Chapter 59

Put your arms around me

What you feel is what you are

And what you are is beautiful

Sliding into the seat across from Patrick, Eric set the pitcher of beer down in front of him. He watched carefully as his friend reached for the teeming jug and poured a glass. His hand shook slightly and by the way his fingers were awkwardly gripping the handle, Eric could tell that he was losing sensation in his hand.

"How are you feeling these days?" he asked, accepting the glass from him.

Flexing his hand before pouring a second glass, Patrick gave a small shrug. "Depends on the day. Radiation is kicking my ass."

"Anything else?"

Patrick arched his eyebrow. "Don't even pretend that you haven't read my chart today."

"Who's pretending? I read it but I want to know how you are feeling."

He exhaled slowly. "I had a bad seizure when we were in Scotland - Robin saw it."

Taking a long drink from his beer, Eric gave a small nod. "That must have been hard."

"I didn't want her to" he admitted quietly. "But she was awesome - she took care of me and then gave me shit for trying to push her away."

He smirked. "Have I told you how much I like her?" he asked teasingly.

Patrick waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah."

Eric nervously ran his fingertips along the rim of his pint glass as he worked his way up to the question that needed asking. Patrick felt more like a brother to him than his own brothers did and for that reason among many others, Robin's words to him earlier at the hospital had left an indelible mark on him. He could not let Patrick down - he would not do it - even if it meant stepping out of the way and letting someone else take the case. He knew it would make him crazy to do it; part of his ability to cope with Patrick's diagnosis came from working on trying to find a solution and if that were taken from him, his fear would get the better of him - like Robin. And if Robin was, in his opinion, too close to work on the case then perhaps he was as well.

"Look Patrick, there's something I need to ask you before Robin and Alexis get here."

The serious tone in his voice caught his attention. "Shoot" he said more casually than he felt.

"I think...I think maybe it's time we consider me handing your case over to someone else."

His brown eyes widened in shock as he shook his head. For a long period in his life, Eric was the only family he had and until Robin came into his life there was no one he trusted more. When he had first realized the symptoms he was experiencing, Eric was the only person he wanted to speak to, the only one who would know how to handle it - and him.

"Another doctor? No way" he told him firmly, "it's out of the question."

"Patrick" he sighed heavily, "we are hurtling down the road to surgery and those optimal conditions I'm hoping for don't appear to be on the horizon-"

"They'll come" he interjected, "Smitty, the radiation is doing a number on me which means it's working on the tumour. It'll be smaller before we need to go to the OR"

Closing his eyes, Eric tiredly rubbed his hand over his face hoping that his friend could not see that he did not share his optimism. "Pantsy, maybe if you had someone else-"

"I don't want anyone else" he replied tightly.

"Maybe I'm not being aggressive enough because you're my friend - maybe a stranger would be."

Leaning forward, his elbows resting on the table, Patrick stared intently at his friend. "Listen up Smitty, you and I both know the limited treatment options available for meningioma. You are - we are, doing everything that can be done. I trust you with my life and I don't want another doctor."

"Patrick..."

"Eric, please. Please don't quit on me."

The hint of desperation in his voice pushed all doubts aside. "I ain't quitting. I just needed you to be sure."

"I'm sure" he reassured him. "Very sure."

The two men clinked glasses before taking a long drink of their beer.

"I got Rangers/Devils tickets for Robin and I - we're headed to the game on the 10th."

"That's awesome. How long are you going to be in the city for?"

"I'm surprising her with a weekend at the Palace."

"Are you going to take her to Ruby Foo's?"

"Hell yeah. I may not have much of an appetite these days but just the thought of their Dim Sum makes my mouth water."

The sound of Robin's laughter echoed in the bar and looking past Eric, Patrick grinned as his girlfriend and Alexis strolled through the door. His breath hitched as he caught sight of her. She had clearly gone home to change and was looking very flirty in a demin pencil skirt and a purple wrap top. He hungrily drank in her curves before giving her a small wave.

Turning in his seat, Eric followed Patrick's gaze, catching sight of Alexis before turning back quickly in his seat and staring at his half-empty beer glass.

Patrick was unable to keep the smirk from his face at his friend's discomfort. "Do you have a little something going on with Alexis?" he asked teasingly.

"What? No," he answered quickly.

"Do you want a little something to go on with Alexis?" He laughed out loud as Eric's neck turned beet red. It had been a long time since he had seen his friend take any interest in a woman and he was happy for him.

"I don't know" He shook his head. "She's very nice but I'm probably not her type."

"True" he nodded mockingly, "I hear she's very anti tall, good looking doctors."

"Shut it" he groaned. "Look, she doesn't know...about me and even if she were interested-"

"So she'll find out about you over time. Smitty you can't live your life expecting people to automatically reject you."

Leaning back in his chair, Eric folded his arms across his chest and snickered. "Coming from you, that's rich. You're the guy who has lived his life expecting people to leave him and so never got involved."

"Ah but I am a changed man" he answered smugly. "Falling in love does that to you."

"Fuck, you're insufferable."

"Don't I know it?" Robin chimed in, sliding on to Patrick's lap. She lightly nipped his lips. "You good?"

"So much better than good but you already know that."

"Oh for the love of sweet potatos" Eric sighed, "should we leave you alone?"

"Nah" Robin shook her head, "Don't you know yet -Patrick likes an audience."

Eric shook his head and turned towards Alexis. "May I get you a drink - or six? I think we may need them."

"Why don't I come to the bar with you and we can talk to Coleman about the best ways to dull our pain?"

Rising from his seat, he pulled Alexis' chair back. "Sounds like a plan."

As they weaved their way through the crowd to the bar, Patrick cupped Robin's chin and crashed his lips over hers. His tongue slipped easily between her lips, into the velvety confines of her warm mouth. He moaned appreciatively as her tongue tangled with his, deepening their kiss. Breathless, he reluctantly let go of her lips.

"Wow" Robin remarked, grinning, "you're very randy."

"Nuh-uh - I'm very Patrick and you are very hot in that outfit." He lightly trailed a hand along her thigh, smiling as Robin's eyes fluttered in reaction to his touch.

"I have a surprise for you" she told him throatily as he whispered kisses against her neck.

Pulling back to look at her, his brown eyes danced excitedly. "Oh? What is it?"

"I can't give it to you here-"

Nearly dropping her to the floor as he stood up suddenly, he curled his hand around hers. "Let's go then."

Laughing, Robin gently pushed him back to his chair. "No! You'll get it later."

His bottom lip jutted out in a small pout as he folded his arms across his chest. "But I have a surprise for you and if we leave now then we can surprise each other - together" he offered, with a waggle of his eyebrows.

"A surprise for me?"

"Bet you're rethinking your position about staying here aren't you?"

"Hmmm" she mused, tapping her chin. "We're staying but maybe we'll leave a little earlier."

"I like the way you think Scorpio."

Both looked up as Eric and Alexis returned with a second pitcher of beer and a plate of nachos. "Are you two ready to behave now?" Eric asked, retaking his seat.

"Never!" Robin stated, reaching for a drink. "So Eric, can I interest you in a rematch?" she asked, nodding her head in the direction of the pool table.

Pushing back his chair, he rose to his feet. "Sure. Patrick, if I start weeping like a beaten man in under five minutes, I'll be expecting you two to rescue me."

"Good luck with that," Alexis laughed.

Waiting until they were out of earshot, Patrick then turned his attention to Alexis. "Did you really ask Eric to consult on a case?"

Holding his gaze, she nodded. For a brief moment she considered the truth but knew immediately there was nothing to be gained from it. He had two people who loved him and were fighting to find a solution to his situation, their intent was neither malicious nor untoward and they deserved a little cover as they sorted it out.

"I did" she answered, without flinching.

Blowing out his cheeks, he leaned back against his chair. "Okay" he agreed quietly. There was still a niggling voice in the back of his head telling him he was being lied to but he decided to ignore it for now.

xxxxxx

"I owe you an apology," Robin told him as she lined up her shot. "I should never have suggested that you weren't fighting hard enough for him."

Leaning on his cue as Robin sent the white ball rolling down the table with precision, he gave a small shake of his head. "You were right to question me Robin. I need to ask myself some hard questions over the next few days and see what answers I come up with."

Bent over the table, she raised her eyes to him. "Are you thinking of stepping down from his case?"

Eric chewed lightly on his bottom lip. "Kind of. I floated the idea by Patrick and he hated it but I have to what's best for him and that may mean not being his doctor."

"He trusts you" she reminded him softly as she took her second shot.

"I know, and I don't take that lightly but Robin it's possible I am being too conservative, unwilling to take risks I normally would. I need to figure that out and then go from there."

"Is she kicking your ass?" Patrick called to him as he and Alexis joined them.

"Hello? Is the earth round?" Robin quipped back as her third shot hit the far pocket.

Shaking his head, Eric turned to Alexis. "I think you're going to have save me from obliteration."

Smiling shyly, she shrugged her shoulders. "Given that I'm not well versed in pool, I don't know what help I could be."

"You're probably being falsely modest"

"Nah," Robin interrupted, "she is really bad at it."

Mockingly narrowing her eyes, Alexis stuck her tongue out at her friend. "No comments from the peanut gallery thankyouverymuch."

"I think we should play - Eric and Alexis versus Robin and I" Patrick suggested.

"And what would be the wager?" Eric asked suspiciously.

"Hmm. Not sure." Turning to Robin as he slipped his hand around her waist, he smiled wryly. "What do you think Robin? What would you like to win?"

Giggling, she smiled up at him. "I love it when you're cocky."

"You love my-"

She pinched his lips closed. "Hey! Not in front of the guests."

"Sorry" he mumbled.

"Tell you what" she said letting go of Patrick's lips. "The hospital is doing a fundraiser next month for Valentine's day. Black tie and everything. Losers have to buy the winners tickets and the wine at dinner that night."

Eric groaned. "Can't I just write a cheque for 500 or something? I hate Valentine's day."

"Nope" she shook her head, "we will accept not substitutes. We don't have to play, I mean if you're chicken..."

Laughing out loud, Patrick dipped his head and nuzzled her neck. "Oh well played smartypants, well played."

"I'm not just a pretty face" she reminded him as she slipped her hand into his back pocket, squeezing his muscular behind.

Alexis turned to Eric and shrugged. "Look at the upside Eric, they may be so distracted groping each other that we could win."

"Valid point" he replied with a grin. "Rack 'em up!"

"I'll go get us more drinks" Robin offered as she ambled towards the bar. "This is going to be fun!"

xxxxxxx

Several drinks later and playing their sixth game in what had become a best of seven series, Alexis was leaning over the table trying to line up a shot. Unfortunately, her multiple gins and tonics were making it difficult to focus on the green ball she was trying to hit.

"I can't do it!" she sighed in exasperation, standing up.

"Does this mean you're conshe- conshe-giving up?" Robin slurred, dancing happily at the prospect of winning.

"No, it just means...it means...I can't see the goddamn ball!"

"Picture it as Patrick's face" Eric called to her helpfully from his seat beside Patrick, "it always works for me"

"Hey!" Patrick slapped him playfully.

Alexis looked over at him. "I can't do it and we're going to lose and it's going to be your fault."

"My fault? Well I can't have that on my conscience" he announced rising to his feet. Walking behind Alexis, he draped himself over her, his hand over her hand on the front of the cue, his other hand covering hers on the back. "You need to visualize the ball" he said softly, against her ear.

She swallowed thickly, trying to ignore the sensations swirling up inside her as his body leaned against hers. "Uh-huh" she stammered.

"And once you do that, then you pull your cue back" he told her, as he guided her, "and then strike the ball"

Alexis' eyes were closed as the cue made contact with the ball. All thoughts of pool and winning were lost as all she could think of was how the feel of his breath on her skin made her shiver.

"Damn" he said softly, "we missed. We may need some lessons before we challenge them to a rematch" he said, standing up.

"Uh, yeah, lessons - that'd be good" she answered breathlessly, not quite able to meet his eyes.

Reluctantly letting his hands drop, he shuffled back to where his friend was sitting and they both watched as Robin expertly cleared the table of all remaining balls.

Out of the blue, Patrick spoke. "I think I want to marry her"

Doing a double take as he choked on his drink, Eric looked at his friend in surprise. "How drunk are you?"

"Pretty drunk" he admitted, "but I still think I want to marry her." Turning to Eric, he looked at him for a moment before speaking. "So you, uh, you gotta keep me alive so I can, okay?"

Placing his drink on the table to the right of him, Eric blew out his cheeks. "Yeah" he replied hoarsely.

"We WON! We WON!" Robin sang as she skipped over to where the boys were sitting, Alexis following her. "In your FACE Smither-Smither - Eric!" She jumped on to Patrick's lap and locked her hands behind his neck. "We won baby!"

"I can see that!" he laughed, "I'm thinking I may hire you out as a pool shark - think of the money you could make for us. I could be your manager, we could call you Port Charles Slim"

"And what kind of manager's payment would you like?" she teased.

Laughing, Alexis reached for her purse. "I think that's my cue to go, it's way past my bed time."

"I'll walk you out" Eric offered, "I'm not sure how much more gloating I can take." Clapping Patrick on the shoulder, he winked at him. "Later Pantsy - Robin, try not to make anyone else cry for a day or two okay?"

"Can't make any promises" she replied saucily, "I am the Queen of the Pool Table and all mush recognize that!" She gave her best royal wave before dissolving in a fit of giggles.

Placing his hand on the small of her back, Eric escorted Alexis out the door and hailed a taxi for her. As the taxi came to a stop curbside, Alexis shifted nervously from one foot to the other.

"I guess...I guess I'll see you at the fundraiser next month."

"Yeah" he agreed hoarsely. Lifting his hand, he stroked his thumb against her cheek. Feeling her breath quicken, he dipped his head and captured her lips in a slow, soft kiss that took her completely by surprise. Languidly letting go of her lips, he pressed a card into her hand. "That's my phone number" he said, "you should call me."

xxxxxx

Sitting comfortably astride Patrick's lap, her fingers curling through the soft wisps of hair at the nape of his neck, Robin nibbled on his soft, full lips.

"You're hot when you're competitive" he told her as his hands cupped her behind, pressing her hips against his.

"I thought we agreed I'm hot all the time"

"That too" he agreed with a laugh. He kissed her cheek, then her eyelids and the tip of her nose. "I could spend forever with you" he told her unguardedly.

Her breath hitched and her heart thumped wildly against her ribs. "Me too" she whispered, her eyes locked on his. "Me too."

They said nothing for several beats before Patrick crashed his mouth onto hers, his tongue persistently demanding access to her mouth. Once inside, their tongues wrestled and tangled causing both to moan. Robin began to lightly grind her hips against his and smiled against his mouth as he hissed.

Reluctantly letting go of her mouth, he stared at her breathlessly, gently pushing a stray hair behind her ear. "We should go before I take on that pool table."

"Mmm" she moaned, "that would be hot but I think Coleman would either kick us out or take pictures."

"Eww!"

She slid from his lap and held her hand out to him. "Let's go - I have a surprise to give you and it's best done at home, not here."

After shrugging on his coat, he snaked his arms around her waist and nipped at her earlobe. "I like surprises"

"Taxi!"