Chapter Forty-Eight:
Emma sat at the kitchen table the next morning and smiled as Robin put a plate of pancakes down in front of her. She waited for Robin to join her and then she took a drink of her orange juice.
Robin looked up as she took a drink of her coffee and saw Emma staring at her, not eating.
"What's wrong?" she asked, concern all over her face.
"This is one of those moments," Emma said.
"What do you mean?"
"I dreamed about having pancakes with you. Daddy tried to make them and Sabrina tried and Sam did, too, but they were never like yours. I dreamed of having pancakes with you again and now we are and I want to remember it."
Robin felt her own eyes fill with tears.
"I had the same dream."
Emma smiled and walked to her, hugging her arms around Robin's neck.
"Did you have pancakes with anyone else while you were gone?"
Robin kissed her daughter's forehead before Emma sat back down and took a big bite of food.
"No, I didn't have any pancakes. This is the first time I've had pancakes in a long time."
Emma smiled.
"I'm glad you waited. I'm sorry because I should have waited, too. Pancakes are our thing."
Robin shook her head.
"I'm glad you had them with your dad and your friends. Pancakes are too good to only share with one person. You never have to do that, okay?"
"Okay, but I like to have things that I only do with you. I miss cuddling and reading on your lap. I miss laughing at daddy when he says he needs another boy in the house. I just miss you," Emma said softly.
Robin felt her heart explode with love for her beautiful and intelligent daughter. So much of her life had been messed up by things out of her control and she could be a bitter and angry little girl. Robin was simply blown away by how lucky she was to have a daughter like Emma.
"I have an idea," Robin said as she started to clean up. "Today, after school, I think you should make a list of all the things you want to do and we can start a plan to do them. Maybe go to the zoo or the bookstore or the mall; whatever you want. I want to give you new dreams and memories," she said as Emma brought the dishes to the sink.
"Okay," Emma said and smiled. "Can I show daddy my list after I make it?"
"Of course," she said and smoothed Emma's hair back. "You never have to keep any secrets from daddy or from me. If you need to talk to us, any time about any thing, you can. You never have to worry about going to one of us over another. No matter what happens between your daddy and me, you are the most important person to both of us."
Emma hugged her and nodded.
"You are both the most important people to me, too."
Robin wiped her eyes and felt her chin quiver as she held in her emotions.
What did she ever do to deserve such a blessing.
XXXX
"How was your night?" Patrick asked Robin as they made their way to see Aaron and Mark after dropping Emma off at school.
"It was fine," she said and looked around as they walked.
He picked up on her anxiety and he stopped.
"What's wrong?"
She crossed her arms and shrugged.
"Is Obrecht around? I don't want to run into her."
He felt like a tool not having thought of that.
"She usually doesn't come to this wing. I'll keep my eye out for her."
She sighed and walked a little closer to him.
He felt a sense of protection come over and he went to put his arm around her but stopped.
He simply stayed close as they walked.
Robin stopped when they got to the hall and saw Mark yelling at a nurse.
"What happened?" Robin and Patrick both ran down the hall.
"This nurse told my son he was contagious. I asked, no, I pleaded with them not to use that word. Aaron is my son and he is not contagious. He is smart and loving and funny and sweet and loves sports and writing and paying with hot wheels and making me popcorn. He is not this fucking disease. He is not contagious," Mark said and turned and walked away as his emotions got the best of him.
Robin looked at Patrick and he went after Mark. She looked at the nurse and sighed.
"Can you please make sure there is a note on the chart?"
"Yes Dr. Scorpio Drake. I'm really sorry. I was talking to a student nurse and I was explaining protocol. I never meant to make them feel like that," she said and her eyes were swimming.
Robin smiled.
"It's okay. He is just worried about his little boy," she said and the nurse left.
Robin took a deep breath and walked into the room, smiling at Aaron.
"How are you doing this morning?"
Aaron wiped his eyes and didn't say anything.
"Well I think you look great," she said as she pulled up a chair and sat down.
"Where is my dad?"
"He is talking to Dr. Patrick. He will be right back."
"He yelled at that nurse because she said I had cooties and people could get them. He doesn't like when people say that."
Robin took the little boy's hand and smiled.
"Why do you think he doesn't like that?"
Aaron looked at her.
"Because he's scared I'm going to die. He likes to play games where we pretend things are normal," he closed his eyes for a minute and tried to catch his breath. Robin looked at his vitals and made sure his oxygen saturation was okay.
The little boy looked at her and licked his lips.
"But I'm not normal. My friends are all playing sports and running outside and I can't do that. I can't see very well anymore. We had to move here because I'm not okay. I'm scared because my dad needs me. I don't want to leave him. It's always been just the two of us."
Robin wiped her eyes and tried to smile.
"Then we just need to make sure you don't leave him, okay?"
Aaron fell asleep, the conversation taking a lot out him and Robin let her teas fall.
Fuck this disease and the cruel way it took hold of every aspect of a life.
XXXX
"Hey, Mark, wait," Patrick said and stopped him.
"I need to get her fired. I need to find a better place. I need to do something instead of watching my son die!" he cried.
Patrick walked him to a nearby conference room and closed the door.
"I know. Robin and I might have a plan to do just that."
Mark stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Robin has a drug protocol that we want to try which will shrink the tumor. Once it works, I can go in and hopefully remove the entire thing."
"But it's a form of lymphoma. You can't just remove it."
"I know, but the tumor is impeding on his optic nerve and causing his vision issues. From the little I've spoken to Aaron, I know he loves spending time home with you and playing with his hot wheels. I think his quality of life can be improved. That's what I want to do. That's what Robin can do."
Mark wiped his face and nodded.
"You have a daughter, right?"
Patrick smiled.
"Emma. She's almost 9."
"Do you think she could come and visit with Aaron? I don't mean to overstep, but he's so depressed. He has no friends here and spending so much time with adults is making him feel more isolated. Maybe she could just drop off some books for him to read?" he sighed. "For me to read to him."
"I think she would be happy to spend some time with him. Emma is remarkable and I think she would benefit from spending time with Aaron, too," he smiled and then looked at Mark. "As long as it stays platonic."
Mark chuckled and nodded.
"Of course. I've raised a perfect gentleman."
Patrick smiled as they walked out.
"Yeah. I would agree."
XXXX
Robin sat in Patrick's office and took the yogurt he handed her.
"I can't believe you told him to try the drug protocol first," she smiled as she ate.
He sat at his desk and smirked.
"I just figured I should humor you."
She almost choked.
"Humor me? Hardly. My protocol is proven and it will work," she said firmly and then saw him smiling.
"Whatever," she said and laughed. "You just like to mess with me."
"You make it too easy," he said. "But really, I looked over your research. I think it's the best plan."
"Thanks," she said. "I also think it will be nice to introduce Emma to Aaron. She has some pretty amazing insights on life."
"She does," he agreed. "She is just like you."
Robin shook her head.
"No, she is the best of both of us."
He went to say something when there was a knock on the door.
He went to open it while she finished her yogurt and he sighed when he saw who it was.
"Go away," he went to close the door.
"But I heard that Carlos went after Robin and Jason," Sabrina said and pushed her way in. She stopped when she saw Robin.
"I'm going to go," Robin said as she stood up.
"No," Sabrina said. "Please tell me what happened to him. Was he in pain? Did he tell you anything?"
Robin looked incredulously at her.
"It was a little hard to tell when I was bound and gagged. My concern wasn't his well being."
"Please leave," Patrick said and opened his door.
"Is he dead? I can't get anyone to tell me anything. Please," she said to them.
Robin looked at them.
"I have to go. Excuse me," she said and ran out.
"Robin, wait," Patrick went after her and saw Obrecht walking down the hall.
"Oh no," Robin froze. "Oh please," she said and sank to her knees.
"Shit," Patrick said as he ran towards her.
"Robin? What are you doing here?" Obrecht said and Patrick stood between them.
"Get away from her," he said.
"This is my hospital and I will not leave because of anyone. You need to clean up this mess," Obrecht said and looked at Robin before she walked off.
Patrick was fuming.
"I'm going to resign. I am not working one more moment under that psycho."
Robin stood up and her whole body was shaking.
"No. You need to help Aaron."
Patrick saw Sabrina smirk as she walked away and he didn't know how he could be so stupid.
"Come on. Let me take you home."
She shook her head and stopped him.
"No. I have a therapy appointment. I will talk to you later," she said and walked away from him.
"Robin, please let me go with you. I'll wait in the lobby."
She wiped her eyes and smiled a tiny smile.
"No, I can do this. I need to do this."
He sighed.
"Well I will walk you there. I don't care what you think, but I need to make sure you are safe."
She nodded.
"Okay. Thank you."