you can't handle no strings sex with me. That's why you've been acting so strange."

"That's ridiculous. I can handle it just fine."

Of course, not actually having sex with him does make it a tad easier, although the resisting him part is still hard as hell.

I shake my head. "You're the one who keeps acting like all you want from me is friendship with some sex on the side. But when you come over to my apartment and say things like you can't go another day with out seeing me laugh or smile, then you're saying something else entirely."

"I never should have said that," he replies slowly, looking down at the ground.

"Well, you did. Are you saying that's not how you feel?"

"I'm saying I shouldn't have said it," he responds.

I take a deep breath. "Why are you so afraid to tell me how you feel?"

He sighs. "Just let it go, Robin."

"Patrick, I want to understand. You don't let yourself feel at all. The moment anything gets too real, you shut down."

I stand there staring at him for a full minute, waiting for him to say anything. I'm just about to give up and walk off, when his voice emerges softly. It's so soft I barely hear him.

His eyes are still rooted to the ground. "My father used to say that feelings are what set the good doctors apart from the great doctors. Good doctors see a name on a chart that needs to be fixed. Great doctors see a person who is scared to death and know they're salvation." He swallows hard. "After my mom died, it changed. He said feelings are what set the great doctors apart from the good doctors. Great doctors see a name on a chart that needs to be fixed and they don't let anything get in their way. Good doctors see the person and then often can't see straight enough to do their jobs."

I take a deep breath. Everything that's holding him back can be traced back to his father.

"But I'm not a patient, Patrick."

He shakes his head. "It doesn't matter. The minute feelings get involved people get hurt. Hasn't my relationship with my father been proof enough of that?"

"So what then? You're going to walk around like a robot for the rest of your life? You're going to act like there's an on/off switch for your feelings? I've got news for you, Patrick. It doesn't work like that. You can deny how you feel as much as you want, but it won't make the feelings go away."

He lets out a breath of air. "Why are we even discussing this anyway? Even if I said I wanted a commitment right now, that it's always been about more, you would just say that you don't feel the same. Right? I mean, that is what you keep telling me, isn't it?"

He looks at me challengingly. "We aren't talking about me."

"We are now."

I move my eyes to the ground. "Fine, that's right."

He tilts his head and looks at me. "I don't think I'm the only one who won't say how they really feel."

I so desperately want to tell him how I feel, what I really want, but I know I can't be the first one to do it. He needs to be or I'll scare him off. He needs to get to a place where hearing how I feel about him and what I want won't make him want to run in the other direction.

He's staring at me, waiting for a response of some sort. I have no idea what to say, so I silently pray for something or someone to intervene to save me. Just then, I'm paged over the intercom.

There is a God.

I smile and shrug, "Duty calls."

I turn to leave, but he grabs my elbow gently and turns me back around to face him. My eyes meet his. I note the serious look in them.

He licks at his lips slowly. "Do me a favor, if you plan on blowing me off again, just give me a call. Don't ever worry me like that again."

I nod my head slowly, as I swallow around the lump in my throat. "Okay."

His hand slowly, reluctantly, drops away. I tear my eyes away from his and turn around. I can feel his gaze follow me to the elevator and focus on me as I wait for the doors to open. The doors finally slide open after what seems like an eternity and I step onto the elevator. The last thing I see is his face, eyes still on me, as the doors slide closed.

I let out a breath. He's not the only one thrown off-balance. That man just does something to me.

---

Up Next - Make Him Admit His Fears

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it and please let me know what you thought. -Steph