The End

Chapter 4: And Mr. Monogamous

The days though they were growing longer and involved less, seemed to pass quickly. This day had been the fastest yet. Patrick found himself dazed by the way the setting sun reflected off the tile in his office. He could barely hear the television but the harsh tones of a couple fighting made him look up to see what was on. He didn't watch much tv, at least not before the world decided to turn in its two weeks' notice. So he didn't even know what it was that he was watching but the leading lady's words stung his stomach, "You're not going to stand up for me?" Pulling him further from reality.

"I don't understand you," Ellen threw her hands in the air. "This doesn't bother you at all?" She was getting more upset by the minute, "How much money do you make?"

They were all in the thick of negotiating their contracts. Patrick was trying to walk the line of supporting her and not causing waves with a network that was already against him. He was losing on all fronts. "Ellen," he tried to touch her arm.

"You're not going to stand up for me?" She was passionately upset.

"I did stand up for you," Patrick countered.

"How?" Ellen challenged him, "How did you defend me?"

"I told them you deserve as much as I do," Patrick was getting a little worked up. "I don't know what you want me to do?"

"I want you to tell me how much you make," Ellen spit back. She was pacing the trailer. "They are using you against me. Do you know what they said?" Patrick poured them both a glass of wine. "It's the middle of the day," Ellen was sidetracked by the scent of Rose.

"Who cares," he shrugged and handed her the glass.

"They said they didn't need me," she said sitting for a moment and drinking her wine quickly, "They said they had you."

"Jesus," Patrick took a long sip, "They said the same thing to me."

"Grey's....." She accentuated her characters last name, "Grey's Anatomy." Ellen paused and then "It's not fucking Shepherd's Anatomy!"

"I'm walking on thin ice here," Patrick said, "They mean it with me. They don't actually need me."

"Oh please," She rolled her eyes, "Of course they do. You have a penis."

"How can I help?" He tried to calm her.

"Honestly, if you have to ask, you can't." Ellen put her glass on the counter and walked out of the trailer.

The memory burned through his veins like a poison.  What he wouldn't do to have that moment to do over. He was too stupid to realize what she was asking. Now he realized that he should have threatened to quit. He should have offered her the difference. If he had made a scene they would have folded. None of it would matter a few years down the road.

Patrick fiddled with a pen on his desk and wondered if his sacrifice had been enough for her. If it made up for his ignorance. Life had taken such a strange turn. Was she happy? Did they still try and con her out of what she deserved?

"No drive today?" Jillian appeared in the doorway tugging him away from his thoughts.

"Hmm," he hummed a response, "I got a little distracted today."

"Still time," Jillian smiled tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

"That is true," Patrick nodded. "Do you want to go for a walk on the beach?"

"Can we do that?" Jillian asked sincerely.

"I think so," Patrick nodded, "We will mask up," he shrugged, "It's private property."