Five

"Hello, Dr. Scorpio." Patrick leaned down and put his elbow on the nurse's station counter across from Robin.

"Dr. Drake." Robin looked up from her paperwork and smiled tentatively at Patrick. "Surgery go well?"

"Of course. Lab work go well?"

Robin snorted and then cleared her throat. "Lab work go well? Laying it on a bit thick aren't you? What do you want?" He'd been like this, friendly and interested, ever since he had invited himself to their housewarming party – or as Kelly called it the busting the hymen of the party pad. It was giving her the creeps.

"I'm just being polite to a colleague." He bit his lip and smiled impishly.

"You and polite is a scary combination. Downright suspicious actually." Robin narrowed her eyes. "What is it you want? Are you regretting your offer to pick up the beverages for the party and trying to back out gracefully?"

"Not at all." Patrick paused. "Although, it is a really big list. A lesser man might try to back out. Fortunately, I'm not a lesser man."

It was on the tip of Robin's tongue to say something sharp in reference to Patrick doing and being just that, but stopped herself in time. The sharp edge of her anger came and went, but still was completely unjustified since the agreement had been no commitment, regardless of what that had come to feel about the other. "We appreciate the help," she mumbled and looked down at her paperwork, knowing her eyes betrayed more than they should.

"How much do you…"

"Patrick, can I speak to you for a moment?" Noah's voice cut him off.

"Can this wait?" Patrick scowled at his father. "Robin and I were just…"

"I have rounds. I'll see you both later." Robin gathered her files up, smiled at Noah and let her eyes settle on Patrick only for a second for politeness' sake before walking away.

"Thanks a lot, Dad." Patrick stood up and faced his father. "What was so urgent it couldn't wait until we were done?"

"What exactly is it that you're doing with Robin?"

Patrick's eyes hardened. "What business is it of yours?" He put his hands on his hips, flaring his white lab coat.

"Are you ready to admit you have feelings for her?"

"Again, what business is it of yours?" Patrick snapped.

"I've watched you moping around this hospital for two weeks after you broke it off with her. Now, suddenly you're turning on the charm again and I'm telling you if you're just planning to get her back into back into bed and then hurting her again I'm not going to let you do it." Noah pointed his finger at his son threateningly. "She's a wonderful woman, Patrick. She deserves better than that."

"Don't tell me what Robin does or does not deserve. I don't owe you any explanations," Patrick bit out. He glared at his father for a moment, hurt blaring out of his eyes, then he dropped his hands and turned away.

"Patrick?" Noah grabbed onto his son's arm before he could walk away. "I care about both of you. I just want you both to give each other the chance to have something real between you."

Patrick blew out a breath, but before he could speak Noah had sped away. He rubbed a hand over his face and went back to work.

Robin pushed open the door to the locker room and saw a familiar back sitting on the bench. Patrick didn't turn his head when she came in. She hesitated for a moment before continuing on to her locker. She opened it up, found the meds she was going to need for the rest of her time in the lab and closed the door again and paused, thinking. Then, with a sigh she walked around the other side of the lockers and approached Patrick from the front.

She got a look at his face and as she suspected he looked troubled. That he didn't bother to hide it proved that he knew that she was the one who had entered the locker room. She knew she was the only one he ever let see him like this. That this hadn't changed made her heart speed up. She knew she was in dangerous territory.

"Hi," she said, walking another step closer. "You all right?"

He tilted his head and smiled at her ruefully.

"Dumb question." She swiped her palm on her beige pants nervously. "What happened? Is it a patient or Noah?"

"You're good." He looked heavenward and then back at Robin. "It's my father. We got into it earlier. Now, he's in surgery and we can't clear the air, even if I knew what to say. I never seem to know what to say to him."

"Oh." Robin cleared her throat. It was awkward, but she couldn't bring herself to walk away. "What did you argue about?"

"You." Patrick gave her a soft smile.

"Me?" Robin blinked in surprise.

"My father has a soft spot for you." Patrick shrugged. "Can't blame him."

"I don't get it." Robin's face showed her confusion.

"He…"

Just then there was a page for Doctor Patrick Drake to OR 3.

"I have surgery." Patrick stood up.

"You should go."

"If you're around, I'll come by to finish this conversation. Maybe we can go somewhere where I can finish a sentence."

Robin blinked again in surprise. "Okay." She put her hands on her hips and frowned as he watched Patrick leave. He was voluntarily coming to her to talk about what happened with his father?

"Who was that man and where is Patrick Drake?" She shook her head and headed back to the lab.

TBC