Chapter 15

It had been two months since Jerry's death. Anna had been cleared of any wrong doing in Jerry's death thanks to corroborating statements from Patrick and Robin. Both had chosen to say they were in the cabin when Jerry was shot and completely backed Anna's version of what happened. However, Anna had chosen to retire as police commissioner to spend more time with her daughter and grandchildren. Mac was reinstated as police commissioner but was training Dante Falconeri to take over the position in two years. Despite being the son of a mobster, Dante was an excellent detective who had proven himself time and again. As an added bonus, Dante was also endorsed by the mayor. Sure the mayor was Mac's wife Felicia but nobody seemed to notice or care about that.

Robin and Patrick were both back at work and settling back in to a routine and a normal life for the first time in years. No more guards watching their every move, but they decided to keep the security system for the house. Better safe than sorry.

Emma and Robbie were also settled into a routine. Robin and Patrick cut back on their on-call time and concentrated on creating a stable home for their children. Home at night, dinner at 6, weekends spent together running errands, going places and sometimes staying in watching tv and playing games. It was the life they had both wanted and they were finally able to have it.

Patrick was in the middle of discussing a new case on the phone when Anna came into his office. He waved his mother-in-law in and watched as she locked the door and sat down. He hung up and waited for her to speak.

"We need to talk. Do you have time now?"

"For you, anytime."

"You know, they say confession is good for the soul. I guess I am here to confess."

"Anna, I am not a priest – far from it."

Anna smiled at him. "No, but you are the only person who can understand what I did and why I did it."

Patrick sat up in his chair. He knew what this was about. Anna was going to tell him what happened in the cabin with Jerry.

Flashback

"Nice shot commissioner. You know, I believe I may have underestimated you and Patty boy."

"Yes, I imagine you did."

"You know this is just a temporary setback. I'll go to the hospital, get fixed up and then what do you think will happen? Do you honestly think I'll go to jail? No, I am very sure that I will be free shortly. I know a lot of people dear commissioner. And then I can get back to my plans with my dear Robin. Just think, if you are really lucky in a couple of years Robin and I will give you at least one more grandchild, maybe two."

Anna raised her gun just a little bit higher.

"Really commissioner – you would kill an unarmed man in cold blood?"

"Yes, when he is a threat to my daughter and my grandchildren. She will never be safe as long as you are alive."

"You are right. You see, there is a connection between my little bird and I that you cannot break. Sure, I shot her but she survived. I have come to believe that she survived so we could be together. So you see commissioner, no matter what you do, I will have my Robin. One way or another, she will be mine."

End Flashback

"And I knew. I knew right then that there was only one way to free Robin from that bastard. I had to do it. So I pulled the trigger and I don't regret it. Men like Jerry and Faison don't stop until they are dead."

"Anna, thank you." Anna was stunned. Patrick got up and walked around the desk. She thought there would be some surprise or shock but Patrick was perfectly calm. Patrick took Anna's hand in his. "Let me explain. I knew what happened. Maybe not the exact words but I knew he used Robin to provoke you. Let me also assure you that even if you hadn't killed him, Jerry was not leaving that cabin alive. If I had to pull the trigger, I would have gladly. You are right; his death was the only way to ensure Robin's safety. I may have hated myself for it but to save Robin and our children, I would have done it."

Anna was shocked by Patrick's admission. "Patrick, I know you would do anything for our girl and your children. But I am glad that it was me and not you that took Jerry out of this world. You have dedicated yourself to saving lives and I never want anyone to take that from you. If you had killed Jerry, it would have destroyed a part of you and then he would have won. Let's be glad that things went down the way they did. We can both live with ourselves and Robin, Emma and Robbie are safe." Anna stood up. "Speaking of which, let's all have dinner tonight – my treat?"

Patrick stood and hugged his mother-in-law. "Dinner sounds great – Kelly's? Early though, Emma has school tomorrow."

"Sounds great – see you at 6?"

Patrick walked down the hall to Robin's office. He wasn't lying – he had been fully prepared to kill Jerry. The man had stolen so much of his and Robin's lives and was not going to give up going after, ever. Death was the only way to stop him. He was grateful that he didn't have to pull that trigger, but not upset at all that the man was dead.

He opened the door to Robin's office and saw she was deep in thought staring at the computer. Closing and locking door, Patrick walked over to her side of the desk and kissed her neck.

"Ooh, you'd better be careful. My husband works here."

"That's why I locked the door."

Robin giggled and turned around to face her husband. She took Patrick's face in her hands and kissed him. He returned the kiss as he picked her up off the chair and carried her over to the couch.

"I have an appointment in 10 min…"

"With your husband. I managed to block off some time on your calendar. We have the next 70 minutes to ourselves."

"I love it when you think ahead and I love you, Patrick Drake, beyond reason." Robin laughed and bit her lower lip.

"And I love you, Robin Scorpio-Drake, beyond reason."

The End