She went to bed on Christmas Eve 2002, she was completely sure about that. The studio had been cold–she’d been the only person there.
And there’d been no Christmas tree. She hadn’t had the heart to put one up. Because then she’d either have to break out the paper chains or buy new decorations.
And to buy new decorations, she’d have to think about the reason she wasn’t going to be using her old decorations.
And then she’d think about Jason.
Which defeated the purpose of her entire life right now.
So, she knew it was December 24, 2002 when she went to sleep that night.
But when Elizabeth Webber opened her eyes the next morning, she knew right away something was different.
The ceiling she was looking at was further away. She was sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag.
And someone was sleeping on her couch. She sat up, avoiding the couch. She turned to look at her tree.
And blinked. It was the Christmas tree she’d decorated three years ago. With the paper chains and the angel topper. There were the gifts she’d put under the tree.
Elizabeth closed her eyes and turned her head back towards the couch. She opened her eyes slowly.
Jason Morgan was lying there, sleeping.
Elizabeth exhaled slowly. She looked at her left shoulder and shoved the collar of her blue sweat shirt aside to look at her shoulder.
The scar that had been present since the shooting in August was gone.
Okay, no reason to panic, Elizabeth told herself. You’re just dreaming. This was one of the happiest holidays of your life. Of course you’d dream about it during one of the most miserable ones.
She stared down at her arm, studied it for a second and then she pinched herself.
She looked back up, expecting…some sort of change. When the scene around her didn’t change, she bit her lip hard.
“Ow,” she hissed, drawing blood. She touched her fingers to her lip, studying the couch again.
Nope. Still a sleeping Jason.
She looked at him, then and realized that this was the Jason she remembered from then. He had shorter hair and Elizabeth realized he must have been working out since then because the Jason of the present day was more muscular.
Not that this Jason was all that bad, she noted, drinking in his sleeping form. After all, this was the Jason she’d fallen in love with in the first place.
And as if on cue, Jason opened his eyes.
“Hey,” he said, shifting on the couch for a second before sitting up. “I can’t believe you didn’t wake me up before now.”
She just stared at him. “Elizabeth…” he prompted.
When she didn’t answer, he frowned. “Elizabeth?”
“I think I’ve lost my mind,” she murmured. She blinked and shook her head. No…there had to be some sort of catch. This had to be a dream. There had to be some reasonable and logical explanation for this.
“What’s today?” she asked him.
“Is this some sort of test?” Jason asked, warily. “Because your birthday was in November. I know it’s Christmas.”
“What year?” Elizabeth asked, almost desperate to hear 2002. Please don’t say 1999. Please don’t say 1999.
“1999,” Jason answered. “Elizabeth–”
He stopped as she laid back and jerked the blue sleeping bag over her face. “Elizabeth, are you all right?
“No. I’m not,” her muffled voice said. “I’ve fallen into the twilight zone and I would like go home now, thank you.”
“What’s the twilight zone?” Jason asked, confused.
“I’m going back to sleep and when I wake up, I want to be back in my miserable life!”
Jason sat up and reached for the sleeping bag. He pulled it off her face. “Are you mad about yesterday?” he asked her.
Her forehead creased. “What are you talking about?” she asked. “I’m not mad about yesterday.” She frowned. “What happened yesterday?”
“Now I’m worried,” Jason said. “Nikolas…the Christmas party…?”
“Oh…that…” Elizabeth shook her head and cringed when she felt the curls fly around her face. She hadn’t curled her hair like that since…well, since Jason left town that first time. “No, that has nothing to do what’s wrong with me.”
“Oh.” He frowned when she reached for the sleeping bag still in his grip so she could pull it back over her face. He kept his grip on it. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” Elizabeth asked. “Now you ask. Figures. Let me sleep.”
“Elizabeth, what’s wrong?” Jason repeated.
She sat up so quickly, she startled Jason who leaned back and somehow managed to slip off the couch.
“Oooh, I’m sorry,” Elizabeth said, pulling her legs out from the sleeping bag and crawling over to him. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Jason said, adjusting himself so he was sitting on the floor. “You gonna tell me what’s wrong? It’s Christmas, I figured you’d be up at dawn…”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Elizabeth said, honestly.
“Try me,” Jason said.
“All right, you asked for it. When I went to sleep last night,” Elizabeth began, “It was 2002…like three years from now. You and I aren’t talking and you’re sleeping with Sonny’s sister.” At his skeptical look, she smirked. “See, I told you wouldn’t believe me.
I adjusted the featured section so that they actually lead to stories you can actuall read. Ha. I saw that a few people signed up from my messages at the old board, which made me very very happy. Hopefully more will follow!
Spent some time moving over my short fiction, which included challenge responses and general short stories. My plan for the rest of the week is to move over the episode tags and series by the end of the week, and then next week, set up the basic story pages for all the completed alternate history/universe stories. Once the basic story pages are set up, and the right codes are in place, I can just start adding stories.
I’m still working on behind-the-scenes social functions. I haven’t found anything that quite fits what I want, so I may to cobble some things together manually.
This is set in mid to late 2007. Cooper Barrett was on the show for about a year at this point. He’d joined as one of the crew in the Metro Court Hostage crisis, but he was there to protect Logan. After it was over, he cleaned up his life and joined the PCPD. Sonny learned about this and wanted him to be their informant on the PCPD. I have no idea how that ended because I was dipping in and out due to work. Cooper later died in the serial killer storyline in early 2008, and was one of the suspects.
Inspiration
I dunno, I was just interested in remembering Sonny as a good person maybe.
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Cooper Barrett had made mistakes in his life. Decisions that he regretted, paths that he wished he had avoided. Like any red-blooded human being, there were things in his life that he was not particularly proud of.
He couldn’t change the cover up he had participated in to keep his best friend out of a military prison and he couldn’t go back and tell James Craig that he would never participate in any sort of criminal activity. But maybe, just maybe he could fix this and really lead the life he wanted. He would graduate from the police academy, get married and have a few kids.
So he was taking that future in his hands (and possibly his life) and he was going after it.
“Cooper Barrett,” the swarthy guard announced. The answer from inside the room must have been satisfactory because the guard moved and motioned for Coop to enter.
Sonny Corinthos was pouring himself a glass of water. “What have you got for me?” he said brusquely. “It had better be good to make up for that incident with the shipment.”
Coop swallowed hard. “I’m here to tell you, sir, that I don’t intend to be your inside guy.”
Sonny frowned and Coop found himself pinned beneath those dark eyes. Unsure if Sonny were amused or furious, Coop forged on. “This wasn’t the kind of police work I wanted to. I’m not sure I can live with myself if I become a dirty cop.”
“There’s money to made,” Sonny replied. He set his water glass down and approached the nervous cadet. “More than what you would earn at the bottom of the feed chain at the PCPD.”
“Yes, sir, I understand that but it would not be earned ethically,” Coop said. “I’m not interested in making that kind of money.”
“Are you interested in your freedom?” Sonny asked. His tone was level, even friendly as he delivered the threats. “Are you interested in breathing?”
Coop was sure his fear was clearly expressed in his face, in the tremble of his jaw but he knew walking into this room that he might not walk back out. If that was the case, he would go out of this world with more honor and dignity than he had used while in it. “Sir, if you refer to the Metro Court hostage incident, then I understand if you feel you need to turn me in. But…” he hesitated. “But I would like to remind you that my face was never seen and Jerry Jacks was known to everyone in that building. He’s still breathing.”
Sonny couldn’t help himself. The corners of his lips quirked up and he nearly smiled. “That’s a very brave statement, Coop.”
“Yes, sir,” Coop nodded. “I’d like to ask, man to man, that you don’t ask me to do this. That you don’t ask me to comprise my principles more than I already have. With all due respect–”
“But you don’t respect me, do you, Coop?” Sonny replied. “The work, the money, the life, you don’t respect any of it?”
“No sir,” Coop admitted. “I don’t respect any of it, but I do respect you. I respect that you pulled yourself out of the streets and you made a life you wanted on your terms. It would be difficult to find anyone to who didn’t respect at least that.” He hesitated. “All I’m asking, sir, is that you extend the same courtesy to me.”
There was a long pause and then Sonny closed his eyes. “Well played, Cooper. Well played. Appeal to my better nature.” He opened his eyes and focused on Cooper. “From now on, you and I are strangers. I never saw you inside that hotel and you’ve never worked for me.”
“Thank you , sir.” Coop nodded and then left the room, feeling a little bit lighter in the shoulders.
This set after August 15, 2006 when Jason and Elizabeth slept together. This story is written in Carly’s POV, and during this time period, she’d moved into a new era of her character. She was managing the Metro Court and becoming closer to Lulu, who had recently learned she was pregnant after a brief relationship with Dillon Quartermaine.
Inspiration
I really loved GH back in 2006, and I wrote a ton of character pieces, just having fun with these people I loved to spend time with. Laura Wright’s first two or three years of Carly rejuvenated my love for the a character which led me here. Ironic, honestly.
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Carly Corinthos was having a very bad day, thank you very much. She’d overslept, missed a meeting with suppliers at the hotel and then had to cancel lunch with an investor for a new club because her pregnant cousin needed someone to drive her to the hospital for a doctor’s appointment because the useless moron who had impregnated her had had some sort of family emergency. Carly always dropped everything for Lulu because she wanted the girl to know that someone was at least on her side in all this. As long as Lu didn’t feel alone, she might not do any Carly-like things and screw up her life.
And her day was getting worse after running into Sam at the hospital and seeing her all teary over Alexis, who’d been sick for months and had hidden the illness. If Carly had a husband as annoying as Ric and a daughter as useless as Sam, she would have hidden it too. You just couldn’t depend on people to take care of things for you–especially not your kids. Sam had been all teary-eyed because she and Jason were still not back together and the only way to shut Sam the hell up was to promise to talk to Jason.
She’d talk to him, he’d ignore her and then with any luck, she could go home, eat dinner with her boys and maybe this day would end better than it had started.
She shoved open the penthouse door (Carly Corinthos never knocked and didn’t intend to start, knocking was for people who had time to waste and she didn’t) and shrieked. “Oh, my God, I’m blind!” She slapped her hands over her eyes.
A brunette squeaked and fell off the couch, grappling for something to cover her naked body.
“Carly,” Jason Morgan glared at her and tossed Elizabeth Spencer the t-shirt from the back of the couch. He tugged a pillow over his middle. “What the hell do you want?”
“Can’t talk, traumatized.”
Elizabeth sprang to her feet and tugged the shirt down further, as if it didn’t already come very close to reaching her knees. She looked around frantically and found Jason’s jeans tossed over the pool table. She skirted around the sofa and tossed them to him. “Ah, Carly–”
“Oh, god I wasn’t hallucinating,” Carl whimpered, “you really are here.”
“Carly,” Jason growled, sliding into his jeans and pulling them up around his waist. He zipped them but didn’t bother with the button. “What do you want?”
“Is it safe to look yet?” Carly asked, not moving her hands.
“Oh my God,” Elizabeth muttered, dragging her fingers through her tousled curls. “Carly–”
“Carly, take your damn hands from your eyes and tell me what you want,” Jason said shortly.
“Okay, okay…” Carly reluctantly slid her hands away and breathed in relief. “Good, you’re somewhat decent.” Still, she felt somewhat nauseous and damn, Jason looked pissed. She must have interrupted him before he could finish–oh, God, she was going to be sick. “Um, so my reason for coming here is obviously moot now.”
“Just say it and go,” Jason replied, irritated.
She frowned and glanced at Elizabeth before looking at Jason oddly. “How long has this been going on anyway?” She gasped. “Is this why you really broke up with Sam?”
“Oh my god,” Elizabeth repeated. She leaned against the pool table. “This isn’t happening to me.”
Jason strode forward, grabbed Carly’s hand and shoved her into the hall. He joined her, shutting the penthouse door behind him. “From now on, you knock,” he instructed, jabbing a finger in her face.
“Do you intend on screwing the muffin in the living room often?” Carly demanded. Her face paled. “Oh, God, I’m never going to get that image out of my brain. I’m going to havenightmares.”
“Carly,” Jason said, his teeth clenched. “You will knock from now on. And you’re not going to tell anyone about this, or so help me God–”
“Don’t worry, I will never forget to knock again,” Carly assured him. She narrowed her eyes. “And why can’t anyone know?” she demanded. “Does the brat still think she’s too good for her? Well, you just give me five minutes and I will have her teeth knocked out–”
“Carly.”
It was that tone that told Carly she might have gone too far. The glare on his face, the clenching of his jaw. Clearly, keeping this a secret was important and he wasn’t asking her, he was demanding her to comply. She narrowed her eyes. “Jason, look, I’m not about take an ad out in the paper about this. Believe me, I don’t even want to know this is going on. But you deserve better–”
“No, Elizabeth’s son deserves better,” Jason cut in. “He needs to be safe and the only way he can be is if no one knows.”
“That’s not fair to you–” Carly began again.
He sliced his hand through the air. “I’m not going to push her away like I did before, like I did to Sam. It doesn’t work. But this way everyone gets what they want and what they need. So you’re keeping your mouth shut, Carly, and you’re letting me have this.”
She closed her mouth and nodded. “Okay. Okay.” She hesitated. “So I guess coming over here to talk you into giving Sam another chance is not going to work right?”
“Probably not,” Jason said, exasperated.
She shrugged. “I only agreed so she’d leave me alone. Geez, Jason, what did she do that was so horrible–” she stopped. “Nope, don’t even tell me. I’m better off not knowing.”
“Carly,” Jason called as she started for the elevator. “And you’re not allowed to tease, torment or in anyway use this information against Elizabeth in public.”
“I would never,” Carly said, insulted. Damn him, he knew her too well. She jabbed a button. “And damn you. You always take the fun out of having a secret.” She stepped onto the elevator and heard the door to the penthouse open and close. She did not want to think about what was going in there now.
This is set vaguely in 2007, but I actually wrote it in 2006. That being said, it doesn’t really fit into any piece of the GH canon so you’re free to read it it without knowing much history.
Inspiration
I literally could not tell you what inspired this little crazy story, lol. It’s the only Electrick story I’ve written (outside of playing with it in Fallen From Grace) but it’s a sweet, cute fluff with the Spiderman theme song in the background.
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“Spider-man, Spider-man, does whatever a spider can.”
The sound of Elizabeth Spencer’s off-key, yet still sweet voice filters through the baby monitor and he laughs to himself, thinking that Cameron’s got a great mom if she knows the words to the Spiderman theme song.
“Spins a web, any size, catches thieves, just like flies.”
It’s a strange journey that he’s made, from where they began to where they are in this moment. Twisting turns, and detours that weren’t necessarily mistakes–he’ll never pretend that what he’d shared with Robin was anything less than what it’d been–but it still surprises him that he’s found himself here.
“Look out! Here comes the Spider-man!”
What had once been a superficial flirtation had turned into the real thing and dinners between friends turned into dinners between a man and a woman. And kisses on the cheek and jokes about his prowess had turned into something a bit more meaningful. This is now a nightly ritual–she puts her son to sleep before coming out to the living room and snuggling with him on the couch as he tells her about his day and he asks her if she’s sold any paintings in the last twelve hours since he’s asked last.
“Is he strong? Listen, Bud! He’s got radioactive blood.”
It’s been six months since these nights became routine and eight since Elizabeth became more than the beautiful nurse he worked with. He’d thought for a while that it would taper off, that eventually, he would want out, that he wouldn’t want something lasting with someone like Elizabeth. Casual to Elizabeth was a type of dress, not a relationship. She might have said she’s sworn off serious but he’s never believed that.
“Can he swing from a thread? Take a look overhead.”
He fishes into the back pocket of his pants and withdraws the ring box he’s been carrying out for two weeks, trying to find the right moment. Even in the best of times with Robin, though there had been few of them, it had never occurred to him to take that last step. She’d never brought it up and it wasn’t part of his future at that time. But with Elizabeth, it feels right. It feels like he’s taking a step towards the rest of his life.
“Hey there, there goes the Spider-man!”
With Elizabeth, he can see a future, he can see the way it should be. With a house and a garage and a place for Elizabeth to paint. A backyard to build a tree house for Cameron. And sometimes, he lets himself think about more than just Elizabeth and Cameron. About having a baby. Of seeing Elizabeth with his child, with their child. A little brother for Cameron to torment, or a sister to protect. He can see the years down the line, with dinners and Elizabeth laughing at him across the table as she’s burned yet another meal she’s sworn she could pull off.
“In the chill of night, at the scene of the crime,”
His father loves her and he wishes his mother could have met her, could have seen that it was going to be okay after all. That despite a rocky start in the world of serious relationships and commitments, he’s found the right woman and the person to spend forever with. He thinks his mother would have approved. And he knows his father will like the idea of him settling down and will embrace the role of honorary grandfather to Cameron. And that’s important to him. That Cameron not be just her son, but part of their family. His family.
“Like a streak of light, he arrives just in time,”
He’s spent a decade alone, and a year with another woman, whom he’d loved a great deal. He would never tell Elizabeth that he’d never loved anyone like her, because that would be unfair to Robin. He’d loved her as much as he’d been able to and she’d loved him. There was no rhyme or reason why they’d fallen apart, but they’d had. But he’ll never regret taking that step with her and loving her. Loving Robin opened him up to the concept of a future and a full life and he’ll always treasure their friendship, he’s grateful it survived.
Elizabeth wasn’t his polar opposite like Robin had been; there had been no real walls to tear down, no extreme hurdles to get past. By the time he’d worked up the courage to ask her out on an actual date, she’d already received the go-ahead from Robin and was more than prepared to take their friendship to that level. She’d laughed when he’d asked her, wondering what had taken him so long. She’d seen what they could be together and now he can only hope that her vision of their life had meshed enough with his that she would say yes to this.
“Wealth and fame, he’s ignored, action is his reward,”
He’s not even sure how he’ll ask. If he’ll say pretty words or just blurt it out. He’s not sure which way would be better, or how she’d want it done. He very much wants this to be perfect for her. She’s been hurt so much before, by those that came before him and he’s worked very hard to make up for that, bringing her flowers when she doesn’t expect them, leaving presents around in the middle of the day for her to find and taking her out to fancy dinners for no reason at all. He’s gone overboard to make her feel special but now he wonders if this is the right moment. If asking her over their nightly conversation is really the best way or if he should plan something more elaborate.
“To him, life is a great big bang-up,”
He listens to the song wind down and shoves the ring back in his pocket. It’s better, he tells himself, to wait until the moment is absolutely perfect because if you’re lucky, you only get to do it once. She’s been proposed to many times before, he knows that but he wants this one to count, to be the last. And he wants to start their life together as perfectly as he can.
“Wherever there’s a hang-up, you’ll find the Spider-man!”
A few moments later, Elizabeth emerges from Cameron’s room and smiles at him, shoving her hair out of her face. Her eyes are on his and her smile is bright and he realizes that the look in her eyes, the affection and the warmth are all for him.
And that he doesn’t need elaborate plans, fancy food and elegant surroundings for this moment to be perfect. He stands and retrieves the box from his pocket. The moment is perfect because she’s there and he’s there. And that’s all they really needed.
“Elizabeth,” Patrick Drake begins, “there’s something I have to ask you…”
In August of 2006, Patrick was exposed to end-stage AIDs after operating on a patient. He was eventually found to be negative. This is set after the black out that month.
Inspiration
I wish I could tell you. I wrote a lot in 2006.
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January 10, 2007
“You always think somehow, there’s going to be a miracle.”
Robin Scorpio glanced over shoulder and smiled faintly as Elizabeth Spencer stepped up to her side. The two women both cast their eyes to the gravestone they stood over. “I guess you do. I mean, even though you know they don’t happen all that often and even when they do, they usually turn out wrong…it doesn’t stop you from believing in them.”
“Would you have still treated her if you’d known how it would turn out?” Elizabeth asked softly. “Knowing that…it would end this way?”
“That would be asking me…would I still have fallen in love with Stone if I’d known that he would die of AIDS, but before that, he’d give me the virus as well.” Robin sighed. “There are days my answer would be no. But most days, the answer is yes.” She met Elizabeth’s eyes. “Would you have still fallen for Lucky all those years ago if you’d known it would end like that?”
“And that’s assuming you have a choice in who you love,” Elizabeth murmured. “But you don’t. I think we each know that better than anyone.”
“If I had known that by treating April Gilbert, that my entire life and those of the people I love would change irrevocably, would I have still fought for her surgery?” Robin pursed her lips. “I suppose it really doesn’t matter what my answer is, does it?” She trailed her fingers restlessly over the stone, knelt on her knees and traced the letters. “Patrick would have fought for her anyway.”
“That’s true.” Elizabeth hesitated. “But even if he hadn’t…would you have?”
“Yes,” Robin stood. “Because I’m a doctor and my patient’s needs come first. They have to come first. But I would have thought twice. I would have hesitated.” She chuckled bitterly. “I suppose that doesn’t make me a very good doctor, does it?”
“Maybe not,” Elizabeth allowed, “but it makes you human.” She touched Robin’s shoulder. “And there’s no shame in that.”
“I’m glad April came into my life,” Robin said after another moment. “Not that Patrick…that what happened, happened. But that I met her. And that I was able to make a difference, at least in her life.”
She tugged her coat more tightly around her and glanced over her shoulder where two cars waited, two men stood. Far apart, seeing as neither liked the other but there they stood nonetheless. “It’s strange how much everything’s changed since that day in the OR.”
“You’re not kidding,” Elizabeth laughed, her hand straying down to the rounded belly that was covered by her black pea coat. “I never thought I’d be in this place.”
“Are you sorry?” Robin asked, turning the tables on Elizabeth. “Are you sorry you went to him?”
“There are days when I say yes,” Elizabeth nodded, echoing robin’s answer. “Days when I think this is all a mistake and that it can’t end any other way but badly. But most days, I’m glad. Because if nothing else, something good will come from it. And our friendship survived it.”
“Friendship,” Robin sighed heavily. “That’s what it all comes down to in the end, doesn’t it?”
Elizabeth looped an arm around the brunette’s shoulder and hugged her. “Yeah, I guess so. It’s not going to be easy, Robin. We’ve both chosen hard roads.” She glanced down. “Me with my being pregnant with the baby of a notorious criminal. And you…” her eyes softened. “If you need me, Robin, for anything. Night or day, sun or snow. Because I love him, too.”
Robin’s throat swelled. “I know,” she said thickly. “And there are days when I think I can’t possibly do this again. That I can’t…” she closed her eyes. “But then there are days when I look at myself and realize that I’m proof. Right?”
“Right.” Elizabeth took Robin’s hand in her free one. “And even it turns out for the worst, you’ll have had today. And tomorrow. And as many other days come after it.”
“There are moments when it doesn’t feel real,” Robin said slowly. “And that I will wake up and it have been a dream. That he’s not…that he didn’t test…” she sucked in a deep breath. “That it’s all okay.”
“And there are moments when I think that I couldn’t have possibly tested pregnant. That it was a nightmare and even if it was true, it could never be his child.”
“It helps to say it out loud. That I’m scared and that I wish I’d never met April Gilbert, because if I’d never met her, Patrick would be okay right now.”
“He will be okay,” Elizabeth said. “We’ll all be okay. We might have different definitions of okay, but, hey…it’s not a death sentence anymore.”
“But it can be.” Robin closed her eyes. “I know that I’m strong. I know that I have lived through so many awful things and still came out standing but I have to wonder…”
“Don’t we all have a breaking point?” Elizabeth nodded in sympathy. “If you feel yourself breaking, I’m here. I love you. You know that.”
“I know.” Robin exhaled on a shaky breath and smiled weakly. “I love you, too. You know that. I don’t think I could have survived this last month without you. Since the moment we found out, you’ve been so good to me–”
“Well, you never turned your back on me either,” Elizabeth pointed out. She tilted her head in the direction of the cars. “We should get back to them. Jason gets cranky if I’m out in the cold for very long. I think he picked it up from Sonny.”
The two women turned and arm in arm, they made their way to their separate cars. Robin stepped up to Patrick and touched his shoulder.
“How are you feeling?” Robin asked. “Did you want to go say goodbye–”
“I said what I needed to say at the hospital,” Patrick said. He tucked her arm in his. “Robin, I understand if you–”
“Don’t give me another out,” Robin interrupted. “I don’t need it or want it.” She opened the car door. “We should go.”
“Yeah, I definitely don’t need to spend any more time in a cemetery than I need to,” Patrick said darkly. “It won’t be more than a year before–” he stopped abruptly, seeing the stricken look that flashed across her face. “You’re right, let’s go.”
Jason hustled Elizabeth into the car but not before casting a concerned glance at Robin. “Is she okay?” he asked, once Elizabeth was settled inside.
Elizabeth rested one hand on her belly, feeling her daughter kicking and entwined her other with Jason’s. “No,” she admitted. “But then again, none of us is right?”
Another Patrick & Robin story set in the era of 2006, but not specifically tied to any story in particular.
Inspiration
I repeat: Patrick Drake and the dimples.
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It was supposed to be temporary. A temporary affair that would last until he was tired of her. And Patrick was sure that he would get tired of her. Despite the fact that whatever he shared with Robin was different than everything that had come before, he assumed that once he’d charmed her into bed, he’d only want to stay there for two, three weeks top.
Three weeks had turned into a month and without realizing it, a month turned into three. And pretty soon, everything about his life was different. He flirted less and he didn’t even realize that he hadn’t dated anyone else since the first time he’d slept with Robin. It didn’t even register that there was no one else that even remotely interested him on that level.
He didn’t notice that how much time he was spending in her apartment–even after she’d cleared first one drawer for his things and then two. It didn’t occur to him that he had more clothing at Robin’s apartment than in his hotel room and when he’d gotten his monthly hotel bill in September, he’d laughed at the fact that he’d not charged one extra expense to his room. He joked that he might as well move in and save money all together.
And eventually, that’s what happened, though neither of them commented on that fact when Patrick quietly gave his room up at the hotel in early October and his luggage joined hers in the hall closet or that they’d bought a second dresser and put it in her bedroom.
And when they’d resigned her lease and added his name, he remarked it made sense since he spent so much time at the apartment, he should be helping her out with the expenses. He didn’t call it living together and neither did she. They ignored the obvious to first the amusement of their family and friends and then to their dismay.
He didn’t really think about the fact that he wasn’t tired of her. And it more than the sex–though that was the best he’d ever had in his life. It was the after part of it. The waking up in the morning and arguing who would make the first pot of coffee and who would get the shower first. It was the way they each brought their work home–often doing their research together. It was the way she’d try to steal the remote when he wanted to watch hockey and she’d hide it until he kissed the location out of her.
He could spend an hour just watching her read a medical journal and enjoy the way her nose would wrinkle when she read something she didn’t like and the way the corner of her mouth would curve when she read something she agreed with.
He could ignore the fact that they had somehow entered an exclusive and committed relationship without intending to. And he could ignore that they’d been living together, even four months after he’d given up the hotel room. He could ignore all that because he couldn’t remember the last time life had felt this right. He had his career, which was going better than he could ever expected, he had his father, he even had a few friends. And he had this beautiful, intelligent and captivating woman that stimulated him, challenged him inside and outside the bedroom.
But something happened just after anniversary of the death of Dr. Tony Jones, which was commemorated in a very sweet memorial. He’d been called in from the service for a tricky surgery–a risky surgery to be more exact and it’d been a roaring success. He’d become one of only five surgeons worldwide to complete the surgery without losing the patient on the table and one of only three surgeons who didn’t lose the patient at all.
Job offers poured in from around the world and Patrick could no longer avoid placing a label on his life with Robin. He was being offered lucrative positions in hospitals he’d only dreamed of and he could basically write his ticket at any of them.
But none of the positions were in Port Charles and he knew if he wanted his career to continue ascending, he couldn’t stay at General Hospital. GH had a decent reputation but if he stayed, his career would be stalled.
He was studying the job offers when Robin came home from her shift and she sat across from him silently as he read through them a fifth time.
“The one from Toronto looks good,” she said after a long moment. “They’re offering you a lot of money and a really good position in the department.” A weak smile spread across her face. “And you know how you love hockey.”
“I was looking at the one at Columbia University Hospital.”
“In New York,” Robin nodded. “You could probably even get a place in your old neighborhood.”
New York was closer to Port Charles than any of the other offers, though if Patrick were asked, he’d never admit that’s why he was closer to taking that one than any of the others. Because then he’d have to admit that New York was close enough that Robin might consider going with him. Because then she’d still be close to her family.
“And you’d be close to your dad,” Robin continued. She bit her lip and looked around the apartment. His basketball was next to the front door, his sneakers tossed in front of the couch where he’d kicked them off after a game in the park the day before. It drove her crazy when he did that.
They had been creating a life together but how much of a life could it have been if neither of them were willing to admit it? It was better this way, better that Patrick would leave for his career because she didn’t think she could have survived him leaving on his own accord.
“And the research they do there is incredible,” Patrick found himself saying. “They do a lot of studies there, more than most of these other hospitals.”
“Mmm…” Robin nodded. “They were one of the hospitals I applied to get my grant for my drug therapy. They agreed but the hospital in Paris gave me more money.”
He didn’t look up at her and made sure to keep his eyes on the table in front of him as he spoke. “You should, ah, you should apply again.”
Robin blinked, but that was only reaction that showed physically. Inside her heart was racing and she was sure the palms of her hand were a little damp. “Are you…are you asking me to go with you?”
Patrick exhaled sharply and stood. He stalked towards the windows and yanked the curtains open to stare moodily out at the harbor. “I can’t–I can’t not accept any of these offers, Robin.”
“I know that,” Robin murmured, somewhat fascinated at his reaction to her question.
“It’s not that I don’t want to work at GH,” Patrick continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “But you know what my career means to me–”
“Patrick…” Robin stood and crossed to him. She put a hand on his chest and looked up at him with a tremulous smile. “Do you have any idea how proud I am of you? You’re a brilliant surgeon and it was only a matter of time before the rest of the world realized that.”
“Robin–”
“Of course you have to take one of these jobs,” Robin said. “If you had even thought about staying in Port Charles, I would have smacked you.” She licked her lips. “But I–I mean, we’ve–” She huffed impatiently. “Look, we’ve been dancing around this for months and I think–we can’t do that anymore.”
“I know.” He licked his bottom lip. “Robin, we’ve been…well it’s been…” He dragged a hand through his hair. Why was this so hard to say? Why couldn’t he make the words come out? “Look, we’re basically living together…”
“Patrick, we’re not basically doing anything. We’re living together,” Robin laughed nervously. “Your name is on my lease, too.”
“Right, yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “And I think–I mean we’re doing okay, right?”
Her lips curved into an amused smile. He was so adorable when he was flustered. “Yeah, we’re doing okay.”
“So–I mean, I don’t–I know you want to be close to your family. I get that. I kinda want to be close to my dad. So you know, New York is a good idea. It’s an hour by train and if there was an emergency, we could be back quickly–”
“Patrick,” Robin interrupted softly. “Are you asking me to go with you?”
“Ah, I mean if I go to New York, yeah–”
“No, Patrick,” Robin shook her head. “Are you asking me to go with you wherever you decide to take the job?”
He exhaled slowly and met her eyes…and saw her answer. “Will you go with me, no matter where I take the job?”
“Yes, I will go with you,” she replied softly. She leaned up and brushed her lips over his.
“But what about your job, your family?” Patrick said. He pulled back. “You have a career, too and it’s important to you and it’s important to me–”
“I can do my research pretty much anywhere.” Robin’s smiled deepened into a smirk. “And you know, you’re not the only one who gets job offers.” She crossed to her desk in the corner of the room and withdrew a stack of envelopes. “Let’s see how many match and pick where we want to live.”
This is set during the summer of 2004, shortly after Elizabeth returned from California with Cameron and had finalized her divorce from Ric. She was drifting a bit storyline wise for a while (I imagine because the show had given her an easy schedule since her maternity leave was pretty short), and she shared a few scenes with Sam.
That summer, Sam had become pregnant with Sonny’s baby but Jason had claimed it for reasons that have never made sense to me other than Sam was a failed character within the first six months of her existence and she was on her third relationship. Anyway, I didn’t mind Sam much at first and I thought, under circumstances, she and Elizabeth could have been friends since they both disliked Courtney and Carly.
Inspiration
I wrote this just as an exploratory piece. What would Sam and Elizabeth be like friends? It’s also a little bit inspired by the song by Britney Spears.
Banner Here
Elm St. Pier
Elizabeth Webber Lansing sat on the bench and lifted her two month old son out of his stroller. Cameron Webber gurgled and smiled at her. He had big brown eyes—Zander’s eyes and it broke her heart he would never know his father.
Ric had wanted to be his father—but for all the wrong reasons and though he had been a good husband and would have been an exemplary father, she’d never forgive herself for exposing her child to the hatred that lurked in Ric’s heart.
She had sold some paintings in California and would have enough money to live comfortably on until Cameron was a little older. Audrey was planning on retiring from the hospital at the end of the year and at that point, she would take care of Cameron while she helped to fund Elizabeth’s dream of opening an art gallery.
Her life was firmly back on track. She was a mother, she was a granddaughter, a best friend. And soon she would be a divorced woman again. She just had to work up the courage to file.
Emily had been encouraging her call Alexis almost since Elizabeth had left town and now that she was home—well maybe she would.
She heard rapid footsteps on the dock steps behind her and the brisk no nonsense voice of Nikolas’s aunt. “You just stay away from me, do you hear me?” Alexis Davis snapped. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs—Elizabeth hidden from her view by a large bush. “I don’t want you near me or my daughter. You just—just stop coming around.”
“Now now, Counselor, there’s no reason get so upset.” The smooth and charming voice of her estranged husband startled Elizabeth and she recognized the tone—one he’d used to soothe her on many occasions.
Elizabeth clutched her son to her chest and blinked. She had thought Ric and Alexis hated each other. Should she step in? Save Alexis from whatever Ric was undoubtedly planning?
“Whatever happened in the elevator—it just stays there,” Alexis continued, her voice fast and slightly thready. She was nervous and showing signs of some panic. “Don’t touch me!”
Elizabeth frowned and was about to stand when Ric’s next words stopped her cold. “Alexis, don’t act like my touch repulses you. If that elevator hadn’t started to move, we’d probably be on round two.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes and shook her head. No. He hadn’t—two months after she was gone. He wouldn’t. He had told her that he loved her. How did that go away in two months? She hadn’t heard correctly.
“You kissed me,” Alexis hissed. “And I was about to push you away when the elevator—” her words were cut off so abruptly that Elizabeth knew Ric had kissed her quiet.
He’d used the tactic on her numerous times to keep her from asking questions or pursing his strange behavior.
Elizabeth was silent while they talked in soft whispers before going back the way they’d came.
When she was sure they were gone, Elizabeth exhaled slowly and met her son’s quiet gaze. “What is it about me that is so forgettable?” she murmured. She set him back in the stroller and stared at him for a while. “Lucky replaced me with Sarah. Jason with Courtney. Ric with Alexis and I was never really with Zander. Why am I so easily forgotten? So replaceable and disposable?”
Cameron seemed to sense his mother’s solemn mood and reached out his chubby hand to grasp at her fingers. She let him wrap his tiny fist around her index finger and sighed. “Just don’t ever find a new mother, okay, Cam?”
A throat cleared behind her and she looked up to find a slightly pregnant Samantha McCall looking at her oddly. “Elizabeth, right?”
“Right. Sam?” Elizabeth asked. She withdrew her hand from Cameron’s fist. “Congratulations,” she gestured towards Sam’s abdomen.
“Yeah, it’s Sam and thanks.” Sam touched the small mound. “Just when I think I’m used to this, I come across a mother and their kid and I remember just…how bad I’m gonna screw this up.”
“Yeah, I know that feeling.” Elizabeth patted the spot next to her. Sam sat down. “I was pregnant for about six weeks last spring,” she told the other woman, “and I only found out about it a few days before I had a miscarriage.”
“Oh my God,” Sam murmured. “I’m so sorry.”
“I had about five seconds to decide that I absolutely loved the idea of having a baby and being a mother. I’m only twenty-two but part of me just…woke up when I realized I was carrying another life.” Elizabeth smiled at Cameron. “And when I was pregnant again, I was just—so grateful to have a second chance. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“I thought about getting an abortion,” Sam admitted. “I had a crappy childhood and I figured—what do I know about kids, you know? How am I gonna know how to teach my kid right from wrong with the life I’ve lead and the life her father leads?”
“Sonny’s—he’s a good man though,” Elizabeth said helpfully. “Up until this past year, I’d say he’s been a great father.”
The lie was on the tip of Sam’s tongue. The baby is Jason’s not Sonny but instead she asked, “Why do you say until this past year?”
“Carly and Sonny’s custody battles.” Elizabeth shrugged. “I have my issues with Carly but I felt for her when he kept from Michael and Morgan and then—they tried to use those children to destroy each other and I just—I can’t respect that.”
Sam shrugged and looked away. “Sonny’s not going to be raising my daughter,” she murmured. “It’s too—for some reason, it’s too complicated so he’s not claiming her.” She couldn’t meet Elizabeth’s eyes. “So Jason is.”
Elizabeth shook her head and laughed softly. “Super Jason to the rescue again,” she said with cynical amusement. “He’s just stepping in and letting Sonny take over his life. He’s so far from the man I knew.”
Sam raised her eyebrows. “He’s saving my ass,” she said a little annoyed. “I can’t do this on my own—”
“I’m not criticizing you and you couldn’t find someone who will love your daughter more,” Elizabeth assured her. “It’s just—Jason used to live his life for himself. Make his own decisions. He used to be honest. He wouldn’t lie—even if it was easier than telling the truth. He did what was right for him and now—he does what’s right for everyone else. He was so busy saving everyone else that when he turned around to have his own life, his wife left him.” Elizabeth shrugged. “I just—I hope he’s happy.”
“He’s not,” Sam nodded. “Because every time he turns around, there’s Carly and Courtney like some kind of warped Doublemint twins on crack. He’s making a mistake, he’s ruining life. They’re always flapping their jaws and trying to run his life. And if it’s not them too, it’s Sonny. He made the decision not to be this baby’s father but he can’t seem to remember that and all he’s doing is reminding Jason that at any time he could change his mind and I know it’s killing him.” Sam sighed heavily. “But sometimes, I look at him, and I can feel how much he wants this. He wants to be a father again. I just wish—I wish I could give him some kind of guarantee.”
“He loves Michael,” Elizabeth remarked. “It tore him up inside for so long after he lost him and I don’t care what he says, he’s never gotten over that.”
“I know that, too,” Sam told her. “Because he gets this look sometimes with Michael and I just—I don’t love him,” she told Elizabeth quickly. “But when he’s like that, I almost wish I could. But he’s just—he’s not for me. And he’s definitely not for that Barbie Doll he married. She’s such a hypocrite. She’s all fine about moving on with that Australian candy ass but she’s giving him the third degree about me every time he turns around and all I want to do is just crack her across the face but I’m terrified she’d body slam me or something.”
Elizabeth started to laugh and couldn’t stop even tears were rolling down her face. Pleased by his mother’s joy, Cameron gurgled and kicked his legs. “That’s incredible—so you despise her as much I as do, huh?”
Sam broke into a wide smile. “Oh, you’re kidding right? How can anyone stand her? She’s almost as martyrish as Emily Quartermaine.”
Elizabeth sobered and frowned. “Emily’s a friend of mine.”
“Oh.” Sam hesitated. “Well—you were out of town for a while so you really haven’t…” She pursed her lips. “Emily’s a really—she’s…I don’t like her,” Sam said bluntly. “She thinks she knows what’s best for everyone—including me and her brother. She’s rude and thinks only about herself. I’m sorry—but she’s also breaking poor Lucky Spencer’s heart. He’s been falling in love with her and she’s just using him to get over Nikolas.”
“Well—I haven’t been here, like you said. But I’ve known Emily since we were teenagers. We’ve been best friends forever—”
“So you probably don’t see what I see. That’s fine. You’re blind to a lot of things,” Sam shrugged.
Elizabeth quirked an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. You were married to Ric Lansing, weren’t you?”
Elizabeth exhaled slowly. “That’s a good point. I do have a habit of seeing what I want in people.” She stared out over the docks. “Have you ever felt disposable?”
“Constantly,” Sam remarked, pleased that her remarks hadn’t alienated Elizabeth.
“Every major relationship I’ve been in….I’ve been replaced mere months after it’s ended,” Elizabeth told her. “Sometimes it’s less than a month and then others it’s six months but it—it never changes. I’m good enough to be around until problems start and things get tough but then they run and find someone who makes their life easier or gives them something I can’t.”
“Sonny used me to get back at Carly and I think I knew that all along so it doesn’t surprise me he picked her over me. It hurts but it doesn’t surprise me,” Sam told her.
“Lucky was my first boyfriend and we were together—wow, forever. From the time we were fifteen to about two years ago. On and off, really. But we had some problems—he was brainwashed and didn’t love me anymore. I can forgive him for what he did because he’d been tricked into not loving me anymore. But he slept with my sister just a few months after we were over.”
Elizabeth sighed. “And then Jason and I had been dancing around each other for three years—a lot of my problems with Lucky stemmed from my feelings for Jason and I just didn’t have the courage to face them. When we finally got together, he lied to me—let me believe Sonny was dead and let be me terrified that he himself was out every night finding Sonny’s killer. So I left him and two months later, he screwed the Barbie Doll.”
Sam gaped. “You and Jason? Sonny was dead? He did what?” She blinked. “I never would have pictured it.”
“And then I met and married Ric,” Elizabeth continued. “But not until after he pretended to sleep with Carly, get engaged to Courtney and try to kill Sonny and Jason. He also tried to kill me but I stayed with him anyway because I thought he could change.”
Sam raised her eyes. “I feel like I should be eating popcorn. And he replaced you, too?”
“I left him in April and he’s already moved on with Alexis Davis.” Elizabeth snorted. “I thought she had better taste. And it hurts. Because he told me that he loved me. That I was the only person for him. That I was the love of his life. And it took him ten weeks to find someone else.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m just glad—you know, I’m just glad it’s not another dumb blonde. I really don’t think I could have taken it if I’d come home and he was with a blonde.”
“Your sister was a blonde huh?” Sam said with some sympathy. “Yeah—that would have sucked if Ric had made it three blondes in a row.”
“I was just thinking about going to Alexis to file for divorce and now—” Elizabeth exhaled slowly. “I feel like I keep getting knocked down. I am so tired of picking myself off the ground, Sam. You just—you have to start asking—when it’s your turn?”
“When do you get to be happy?” Sam nodded in understanding. “When is it finally time for you to get what you want? You’re preaching to the choir, babe. But I think if I could get Sonny out of my life, I could get somewhere.”
“Yeah, well…good luck with that.” Elizabeth stood and smiled at her. “I like talking to you, Sam. For a second—it almost felt like I had Jason back. Though—your comments are more colorful than his.”
Sam grinned. “Yeah, he just doesn’t have the same way with the English language that I do. I liked talking to you. You’re the only person who knows about Sonny and—everything. I don’t know why but I just didn’t want to lie to you.”
Elizabeth gripped the sides of the stroller. “You’d be the first person in my life to have that feeling,” she said with a sad smile. “I’d better get Cam home and to bed. See ya around, Sam.”
She wheeled the stroller away and few moments later, Sam examined her nails. “You can come out any time, you know.”
Jason stepped out from behind the shrubbery. “How’d you know I was there?” he demanded.
“Please. I could hear those motorcycle boots anywhere,” she snorted. She stood and punched him in the arm. “You’re a jackass you know that? Sleeping with the Barbie On Steroid just weeks after that girl walked out on you. What’s with you, Jason? You have something wrong in your head?” She rapped his temple.
“Hey—”
“And I’m not referring to your accident,” Sam remarked scathingly. “That poor girl thinks she’s been replaced in everyone’s lives and all I could sit there and do was restrain the urge to yank you from the bushes and give her free shots.”
“She was better off without me,” he muttered, sliding his hands in his pockets and staring at the ground.
“Yeah, okay. Because giving her up for the Doublemint Twins and that Marlon Brando phoney and her ending up with the half-brother from hell…she was so much better off than with you.” Sam snorted and turned around to head towards the steps. “What is it about men who think they know better? If we think we can do better, trust me—we’ll go and find someone better,” she muttered, stalking up the stairs. “My daughter is gonna know how to kick anyone’s ass who tries to tell her what to do.”
She whirled on the landing and poked Jason—who’d followed her up the stairs—in the chest. “And let me tell you something, mister, you just try to do it to me because I will wipe the floor with you and that crazy brood you call a family and if you had any sense in that head of yours—” again she rapped his temple and he scowled, “—you wouldn’t have let Elizabeth Webber get five feet out your door. Maybe you’d have an actual biological child rather than more of Sonny’s hand-me-downs.”
Jason narrowed his eyes. “Wait a second—”
“Because I’ll tell you—she seems more sensible than to run off to South America and jump into freezing water when she’s pregnant,” Sam told her. “And she seems like the sort who doesn’t judge you. You know that I talked trash about her best friend and she just sat there and let me have my opinion? I can’t remember the last time I had my own opinion.”
“You seem to be having a hell of one right now,” Jason said dryly.
“And stop acting like Sonny’s going to take this kid out from under you. To do that he’d have to claim her and he’s not going to do that. I told you—this is your daughter and you’d better damn well remember that.” Sam rolled her eyes and turned around to stomp up the rest of the stairs. “Men,” she snorted. “Just large children wrapped in hot packages.”
“Is this hormones?” Jason asked. “Because—”
“Hormones?” Sam narrowed her eyes. “Listen here—” she broke off and smiled sweetly and then he knew he was in trouble. “I’ve decided I should be friends with more mothers,” she said firmly. “Carly’s a bony brat who wouldn’t know how to be a good mother if she were handed a picture book and Elizabeth seems to actually spend time with her kid so maybe I should have her over to the penthouse.” She nodded. “Yeah, that sounds like a really good way to piss off the bony bitch and her gorilla friend.”
“Bony—gorilla…” Jason trailed off and shook his head. “Sam—”
She poked him in the chest. “You’d better learn to just deal with it because from now on, it’s you and me. No more of Sonny’s drop in visits. He made his bed and now he’s gotta lie in it, you got me?”
“I’m beginning to.”
“And we’re going to find Elizabeth a divorce lawyer who won’t screw her ex-husband,” Sam decided as they came out onto the street.
“Wait, Alexis and Ric?” Jason said, trying to keep up.
“And maybe I’ll even make her godmother of my kid,” Sam continued, on a roll now and loving it. She was in control again and she’d be damned if anyone would take it from her.
“And Elizabeth can teach me how to not to screw up my kid and maybe I can convince her she’s not disposable and that she’s just got really rotten taste in men.”
Insulted, Jason scowled. “Wait—”
“I don’t mean you,” Sam said impatiently, “You’re an idiot but if you had any balls, it would have been okay. I mean that stupid idiot Ric. I mean, he has a wife and a kid. She loves him—well I think she does and even if she’s too good for him, he should have at least waited more than ten weeks before screwing her lawyer.”
“I’m still insulted.”
“It’s okay.” She patted his arm. “I’m going to work on you and in like a month—you’ll learn how to say no again. Well–I know you know how to say it, now we just have to work on meaning it.”
“Wait—”
“Back off, Morgan, I’m told pregnant women are not to be messed with.” Sam started walking briskly down the block towards Harborview Towers.
“Sam?”
She turned. “Yeah?”
“I think you’re good for her,” Jason said after a moment. “She seemed—better after she’d talked to you. And that’s—that’s good.”
Sam nodded. “Okay.”
“She’s tried to prove herself to everyone in her life for years and I just think—I don’t think you would make her feel like that.” He shook her head. “I just think it’s time someone made her feel like it was okay to be herself again.”
Sam stared at him for a moment. “Well, son of a bitch,” she murmured. “I am so glad to know it’s not the gorilla you’re pining for.”
This is set in the spring of 2006, when Patrick and Robin were still lightly flirting. They were so freaking cute, lol. This is set before the drama with Noah’s liver and the donation.
Inspiration
Robin and Patrick are my second favorite couple in GH history, and Patrick is a ride or die His dimples were the inspiration, let’s be real.
Banner Here
Robin Scorpio stepped onto the elevator and pressed the button for the second basement where the vending machines were kept. She’d had a craving for a bag of M&Ms since she’d clocked in earlier that morning and there had finally been a break in her schedule.
Before the doors closed, a hand shot out, and Patrick Drake followed.
“And my day was going so well,” Robin breathed. She pressed her lips together and stared at the row of numbers above the doors, watching as ten became nine and nine became eight…
“If you keep making that face, eventually it will get stuck like that.” Patrick smirked at her but Robin resolutely kept her eyes on the numbers. Six became five and five became four.
Finally, she turned to him. “You really just don’t like rejection do you?” She tapped her fingers against the folder in her hands. “You keep asking me out, you keep…pursuing me…because I said no when everyone else says yes.” She shook her head and looked back at the numbers. Three became two and two become one.
“It’s possible,” Patrick allowed. “I’ve never really had to worry about it before.” He shrugged. “Why don’t you just prove yourself right and say yes?”
“Because it would have defeated the purpose in saying no in the first place,” Robin said staunchly. One become basement one and she waited for the doors to open.
As the elevator dinged, Patrick reached out and pressed the doors closed button. “And you only said no to prove a point so I don’t think either one of us is winning.”
“I didn’t know this was a contest,” Robin replied sweetly. “Would you please let me out of the elevator?”
“Fine.” Patrick released the button and the doors slid open. Robin started to step out and he snagged her arm. “But first…”
He swung her into the circle of his arms–her folder slid to the floor–and covered her mouth with his own. Her emotions whirled and skidded as she considered pulling away. Instead she let her eyes flutter shut, giving herself over to him.
After a long moment, during which the doors tried to close no less than three times, Patrick finally stepped back and released her. He nudged her out of the elevator so she was standing in the hallway. He stooped down and retrieved her folder from the floor. “I’ll just let you think about that for a while,” he said handing it out to her.
She took it almost numbly and after a second, she realized he was still in the elevator. “Isn’t this your floor?”
Patrick gave a smile at sent her pulse skipping again. “I’m due on the tenth floor actually. Catch you later, Dr. Scorpio.” He pressed the button to close the doors and his grin widened as they slid shut on her bewildered expression.
