Chapter Thirteen:

Robin and Patrick walked through the hospital to the floor where her patient was being treated. She had spent some time going over the chart and had ordered some changes. She turned to him when they got there and stopped him.

"You don't have to come in with me if you don't want to."

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked into her eyes.

"I would like to, if that's okay."

"Of course. His name is Anthony and his husband's name is Ryan. They have been together for ten years and they got married last year."

"That's cool," he smiled and followed her in.

"Dr. Robin!" the man in the bed said to her. Patrick looked and saw he was critically ill, but for some reason, he looked happy.

"Anthony," Robin smiled and reached to hug him. "I hope you don't mind, but I brought a friend with me. Anthony, this is Patrick."

Patrick smiled and walked up to him, holding out his hand.

"Hi. How are you doing?"

Anthony grinned.

"I'm about to die, how are you?"

"Would you stop saying that?" another gentleman said as he walked in. "I swear, the medic who came to transport him from the house almost left when he responded that way."

Robin turned and hugged the other man.

"Ryan, this is my friend Patrick."

Patrick grinned at the man and shook his hand. The two made the situation look like a party. He had never seen anything like it.

Ryan walked over and sat on the side of the bed next to Anthony while Robin and Patrick sat down on the chairs.

"So I looked over your chart and made some adjustments," she began.

Anthony shook his head.

"Dr. Robin, you have given me five years more than I ever thought was possible. You have certainly earned your keep."

She smiled and shrugged.

"There is always more to do. I don't want you to spend any more time in this place than you need to. I want you two to be able to go home."

Ryan wiped his eyes and held Anthony's hand.

"That would be amazing."

Patrick was choked up and amazed at the relationship Robin had with her patient. She truly treated him like a friend and not a chart.

"So how long have you been seeing Robin?" he asked Anthony.

"Are you jealous?" Anthony grinned at him. "Don't worry, she's not my type. Now you on the other hand," he looked at Patrick.

"Excuse me, am I not here?" Ryan asked with mock hurt.

Anthony smiled at his husband and squeezed his hand.

"I stumbled upon Dr. Robin when I was fresh out of rehab. I hadn't taken care of myself since my diagnosis," he sighed. "Well, let's just say I treated myself with more street drugs. I developed full blown AIDS fairly quickly as a result of my own belligerence."

Robin shook her head.

"Nobody has the right to judge your decisions."

Anthony smiled softly.

"I do. I did everything wrong, and we all know that. But when I found you, I found a miracle. I thought I was coming to get my last rites and you gave me hope. You helped me reconnect with Ryan and stay clean and you gave me five more years. I can never thank you enough for that."

Robin wiped her eyes and shrugged.

"You deserve so much longer."

Anthony took her hand in his and smiled.

"Who can say we all get what we deserve? We have to play the cards we're dealt, and I think I found an ace. Thank you."

They stayed for a while longer and Anthony was really tired, so they left. Patrick was quiet while they walked to the car and Robin looked at him when they got in.

"Can you just drop me off at my house? I need to get my car, but I think they are closed for the night and I'm tired."

"I would like to talk some more. I would really like it if you came back to my hotel for the night."

She raised her eyebrows and he blushed.

"I just meant to talk."

She smiled and shook her head.

"I would like to talk, but I need to go home. I haven't been home all day and Ben needs to eat. You are welcome to come over for a bit if you want."

He smiled.

"Sure, thanks."

He drove them and they were both lost in thought.

A while later, Patrick had ordered a pizza and Robin was taking a quick shower after she fed and cleaned Ben. Patrick was waiting for her and he smiled when she walked out, looking tired and beautiful. She wore a long sleeve t-shirt and a pair of yoga pants and her face lit up when she saw the food.

"I'm starving and that smells amazing," she said and walked into the kitchen to grab some plates and napkins. "Would you like a beer or some water or pop?"

He followed her and nodded.

"Beer would be great," he said and took the bottles from her. They walked back and sat on the couch as they each ate.

"Usually I don't drink on my meds, but I just need a beer," she said. "I need to relax."

He smiled and took a drink of his own.

"I hear you. I still can't believe how much better I feel since you fixed my meds. I never thought I would feel normal again."

She nodded and wiped her mouth.

"That's what a lot of people think. It's what I thought, too, but then I began to realize that there need to be more options out there, you know? I mean when my boyfriend died, he suffered a lot, and it was hard to know what we should or shouldn't do. That's why I went into this field. People deserve to have quality of life. People deserve to live and die with dignity."

He was enthralled with her and he couldn't put into words why.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to talk shop. You said you wanted to talk more, and I've done all the talking. What's running through your mind?"

If she only knew.

"I was just wishing I had a quarter of the compassion you have."

She was surprised by that.

"What do you mean? You have compassion."

"Well, not really in life, and not at all in my practice. I would have never been able to connect to a patient like you did to Anthony. When you were talking to him, you were like family and there was nothing medical about it, even though you helped them in so many ways with your medical expertise."

She shrugged and then looked at him.

"Patrick, you are a knee surgeon. You don't have the same patients for years and they aren't there because of a diagnosis like HIV. It's not the same, but it doesn't make you less compassionate."

"I don't know that I believe that. I think I might have a lot to learn from you," he smiled.

She shook her head.

"I'm tired. I think you should leave."

He noticed her change in demeanor and he was perplexed.

"Robin? Did I say something wrong?"

She stood up and walked to the window, looking out.

"I don't want to be someone you learn from. I don't want to be an example for you or a stop in your road of self discovery. I don't want to be with you and feel like I have to put on a show."

"What? That's not what I meant."

She turned to him and her eyes were wet.

"Well what do you mean? You hang around me and seem genuinely interested, but then you put me on this pedestal as some sort of shining example of how to live your life and I wonder what you want from me."

He walked to her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"I want to know how to live my life in a way that doesn't make this disease all I am. I want to look in the mirror and like what I see. I want to be healthy."

She looked down and he tilted her face back up.

"That's what I want out of life. What I want with you is to make you smile. I want to know what makes you happy and I want to dance with you in the moonlight. I like being with you, Robin. Not because you represent someone living with HIV, but because you are intelligent and gorgeous and challenging and infuriating. I want to see where this might go. I want time to be with you."

She shrugged and her tears were evident.

"You just have no idea how amazing you are," he said and leaned in to brush her lips with his own before he pressed his mouth to hers with a passion and an intensity that even surprised him.

Robin held his face with her hands and welcomed him to her. Her hands moved to his hair and his moved around her waist.

The feel of her body against his was exquisite and he felt like he could get lost in her. She was an enigma to him, and his heart was reacting in a way he never expected.

"Patrick?" she said breathlessly.

He stroked her cheek and looked into her eyes.

"I just don't want to be without you."

She nodded and hugged him, her head on his chest.

"I think I'm okay with that."

XXXXXXXXX

Chapter Fourteen:

Robin got into her car and smiled. It felt so good to have her freedom back. Being without her car for just a few days made her feel like she was caged up. It wasn't that she minded being home, but the lack of transportation freaked her out.

Thankfully, her car was back where it belonged.

She smiled as she drove to work and thought about Patrick. They had talked late into the evening two nights before after he had helped her and they had visited with her patients and he left to go back to the hotel reluctantly. She told him she would be fine and she was.

She was more than fine. She was happy.

Happy and so excited to be back at work. She parked and made her way to her desk and blushed when she realized her happiness was also because she was about to see Patrick again. He had been in to have Dante take his blood and she was about to go over the results before his appointment in a while.

"Robin? Can I talk to you for a minute?" Dante knocked on her door.

"Of course," she smiled and looked up from her desk as she settled in.

He came in and sat down, looking upset.

"I think I owe you an apology."

She didn't know what this could be about.

"Why? What happened?"

"I just found out about Anthony. I should have been here to talk to him and Ryan. I think I've been so preoccupied with my own drama that I wasn't on the ball. I'm really sorry. I value working with you and I just want you to know that."

"Dante, you are an amazing assistant and every one of my patients is lucky because you are here. If I had needed you to be there, I would have called. You have nothing to apologize for."

He smiled and looked at his hands.

"I guess I'm just upset that this is happening."

Robin nodded.

"I know. Anthony deserves so much more time. He and Ryan deserve the life they always wanted."

"I'm sorry you had to go alone," he said.

She looked at him and shrugged.

"I didn't go alone."

Dante's eyes opened wide and Robin blushed.

"I was with Patrick Drake."

"Your patient?"

"Yes, and you're right, it's unethical and wrong and I need to end it."

"Hold on," he smiled. "I never said any of that. It isn't unethical or wrong. He seems to me to be an adult and capable of making his own choices. Besides, you are one of the most professional people I have ever met. If you find him to be worth spending time with, then I say go for it. You deserve to be happy."

"Thanks Dante," she smiled. "I appreciate that."

"So do you really like him?"

"This conversation is over," Robin grinned and Dante laughed as he walked out.

XXXX

Patrick made his way to Robin's office and he smiled to himself. He was excited to see her. It had been two days and he missed her.

What was happening to him?

Smiling to himself, he sat in the waiting room and waited to be called in for his appointment.

"Hey, you're the one who knocked my cousin out," a blonde woman said as she sat down.

"Excuse me?" Patrick asked her.

"In the elevator. You were standing over her when the doors opened and she was on the ground half naked."

What was he supposed to say?

"I'm Maxie, Robin's cousin," she held out her hand. "You're cute."

"Patrick," he said and shook her hand.

"So are you guys dating?"

Did this woman have a filter?

"We're friends, but I'm here as a patient today."

Maxie was surprised.

"Oh, well, I didn't meant to be too nosy," she smiled.

"Hey Maxie," Dante smiled as he walked out.

"Hi Dante! I' m here to meet Lulu. Is she here?"

"She's on her way out. We just finished lunch," he said and then smiled as Lulu came out. He kissed her and she walked to Maxie.

"Dr. Drake? Are you ready?" Dante asked him.

Patrick nodded and smiled at the ladies as he walked in.

XXXX

Robin walked into her office and smiled at Patrick.

"Hi," she grinned. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I was on the phone with another doctor."

He felt his whole body go warm when he saw her.

"No problem. I saw your cousin in the waiting room."

"Oh, Maxie? I'm sorry. Did she grill you?"

"She really has no boundaries, does she?" he laughed.

"Not even one," Robin grinned. "But she means well and she has a heart of gold."

"I figured," he sat back and she looked at his chart as she sat down.

"Your numbers are great. Your viral load is undetectable and your CD4 is higher than before. I'm really pleased with the way the cocktail is working."

Patrick was stunned as she showed him the lab work. He hadn't had results so good since his diagnosis.

"Wow. You really are amazing," he said.

"No, it's not me, Patrick. You are in charge of your own health and well being. You need to believe in your body and your ability to fight this. I know it's hard and this disease is relentless, but the way you approach every day can make all the difference. Medicine is only one part of this," she said.

He was quiet and nodded.

"Okay, so now what?"

"What do you mean? Now you live your life. Now you do whatever you want."

He stood up and went to leave.

"Patrick, wait. What's wrong?" she stood up and walked to him.

"Nothing. I'm going to head back home. I checked out of my hotel and I'll send for my records."

She was stunned.

"Oh, okay, if that's what you want."

He turned to her and his eyes were swimming.

"Hey, Patrick, what is it? This should be amazing news," she took his hand and held it.

"I know," he said softly.

"Okay, so tell me what's the first thing on your mind. What are you worried about?"

"I don't know what my life looks like anymore. I have no job and nothing to go back to. I look at you and I feel more alive than I have ever felt. I don't know what to do with that, Robin. I don't know how to just start over."

She smiled and reached up to his cheek.

"I don't know that you have to start over. You are a brilliant surgeon, and you can still practice. You can be safe and perform surgery even with this diagnosis. Your life doesn't have to look so different from what it was."

He moved her hand and nodded.

"Is this how you normally help your patients?"

She stood back.

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing," he said and ran his hand through his hair. He didn't know why he was being such a jerk.

"If you have something to say, then say it."

He was ashamed of his behavior and he knew they were past this.

"I just don't know what you want me to do."

She crossed her arms and sighed.

"I don't care what you do. I'm not here to be your punching bag, Patrick. I like spending time with you and I realize it's a complete conflict of interest to be your doctor and allow myself to care for you in any other way. I think you need to become whatever it is you want to be, and maybe in doing so, you'll be happy. It's time for you to go do that elsewhere."

She walked to her door and opened it.

"Robin, wait," he said, none of this what he wanted.

"No. I need some air," she walked out and he followed.

"Robin!" he yelled and she froze, almost causing him to walk into her.

"Stop," she said quietly and he saw what she was looking at. There was a man in the lobby holding a gun on Dante. There were patients sitting on the ground huddled together.

Patrick went to pull her to him when she walked out.

"Robin!" he said alarmed.

"What seems to be the problem here?" she smiled at the man and at Dante.

"Who are you?" the man asked and pointed the gun at her.

"I'm Robin Scorpio," she said. "If there is something wrong, maybe we could go into my office and discuss it."

"You're a doctor? Can you fix my daughter?"

Robin saw Dante move to help the patients out and Patrick helped him. Soon everyone was safe and the men walked back in.

"What is wrong with your daughter?"

"She was attacked and now she has some disease and I need you to fix her. She sits in her room and cries all day and nothing I do can help her."

Robin felt her eyes fill as she saw the despair in his eyes.

"Maybe I can do something to help," she said. "Can you put the gun away?"

Patrick was freaking out. She acted like she had no regard for her safety. This man was crazy.

"We have to do something," he whispered to Dante.

"I know. I have an idea," he said and went to tell him when the cops got there.

"Put the gun down," an officer said.

"No," the man said and held it to his head.

"No, wait," Robin said and moved closer. "Please don't do this."

"I can't watch her suffer. I can't know what happened and not be able to help her."

"I can help her," she said. "I'm sure I can."

"No," he quickly moved the gun and she pushed him to the ground as the police rushed in.

"Robin!" Patrick yelled as he ran to her and the gun went off.