Chapter 190

Love is just the antidote when nothing else can cure me

"So we're going home in the Cassadine jet, huh?" Patrick grinned as Eric carefully pulled a shirt on. Robin sat on his lap, her fingers curled through his. All anxious to get home as soon as possible, Alexis had called for the jet to return to the City and take them home.

"She broke out the big guns for me" he teased, winking at Alexis. "I like having a sugar momma."

She rolled her eyes. "Well when you get a phone call at midnight telling you to get to New York as soon as possible, it's hard to book a commercial flight."

He reached for his crutches and pulled himself to his feet. He stood for only a moment before slumping back down on the bed, pale and sweating.

"Trying to be a hero?" Patrick asked.

"Yeah, something like that."

"I'll get you some wheels" Patrick said, getting to his feet.

"I really don't want them," he protested weakly.

"Tough Smitty. You don't get a lot of say here," he shot back as he left the room.

Eric glanced at the two women and shook his head. "You're all going to be bossing me around for a while, aren't you?"

Robin grinned. "Pretty much."

"And we're going to enjoy it" Alexis added, leaning in and gently kissing him.

A knock at the door interrupted them and she felt him stiffen and tense as he looked over his shoulder. In an instant she understood who it was and pulling herself to her full height headed to the door.

"Alexis-" he called to her, reaching for his crutches.

"I've got it," she replied waving him off. Standing the doorway, blocking the entrance, she quickly took the measure of the woman before her. "Can I help you?" she asked perfunctorily.

The blonde woman tried to look past her before smiling sweetly. "I'm a friend of Eric's and I was just stopping by to see how he is."

"He's fine" Alexis replied. "And he's not seeing any visitors so I'm afraid you'll have to go."

"I'm an old friend, he'll want to see me" she insisted.

Alexis arched her eyebrow and simply stared at her. "Actually Karen, he doesn't."

Surprise registered on her face and she took a small step back. "You must be his new girlfriend," she remarked, trying to regain an advantage.

"Not really all that new."

"Well I haven't heard about you and Eric and I are….connected."

A feline smile crossed the lawyer's face. "Everyone who is important to Eric knows about me. Can't say I'm surprised you don't. What I am surprised about is that it took you almost three days to find his room. Oh wait, you never were very good with Eric being a patient."

Her cheeks burned hotly as she tried once again to get Eric's eye but he had his back to the door. "I've been busy."

"Trying to find someone else to manipulate?"

Her eyes blazed with fury. "Who the hell do you think you are? You are apparently threatened by me or something."

"Oh sweetheart" she laughed dismissively, "I'm not remotely threatened by you. How could I be threatened by someone who relies on manipulation and emotional blackmail to get someone to do something for them? He was helping you because he felt badly for you – you took advantage of him. If you were as 'connected' as you claim, you would have known he was struggling when you called and you never would have asked him to come and rescue you. But you're a selfish little tart and so you gave no thought to anyone but yourself. Eric is getting stronger and we're going home. You need to get out of his life and stay out. There is no room for you in it."

Karen spluttered and fumed. "Who the hell are you to tell Eric who he can and can't have in his life?"

"Someone who loves him very much and only wants what's best for him"

Listening to the conversation, Eric reached again for his crutches but Robin, sitting down beside him on the bed, put her hand on top of his. "You have to let her do this" she said quietly. "She's angry and scared and she couldn't protect you from losing Josh or the car accident but she can here and you have to let her do this."

He smiled sheepishly. "I'm not used to having my girlfriend fight my battles."

"Sometimes it's okay to let someone else take the punches for you" she offered. "Or throw them."

Eric said little for a few minutes, listening still to the conversation between the woman he loved and the woman who broke his heart. Tilting his head to the side, he smiled at Robin. "Baby Scorpio Drake seems to be growing by leaps and bounds."

"And kicking up a storm," Robin added. "Would you….would you like to feel?" she asked tentatively.

"Can I?" he asked excitedly.

She took his hand and placed it against the side of her stomach, watching in delight at his reaction as her baby walloped her belly. "Soccer player, I'm sure."

"That's amazing" he told her wondrously as he felt another kick.

"It's miraculous" she added. "Listen Eric, I have something for you."

"For me?"

Reaching into her pocket, she unpinned the necklace she had taken to carrying with her everywhere she went. "When Patrick had his seizure in Scotland, he was holding this in his hand and he told me you had given it to him and what it meant. When…when my protocol failed, he draped it around me neck and told me to wear it because I was a warrior." She blushed slightly at the memory. "But I think….I think maybe it's time for you to have it back."

"Robin" he said hoarsely, looking at the gleaming medallion.

"I know things have been rough Eric and on some level it can't be easy to watch your best friend realize some of the dreams that you had. But if I've learned anything in the last year it's that miracles happen when you least expect it. So you should hold on to this" she pressed it in to his hand, "draw what you need for it and trust that things are going to be better."

Wordlessly, he hung the medallion around his neck and then hugged her tightly. "Thank you" he whispered.

They broke apart as they heard Karen stomp off down the hallway, a string of expletives following in her wake. Shrugging, Alexis walked back over to the bed. "So where were we? Oh yes, talking about bossing you around,"

Eric grinned and held out his hand to her. "I am so hot for you right now, I can't stand it."

She stepped to him and looped her arms around his neck as she bussed his mouth. "I love you" she told him quietly.

"Your chariot awaits" Patrick announced as he came through the door. "I just saw Karen crying in the hallway, not sure which one of you is responsible for it but you have my undying gratitude. Now, let's blow this popsicle stand."

****
They stood outside the apartment, both shifting nervously, unsure of what to do. It had been an uneventful plane ride back and Robin had offered to take Patrick home. She had waited, hoping he would suggest her apartment, but when he didn't she drove him to the loft.

Carrying his knapsack for him they had said little during the elevator ride up from the garage and now outside the door both were at a loss. Like so many other times in their relationship, they were once again at a point where they lacked definition and she was loathe to do the defining for them as she didn't want Patrick to feel as though she was pressuring him.

Patrick struggled with asking her in. Now that he had her back, or at least he thought he did, he didn't want to let her go. But at the same time he didn't want to rush too far too quickly and upset the precarious balance they had just achieved. All he really did know was that he didn't want to spend another night alone in his bed.

"Do you want to come in?" he asked.

"I should go" Robin said at the same time.

They stared at each other before bursting out laughing.

"Would you like to come in?" Patrick repeated.

"Do you want me to?" she asked with a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"Well I think Doctor Scorpio that you would be abandoning your medical responsibilities if you left me all on my own."

"Oh?" She tried to suppress a giggle.

He nodded seriously. "What if I can't get my shirt off without causing pain? What if I get up and am lightheaded and fall down or worse, what if I can't fall asleep without you?"

"Is this where you compare me to a blankie again?" she teased.

"I told you, a hot, sexy blanket" he corrected her, dipping his head and kissing her softly.

"Well I'd hate for you not to be able to get your shirt off. I think I better come inside."

Fishing the keys from his pocket, Patrick unlocked the door and led her inside. Despite his protestations, she insisted he rest on the couch while she scrounged up some food for dinner.

She smiled as she came out from the kitchen carrying a tray of hummus and pita, strawberries and two glasses of gingerale. Setting the tray down, she joined him on the couch burrowing under the blanket until she was beside him. Patrick had found a movie on television and they sat snuggled up together, wrapped in each other's arms.

"Do you have plans tomorrow night?" Robin asked during a commercial break.

"I think you're pretty much looking at it" he said. "Why?"

"I want to take you somewhere" she replied.

"Where?"

"You'll find out tomorrow."

"Not even a hint?"

"Nope. Tomorrow."

She snuggled back into him, her head resting against his chest. Tomorrow would be her opportunity to show him with deeds and words that she truly, unreservedly, wanted it all. Tomorrow was going to be the first day of the rest of their lives together.