Chapter Twelve:

"So what do you do for a living?" Mark asked Robin as they sat at the bar.

"I'm a doctor, a researcher, but I've decided to take some time off and spend it with my daughter."

"You have a daughter?" he asked with a smiled.

"I do. Emma. She's 7. How about you?"

"I have a son, Aaron. He's 9. He is staying with my mom in the suburbs while I get situated here."

"Are you new to Port Charles?"

"Yeah. I got a job at General Hospital," he smiled. "I am heading the new cardiac surgical wing."

"That's awesome," Robin smiled. "I've grown up here and GH is the best place to work. It's where I worked for a long time."

Mark nodded.

"They seem very nice so far," he said. "I was heavily recruited from Syracuse General and I had wanted to move closer to my mom and sister. Aaron misses them and I want him to know family," he smiled and then sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm pretty sure this isn't what I should be talking about."

Robin reached to his hand and squeezed it, charmed by this nice and handsome man.

"It's okay. I think it's incredibly sweet that you are all about your family. I've learned, more so recently, that without family, not much else matters."

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"Dude, you need to chill out," Dante said as he saw Patrick staring daggers at the man with Robin.

"He's right," Nik added. "You need to do something about it or move on."

Patrick sighed.

"She looks so amazing," he said softly.

"Of course she does," Nik smiled. "Robin has always been gorgeous. It's why I pursued her when I 16."

Patrick rolled his eyes.

"Thanks."

Dante looked at them and shrugged, not really familiar with how everything worked out between Patrick and Robin.

"Didn't you divorce her?"

Patrick sighed.

"Yeah."

"Well, then I think we should just play pool and let her have fun."

Brenda and Liz smiled at each other as they watched Patrick's reaction to Robin. It was a definite bonus to seeing Robin have a good time.

"Well, that was interesting," Robin said as she sat back down, her eyes bright with happiness.

"Well, tell us all about him," Liz said.

Robin blushed and shrugged.

"We're going out tomorrow night."

"Eeee!" Brenda squealed and hugged Robin who laughed.

"Shh," Robin said. "It's silly and I think I'll call and cancel. It was just nice to feel attractive again."

"Why cancel? He seemed really nice," Liz said.

Robin leaned her cheek against her hand.

"I don't know," she said softly. "Do you mind if I go home? I'm tired and I think I shouldn't have had so much to drink."

Liz and Brenda were worried.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

Robin took a deep breath and tried to calm her spinning head.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Dante asked as he walked back from the bar.

Brenda shook her head.

"No, Robin isn't feeling well, so we're going to take her home."

"Do you want me to take her?" Dante asked.

Brenda smiled.

"No, we've got her," she said and saw Patrick walking over.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Nothing," Robin said and stood up. "Excuse me," she took her purse and walked out of the bar.

Brenda and Elizabeth ran after her and Patrick went to follow when Dante stopped him.

"Something was wrong," Patrick said emphatically.

"Yeah, but they've got it under control. Leave her alone."

Patrick saw the guy still sitting at the bar and he walked over.

"Hey, you were just talking to Robin, weren't you?"

Mark looked at him, surprised.

"Not that it's your concern, but I was."

"Well leave her alone," Patrick said, not even knowing what he was doing.

Mark stood up and put some money on the bar.

"Excuse me? Who the hell are you?"

Patrick froze.

Who was he to be all cave man? What the hell was he doing?

"I'm her friend. I was just looking out for her."

"Really? So you tell me to leave her alone? Get a life, man," Mark said and went to leave.

"I mean it," Patrick said.

Mark turned to face him and he smirked.

"Thanks for your concern," he said. "But Robin is an amazing woman and I look forward to spending time getting to know her. If you are truly a friend, then I appreciate you looking out for her and I'll be respectful. If you're a jealous ex, then back the hell off, because if you were stupid enough to lose someone like her, then you have more problems than I care to discuss. Excuse me," Mark said and smiled as he walked out.

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Robin walked out of the shower in her new apartment and turned on the television before she sat on her bed in her towel.

She looked around the sparsely decorated room and shivered as she towel dried her hair.

This was her new life and she was going to make the best of it. She had money, she just needed to talk to a lawyer and get her assets figured out. She hadn't been involved in the divorce in any way and although Patrick didn't take anything from her, she didn't want to mess anything up that he had figured out.

She pulled on her night shirt and a pair of yoga pants and towel dried her long hair. Pulling it up into a clip, she grabbed the suitcase of her clothes and put it on the bed before she sat next to it.

Tonight had been really fun, but terribly confusing. She hadn't been out to eat, let alone dancing in over three years. It seemed insurmountable, really, trying to explain her situation to anyone. Mark was nice and handsome and he truly seemed interested in her.

But he knew nothing about her and that in itself made any potential relationship doomed.

The problem, in her heart, wasn't what he didn't know. It was Patrick. Robin had never stopped loving him and when he divorced her, it broke her heart.

She had wanted him to stand by her. She had wanted him to support her need to help Jason when nobody helped her. She had wanted so much.

She had also wanted to be the wife he fought for. Fundamentally, she felt like a failure. Why couldn't he fight with her? For her? What made them break?

Shaking her head, she opened the suitcase and pulled out her shirts, placing them in the dresser. She walked back to the bed and saw there was a photo album inside. She picked it up and a note dropped out.

"Robin. I know you're struggling with everything right now, and I want to talk to you in person, but I understand your hesitation. IN the meantime, here is an album of photos of Emma over the past few years. I've included a few things I thought you might like to see. I know how left out you feel and I would give anything to change that. I hope we can talk soon. Patrick."

She put the note down and pulled the album onto her lap. She opened the cover and her tears came immediately as she looked at the images of her daughter. There were pictures of Emma sitting in a desk in school and some of her playing outside. There were tears of laughter and tea parties and moments when she was cuddling with Patrick.

Robin covered her mouth as her emotions overwhelmed her and she was so grateful for the thought, but it also made her incredibly sad at all she missed.

She curled up on the bed and held the album to her, praying some answers would come to her in sleep.

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Patrick was barking at everyone the next day at work. He was in a foul mood and it was obvious to him that he was incredibly jealous. He hated that Robin was dating. He hated that he did this to himself.

"Dr. Drake? Do you want to set up the consult for Mr. Higgens?" a nurse asked him.

"Yeah," he said and stared at her. "That's why I already did it. Maybe you should check the computer before bothering me with what should be your job!"

She nodded and apologized before turning and leaving.

"That was harsh," Sabrina said as she walked to the nurses hub.

Patrick glanced at her and sighed.

"I'm sorry, but I'm busy. She should have checked the computer."

Sabrina nodded and could tell he wasn't in the mood to talk.

Patrick looked at her and his face softened.

"What are you doing here? Did you get your job back?"

"No, but I'm packing up some of my things. Michael asked me to help him work on the free clinic he wants to set up."

"That's great," Patrick said. "You are a great nurse."

She sighed and shrugged.

"Not really, but I'm trying to get back there. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine," he said and looked up as his worst nightmare arrived. It was that dude from the bar.

"What are you doing here?" Patrick asked.

Mark looked surprised and raised his eyebrows.

"Um, well, I'm Dr. Welker. I'm the new cardiac surgeon," he looked at him. "And you are?"

"Dr. Drake, I'm a world renowned neurosurgeon."

"Okay, so why the chip on your shoulder?"

"Excuse me?"

"Well I have never seen you before and you welcomed me like I killed someone you love. I'm sorry if I've offended you, but I just got to town a few days ago. I was trying to figure out the lay of the land."

He was nice, charming and Patrick realized he hadn't remembered him.

"I'm sorry. I just had a complicated surgery and I'm trying to decompress. It's nice to meet you."

Mark nodded.

"Likewise."

They both looked up as Robin got off the elevator and she looked over at them as she walked out.

"Robin?" Mark smiled as he walked to her. "What are you doing here?"

Robin was surprised to see them and she caught Patrick's eye before she looked at Mark.

"I was here for an appointment. I'm really looking forward to tonight," she smiled and hugged him.

Sabrina saw her and her anger just boiled over. She walked past Patrick who stood frozen to the spot and she grabbed Robin by the arm, turning to her.

"How dare you show up here," Sabrina said angrily and slapped Robin across the face, stunning her.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Mark asked as Robin almost fell over.

Patrick couldn't believe what he was seeing. He went to Robin and saw her tears.

"Are you okay?" he asked her as she stood back and looked at Sabrina.

"How is she? She is the reason we lost our child. She killed our son, Patrick."

Robin felt sick and she looked at the small scene that was gathering.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, but I never gave Victor cause to go after you. I did everything he said and I don't know why he hurt you."

"None of this would have happened if you didn't leave to go help a mob loser. Patrick would be happy and we might actually be together. You ruined everything and now you come back here and act like everything is fine?" Sabrina asked.

Patrick looked at Sabrina and anger flashed in his eyes.

"Stop this. Robin didn't do any of this. Victor sent a message to me and not Robin. If you want to be angry with anyone, be angry with me."

"I need some air," Robin said and turned to walk out.

"I'll help you," Mark said and glared at Patrick and Sabrina before he ran after Robin.

"No, please, I need to be alone. I think our date should wait until another time. I'm sorry. Excuse me," she said and turned to leave him standing there.

Mark walked over to Patrick and Sabrina and grabbed the chart he had brought in.

"I don't understand how the people in this hospital work. This place is full of craziness," he said and walked out.

Patrick stared at Sabrina and shook his head.

"You were out of line. This wasn't on Robin and she has suffered innumerable trauma. You need to leave her alone."

"She ruined everything, Patrick. You told me she went with Victor and that started all of this."

"No. She was doing what needed to be done. What Victor did was on him and he deserves the blame, not a scapegoat. Excuse me."

Sabrina watched as he left.

XXXX

Oh God, Robin thought as she sat on the roof. She was embarrassed and humiliated and angry and deflated. She had no idea Patrick would have been there and to see Mark was unexpected and nice, but Sabrina just cut everything down to size.

She was right. This was all Robin's doing and the consequences were dire. Patrick had lost his son as a result of what she did. It didn't matter that it wasn't intentional. It didn't make Gabriel any less dead or Sabrina any less angry.

How did everything get so messed up?

"Robin?" Patrick asked as he walked onto the roof and saw her there.

She wiped her eyes and turned to him.

"I'd like to be alone if that's okay," she said.

He walked closer and shrugged.

"How has that been working for you?"

She smiled a tiny smile and turned to sit down on the floor, her back against the wall.

"It's kind of all I've known for a while now. I've actually been pretty good about handling things alone."

He walked over and sat down next to her.

"She was out of line. Gabriel's death isn't on you. Please know that."

She didn't say anything, she just closed her eyes over the fountain of tears.

He reached to put his arm around her when she stood up and shook her head.

"No, Patrick. You don't get to do this. You can't have it both ways. You divorced me and I'm trying to respect your decision. You wanted a life without me and I acquiesced. You can't have it both ways. You lost your right to be the person I lean on when you removed your ring. I get it, I really do. I did this. I messed up everything and now I'm paying the price, but you can't keep showing up. I am trying to heal and move forward. I am doing what I can and I need you to leave me alone."

He watched her walk away and he put his face in his hands.

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