Chapter 185

Lean on me

Patrick pulled the mask from his face. "R-robin" he stammered hoarsely.

"Hi," she said with a warm smile as she took another step towards him.

His eyebrows were singed, his face had a small smattering of bruises and several small cuts and his shirt was blackened from the smoke and dirt. His brown eyes appeared huge and haunted as he stared at her. And yet he had never looked more beautiful to her.

"H-how did you-"

"I was with Alexis when you called her," she offered, stepping closer still. "And I came on the off chance you might need me."

Patrick nodded slowly, not taking his eyes from her. "I do" he whispered.

Closing the distance between them, Robin gently wrapped her arms around him and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Patrick closed his eyes and buried his face in her neck, breathing in her scent; his body recognized her immediately and he could feel his agitation diminishing as he held on to her. There was so much to say and yet at the same time, no words were needed in the moment.

The flight from Port Charles to New York had been rife with tension. Alexis had peppered Robin with a ton of questions and she had done her best to answer them and put her friend's mind at ease, all the while trying to stop herself from imagining worst case scenarios involving Patrick. Rationally she knew it was a good sign that he had been able to make the phone call but it did little to quell her worries.

Pulling back, Robin gently stroked his brow. "You've got some burns and cuts," she commented, "has anyone looked at them?"

He responded with a small shake of his head. "I'm fine" he told her quietly, not taking his eyes from her.

Tilting her head to the side, Robin gave him a knowing look. "No you aren't."

Exhaling a shaky breath, his lips quirked up into a tiny smile. "No, I'm not" he admitted.

"I've reserved a couple of hotel rooms. Why don't you let me take you to the hotel? I'll clean up your cuts, you can shower and get some rest."

Swallowing thickly, he looked from Robin into the room where Alexis had pulled a chair next to Eric's bed and was cradling his hand between both of hers. It was as though the enormity of it all suddenly washed over him and his bottom lip quivered. "I....I need to be here when he wakes up" he told her, still staring into the room.

She reached for his hand and slipped her fingers through his, gently rubbing her thumb in a circle against his palm. Every fibre, every nerve ending was tightly coiled and she could see the struggle etched across his face. "Patrick," she called to him softly, "you and I both know that Eric could be a couple of days before he wakes up and you need to rest. Eric's going to need your help when he comes to and you won't be able to help him if you're admitted too."

Blowing out his cheeks, he stared at her, unsure of what to do. With the adrenaline having long since dissipated simple decisions now seemed overwhelming and he sat rooted to his seat. "I...I don't know" he said weakly, dissolving into a deep, hacking cough.

Bending down, Robin picked up the nebulizer and mask and carefully replaced it on his face. "Just take some long, slow deep breaths" she told him. "I'm going to go tell Alexis where we're going, okay?" He could do little but nod in response. Robin slipped inside the room and quietly told Alexis her plan. She told her to call if there was any change in Eric's condition and hugged her tightly.

Returning to Patrick she helped him to his feet and they slowly moved down the hallway and out the hospital doors. Robin hailed a taxi and guided him inside. It was a short trip to the hotel and as Patrick's energy continued to seep from him, Robin took hold of his good arm and led him the rest of the way to the room. Fumbling with the key, she managed to get it open and let him through.

He took several steps before stumbling slightly. Finding the bed, he sagged onto it and finally ripped the mask from his face. His chest heaved as he sucked in air and looked around the room. His eyes landed on a black knapsack that looked very much like one he owned.

Following his gaze, Robin smiled shyly. "Alexis and I went to your apartment and picked up some fresh clothes - she packed a bag for Eric too. I...I didn't know how long you'd be here but I figured you would need clothes."

"Thank you" he whispered.

As she looked at him she was overcome with a need to touch him, to hold him. She didn't know exactly how close she came to losing him tonight but judging by his injuries and his friend's, it was much closer than she was comfortable with. Closing the distance between them she closed her arms around him and softly brushed her lips against his. Closing his eyes he nipped at her bottom lip revelling in its softness.

"Robin" he choked out.

"I love you" she told him emphatically, "I forgive you and I am done being apart from you."

His eyes welled with tears as he stared wordlessly at her. "You...you can't say that just because I've been in a car accident."

"I'm not. I know we're good in a crisis but this isn't what this is. I was...I was with Alexis when you called because I was planning a surprise for you."

A long, slow breath escaped from his lips. His heart was beating loudly inside his chest and his hand trembled ever so slightly as he reached out and cupping the back of her head, drew her to him. His lips went in search of hers and having found them, he kissed her languidly ensuring to drink her in as he did so. He coaxed her lips apart with his tongue and moaned as it plunged inside the warm velvety confines of her mouth.

Robin broke their kiss and lovingly stroked his face. "Should we get you in the shower?" she asked. His eyes were heavy with fatigue and worry and the idea of taking a shower was beyond him. She seemed ot instantly recognize where he was at and smiled warmly at him, still holding his hand. "Or we can go with option b"

His eyebrows lifted slightly in response. "Option b?"

Gingerly and carefully, Robin undid his shoulder brace and removed his singed and blackened t-shirt. The purple slash left across his chest from where the seatbelt had restrained him gave her pause. "That must hurt" she observed. Patrick shrugged with his one good shoulder.

Holding up her finger, she headed to the bathroom and returned with a damp face cloth. Patrick was reclined against the pillows, his eyes closed. Climbing up on the bed, she kneeled up beside him and set about undoing his jeans; his eyes flew open.

"You're always trying to undress me Doctor Scorpio," he joked weakly.

"Can you blame me? When you look that good, you should be naked." She pulled the jeans down his legs and tossed them to the floor.

Picking up the facecloth she gently dragged it across his chest; he shivered. She darted around the deepest bruises, doing her best to remove the traces of smoke and soot without causing him any pain. She was grateful to be able to take care of him, that he was letting her. Patrick exhaled slowly, closed his eyes and sank further against the pillows as she dabbed at dirt on his face. He winced as his shoulder twitched and opening his eyes, found Robin staring at him.

"I'm okay" he told her, unconvincingly.

"I have some demerol in my bag," she told him. "Why don't you let me give you a shot and relieve some of your pain?"

"No....I don't.....I have to keep a clear head."

Scooting closer to him she softly ran her hand across his chest. "Why?"

He growled as he felt his eyes prick with tears yet again. He hated how emotional he was, how close to the surface all his feelings were but it was too much effort to hide them. "I have his medical power of attorney. And...I...I might be needed to make a decision and I can't do that if I'm drugged."

"Oh Patrick" she sighed, "you aren't going to be called on to make any decisions. Eric is going to be fine."

He shook his head. "I don't want to have to" he told her, "I don't want to ever be in a position where I have to decide about what qualifies as an extraordinary measure. I don't want to be the one to make that choice for someone I love."

"You won't have to" she reassured him. "He's going to wake up and he's going to be okay."

Letting go of a shuddering breath he pushed her t-shirt over her belly, exposing her bump. He swept his hand back and forth across it as though it was some kind of touchstone. "There are only four people in my life that I care about," he said hoarsely. "And before you were pregnant, it was three. There was a long time in my life where he was the only person who mattered and who I could count on. This....this is the second time I've almost lost him." He swallowed thickly. "And on the heels of losing you-"

Robin took his hand in hers and pressed it over her heart. "You have not lost me" she told him emphatically. "I told you, I am done being apart from you. We belong together and we are going to be together," she touched her belly, "as a family."

His efforts to keep his tears at bay became futile as several hot tears dripped down his face. "All I could think of was the last conversation I had with you - I talked to you about a custody agreement. What if.....what if I didn't get another chance to tell you that I love you?"

Robin hugged him tightly and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I know you love me," she reassured him. "I have never doubted it."

Patrick melted against her, feeling his foundation start to reappear under his feet. "I think I might take that shot now" he said quietly.

Nodding, she swung her feet to the floor and retreived her medical bag. Pulling on a pair of gloves, she prepared the syringe and approached the bed. "Shoulder or ass?" she teased, waggling her eyebrows.

Patrick smirked tiredly. "I don't think I could roll over if I tried."

She grinned as she climbed back on the bed. "That's okay, we'll save that for the next time we play doctor." Swabbing the area, she plunged the needle into his skin.

As he got under the covers, leaving them to pool around his waist, Robin disposed of the needle. Crawling back on the bed, she settled beside him and pressed a lingering kiss to his temple. "I am so glad you're safe" she whispered as she threaded her fingers through his hair. With enormous effort, Patrick rolled to his side and brought his head to rest against her shoulder; he stroked her belly with his hand and sighed deeply. Robin draped her arm around him and placed her hand over his, letting their joined hands move together over their baby.

"You okay?" she asked.

"I am, now that you're here."