Chapter Fourteen:

Patrick was getting dressed after cleaning up from a surgery. He hadn't been able to get his conversation with Mark out of his head and he knew he should go find him and tell him the truth.

He and Robin were divorced.

Because he wanted that.

Running his hand through his wet hair, he looked in his locker and smiled at the picture of Emma. She was so happy to have Robin home and he was thrilled she was able to spend so much time with her. He didn't like that it had to be without him.

Once again, that was because of him.

He closed his locker and saw Elizabeth come in.

"Hey, what's going on with you? I haven't had a chance to talk to you in a little while," he smiled at her.

"I know. I've been kind of preoccupied lately, I guess. I'm trying to move forward with my life."

Patrick nodded.

"Because of Jake?"

She looked at him and her eyes were wet.

"He was Jason and I didn't know. I just can't get over that. He stayed with me and I didn't figure it out. I don't understand any of this. I lived through what Helena can do when Lucky came home brainwashed. I missed all of the signs with Jason."

"We all did," Patrick said.

Liz looked at him.

"Robin didn't."

"Yeah, I know."

Liz shrugged and wiped her face.

"I just want him to be happy and now that he's here because of headaches, I want to make sure he gets the best treatment. I just need to get Sam to let me near him."

"He's here with headaches? Why wasn't I paged?" Patrick asked.

"Really? I'm pretty sure he doesn't want you treating him, Patrick."

"Now all of a sudden he doesn't want me? I was good enough to save his sorry ass all the other times but not now? Why the hell not?"

Liz looked at him and Patrick sighed.

"You broke Robin's heart," she said softly. "Jason has a problem with that."

Patrick wanted to punch something.

"Right, the murderer has a 'code' and can apply it whenever he sees fit. What a tool."

"I need to go pick up Cameron and Aiden. Maybe we'll see Emma soon?"

Patrick nodded curtly and then sighed.

"Yeah, that would be nice."

Liz grabbed her things.

"A word of advice? If you're interested, tread lightly. Robin is incredibly guarded against you."

Patrick had enough.

"I know. See you later."

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Robin sat in her family room the next morning and smiled at how pretty Emma made everything look. She went to clean up the kitchen after breakfast and she laughed at how excited Emma was to go to school that day and turn in the project they had worked on together.

She sighed when she thought of how Emma found her this morning. She had been asleep on the couch instead of her bed and Robin told her daughter she had fallen asleep watching tv, but the truth was that she was truly struggling with sleeping in a bed.

While she was held, she was tied to a bed and it was the place used for torture. She had shock treatment while in bed. She was violently ill in bed. They did other things to her, things she pushed out of her mind, while in bed.

Things that made her scream. The screaming Jason heard.

Her phone buzzed and she jumped at the sound. It was a text message from Jason telling her he was being admitted for tests.

She wanted to go help him but she knew Patrick would be there. She didn't think she could handle another argument. Her viral load was better but the pneumonia had taken a lot out her. She needed to be very careful about stress.

But she couldn't hide. This was her home, and as long as Emma was here, she would be here, too. She went to her room and pulled on a sweater and a pair of jeans and left her long hair down around her shoulders. She wrapped a scarf around her neck and took her sunglasses before she headed out.

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"I'd just like to leave," Jason said to Sam as she tried to get him to agree to some tests. Dr. Marucci was concerned about his headaches and they still had no idea what it was that Helena did to him.

"I know how much you hate it here, but I'm not about to run the risk of losing you again. I just got you back and I want you with me for a long time," Sam smiled as she sat on the bed and faced him.

"I know that and I want that too, but having more people poke and prod me is not what I need to be doing. Helena is out there and she needs to be found before she comes after someone I love."

Sam sighed.

"Like Robin?"

Jason stared at her and she wondered again how she didn't recognize him before.

"She saved my life and brought me home. She lost everything, Sam. How can you just expect me to turn my back on her? If I did that, I would be no better then," he stopped and she frowned.

"Patrick? Me?"

"Not you. You had no way of knowing anything. Patrick is the one who was aware that things weren't okay and he was perfectly fine with leaving her alone," he looked at his hands and shrugged. "I don't want to talk about him."

"He helped me a lot, Jason. He is my friend."

"And Robin was tortured and nobody is helping her."

He ripped his IV out and got out of bed.

"What are you doing?" she scrambled after him.

"I need some air. Please!" he shook his arm away from her and walked away.

Sam watched him and walked back into the room to grab her things. She turned around and saw Robin walking in.

"What are you doing here?" Sam asked.

"Jason texted me and said he was having tests. I told him I would stop by."

"He needed air. He hates being here."

"Okay. I'll come back later," Robin said and turned around to leave.

"Robin?" Sam said.

She turned and sighed.

"Are you doing okay? Jason said you were tortured."

She paled and her eyes filled.

"He told you that?"

Sam realized she probably shouldn't have said that.

"Not really. He's just worried about you."

"Right. Well don't worry. I'll take care of myself. Excuse me," she turned and walked out, smacking right into Mark who held her as she almost fell.

"Oh, sorry," she said and wiped her eyes as she looked at him.

"Mark? Oh, it's good to see you," she smiled and tried to mask her sadness.

"Excuse me," he said coldly and walked off.

"Mark? Wait!" she scrambled after him.

He turned around and glared at her.

"I'm here to work and not play games. I don't have time for women who make a fool out of me."

Robin was floored.

"What are you talking about? I didn't do anything to you. I cancelled our dinner, but I would like to reschedule."

Mark hated how beautiful and vulnerable she looked. He just couldn't let himself get hurt again.

"Maybe you should talk to your husband before you make a date."

She paled and was speechless which he took as confirmation.

"Right, so have a nice life."

"No, Mark, wait. I'm not married. I'm divorced."

"Really? It seems to me your husband was pretty clear about staking his claim. I just don't have the time for this. I have a son who doesn't need to be confused. I'm a strait shooter, Robin. I wish you well, but goodbye."

Robin felt her tears fall as she watched him walk away.

She was going to kill Patrick.

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Patrick walked to the roof before he headed home for the night. He had so many thoughts running through his mind after talking to Liz.

Was he so wrong to have wanted his wife home with him? Was it so bad that he simply wanted her to choose him?

He didn't know she was in trouble. He didn't know she was being tortured.

He should have.

Making his way to the ledge of the roof, he rolled his eyes when he saw Jason standing there.

"Great," he muttered and went to walk away.

Jason turned to look at him.

"What are you doing up here?"

Patrick rolled his eyes.

"I work here. I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to get some air."

Jason smirked.

"I didn't mean anything by that. I thought you came to tell me to go back downstairs. I figured Sam sent you."

Patrick softened a little at Jason's tone.

"No. I just needed to think. Not everything is about you," he smiled.

"Point taken," Jason said.

"Anyway, I'll leave you alone."

Patrick began to walk away and Jason stopped him.

"Is Robin okay?"

Patrick froze.

"I'm not the one to ask. She isn't really confiding in me right now. I'm sure she would be happy to talk to you."

Jason walked to him and sighed.

"I know you're pissed off and I know you think she chose me over you, but you're wrong. She chose what she had to. Robin is someone who can't bear to see people suffer if she can fix it. She has this awful need to be responsible for other people and I agree 100% with you that I am not worth it. She knew it would hurt you if she left, but she truly believed you would understand and give her a chance after everything she fought through to come home to you. She spoke non stop about how much she loved you and how she couldn't wait to come home to you and Emma. She suffered terribly at Helena's hands and I think there were times they did things to her that she has yet to talk about. It kills me that I wasn't able to stop them and the time she was alone after I got away, well it's unclear just what they did to her. Whatever your feelings, just know that her intent was to be your wife and to love you forever."

Patrick felt like crying and he hated that Jason knew so much more about who Robin was. Patrick knew it, too, but he chose to ignore it. He couldn't see past his ego. He hurt her and being with Sam was the worst thing she could have come home to. He knew that.

"I'll leave you alone, but whatever happens, I hope you know that I will remain a part of Robin's life. That has no bearing on what you think."

Patrick stared at him as Jason left.

How did everything get to be such a mess? What the hell had happened to his life?

He turned to walk back downstairs when he saw Robin coming towards him and he could read that expression a mile away.

She must have spoken to Mark.

Shit.

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