Chapter Two
Anna was waiting for Patrick outside of Obrecht's office when he came storming out. "Patrick, what happened?"
"She tried to tell me that I couldn't take the time off." Patrick kept walking to the elevator. "I told her that I have four weeks of vacation and personal days left to take this year and I was taking it."
"Can you do that?" Anna didn't want Patrick to lose his job.
"I don't have any surgeries scheduled so I have no problem calling in every day if needed." Patrick waited for Anna to get on the elevator before joining her. "Obrecht can go to the board and complain or go to hell – I don't care."
They had no sooner gotten off the elevator when Patrick's phone rang. "Hello? Tracy – what do you mean you are with Emma?" Patrick stopped suddenly. "Someone tried to what? I'll be right there."
Patrick ran to his car while Anna chased after him. "Patrick? What happened?"
"Get in the car. Someone tried to kidnap Emma in the park."
"Emma!" Patrick ran across the park and picked up his little girl in his arms, hugging her close. "Are you okay?"
"Yes daddy." Emma buried her head in her father's neck as she nodded her head. "I did what you and mommy and Grandma Anna said – I screamed until someone came to help me."
"That's my girl." Patrick looked up and saw Mac running over to them. Anna had called him on their way to the park and asked him to meet them there. "Mac, thank you for coming so quickly."
"Of course." Mac reached over and gently rubbed his great-niece's back. "I understand that you were a very brave girl today."
"She seemed nice at first but then she grabbed me. I did what mommy told me – I screamed and fought her and then Mrs. Quartermaine came over and she ran away." Emma looked at her father and tears filled her eyes. "Can I call her? I really want to talk to mommy."
"You know what sweetheart, why don't I take you back to our house for some ice cream while Daddy and Grandma Anna talk to the detectives?" Mac opened up his arms and Emma quickly jumped from her dad to him. "Is that okay?"
"I think it is a great idea." Patrick knew that Emma was safe with Mac and then he could work with Anna to get to the bottom of what had happened today. "You stay with Uncle Mac and Aunt Felicia and I will be back to get you in just a little bit. I love you."
Emma leaned over to kiss her dad on the cheek. "I love you too daddy."
Patrick waited until Mac was out of sight before turning to Anna. "Anna, this cannot be a coincidence. I call Robin, she sounds scared and barely talks to me and less than an hour later someone tries to kidnap Emma? I can't help but think that the two things are related - like it was a message to Robin."
"I agree." Anna pulled out her phone and made a call. "Robert, I need you to arrange transport to Paris for me, Mac, Felicia, Patrick and Emma. We think something is going on with Robin."
"Thanks Mac." Patrick opened the front door to his house and saw Sam sitting on the couch in the living room waiting for him. "If you would, bring Emma here in about an hour. I'll get her packed and we can head to the airport together."
Sam looked at Patrick strangely. "Airport? Where are you going?"
Patrick sighed. "Paris – we need to go see Robin."
"Okay, well, I'll get mine and Danny's bags packed and…"
Patrick cut her off. "I'm not asking you to go with me." He sat down next to her. "I think we need to talk."
"Patrick…"
"I've been thinking about what I said to you yesterday after we found out that Jake was Jason and how I said that Robin and I getting back together ended up being a mistake." Patrick still couldn't believe that he had said that – it couldn't be further from the truth. "I was wrong to say that. I loved having Robin back and it about killed me when she left to save Jason."
"So why did you say that?" Sam was already confused about the situation and Patrick's words weren't helping.
"Fear, denial – I guess I thought if I said it I could make myself believe it." Patrick shook his head. "But I was wrong – you need time to think about what you want to do."
"I know what I want to do – I want to marry you." Sam smiled at him. "This is our family and I love it and you."
"I love you too Sam but the only reason this family exists is because you thought Jason was dead. If you had known that Jason was still alive you would have never even looked twice at me, at least not romantically." Patrick took Sam's hand in his. "The truth is that we have settled into something simple and easy because we couldn't be with the ones wanted to be with. I know you love me but Jason is the love of your life and you have a chance to start over again with him and you will regret it for the rest of your life if you don't at least try."
Sam wiped the tears from her eyes. She was sad but, deep in her heart, she knew he was right. "And you? Is this why you are going to see Robin?"
"I called her today to see why she told me Jason was dead. There was something in her voice that I hadn't heard before – she was scared. The call was short but I could hear it and then someone tried to kidnap Emma…"
"What!" Sam loved Emma and couldn't believe Patrick hadn't told her this immediately. "Is she okay?"
"Yes, she did what she was taught to do – screamed and fought with the woman until she let her go. I will have a few words with Nikolas when I get back about the fact that his driver left my daughter alone in the park." Patrick still couldn't believe that Nikolas could be so careless. "The point is that I am beginning to think that Robin isn't staying away from us willingly, that someone is using Emma's safety to keep Robin away."
"I could go with you, maybe help watch Emma." Sam knew that it was a long shot but she wasn't quite ready to admit that their relationship was over. Jason didn't know who she was and he seemed happy to stay with Liz.
"Felicia, Mac and Anna are coming with us so, if my suspicions are true, we have plenty of help." Patrick knew they needed to make a clean break. "I don't know how long I will be gone but…"
"You know my mom and Julian moved into a new house," Sam realized that Patrick's mind was made up, "so the penthouse is empty again. I think it would be best if we moved back in there."
Patrick nodded his head. "I think so too."
Patrick watched as Sam slowly pulled the engagement ring off her finger and handed it to him. "I hope you find what you are looking for in Paris and that Robin is okay. I owe her so much for saving Jason and returning him to his son."
"And I hope that Jason realizes that you are an amazing woman and gives your relationship another chance. You deserve to be with the man you love Sam." Patrick took the ring and smiled at her. "I want you to know that I don't regret asking you to marry me and I do love you."
"And I don't regret saying yes but as much as we love each other, we are in love with other people and it is time to try and get them back." Sam stood up and headed to their room. "I'll pack an overnight bag for me and Danny and we'll get the rest of our stuff tomorrow."
"Take your time." Patrick didn't want her to feel like he was throwing her out. "Good luck Sam."
"Good luck to you too Patrick. I hope you find her safe and sound." Sam left the room to pack her bags.
Patrick stood up and walked over to the mantle and looked at a picture of Robin and Emma that still sat on it. He ran his finger over Robin's face. "Me too Sam, me too."
