Twenty

"Robert Scorpio! Let me get you a drink. Coleman, get a drink here for my old, dear friend Robert Scorpio, a better psychic friend than…um….who was that who did those commercials?" Noah's question ended on a slur that seemed to reflect the confusion in his mind, as well as his motor skills.

"This is a truly sad sight, Drake." Robert sat down on the stool next to Noah and took the glass of amber liquid that Coleman silently put in front of him. Something in his tone made it sound like a compliment, but his expression was blank.

"Didn't you predict this, Robert? Noah Drake can't handle a little rejection so he turns to the bottle." Noah leaned in close to Robert. "Come to enjoy the show?"

"My daughter called me, she was concerned about you. I guess she was right to be." Robert took a sip of his drink.

"Robin. Awwww. She's a wonderful girl. Good aim with a pitcher." Noah turned and pointed at the supply of beer pitchers behind the bar. "Coleman, my man, keep those away from young Dr. Scorpio please! I don't feel like sobering up just yet."

"It doesn't look like there's any danger of that." Robert took another sip of his drink. "It's not too late for you to let me help you get out of here."

"I'm devoted to my course of action." Noah raised his glass and toasted with the air.

"Your son…"

"Don't talk to me about my son! My son has dealt with this before and gone on to be a better surgeon and man than I could hope to be. And that was before he had Robin. My son will be fine." Noah glared at Robert.

Robert looked at Noah, measuring, considering. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a twenty dollar bill. He put it on the bar. "I'm sorry it came to this, Drake. I'll do my best to watch out for your son." He walked out of the bar.

Noah stared into his glass. "You do that." He licked his lips and then picked up his glass.

"What are you thinking about?" Robin asked.

Patrick and Robin were lying together on the lounger on their room's balcony. They were naked, bathed in the moonlight and wrapped only in a sheet they pulled off the bed. Patrick was stroking Robin's arm and looking up at the moon thoughtfully.

"I was thinking how different my life is right now than it was a year ago."

"I bet." Robin grinned and slid her leg over Patrick's. "You can't even remember her name."

"Whose name?"

"Exactly." Robin smirked up at him. "The woman you were with this night a year ago. Or the next. Or the one before." Robin ticked off with her fingers.

Patrick covered her hands with his. "All right, wise guy." He shook his head and rolled his eyes.

"Am I wrong?" Robin asked when he let go of her hands and tightened his hold around her.

"That wasn't what I was referring to. Not exactly." Robin brushed her fingers over Patrick's bare chest, making him shiver. "A year ago I knew exactly where I was going and how I was going to get there. My career and a bit of fun on the side were the most important things to me. And in most respects I was an orphan." He stopped and was silent for a while.

"And now?" Robin prompted in a soft voice.

"Now." Patrick smiled and tilted his head back and put his hand on the side of Robin's head, pressing it against his chest. "Now, I'm working in upstate New York in a hospital with a fine reputation, though not exactly the normal route to greatness but I know I'll make it work. I have a relationship with my father, although it's kind of rocky right now. And then there's you." He looked down at the top of her head and smiled fondly and waited.

"What about me?" Robin cleared her throat and looked at him. She squirmed slightly at the look in his eyes and he could feel her heart speed up against him.

"I was never going to fall in love. I didn't think it was possible." He traced his fingers over her face. "Here I am in love with a woman who is this strange combination of bookish nerd and adventure girl who never stops lecturing me."

Robin let out a small, startled gasp at his admission and tears pricked her eyes.

"You changed my life, Robin Scorpio. I love you." Patrick's voice was husky with emotion and, it even seemed, disuse of that combination of words.

A couple of tears slid down Robin's cheeks and landed on Patrick's bare skin, causing him to shiver again. "I love you, too, Patrick Drake."

"Of course you do. What's not to love?"

Robin closed her eyes and let out a bark of laughter. "You are...amazing." She opened her eyes and gave him a dazzling smile.

"Well?"

"Well, what?" Robin asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"The lecture, I'm waiting for the lecture about my father."

"No lecture. You're going to do the right thing." Robin stretched her arm around his waist and wrapped her hand around his hip. "You always do."

"Only since I met you."

"You're wrong. You were always a good man. You just hid it better." Robin kissed his chest. "So tomorrow morning we go back and try to help Noah?"

"Yes. Tomorrow we go back to try and help my father. But tonight, tonight is for us." Patrick rolled over and maneuvered Robin underneath him.