Dance with the Devil: Chapter 12

At the sound of Blair’s voice from the hospital room, Dorian Lord couldn’t help but roll her eyes. She turned to Viki, who merely shrugged. Starr, who had a huge grin on her face, saw the looks on both of her aunts’ faces. “Neither of you saw that coming, like, a mile away?” She shook her head. “Ever since Dad exiled himself to Port Charles, all he’s talked about was Mom, missing her, still loving her.” She headed inside to see her parent in a passionate kiss. They broke apart when they saw Starr.


“So, Shorty, I asked your mom to marry me and she said yes,” Todd informed her with a smirk. “I know we talked a while ago about taking it slow, but that never really worked for me.”


Starr nodded. “Yeah, we all kinda heard Mom’s answer from outside,” she said, as the family came back in. Viki was beaming and Clint even smiled at the couple. Sarah’s huge grin was surprising mirrored her mother’s and Cord also seemed pleased.


When Dr. Webber stepped into the room with Dorian, Todd said to him, “I want to go ahead with the surgery. The sooner, the better.”


Dr. Webber was hesitant. “You do realized the risks involved?” With Todd’s nod, Steve continued. “I can give you the names of some specialists, but unfortunately, the best in the field is unavailable.”


“Greg Evan,” Clint stated.


“You know of Dr. Evans?” Steve said.


“I had him brought in for my nephew when he was left in a wheelchair after an accident a few years ago.” Clint turned his attention back to Todd, saying, “Unfortunately, he was put in jail for covering up the death of his girlfriend.”


“Wait, I think I remember seeing a piece come across my desk about him getting parole in the spring,” Viki said.


Clint moved to leave the room. “I’ll go check it out.” After a while, Todd was left in the room with everyone but his sisters, as Dorian wanted to have a word with Blair and Starr went as backup for her mother and Cord and Sarah left to conduct other business.


Viki was very worried for him. “Are you sure about this surgery? It sound very dangerous and I can’t think of what could happen to you.” She was back in her role of mother hen.


“Viki, I need to do this. Call it…any jock mentality that I have left in me, but I can’t picture myself in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I can’t picture Blair nursemaiding me,” he explained. “We’re getting married and I’m determined to walk her back down the aisle after the preacher declares us man and wife.” He looked over at Tina. “Come on, put in your two cents.”


Tina moved over to her brother. He couldn’t figure out her expression until she said, “You are positive you want to marry Blair again?” she asked.


Todd shot her a look of annoyance. “What, fourth times the charm. At least, it seems to be for you and Cord.” He really didn’t want to rehash an argument that had started up over twenty years ago. “And if you’re worried, no, she’s not after my money.”


Tina gave her baby brother a withering glare. “I actually accepted a long time ago that I couldn’t do anything to keep you apart. And, even I will admit, I’m thankful to her for saving your life in Viki’s cabin last year.” She threw her hands up. “I just wanted you to be certain. I do love you, even if you are impossible.”


As the Lord siblings were in the room, Dorian was in the process of dragging her niece down the hall for a tongue lashing. When they were finally out into the main hub of the floor, Dorian started in. “You know the risks with this kind of surgery? That bullet is millimeters away from his spine. One wrong move and it could be severed.”


“Dorian, Todd understands the risks. We understand the risks, but I support his decision,” Blair explained to her aunt. “I am scared that something may happened, but I have to stay strong right now, for Todd.” With that said, the elevator opened behind her and off stepped Jack and Sam.


The little boy ran to his Mom and gave her a hug, sensing that something was wrong. “It’s OK, Mom. I know Uncle Todd will be alright,” he told his mom.


Blair was thankful for Sam’s words. “Of course he’s going to be alright. Come on, you want to go see him? We have some news for you,” she told her youngest son. As they began down the hall, Jack didn’t move. Blair turned back to him. “Jack, I need you to hear this as well.” Jack finally came along and the proceeded back to Todd.


As they walked in, the sisters cleared out and Blair lifted Sam onto the bed as Starr moved closer to her father. Jack still stayed away, as if looking for the fastest escape route. Todd noticed his son’s expression and smiled. It was one that Todd usually had on when trapped by others, especially Viki. “So Sam, how was the ice cream?” he asked, trying to put the kid at ease. Sam made a face and Todd laughed. “Yeah, I have to agree with your there.” He looked at Blair, who nodded at him, knowing it was time to tell the boys both pieces of news. “So, listen, the doctors told me that I hurt my back so bad, I’m going to need to have it fixed,” he said, couching in as simply and gently as he could. “But when I get all better, something really cool is going to happen.”


“What really cool thing is going to happen?” Sam asked.


Blair knelt down into his eye line. “Your Uncle Todd asked me to marry him and when he’s all better, we’re going to have a wedding!” Blair exclaimed.


Jack’s head shot up at the announcement. Shock and anger showed on his face. Forgetting for an instant that his little brother was in the room, he shouted, “You’re going to marry that murder? He killed Uncle Victor and walked on it because of ‘PTSD’. He got rid of Tea’s baby and let some poor woman think her kid was dead. But then, that’s par for the course for him. And you’re forgiving him? No, it’s worse. You want to marry him,” Jack shouted as he grabbed for the door handle.


“Jack, listen to me--” Blair began.


“No, I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear from you ever again. I hate you, I hate you both.” With that, the teenager was out the door.


Blair ran after him, in an attempt to catch up to him. “John Cramer Manning, listen to me, please!” she called after him, but the doors to the elevator were closing by time she got there. She ran back into Todd’s room and received a sympathetic smile from Todd and Starr.


It was Sam who got their attention when he asked Todd, “When you marry my mom, are you going to replace my dad?”


Todd looked at his nephew, unsure of how to answer him. Thinking for a minute, he replied, “I would never think to even try and replace your dad, and I am so sorry he’s not here.”


“You told me you were sick, that’s why you made him go to heaven. But you also gave me Fred the Magic Frog for me to talk to him.” The tone of Sam’s voice broke Todd’s heart. Sam knelt on the bed and hugged him again. “It’s alright, Uncle Todd. I’m happy that you’re going to marry Mommy.”


Tears formed the eyes of both Starr and Blair. But down on the dock, Jack Manning was as mad he ever was. He let out an animalistic yell, which attracted the attention of Molly as she came off the launch. “Jack, what’s wrong?” she asked innocently as she set the books she was carrying on the bench.


“Leave me alone. I don’t want to talk,’ he told her, a cruel tone in his voice.


Molly was not one to leave things be. She stood next to him and reached out to rub his shoulder. He lashed out to push it away. “Get away from me. Don’t you ever listen?” he asked.


“I like to think of myself as a good listener,” she offered. “You can tell me what’s wrong.” She paused for a minute. “Is it bad news about your dad?”


“Yeah, in a way,” he chuckled without a hint of mirth. “My mom and dad are going to get remarried after he has surgery.”


“I don’t understand? Usually, children of divorced parents want them to get back together. Even I wish my mom and dad would try again,” Molly queried.


“Well, then, my sister’s wish has come true, but I don’t want anything to do with my father.” Jack finally looked at her. “He murdered my uncle in cold blood, a man who raised me as his son and then, he was found not guilty for it. My Aunt Tea’s baby died but he switched it with some other woman’s baby.” He spread out his hand’s. “And what happens? My mom not only forgives him for all this, but agrees to marry him again, for the fourth time.” Molly was unsure of what to say, so Jack took advantage of it. “Look, I really just want to be alone right now.”


Molly sighed and picked up her books. Walking up the stair she just looked back at Jack, who seemed so lonely standing there. She made her way to the hospital and spotted Jack’s mom and family coming out of a room. When they all left, she made her way to the room and spied Todd on the phone with a tablet in his hand. When he got off the phone, Molly walked into the room and set the books on the tray.


Todd looked up at the teenage girl who walked in. She seemed vaguely familiar to him, but couldn’t place her name just yet. He saw the books in front of him. “Oh, so you’re the candy striper here. Thanks, but I really don’t need any books,” he said, waving the tablet.


Molly was unsure of how to approach, so she asked directly, “Why did you steal my sister’s baby?”


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