Chapter Sixty-Six:
"Daddy? Why won't she wake up?" Emma sat on Patrick's lap and they both watched Robin. It had been a couple hours since they were brought in, and Emma had recovered from the sedation with no problem. In a way, Patrick was happy she hadn't seen or heard anything that happened.
"Her body needs to get better so she is helping it by sleeping. When it has enough time to heal, then she will wake up."
She sighed and looked at him.
"I'm sorry."
He looked at his daughter and smiled.
"For what?"
"I screamed when that man came into my room. If I didn't scream, maybe mommy wouldn't have been hurt."
"No, Em, you did the right thing. You should always scream when a stranger comes near you. We both taught you that and you did the absolute right thing. I'm so proud of you, both of us are."
"But now mommy is hurt again," she said and her tears fell. "I don't want her to be hurt anymore. I want her to be happy and feel safe. I just want her to come home for real."
Patrick hugged her and rubbed her back.
"I know. Me too."
"Are the bad guys all gone now?"
He nodded and wiped her cheeks.
"Yes, they are all gone."
Emma sniffed.
"Good. Can I see Aaron?"
Patrick smiled.
"Aaron had a pretty big operation yesterday so he's probably sleeping a lot, but I think he would like a visit from you. Maybe later today we can go see him."
"He is sleeping like mommy because he needs to heal?"
"Exactly."
"Did you operate on him?"
"I did."
"On his brain?"
"Yep."
"Oh, was it gross?"
He raised his eyebrows at her.
"Gross? What do you mean?"
"What did it feel like? Was it squishy? At school, we saw a sheep brain once and it was gross."
Patrick laughed and shook his head.
"Well, I didn't touch it like that. I used very small instruments and fixed the problem."
"Like a flute?" Emma asked, confused.
"Huh?"
"You said instruments."
"Right," he grinned. "Daddy has different kinds of instruments. I meant doctor instruments."
"Oh, okay."
Robin stirred and Patrick and Emma both looked at her.
"Mommy?" Emma asked softly.
Patrick prayed she would be okay. They had no idea if the voltage had done any serious damage and after the electroshock she had been through before, he knew they were treading on dangerous ground. Hell, what Obrecht had tried to do to him just a month ago still effected his movements.
Robin's eyes opened and she looked at her daughter and Patrick.
"Hey you two," she said softly. "What's up?"
Emma smiled and looked at Patrick who hadn't taken his eyes off Robin.
"I was just talking to daddy about how a brain is gross but then you woke up. Are you okay?"
Robin smiled at her daughter.
"I'm okay if you're okay," she said.
"I'm fine."
Robin nodded.
"That's the best news ever."
Mac and Anna walked in and Emma jumped up.
"Mommy woke up!" she said and beamed at them.
"I see that," Anna smiled at her granddaughter and walked to kiss Robin's head.
"Hey, let's go get mommy some jello while grandma talks to her, okay?" Mac asked Emma.
"Okay," she looked at him. "Red?"
"Is there any other kind?" Mac asked with a smile.
They left and Anna looked at them.
"Are you okay?"
Robin nodded.
"I'm fine. I just need to know this is over."
"It's over. Obrecht and Jerry Jacks are both dead. We also discovered that there was an insider working at the hospital who led Jerry to Aaron and to the penthouse."
"Who?" Robin asked.
"Sabrina. She was being paid to spy on you two and she was the one who administered the drug to Aaron that almost killed him."
"Fuck," Patrick said and put his head in his hands. "I don't believe this."
Robin looked at her mother.
"Are we all safe now?"
"Yes. Sabrina is in custody and I'll see to it she is held for a long time."
"So the threat is over, right?"
Anna nodded.
"Okay, so can you leave me a minute to talk to Patrick?"
"Of course," she said and walked out.
Patrick looked at her and his torment was visible.
"I'm so sorry. This is twice someone I invited into our lives has tried to kill you. I don't even know how you can begin to forgive me. I don't know how I'm such a colossal fuck up when it comes to judging people."
Robin sat up more and took his hand.
"Patrick, look at me."
He sighed and did as she asked.
"The threat is over."
"I know, but," he said brokenly.
"No, stop and look at me. It's over and I'm ready to move forward. I need you to believe me when I say that it's in the past. If I hadn't gone with Victor, none of what happened to Sabrina would have happened. She was grieving and she looked for someone to blame. I was that someone and not you."
"If you hadn't gone with him, he would have come after Emma. I have no doubt about that now and I can't believe I didn't realize that before. So much of this mess is because of my arrogance and pride and I'm just so sorry," he said and wiped his face.
"Can I be released?" she asked.
He sighed.
"I don't know, why?"
"Because I need to be with you at home where we can help each other. I need to be able to help you see that we are okay and from this point forward, we are starting over. I also need to know that you want that, too. Now that it's all over, is that what you want?"
He shook his head and reached to her face.
"You are all I want."
XXXX
(Two months later)
"I don't think I can do it. I thought I was ready, but maybe it's just not meant to be," Patrick said as he paced in the kitchen of the brand new house he and Robin purchased.
"Come on, it's a first for both of them and because of his health, it might be the only time he can really appreciate it," Robin said and moved from the sink, drying her hands.
"But I feel like we're giving her the idea this is okay and it isn't."
"But he wants her to do it and really, what's the harm?"
"The harm is that she's our daughter and she's only eight."
"You didn't do it by the time you were eight?" Robin asked with a twinkle in her eye.
"No, did you?" he challenged.
"Once or twice," she shrugged and walked into the other room carrying the basket.
"Seriously?" Patrick raced after her out to the backyard.
"Okay, are we ready?" Robin smiled as she looked at Aaron and Mark who stood there with Emma and Anna and Mac. They kids wore their bathing suits and smiled.
"We're ready!" Emma said.
Robin walked and put the basket down and Aaron and Emma came up and grabbed the water balloons. They raced around the yard and threw them at each other, laughing and screaming and having a blast. Soon they were both soaking wet and happier than Patrick ever remembered seeing his daughter.
"I still don't know why she had to wear a two piece suit," he muttered to Robin as they sat and watched the kids.
She just laughed and they both smiled when Mark walked over.
"Thank you both so much for having us over. I don't think I've ever seen Aaron as happy as he is now and he's playing like he has no other care in the world. He is in a remission I never thought would be possible and because of you both I have more time. I don't think you can ever know what that means to me."
Patrick took Robin's hand and nodded.
"Actually, I think we can."
They all laughed when a balloon flew at Mac and broke all over him and the kids giggled as he chased them around.
Later that night, Emma was asleep in her new room and Patrick walked out to find Robin. They had moved into the house together a week earlier after everything was finalized, but they hadn't consummated their relationship. Neither one had really said anything about it, but it just wasn't right. First it was because Robin had to take time to heal after the taser and then moving became a priority. Patrick also didn't want to push her into anything.
She still slept on the couch.
"Robin? Can you come inside?" he asked when he saw her sitting outside.
She didn't answer and he walked closer.
"Robin?" he said and she turned and hit him with a water balloon, the water soaking his chest.
"Oh, you did not just do that," he grinned and tried to grab the few balloons she still had in the basket.
She threw another one at him and he finally grabbed one and hit her in the arm, the balloon not even breaking.
"Okay, that's embarrassing," he said and she laughed.
She picked the balloon up and walked to him, pulling him to her before she put the balloon between them. She hugged him and the balloon popped.
"That was hot," he said softly as he leaned in and kissed her.
"Let's go inside," she said and took his hand, leading him in. He locked the doors and she watched him before they went into the bedroom where their new bed was waiting.
"I know we haven't really done much yet, but I need to tell you something," she said as she walked to face him.
He ached to touch her and hold her, but he refrained, waiting for what she needed.
"These past two months, just being with you and Emma, talking and living our lives as a family has been the best thing I could have ever experienced. You have been by my side with no expectations and no pressure. You hold me when I ask and you let me go when I'm overwhelmed. You have shown me compassion and understanding and I have grown more in love with you every moment."
He ran his finger over her cheek and to her lips before he cupped her face in his hands.
"I only want you to be happy. I pray every day that you find happiness with me, but I have learned that this is a journey and not a destination. I want the journey. I want the fun days and nights. I want the stress of working and coming home to you and Emma. I want you to believe in me and our love and I never ever want you to question this ever again," he said passionately.
She smiled and looked at the bed.
"I think it's time I became reacquainted with every part of you and how good it feels to lie in your arms. Give me one minute," she said and disappeared into the bathroom.
He took in a deep breath and let it out. He was nervous and excited and both of those were welcome feelings. He had no doubt in his mind that he was where he belonged and he didn't think he had ever been so happy.
He pulled off his shirt and pants and stood there in his boxers when she came out. He turned and froze when he saw her.
"Shit," he exhaled as she walked to him.
"You like it?" she grinned as she looked at him, naked except for shorts, his excitement beginning to show.
He moved to her and took in the tiny red teddy she wore. It was low cut and sheer and she had on a barely there pair of panties. Her hair fell over her shoulders and she looked up into his eyes with an expression he had longed for.
"You are breathtaking," he said as he wrapped his arm around her back and pulled her to him.
He gathered her in his arms and walked to the bed, placing her down and taking a minute to look at her and memorize the moment.
"What's wrong?" she reached to his hand.
"Nothing. Everything is completely right," he said and gently removed her teddy like he was opening a fragile gift. He moved to kiss her softly and tenderly before she pulled him onto her and ran her hands under his shorts and over his buttocks.
He made quick removal of his shorts and she reached between them to stroke him the way he always loved.
His hands searched for her as she moved up and down his body and she lay back as he lay next to her, propped on his elbow as he looked at her.
"I had an appointment with Kelly yesterday," she said.
"What? What's wrong? Why didn't you tell me? I would have gone with you."
She stroked his cheek and smiled.
"Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to know if there was a way I could make this better for you, for both of us, really."
He held her hand in his and kissed her fingers.
"Why didn't you talk to me? Is there something you want me to do that I haven't?"
She smiled and her eyes filled with tears.
"What's wrong?" his concern was all over his face and she sat up a little.
"You misunderstand. I hate that we have to take so many precautions when we make love. The years I was away, I imagined being with you over and over and I know we conceived Emma when the condom broke, but I don't want you to think I'm boring. I want to surprise you and make you happy in every way."
"Robin, you do. I have always been satisfied with every part of being with you. Have I made you doubt that?"
"No, this is coming out all wrong. I just wanted to try something, if you're okay with it. My viral load is undetectable and we are in a committed relationship. I had Kelly fit me for a diaphragm, so I won't get pregnant, but it's safe for us to be together without a condom. If you're okay with that. If not, I completely understand. I also understand if you don't want to be with me at all," she suddenly felt insecure.
He felt his eyes fill with tears as he looked at her.
"I love you so much. I love everything about your beautiful spirit. I love your fight and your passion and your tenderness. I love your strength and humility and your ability to humble me with one look," he put his hand on her stomach and traced a lone to her hips.
"I know how safe it is for us to make love without a condom. I know that your viral load being undetectable makes this safe in every way except the risk of pregnancy. I am the luckiest man because you are here with me and any way you allow me to love you will be everything to me."
She smiled and pulled him closer to her.
"I want to feel you, no barriers," she whispered.
He grinned and hovered over her as she made room for him. They had no more need for talking; their bodies moved together in a rhythm that was beautiful and sensitive and hot.
Patrick looked into her eyes as he joined with her and for the first time since she walked out the door, he felt the light come back into his life.
So much about this was different. There were no more lies, no more secrets and no more hesitation.
Robin felt her life was finally back and her heart was open to love. She held Patrick to her as he loved her and she forgot everything but the amazing sensations he was giving her.
A while later, they lay naked together and both were speechless.
"Are you okay?" he asked her as she lay with her head on his chest.
She smiled and traced a line down his hip.
"I'm amazing."
"Was it as good as you remembered?"
She kissed his chest and looked up at him.
"Well, I think maybe there are still some parts I forgot. Do you think we can try again?"
He grinned.
"I think I'm up for that."
She laughed as he turned to her and they came together again.
An hour later, they lay together, in love and full of hope for the future. There were no expectations; whatever would happen was what was meant to be.
For now, they were asleep, happy, and completely satisfied, and finally, in a bed.
The end.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Thank you so much for reading! Please check out my other scrubs stories.