TM Return Scenario: TM with Jack and Shane

Todd had a rough night after leaving Dorian's house. His thoughts had been in turmoil listening to Starr talk to Jack about "Growing Up Manning". What disturbed him was Starr's comment about how they all made mistakes. Just what kind of mistake had Starr made. He was really worried about his son. Jack hadn't sounded very sincere when he had told Starr about that woman's death. In fact, he had been a little callous about the fact that a friend of his was going to take the rap for him. What had happened in his life that made Jack so unfeeling or was he really as unfeeling as he sounded.


The next morning, Todd was outside La Boulae, he saw the confrontation between Manning and Jack, and then Blair had gotten involved in the argument. Jack had taken off. Todd knew he'd never be able to find the boy now that he had his father's car. He shook his head, he needed to talk to somebody. Todd thought long and hard, there was someone he used to be able to go to for advice. God he hated this, his memories kept flitting in and out. Given a chance he would get the guys who did this to him, but he couldn't do it yet. Alright he'd do it the hard way. He found a spot to sit down and started going through the memories he remembered. He had a daughter, her name was Starr. She had a mother. That was Blair. He had a second wife. Her name was Tea. Tea was married to the other Manning. He had a son. His name was Jack. Jack and Starr had a little brother, his name was Sam. "OK now Todd think, what about some brothers or sisters of your own." Suddenly a face flashes through his mind. She's older than him. She's his mother? No that isn't right. His head snaps up. She's not his mother, she's his older sister and her name is Vicki. Vicki lives at Llanfair. That's it, he'll go to Llanfair.


Arriving at Llanfair, Todd begins making his way up to the house when he hears two boys shouting at each other. It's coming from the carriage house. Todd goes to the front of the house and sees his son Jack and another young man in a very heated argument.


"What are you doing here? Did you come to gloat because Your Dad got you off. We both know you were responsible for my Mom's death. What do you want Jack." Shane was barely holding it in.


"Wait Shane. I came to say I'm sorry. It wasn't supposed to go down that way. I never meant for your mom to die. You've got to believe me." Jack says.


"I don't believe anything you say, you're letting Brad take the fall and I know you put him up to it. You're a coward Jack. You're hiding behind your dad's money. You don't even care that Brad's going to prison. You're just glad you're not. Get out of here." Shane tries to shut the door, he knows if Jack makes one more excuse he'll blow.


Jack can't take anymore. He said he was sorry what did Shane want. "You don't understand. I'm just a kid like you. We didn't mean for this to happen. If you had just come instead of your Mom. but no, you're a wimp, you let your mom fight your battles." even as he said it Jack knew he was wrong but it was too late to take it back.


Todd couldn't believe what he was hearing all those memories of the taunting he had done to Marty. It had never been his fault. It had always been her fault. He had been so wrong and now Jack was doing the same thing. He was backpedaling and trying to put the blame on Shane's shoulders. God, his son was like him. Before he could step out and say something. Shane bolted out of his doorway and tackled Jack. Both boys were getting in blows. Each of them mad for their own reasons and taking it out on the other. He watched, only planning on stepping in if one or the other got vicious. He knew the anger and fear that drove both boys. Then he noticed Shane beginning to struggle, he seemed to be having trouble breathing. Jack hadn't noticed and was still pummeling away. Todd moved in. Something was really wrong with Shane and he had to stop Jack. "Stop this." he pulled the boys apart and had to hold Jack off Shane. Shane had fallen to the ground trying to breathe. Todd looked down at him and back at his son. "Hold it. Can't you see there is something wrong with him. " Jack stopped fighting his hold and looked down at Shane. He knew what was wrong.


Jack looked at the man holding him and said. "Shane's having an asthma attack. Shane where's your inhaler."


Shane is struggling for air and reaches into his pocket and then looks in horror at the Jack and the strange man. " Gone!' is all he's able to get out.


Todd takes charge immediately, instructing his son to look around on the ground where the boys were struggling. After some quick searching Jack finds the inhaler and crawls quickly to give it to Shane.


He sits there next to Shane watching to see if the inhaler is going to help. Todd gets down to check on Shane. "How are you doing? " Shane' s color is coming back and he does appear to be breathing easier. " Let's get you back inside." Todd offers his hand and raises Shane off the ground and walks him back to his house. He turns and looks at Jack on the ground still and says "You come too. Looks like you both could do with some first aid."


Todd helps Shane to a chair and asks where the first aid kit is. Shane points to a cabinet in the kitchen, Todd nods to Jack indicating he should get it.


Jack finds the kit and brings it back to the table and sits down. He's watching the strange man. Jack wonders who the guy is but he's glad the guy stopped him. If something had happened to Shane on top of his Mom, he would have felt even worse. No one believed him when he said he was sorry. Why was it so wrong to be glad he wasn't in jail.


Todd started cleaning up Shane first and making sure his breathing was back under control. " Your going to have a beauty of a shiner there. Do either one of you want to tell me what the fight was about?"Todd looked at both boys but neither had anything to say. He tried one more time. " Hey impartial ears here it won't go any farther than this room."


Shane blurted out, "He killed my Mom!"


Jack yelled back, "It was an Accident."


"Whoa there both of you." Todd turned to Shane. "That a pretty serious accusation. Do you have proof? Look fellas this sounds pretty bad, think of me as someone you can talk to who won't judge. There are obviously two sides to this story and I'd like to hear them both. You guys up for that. Do you both think you can sit here and listen to the other's story without interrupting." he looked at both boys and continued to clean them up.


Shane glared at Jack but nodded and Jack glanced at the stranger and knew he had to talk to somebody who wouldn't judge him. Jack glanced over at Shane and reluctantly nodded too. Todd took a deep breath. They were both willing just to listen to what the other had to say. He had a feeling Jack was the one that was going to be sitting on the hot seat. But Jack needed to face his actions head on. Listening to Shane's side of all of it might be just the thing.


Todd pulled up a chair and sat down facing them. He turned to Shane and said. "The floor is yours. How did all this start?"