It wasn't often she got called to Port Charles for a story. Ever since the famous "kingpin" had been locked up along with his hapless hit man, the news had mostly revolved around her hometown, New Jersey. She currently lived in New York City so it wasn't an extravagant commute. It was exciting. It was exhilarating. Why did it have to be Port Charles?

She couldn't focus on that. She had a job to do, fans and the network counting on her. It was her duty to portray the news as she saw it, never divulging too much, never twisting anything that didn't need to be twisted. She loved her job. It had led her away from something bad and toward so many wonderful things. Kate Howard stared out the passenger seat window as her cameraman, Arturo, drove them to their location. She could already feel the temperature dropping and knew they weren't too far from their destination. The Weather Channel had labeled Port Charles as "The Next Ice Age" what with its harsh winters and brief summers. She hoped she had packed enough sweaters because it wasn't like she could return home before the story was completed.

"Don't worry Ms. Howard." Arturo smiled, signaling for the other drivers as he swerved into the far left lane. "I'm sure you won't even see him."

"What?" Kate hadn't been paying attention the conversation. She was mentally drooling over the opportunity she had just been presented with: Mac Scorpio and Alexis Davis. Their names and faces were constantly tied to some of the biggest busts in New York history and were often called Bonnie and Clyde.

"Your husband, Ms. Howard." Arturo clarified looking uncomfortable.

"My ex-husband you mean." Kate corrected.

"I didn't know it was settled." Arturo admitted sheepishly.

"It's just paperwork, Arturo. Can you please watch the road?"

"Yes. Of course. Sorry. I didn't mean to bring up a sore subject." He apologized profusely.

"Of course you did. You knew—it doesn't matter. He doesn't matter. He's not part of the investigation." Kate pointed out.

"Are you planning on attending the press conference first or interviewing the witnesses?"

Kate smiled broadly. It was through careful wire tapping that they even knew about the second abduction. "We'll figure it out when they get there."

She used the rest of the car trip to think about how much this story would do for her career. There were so many big fish in New York City people hardly ever noticed her. Port Charles was the perfect place to start. Her bosses were entrusting her with this assignment and she wouldn't blow it. She had gotten this far because she was better than good, she was damn near obsessed.

"I hope it helps. I'll bring by some pictures tomorrow and you can look through them." Patrick assured Maxie as he bent down to give her a hug.

"I'm sure it will. See you later Bed Head." Maxie returned his hug with the first genuine smile she had felt all day. At least now she would be doing something.

At least she would feel like she was doing something productive, Patrick thought to himself as he passed a man he had never seen before. He seemed to have been waiting for them to conclude their meeting. "Can I help you?"

Ric met the stranger's eyes with blatant hostility. Sure, he wasn't supposed to be visiting, but he hadn't thought that doing so would result in finding some other guy in Maxie's hospital room. "No. I found the room on my own thanks."

"Maxie, do you know this guy?" Patrick challenged, his arms folded. He didn't feel comfortable leaving her with a strange man. He felt positively terrified about admitting to Robin that he had left her younger cousin alone with a strange man.

Up until that point, she had been watching them in horror through her fingers. "He's a doctor here."

"Funny." Patrick commented. "He's not wearing a white jacket or a pair of scrubs."

"I don't work today."

"No? Then I have to ask what you're doing here." Patrick dared him.

"Are you her father? Because I don't have to explain anything to you." Ric defended himself hotly.

"Patrick, it's fine. Really." Maxie told him.

"It's not fine." Patrick pouted.

"That were her polite way of suggesting you take a hike." Ric informed Patrick.

"Shouldn't it be my decision who stays and who goes?" Maxie asked in desperation. Patrick was the quickest way to Robin and she had convinced her cousin that Ric was nothing more than an extra witness. She still wasn't sure how she had done it.

"No." The guys countered in unison.

"Shouldn't you be taking care of my cousin today, Patrick?" Maxie reminded him.

A smile sprung instantly to Ric's face. "Yeah so why don't you go and do that and I'll stay here."

Maxie rolled her eyes. "Zip up your pants boys. The competition's over."

"I'll be back to check on you later." Patrick promised, shoving Ric backwards with his shoulder as he walked past him.

Once Patrick was out the door, Maxie attempted to throw her pillow at Ric, watching it fly about two feet. "Idiot."

"Is that any way to greet your doctor on his day off?" Ric smirked, bending down the pick up the pillow. With ease, he tossed it back at her.

"I'll let you know when I notice the doctor. Right now all I see is an egotistical jerk." Maxie was smiling when she said it.

Ric feigned a look of hurt as he settled himself on the edge of her bed. "And here I thought you would want my help today."

"Your help? What good has your help done me so far?"

He held up one finger against her lips. "Shh. You haven't heard my idea yet."

"I don't think I want to." Maxie grumbled but motioned for him to continue.

He played with the ends of her hair that rested near his fingers. Coming to see her was a risk, but one he felt confident enough to take. Not throwing him out right away had betrayed her words last night as lies. Or at least partial lies. She wanted him near her. She would have already called security on him if she didn't. "Did the nurse tell you your schedule for today?"

"No." Maxie watched him with narrowed eyes.

"Then I guess it is up to me to correct that mistake." Ric glanced at his watch. "Looks like it's time for your physical therapy."

Maxie blushed in spite of herself. "And you just thought you'd volunteer?"

"Do you want to discuss my qualifications for the job?"

"By all means. I don't trust my 'therapy' to just anyone."

He moved his hands slowly down her shoulders. "Obviously a good physical therapist has to be gentle."

"That's true." Maxie agreed, leaning back slightly. Her body was still very sore and stiff and she would take all the tender, loving care he was willing to give her...within reason.

When he reached her tiny wrists, he held them up, circling them with his fingers. "They need to know just how strong you are."

"I agree." Maxie whispered, her eyes crinkling slightly.

Hooking her arms around his neck, he moved his hands to her waist as he lowered himself closer to her. Leaning over to whisper in her ear, he blew softly first. "They need to be very familiar with your body."

Gulping when his eyes settled on hers, Maxie whispered his name in a shaky breath. He turned her mouth into his and kissed her tenderly. "I don't think this is in the job description."

"I like to go above and beyond the call of duty."

Maxie pushed him back a little. "Ric, come on."

"Don't pretend you aren't enjoying yourself Maxie."

"That's not the point." Maxie shook her head.

"It is the point." Ric argued.

"No. No, it's not. You should go. I need to rest." Maxie dismissed him, pulling her hands into her lap.

Ric blew out an impatient breath. "I'm not a damn yo-yo, Maxie. You can't keep pulling me in and pushing me away!"

"You started this. Remember? You're the one who won't accept that this can't work." Maxie shot back, gesturing between her to him.

"Only because you continue to fight this. I'm not the one who's confused about what they want Maxie."

"Then tell me, Dr. Lansing, what do you want?"

Ric leaned forward and kissed her so hard their teeth clicked together. "You." He whispered fiercely when he released her.

"I think I might need a little more proof." Maxie told him, breathless.

"Hello lover." Emily murmured from behind Patrick. She laughed when he jumped in response and turned angry eyes on her.

"What do you want, Emily?" Patrick pinched his nose in frustration. It was bad enough he was in the dark about the guy in Maxie's room. All he wanted to do was go home and curl up next to Robin.

Emily took a moment to run her eyes over his body appreciatively. "Well, if you have to ask..." She dragged her right index finger down his bare arm.

Patrick grabbed her wrist and held it in place. "I don't have time for this." He pushed her backwards enough to make her stumble.

"Got to rush off to Suzie Homemaker?" Emily assumed with a roll of her eyes.

"What would you know about it?" Patrick growled at her, wishing just once he didn't take the bait.

"More than I want to. Trust me on that." Emily sighed irritably.

"Why can't you let go? Don't you have Nikolas and his wonder dick?" Patrick recalled.

Emily barely suppressed a groan. "He had more fun with it than I ever did."

Patrick gave her an expression of mock sympathy. "Oh, past tense? That's too bad."

"Yes well, I knew there was better out there." Emily tilted her head, her eyes dark.

"There's always better than Cassadine. However, I'm taken." Patrick reminded her.

"I know." Emily said with a sulky expression. "And to think, it's all because of a car."

"A car?"

"Yeah. Suzie's car. She ran it into a tree, right? At least that's what the papers said." Emily mused.

"There wasn't a story in the paper." Patrick argued.

"Well not in that crap paper you read. Don't worry. I'd never tell Cruz that to his face." Emily assured him, resting her hand on his wrist.

"Be careful Em." Patrick warned.

"Always." Emily promised, grinding her teeth together when Patrick's cell phone sprung to life.

Recognizing the number, Patrick flipped it open, moving away from Emily. "Hey babe, how are you feeling?"

"Patrick." Elizabeth's worried voice came through the line. "You have to come home right now."

"Why? What's happened?"

"Morgan's missing."