AN:

So here is chapter three... finally. I am really trying to get back on schedule sadly You Tube has other ideas. Feel free to stalk me in the future.

~Kelly~

Chapter Three

Robin stepped off the elevator and smiled. She finally had a chance to question Elizabeth about what happened yesterday. She still couldn't quite wrap her mind around the idea. Elizabeth wasn't the type to have casual sex. Neither was Matt for that matter. Knowing that only made Robin even more curious. "So... Elizabeth about yesterday."

Elizabeth sighed and looked up for her chart. She couldn't claim to be surprised about Robin's reaction after all Patrick had been questioning Matt for weeks. "Do we have to do this now?"

"Yes I think we do. Matt? Matt Hunter? How did this even happen? I didn't even know you two were friends."

"We're not. Matt and I... its just sex Robin. There's nothing else between us," Elizabeth defended.

"Bull. I know you Elizabeth and this isn't you," Robin snorted

Sighing she had to say, "Maybe that's the point Robin. Matt doesn't expect anything of or treat me as if I'm going to break. He just... he lets me be."

"I can understand that Patrick he does that for me too," the doctor admitted

"Good. So we're done then?" Elizabeth asked hopefully.

"No way. I want to know everything..." then she reconsidered, "well maybe not everything. You know what I am saying." the older woman said in a huff.

Elizabeth laughed at her friend. It was good to see Robin back to her normal self. The past few months had been tough on both Robin and Patrick hopefully this was a sigh of things improving. "There's not that much to tell. We've been..." she paused looking for the right word.

During that time, Patrick approached them from behind Elizabeth. "You've been …....."

"Patrick! Matt is your brother," she sputtered shocked at what Patrick said.

"And?" he said with a shrug. Patrick did not see what the big deal. It must be a girl thing. "Look I'm happy for the two of you. Confused but happy."

"Not you too," groaned Elizabeth.

"What?" he asked in confusion, "I don't know Matt that well but I do know you. And casual sex just isn't you."

"Because I turned you down?" smirked Elizabeth.

"Well of course," he said as if that could be the only possible reason.

Elizabeth laughed at Patrick's statement. No matter how many times the doctor hit on her Elizabeth knew Patrick was never serious. "You are not as cute as you think Dr. Drake."

Patrick was stunned at what Elizabeth said. How could she imply that? Okay so had had a big ego. He was a neurosurgeon so an inflated ego was expected. That did not make Elizabeth right. "Ha ha Webber. Very funny."

"We think so." Robin teased her husband.

Elizabeth just rolled her eyes and resumed her paper work the last she need was to make Epiphany angry today. Or any day really. The older woman could be scary. However when the elevator ding she looked up more out of habit than actual curiosity. That was until Elizabeth saw who stepped off the elevator. What in the world, was Nikolas doing here?

To say Nikolas Cassadine hated General Hospital would not be true. After all, he had spent many hours here over the years. It was filled with memories of Emily. However, his former love had nothing to do with his presence today. Edward Quartermaine was the sole reason for this trip. The patriarch had demanded a hospital board meeting. Nikolas hated the fact most of them were a complete waste of time. He knew that this meeting was different. When this meeting was over two men might end up at least temporarily out of a job.

Approaching the nurses' desk Nikolas took a deep breath. Before the meeting, he needed to speak with Elizabeth. She was one of the few people he trusted especially with something like this. Not to mention Elizabeth just happened to be in the operating room that day. "Excuse me," Nikolas said taking another quick look around for Epiphany. Like everyone in Port Charles, he had a healthy fear of the head nurse. "Could I borrow Elizabeth for just a moment?"

"Does this have something to do with the broad meeting Edward called?" Patrick asked frowning.

"Unfortunately it does." he said grimly. Both the mayor and Diane Miller had significantly complicated the death of Brianna Hughes. "I'm hoping Elizabeth can clear up a few things."

Elizabeth followed Nikolas over the small waiting area. She could feel the tension rolling off her long time friend. She knew exactly what Nikolas wanted to ask her. In fact, she almost expected him to show up sooner. He was not just interested as a hospital board member Nikolas also had the clinic to think of. She was torn between helping her old friend and protecting Matt. "I know what this is about."

"Good. We can skip the part where I politely try to get information out of you," he tried to joke.

She sighed and looked back at the nurses' station Patrick and Robin did not even try to hide their stares. "That's the thing I don't know how much of a help I'm going to be."

"And why is that? I know you were there," he stated firmly.

"You're right I was but..."wavered, torn in her answer, "nothing happened."

Scratching his neck he said, "Okay you're going to have to explain to me what you mean by nothing."

"Matt is a great surgeon Nikolas. Sure he had never done the procedure before but it was textbook," she defended.

"Until someone died." Nikolas reminded his friend gently.

"Right." was all she could manage to say.

He waited for her to continue before he said, "So what went wrong?"

"`Well that's the nothing part. There is no logical reason why Brianna Hughes died,"

He sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair. This whole situation was turning into a nightmare. "Edward isn't going to buy this Elizabeth. I have to have a reason."

"And I wish I could give you one," she swore, "you have know idea how much but I can't."

Seeing how Elizabeth was struggling to answer his questions caused something to click. She had a personal investment in this. "This has something to do with that doctor Matt Hunter. Right?"

"I don't know what you mean." Elizabeth said refusing to even look at him. She did not want to fight with Nikolas especially not about Matt.

"Of course not. Look Elizabeth you are my oldest living friend and we have been through a lot. I know I haven't always supported you especially when it comes to men." Nikolas paused awkwardly it was times like these he wished Emily was still alive. She would have known what to say. "He seems nice and if he makes you happy..."

"Nik it's not like that. We're just... you know... it's just sex," she mumbled with a furious blush.

Nikolas laughed before he could think about it. It appeared Elizabeth was still in denial about how she felt. "You keep telling yourself that but we both know it's not true."

"Stop trying to make more out of... just stop," she exploded completely embarrassed by how well Nikolas could read her.

"Fine. You win. " Nikolas said holding up his hands in surrender. Elizabeth could be almost as stubborn as he was. Most days he was just glad she was on his side. "I just wanted you know I support you."

"Thank you," Elizabeth said sighing softly.

Nik prepared to leave but first said, "And if you ever need anything..."

"Nik I know," she said nodding.

"You're family Elizabeth," Nik informed her, "with Lucky... gone and Lulu doing god knows what. I don't want you to feel alone."

"I don't." Elizabeth pulling Nikolas into a hug. The prince hugged her back uncomfortably before pulling back.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Matt rounded the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. The last thing he expected was to see Elizabeth in the arms of another man. Logically Matt knew he had no right to be hurt or jealous but it did not change the fact he was. Matt tried not to think of their history or of how comfortable Elizabeth seemed with him.

He was so wrapped up in trying to watch Elizabeth and Nikolas Matt didn't notice Robin. "You know they're only friends don't you?"

He shook his head, "I doesn't matter Robin."

"Matt I can see that you care about Elizabeth. You have to know that she cares about you too." she softly told the younger man. She hated seeing two people she cared about hurting too bad fixing this had to wait. "Just remember what I said."

He tried to smile as Robin walked away but failed miserably. Matt had not meant to care about Elizabeth or anyone for that matter. "I really hope you're right."