Can you help me I’m bent
I’m so scared that I’ll never
Get put back together
You’re breaking me in
And this is how we will end
With you and me bent

June 26, 2006

General Hospital: Nurse’s Station

Robin stepped up to the nurse’s station and leveled an irritated stare at her best friend. “This whole thing about you being mine and Patrick’s friend was destined to backfire on me.”

Elizabeth flushed guiltily. “He played the Cam card, Robin. You know I don’t think straight when people do that. It’s dirty pool.”

“Uh huh,” Robin murmured. “And the board member?”

“Hey, Patrick deserves to know stuff like that.” Elizabeth shrugged. “Look, I’m sorry, Robin and I hope you’re not really mad at me but if Patrick is going to be a part of this baby’s life, he deserves to know what people are saying.”

“Fine,” Robin sighed. “I’m not even that mad. I’m starting to feel like maybe Patrick wants this baby.”

“I knew he had it in him. He’s going to be like Jason in that way–never gave one thought about being a father and he’ll turn out to be better than you ever would have expected,” Elizabeth said.

“Yeah, Jason was really good with Michael. It’s a shame he never had children of his own,” Robin sighed. “But I think you’re right. So, since we’re on the subject of good parenting, I need Steven’s contact info.”

“Sure thing.” Elizabeth dug in her pocket for the slip of paper she’d written her brother’s information down. “I sure hope you agree to be his patient. It’d be nice to see Steven again and he’s really excited about the line of work he’s in.”

“Well, I did some research and even though he’s new to the field, he’s had a lot of success. You really can’t go wrong with that.” Robin put the contact information in her pocket. “I’ll be back at work next week. I just needed these few days.”

“Oh, completely understandable. How are you feeling otherwise?” Elizabeth asked. “I know for the first few weeks when I was pregnant with Cam, I felt like a Mack truck hit me.”

Robin sighed. “Well, I’ve been so caught up in other aspects of this that I haven’t really been able to separate the physical stuff from the emotional stuff though I bet that’s why I feel like crying so much.”

“You should try to get some sleep,” Elizabeth advised. “The more you fight it, the more embarrassing it’s going to be when you just conk out. You could be sitting at dinner and pass out — or worse, in a public place.”

“I’ll call you later,” Robin said with a smile. “Thanks for the number.”

Scorpio-Jones House: Living Room

Anna pulled open the door and smiled broadly. “Dr. Drake, it’s so nice of you to come so quickly.”

“Ah, well, you said it was important.” Patrick stepped into the Scorpio house and looked around. “Where’s Robin? Is something wrong?”

“Nothing at all.” Anna gestured for Patrick to take a seat on the sofa. “I thought we should have a chance to speak.”

Patrick glanced at Robin’s mother a bit nervously. “What about?”

“My favorite topic of course,” Anna waited for Patrick to seat himself before sitting in the adjacent arm chair. She crossed her legs at the ankle and smiled at him. “All things that will happen to you if you hurt my daughter.”

He coughed. “I’m sorry?”

“Robin is my daughter and I spent the most important part of her life with amnesia. I never had the chance to get to know either of the men who came before you. I’m sure I wouldn’t have had a problem with Stone. All indications are that he loved her and they were happy together. However, if I had had some face time with Jason Morgan, I assure you things would have turned out differently.” Anna leaned towards him. “Now, you’re very cute and I think that you’re well aware of that. And the problem I’m having is that I’ve heard some very disheartening things about you.”

“From Robin, no doubt,” Patrick muttered.

Anna pretended not to hear him. “Now, there’s nothing wrong with dating a few girls until you find the right one. The only thing I want to be assured of is that you don’t plan on letting anyone come between you and my grandchild. I know that you and Robin aren’t together–”

“Ms. Devane,” Patrick held up a hand. “I don’t plan on there being anyone to come between us. I’m going to ask Robin to marry me.”

Anna sat back and arched an eyebrow. “I thought you already had. And that she turned you down.”

“I didn’t ask, I kind of…” Patrick shrugged. “I was raised in a two-parent home. That’s the only family I know. I want to give our child the best of what I had, Ms. Devane and I know that part of Robin understands that.”

“All right,” Anna said slowly. “That’s very admirable. But a marriage of convenience is not at all what I had in mind for Robin. She’s had a lot of loss and tragedy in her short life and I would really like to prevent that so if you’re doing this because you think it’s the right thing to do–”

“It is the right thing to do,” Patrick cut in. “But it’s not about obligation. And it’s not about responsibility although those are part of it. It’s about our baby and giving him or her the best chance at life that we can and I think that’s a two-parent home and not being shuffled back and forth.”

“You can say it,” Anna remarked. “You want the opposite of what Robin had growing up. Two parents from the start to the finish. And believe me, that’s what I want for Robin. But I also want her happy. And I’m not sure if you can achieve both.”

“I care about Robin,” Patrick assured her. “I can’t–I can’t speak for her and believe me, I wouldn’t attempt to. But I care about her and I’m not going to let anyone, including myself, hurt her.”

“And if you do, just remember that she has two parents who love her.” Anna smiled. “And know many ways to make things look like an accident.”

The front door opened and Mac entered. He narrowed his eyes as he took in the scene between his sister-in-law and his niece’s…whatever. “Robin is not going to approve of this, Anna.”

Anna waved him away. “Robin’s not an idiot. If she thought I wasn’t going to make sure Dr. Drake’s intentions were good, then she’s obviously not thinking clearly.” She smirked at Mac. “Besides, I believe you had your turn with young Dr. Drake.”

Mac shifted before looking at Patrick. “She’s not as scary as she likes to think.”

“And Mac’s not as good at bluffing as he likes to think,” Anna replied. “Have you heard from Robert? Do you know when he’s supposed to arrive?”

“Ah, the first week of July.” Mac scratched his neck. “When are you heading back to Paris? Soon, right?”

“Oh, not until I see my darling husband.” Anna looked at Patrick. “Because we are unfortunately still married. Although I think he might be technically married to Holly. So it’s actually possible my marriage to David wasn’t invalid.”

“A mistake but maybe not invalid,” Mac muttered.

Patrick’s pager beeped and he tried not to let his relief show. Robin’s relatives clearly cared for her and he was more than assured that if something were to make Robin very unhappy, he would probably not live to make right.

“I, ah, I have to go to the hospital.” Patrick stood and looked between the two of them before hurrying out.

“Oh, he’s lovely, isn’t he?” Anna said with a sigh. “He’s going to break her heart.”

“If she doesn’t break his first,” Mac replied. “They’re enough to drive a man to drink. You weren’t here for the first few rounds between the two of them. I’m amazed they’re still alive. The only people I’ve seen with a relationship like this are you and Robert.”

“Oh, that bodes well,” Anna rolled her eyes.

General Hospital: Alan’s Office

“Patrick, thanks for coming so quickly.” Alan stood and shook his hand. “I know you must be anxious for these results.”

Patrick took a seat in front of Alan’s desk and shook his head. “No, but I know Robin is. She’s…she was upset by the possibility.”

“Of course.” Alan sat down and reached for the folder that held the results of Patrick’s HIV test. “I was the one that had to tell her that she had tested positive. It was one of the most difficult moments of my entire career. I’m just glad I don’t have to do that again.”

“So you mean…”

“You tested negative,” Alan confirmed. “You’ll have to be tested again in six months and to be on the safe side, six months after that. But the test was negative.”

Patrick exhaled slowly. “Good. That’s–that’s one less thing for Robin to worry about. With the baby and everything. Thank you, Dr. Quartermaine, for handling this personally.”

“I would do nothing less for Robin Scorpio. You may not realize this, Dr. Drake, but the entire town has watched Robin grow up. She’s very dear to nearly everyone who knows her. I would be extremely careful with her.”

“Yeah…I just had this conversation with Robin’s mother and uncle,” Patrick nodded. “I get the picture–I hurt her and no one ever finds my body.”

“Well, I would have just pulled some strings to get you fired but that works.” Alan waited a moment and then grinned when Patrick’s faced paled. “You’re going to have to work on that sense of humor, Patrick. You’re going to need it–especially if you have a daughter.”

It was good Robin had so many people who cared about her, Patrick decided as he shook Alan’s hand and left the office. Support from friends and family would be very handy. But he wouldn’t mind if people would lay off the death threats.

Robin was loitering in the hall outside Alan’s office. “Ah, Alan called and said–the results were in.” She hesitated. “Do you mind?”

“No…I was just coming to find you. It was negative, Robin,” Patrick told her. “I’ll have to get tested twice more but the chances were already low.”

Robin nodded. “Stone tested negative once,” she said quietly. “And then three years later, he tested positive. I guess…it’s just a matter of luck.” She tucked her hair behind her ears. “Patrick–”

“Tomorrow night,” he interrupted. “I think we should talk about–about everything tomorrow night. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Okay,” Robin nodded. “I’m glad–I’m glad the tests came out negative. I mean, I’m still worried about the next two tests–but you’re right. The chances were low to begin with so this is good news.”

“Definitely.” Patrick stepped towards her. “So, tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow,” Robin agreed and was startled when he kissed her cheek before leaving to start his shift.

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