The following Monday…
When Patrick got off the elevator and saw Sabrina tapping away on a keyboard at the nurses' station, he sighed in relief. If she was still in Port Charles, even temporarily, then he still had time to make her see reason. Patrick walked over to the nurses' station and stepped inside, stopping at the counter by Sabrina's computer.
"Hi."
Sabrina didn't look up. "Is there something you need, Patrick?"
"How was Seattle?"
"If I had to guess, I'd say 'wet'."
"You don't know?"
"No." She swiped her badge on the RFID scanner and logged off the computer. As she grabbed the notepad she kept in her pocket from which she'd been typing notes, she continued, "I didn't go."
At that, Patrick smiled brightly and pulled her into a hug. He was thisclose to swinging her around in a circle joyously when she pulled out of his embrace. "What are you doing?"
"I'm sorry. I'm just so happy to finally have gotten through to you."
Sabrina frowned. "Well, don't be. Will left without me."
Patrick uttered a shocked, "What?" as Sabrina circled around him and stepped down, headed toward the patient rooms. He grabbed her by the hand and said, "Wait. Sabrina, what's going on?"
Sabrina pulled her hand away and turned to face him. "He dumped me. We were about to board the plane and he told me he was going, but I was staying. Then, he kissed me goodbye and he left."
"I don't understand…," he said confusedly. Patrick shook his head rapidly in an effort to make sense of her news, which caused a light bulb to go off in his brain. "Wait! It's because of us, isn't it?! He left you here because he knew that, even in Seattle, you wouldn't be able to let go of me."
"I'll bet you are just loving this, aren't you?" Sabrina asked, tears forming in her eyes. "Don't get too excited, Patrick. This doesn't mean anything has changed between you and me."
Patrick, upset at her pain but relieved Foster finally saw the light, said, "I don't like seeing you in pain. But it does mean that everything has changed, Sabrina."
Sabrina swiped the tears from her eyes defiantly and crossed her arms. "How so?"
"Will is in Seattle. You're here. You didn't follow him, profess your undying love and beg him to reconsider, which means that, deep down, the only place you want to be is here with me and Emma."
"Wow... Your ego is still huge isn't it?" Patrick shrugged his shoulders and smirked, but was brought down from his high when Sabrina said, "I stayed here because I know what it feels like to be in a relationship where the ex is always the elephant in the room and I won't do that to Will. He deserves better."
"Sabrina…"
She backed away and said with bravado, "So, I'm going to work like hell to get you out of my system and then I'm going to move to Seattle." Then, she pivoted on her heel and walked off.
Patrick watched Sabrina's retreating form and then wandered over to the vending machines, where he pulled out his phone. He brought up his messaging app, located Will's name and typed: Thank you.
A few seconds later, he received a response. Don't be. I didn't do it for you. I did it for her.
Patrick: Still, I owe you.
Will: Then don't break her heart again and we'll be even.
Patrick: I don't plan to.
Will: If you do, I swear to God…
Patrick: I won't.
A few seconds passed without a response, so Patrick went to put his phone in his pocket. Right before he did so, it buzzed, so he pulled it out and read the text from Foster.
I love her enough to let her go; but don't think you get a free pass. If I find out she is unhappy, I'll be on the first plane back there to pick her up and bring her out here with me. And, if I do that, I guarantee I will use every trick in my romantic arsenal to make 100% sure that you NEVER cross her mind again. DO NOT BLOW IT.
Patrick had to give the Foster credit for using his new job as an excuse to break up with Sabrina. When he'd arranged to get Foster into that conference, Patrick never could have imagined things working out so damn well in his favor. Now he had real chance to get Sabrina back and he was literally giddy with joy. Knowing he wouldn't have the strength to let Sabrina go to be with someone else if he were in Foster's shoes, though, Patrick wrote: Message Received. She's everything to me. and then put his phone away. As he got his cheesy puffs from the vending machine, he thought about how he could get Sabrina to let go of her fear and finally accept him as her future.