Take A Chance On Me
By Candie

Chapters 5-6

Chapter 5

- The Next Day
Setting: Kelly’s Diner
(Robin is sitting at the corner table reading the Port Charles Gazette while picking at a lemon poppy-seed muffin. She’s staring down at the crossword puzzle as her mind goes back to the previous night. Patrick and Robin just finished dinner and it was getting late. They both had an early shift today so it was her idea that he should probably head over to his room. There were definitely a few awkward moments, as to what would be the proper "good night." That was resolved when Robin’s phone rang. It was an international call from her mother so she had to take it and Patrick quietly excused himself. She had spent a good two hours filling Anna in on everything. There was so much to tell her. There was Jason’s recovery, meeting Patrick… just simply Patrick. Robin couldn’t believe she spent most of her conversation with her mother talking about Patrick. She hadn’t meant to, but everything somehow came back to him. Robin snaps out of her thoughts when she feels someone plop down across from her. Her eyes widen slightly at the sight of Patrick.)

Patrick: Do you always wake up this early?
Robin: When I have work? Yes.
(Patrick looks at his watch.)
Patrick: In an hour and a half.
Robin: How does my sleeping pattern affect you?
Patrick: It doesn’t. It’s just that those walls are so thin, I heard your shower at 5am.
Robin: Sorry… I’ll try to shower later tomorrow.
Patrick: Good. (looks at her) Thank you.
Robin: For promising to shower later?
Patrick: That. And for last night.
(Before Robin can respond, the door to Kelly’s opens revealing Jax. He immediately sees Robin and walks over to her.)
Jax: Robin.
Robin (smiling): Jax!
(Patrick watches curiously as Jax kneels down beside Robin and takes her hand in his.)
Jax: Will you ever forgive me?
Robin: Jax…
Jax: I’ve been so preoccupied with Courtney and the baby and…
(Robin smiles and looks at Jax simply.)
Robin: No apologies, ever. (simply) We’re good, Jax. We’ll always be good.
Jax (sighs): Robin, I’ve missed you. Come here.
(Patrick watches as Jax pulls Robin toward him and hugs her tightly. They pull apart slowly.)
Jax: Are you on your way to GH?
Robin: Yeah, my shift starts in about an hour or so.
Jax: Mac told me that you’re staying here. Are you happy?
Robin: Very.
Jax: And the neighbors…
Patrick (annoyed): Are great!
(Jax finally turns his head and notices Patrick.)
Jax: I’m sorry. I was being rude. (he stands up) I was interrupting.
Robin: No… it was just breakfast. Jax, this is Patrick Drake. He’s the surgeon who operated on Jason.
Jax: Right. (shakes his hand) Nice to meet you.
Patrick: Yeah.
(Robin looks at Patrick and has to smirk. He seemed almost… jealous.)
Jax: Robin, we have to get together – just you and me… name the place, time, anything.
Robin: Okay.
Jax: And by place… I mean, you can choose Malibu, Hawaii, Madagascar, if you want.
Robin: Madagascar… nice, but Port Charles works for me.
Jax: Good. Call me.
(Patrick watches Jax kiss the top of Robin’s head then heads toward the counter of Kelly’s. Once they’re alone, Patrick looks directly at Robin.)
Patrick: Please tell me that wasn’t real.
Robin: Jax is special.
Patrick: Madagascar? Come on!
Robin: Jax is… he’s a traveler and he’s a businessman, a brilliant one. Jax is a really good man.
Patrick: Good man? You are just filled with surprises, Dr. Scorpio. So, were you two involved?
Robin (shocked): Of course not! Jax is one of my oldest friends.
Patrick: Who kisses your head and offers to take you to places that the average person can’t even pronounce.
Robin: Jax is just special.
Patrick: Like Nikolas was special?
Robin: I know that I should be flattered for you noticing, but… Nikolas and Jax are just my friends.
Patrick: And yet you don’t find their attention to be pity? When Nikolas kisses your hand or Jax offers to whisk you off… that’s not pity, but when I kiss you, it is?
Robin: We made no progress last night, did we?
Patrick: Robin…
Robin (frustrated): I’m going to work.
Patrick: It’s early.
Robin: I left work early yesterday… so I have to go.
(Robin picks up her purse then leaves Kelly’s. Patrick stares straight ahead then sighs when Carly plops down across from him.)
Carly: I thought I warned you about her.

Setting: The Women’s Locker Room at GH
(Robin walks into the locker room of GH and quickly toward her locker. She forcefully opens the locker and sighs loudly. She looks up when she hears Emily’s voice behind her.)

Emily: Hey Robin.
Robin: Emily.
(Emily looks at Robin.)
Emily: So, am I still the talk of GH?
(Robin closes her locker.)
Robin: I’m not sure I know what you’re referring to.
Emily: Patrick and I… Liz warned me that everyone was talking.
Robin: I haven’t heard anything today.
Emily (relieved): Good.
(Emily sits on the bench and pushes her hair back.)
Emily: It really was just dinner that turned into… something insane. (laughs) I told him next time we’re going to a safer place like Kelly’s or Metro Court.
Robin (looks at Emily): Next time?
Emily: You know… if there is a next time.
Robin: Right. Well, Patrick lives above Kelly’s now… so I’m sure that’d be real convenient.
Emily: Robin…
Robin: I have to make my rounds.
(Emily watches Robin leave the lockers. Just as Robin walks out of the locker room, she sees Patrick getting off the elevator with Carly. This morning is definitely getting better by the moment. She freezes for a moment then continues down the hall. Liz watches this all from behind the nurses’ station and shakes her head.)
Carly: I really did walk with you so I could see my mother.
Patrick: And sticking it to Robin?
Carly: An added bonus.
(Patrick watches Carly walk off. Liz looks at Patrick and shakes her head as he approaches her.)
Liz: I know why you walked here with Carly.
Patrick: We were walking in the same direction.
Liz: Right… and she is the one person that would get a rise out of Robin.
Patrick: You know, with Carly what you see is what you get. I respect that.
Liz: Respect that? There is nothing you should respect about Carly.
Patrick: I take it as you’re not a member of her fan club either.
Liz: Carly hurts people for fun. It’s like a hobby to her. The way some people take up knitting or stamp collecting, Carly looks to see how many people she can hurt in a given day. (sighs) She uses people, Patrick. And if you let her, she’ll use you as a means to an end without looking back.
Patrick: You think I’m that gullible?
Liz: No, I think Carly’s that good. She’ll use you to make Sonny jealous, to simply annoy Robin… hell, she’ll use you to pretend she has one single friend other than Jason.
Patrick: Why are you telling me this?
Liz: Because I am not blind, Patrick. Look, I don’t know you all that well… I don’t even know Robin all that well. All I know is that she’s one of my husband’s childhood friends and that she’s a good person. But I do know Carly and I know her lies. (sighs) And I work here every day and I see you with Robin. Whatever load of bull Carly is serving you, it’s not worth it. I can promise you that; it’s not worth it.

Setting: The Corridors of GH
(Robin walks out of one of the patient’s rooms and stops short when she sees Patrick standing in front of her.)

Robin: Excuse me.
Patrick: Robin, do you have a moment?
Robin: I was about to take a break… sure.
(Robin follows Patrick to the sunroom. There’s an awkward silence as they step out to the privacy of the sunroom. Patrick finally turns toward Robin.)
Patrick: Carly was coming here to see her mother.
Robin: You don’t owe me an explanation.
Patrick: Robin, I don’t want to hurt you. (pauses) But, I feel like it’s too easy to hurt you… and not because of the HIV, but because you’re waiting for me to. I mess up, Robin. I’m not perfect. I won’t always say the right thing… half the time, I don’t even know what the right thing to say is.
Robin: I don’t… (moves closer to him) I don’t want perfection, Patrick. I’ve already been with someone that I thought was perfect and they were far from it. I don’t want a gift from the heavens. I don’t want an angel walking. (pauses) I just… I want a man. I want to get to know you as simply a man – a man with complications and intelligence who challenges me. (emotionally) I want to be able to admit when I’m wrong without being judged or have this constant fear that I can mess up. (tearfully) I want the chance to be like everyone else. I don’t want to be put on a pedestal. I don’t want to be anyone’s saint. I want you to think I’m a jerk, if I deserve it. I want you to call me out when I’m being rude. I need someone that when they look at me, they don’t see the HIV and treat me with "kid gloves." (softly) I don’t need you to be all those things, but… I just need to know that I’m not by myself here. (emotionally) That I’m not alone feeling these things… that’s all I need from you right now.
(Patrick moves closer to Robin and looks down at her.)
Patrick: You’re not. (pushes her hair off her shoulder) You’re not alone in any of this. Robin, I’ve been trying to get your attention. That’s all I’ve wanted since I met you, but none of my classic tricks worked on you. So, I resorted to old-fashioned jealousy… I could care less about Emily Quartermaine. The bar room brawl was the most exciting part of the entire night. And Carly Corinthos… she’s a joke, a walking joke. (looks at her) Robin, I want you. Bad attitude and all.
(Robin tearfully laughs.)
Robin: Oh, that’s nice.
(Patrick raises one of his hands and caresses the side of Robin’s face while looking down at her.)
Patrick: I watched you the other day with Nikolas and even this morning with Jax; you let your guard down with them. You let them in. You gave them your undivided attention. And I reacted the way I did because I wanted that.
Robin: Patrick… you got my attention, trust me. (shakes her head) They’re different. (looks at him) You’re different.
Patrick (softly): Robin…
Robin: I won’t push you away this time. (diverts her gaze) At least I’ll try not to.
(Patrick gently lifts Robin’s face toward his then lowers his mouth toward hers until they’re barely touching. Robin closes her eyes in eager anticipation as Patrick pulls away slightly and looks at Robin. She was so beautiful and he had wanted to kiss her again for so long. That kiss on New Years Eve, he brought on; she wasn’t looking for it, waiting for it. Now she was waiting for him. He slowly lowers his mouth to hers then gently kisses her. Robin smiles as she raises her fingers and gently touches Patrick’s face. And it was in that moment he was a goner. He had never felt lips that soft or tasted a kiss as sweet as hers. Patrick couldn’t stop himself; he kissed her deeper, forcing her to part her lips slightly. All time had frozen in that moment and would’ve stayed frozen, but suddenly there was a vibrating sensation between them and Robin pulls away slowly. She looks down between them, slightly out of breath.)
Robin: That’s you.
(Patrick checks his beeper then looks back at her.)
Patrick: So, who did you have beep me?
(Robin laughs and hits him softly.)
Robin: Maybe it’s one of your many dates.
Patrick: You’re right, I better go then.
(Patrick starts to run away, but Robin reaches toward him and gently grabs his wrist. He stops and looks back at her, smiling.)
Robin: That was… that was nice.
(Patrick leans in toward her.)
Patrick: I know.
(A taken back Robin laughs a bit as Patrick kisses her on the cheek then leaves her standing alone in the sun room.)
Robin (sighs): Still arrogant.

Chapter 6

- Hours Later
Setting: Robin’s Room at Kelly’s
(It’s late in the evening. Robin is sitting on her bed, flipping through a magazine as some light music plays softly in the background. Her hair is pulled up and she’s simply wearing a tank top and pajama bottoms. She sighs slightly as her mind goes back to kissing Patrick. Her fingers gently touch her lips as she closes her eyes. She hadn’t kissed someone like that in years, maybe ever. It felt… almost dangerous. Robin’s jumps from her thoughts when her phone rings and she answers it quickly.)

Robin: Hello?
Liz: Robin?
(Robin sits up straighter.)
Robin: Liz? What’s wrong?
Liz: I hate to do this to you. I know you haven’t been home long, but… I think we need you back at GH.
Robin: Sure. (concerned) What’s wrong?
Liz: We don’t know. Edward Quartermaine came in earlier with advance-stage pneumonia-like symptoms and a few moments ago Alexis Davis called saying that she was bringing Ric in with what sounds like extremely similar symptoms… and if that’s not bad enough, Leticia’s bringing Morgan in.
Robin: Wait… they all have the same symptoms?
Liz: It’s freaky, Robin. And we don’t have enough doctors on staff to take care of all of them. I wouldn’t have called you, but Alan said he wanted you.
Robin: No, you did the right thing. I’m on my way.
(Robin throws on a pair of jeans and loosens her hair. She quickly finds a sweater to throw over her tank top then runs toward her door to leave. She stops shortly as just as she opens it, she sees Patrick.)
Robin: Patrick.
Patrick: Nurse Webber called you too.
Robin: What do you think it is?
Patrick: I don’t know… but we’ll have time to discuss it on the way to GH. Let’s go.

Setting: General Hospital
(The elevator doors open. Robin and Patrick are immediately hit with the pandemonium of craziness. Doctors, nurses, families are all running in different directions. Robin and Patrick look at each other.)

Robin: When we left, GH looked nothing like this.
Patrick: No, it didn’t. Let’s get to the bottom of this.
(Robin and Patrick walk toward the Nurses’ Station. Before they can even ask the on-duty nurse where they are needed, Tony Jones runs up to Robin and frantically approaches her.)
Tony: Robin! Thank goodness!
Robin: Tony, what’s going on?
Tony: Alan wanted us to find you immediately. We need your research expertise. He is convinced that what is spreading through Port Charles is not a common flu-like bug. He is certain that it’s a virus.
Robin: Have you notified the CDC?
Tony: They’re sending one of their specialists… but Robin, you are the best researcher I know.
Robin (quickly): Okay. Where are the patients? What are the symptoms?
Tony: We’ve placed them all in the north wing of the 6th floor.
Robin: Okay… let’s go.
(Robin starts to follow Tony, but stops when Patrick grabs her wrist. She looks at him.)
Patrick: Are you sure this is a good idea?
Robin: What do you mean?
Patrick: These people… they could be contagious.
Robin: Patrick, I’m a doctor.
Patrick: And unless, you want to need one as well…
Robin: It’s my job.
(Tony turns back and looks at her.)
Tony: Robin, are you coming?
(Robin looks at Patrick again.)
Robin: It’s just looking at their symptoms and some test results. I’ll be fine. Go check on your cases.
(Patrick looks at Tony.)
Patrick: Dr. Jones, where’s Dr. Quartermaine?
Tony: He’s with his father… where I’m taking Robin.
Patrick: I’ll tag along then.
(Robin and Patrick walk into the elevator with Tony. It was clear that Patrick did not want Robin going up to see the patients. Once they get off on the 6th floor, Robin and Patrick follow Tony. The pandemonium was up here as well. When they reach the northern wing, Robin looks at Patrick.)
Robin: I’ll find you later.
(Tony looks at Patrick.)
Tony: Alan is toward the end of the hall with his family. I should warn you, his father is pretty bad. If this is a work-related question…
Patrick: It’ll be quick.
Tony: Okay. (looks at Robin) Robin, we have to go this way.
(Patrick watches Robin and Tony disappear down the hall. Once they’re gone, he heads directly toward Edward Quartermaine’s hospital room. He stops shortly when he sees Emily sitting by the bedside holding the hand, of who he assumed to be Edward Quartermaine. He finally sees Alan Quartermaine reading his father’s chart in the corner of the room. Patrick quietly knocks on the door then enters it.)
Patrick: I’m sorry to interrupt…
(Alan looks up at the sound of Patrick’s voice.)
Alan: Dr. Drake?
Patrick: Dr Quartermaine, can I speak to you for a moment?
Alan: Sure.
(Patrick and Alan walk out of Edward’s room. Once they’re alone, Patrick turns toward Alan with his arms in front of his chest.)
Patrick: I’m sorry to hear about your father.
Alan: This virus is affecting a lot of the Port Charles’ residents. I was told they just brought Ric Lansing in.
Patrick: I’m sorry to hear that. Uh… you requested Dr. Scorpio come in?
Alan: She’s a brilliant researcher. I saw firsthand the drug she developed. It takes most researchers years to develop a drug of that caliber.
Patrick: Yes, but she wasn’t working on a drug to cure a virus that seems to be not only contagious, but deadly. Dr. Quartermaine, with all due respect, you are asking an HIV+ woman to expose herself to some unknown virus.
Alan: Robin is not only a professional, but an intelligent woman who’s lived with HIV for several years. She knows what her body can handle and what it cannot.
Patrick (annoyed): And did your father think his body could handle this virus? Did he know when it was about to attack?
Alan: DR. DRAKE!
Patrick: You are putting Robin’s life at risk to save your own father!
Alan: I resent that! Robin Scorpio may be the only chance we have at getting a head start on finding out what virus is ripping through Port Charles.
Patrick: The CDC…
Alan: The CDC will send someone, but this is not an immediate concern yet. As harsh as it sounds, they need fatalities before they consider it an emergency. And yes, maybe it is selfish, but I don’t want to wait until someone dies before we get help.
Patrick: And I don’t think you should ask Robin to expose herself to a virus that could jeopardize her immune system! You are Alan Quartermaine, call in some favors, hell… I would call in a few… but you have to find someone other than Robin to start researching a drug therapy for these patients.
Alan: There isn’t enough time.
(An annoyed Patrick clenches his fists angrily.)
Patrick: Time?!?! Enough time?!?! You are sitting by your father’s bedside reading a medical chart. Your daughter, who happens to be one of our leading medical students, is holding the old man’s hand. You could both be in a lab right now going through the same journals you expect Dr. Scorpio to go through. You have her looking at these patients, examining them, then hiding away in some lab hoping to come up with a cure! You want to talk about wasting time?!? (looks at his watch) You wasted a good hour just waiting for Dr. Scorpio to arrive.
Alan: You are crossing a line, Dr. Drake.
Patrick: And I will continue to cross it until you take Dr. Scorpio off this case and order her to go home.
Robin (angrily): He will do no such thing.
(Patrick turns around and sees Robin standing behind him with Tony standing next to her. He shakes his head. Robin looks at Alan.)
Robin: Alan, these patients all have extreme viral infections.
Alan: I know.
Robin: The blood work-ups… they make no sense. They all have a common thread, but I can’t see it… at least right now. I examined Ric Lansing when he came in and...
Patrick: Are you insane?!?!
(Robin’s head snaps and she looks at Patrick.)
Robin: What was I supposed to do?
Patrick: Quarantine him then get the hell away.
Robin: Because he’s contagious? (emotionally) Do you realize how many people think that they should ship every single person that tests positive for HIV off somewhere? That we should live in communities only with each other, so the disease doesn’t spread.
Patrick: This is so different, Robin… do not go there.
Robin: These people need my help.
Patrick: These people have a virus that could do a hell of a lot more damage to your immune system than it could do to mine. (looks at Alan) Or Dr. Quartermaine. (looks at Tony) Or Dr. Jones, here.
(Robin just looks away. Patrick looks at Alan.)
Patrick: You are putting her at risk.
Robin: This is my decision. And I want to do my job.
Patrick: There is such a thing as over dedication.
Robin: You are one of the most dedicated doctors I know, Patrick; don’t talk to me about being over dedicated. (looks at Alan) Can I please tell you about my findings?
Alan: Of course. (looks at Patrick) Would you like to hear these as well?
Patrick: I’m here, I am going to help.
Alan: Robin?
Robin: Ric Lansing came down with flu-like symptoms about two days ago which got continuously worse. His breathing is extremely shallow and…
Patrick (annoyed): You examined his breathing?
Robin: And I think he has fluid in his lungs.
Alan: Just like father. (Sighs) What do you recommend the next steps are?
Robin: I’d like to look in on Edward then check Morgan. Liz told me there were other patients too?
Tony: I’m going to check on the other dozen and Monica is with the others.
(Robin looks at Patrick.)
Patrick (reluctantly): And I’ll go see where my services are needed.
(Alan nods. He looks at Robin.)
Alan: I’ll take you to father.
(Robin starts walking with Alan, but stops for a moment.)
Robin: Alan, can I have just one moment with Dr. Drake?
Alan: Of course.
(Robin turns toward Patrick as Alan disappears into Edward’s room.)
Robin: Alan would never put my health in danger.
Patrick: His father is sick, Robin. Trust me, he is not thinking with the clearest of heads.
Robin: If Alan didn’t ask me, I’d still want to help.
Patrick: Robin, you do realize that you could be more susceptible to this virus? At least, tell me you do realize that.
(Robin looks down then back up at Patrick.)
Robin: Yes.
Patrick: Okay. (simply) So, what are you going to do?
Robin: Help find a cure before…
Patrick (looks at her): Before you need one?
Robin: Before someone has to die. (pauses) Look… I appreciate you caring, but…
Patrick: Just be careful.
Robin: On one condition.
Patrick (reluctantly): What?
Robin (simply): Never ask Alan again to take me off of a case because I’m HIV+. That is my call to make.
Patrick: I have a problem with that because… you won’t make it, Robin. You didn’t choose surgery because of your potential patient’s concerns – not your own. You will put these people’s lives before your own.
Robin: Some may say that’s what will make me a good doctor.
Patrick (frustrated): Right now… I don’t want you to be a good doctor. I want you to be alive.
Robin: You want me to be selfish.
Patrick: Is that so bad?
Robin: It’s not who I am, Patrick. You know that. You are asking me to go against who I am, what I believe. (emotionally) I have to help these people. (pauses) And if I had your support and help, it’d mean a lot to me.
(Patrick looks away.)
Robin: You’re the most brilliant doctor I know, Patrick. (he looks at her) Even you said, I was your intellectual equal. If we put our brains together on this…
Patrick: I’m sold, Scorpio. (smiles) You sold me the second you called me brilliant.
(Robin laughs.)
Robin: Figures.
Patrick: Come here.
(Patrick pulls Robin toward him then kisses her softly. He looks down at her after he pulls away slowly.)
Patrick: I’ll meet you in the lab in about an hour.
Robin (softly): Thank you.
Patrick: Now, go save the world… you know you want to.
(Robin rolls her eyes then walks toward Edward’s room. Patrick watches her then notices that more and more patients are getting admitted by the minute. This was definitely a more dangerous virus than Robin can even imagine.)
Patrick: Damn Alan.

to be continued...

Close window to return home

The Romantic Garden's Site  was created, designed, and is maintained by Heather.
Copyright © The RG Site 1998. All rights reserved.