The Devil You Know: Chapter 39

Mercifully, Viki had not set up a dinner for the family that night, something Todd was eternally grateful to his sister for.  He really didn’t have the stomach to deal with Clint, Tea, Victor, Cord or Tina, though his attitude to the redhead had been changing.  He didn’t know why, but he saw that she and Blair were getting along for the first time he could ever remember and he was becoming more patient with Tina. 

So, it was a quiet night at the Manning’s and Todd decided they should do a movie.  It was a situation that was generally far to domestic for him, but after insisting on it, he cajoled Jack and Starr to be apart from their significant others for the one night.  They agreed and when Starr headed into the foyer to call Michael, Jack followed.  After she finished, Starr turned back to living room but was surprised to see her brother blocking her way.

“We need to talk,” Jack told her forcefully.

Starr didn’t like the tone in her brother’s voice.  There was an edge to it, one she had not heard since their cousin Powell had taken their mother, Victor and Tea for a “reunion” at the KAD house and Jack had been scared into silence.  That Jack Manning hadn’t been seen around a lot in the last year.  Looking over his shoulder, she saw her parents and Sam settling in on the couch.  “Hey, before we start the movie, we need popcorn.  Jack and I will get it, okay?” Starr asked.

“Ah, Shorty, that’s why we have a butler,” Todd said.

“I really don’t want to bother Reginald with it.  Don’t start without us!” she yelled as they headed to the kitchen.

Once there, Jack didn’t waste any time.  “I’m worried about Dad’s…mental state.”

Starr looked at him confused.  Todd Manning’s mental state had been in question for longer than she’d been around, so she didn’t understand what he meant.  “You think there’s something wrong with Dad?”

Jack sat down and Starr followed.  “Since we got back from Chicago, well, really before that, it’s like he’s…off.  He loses focus, zones out, that kind of stuff.  And I know I don’t know him as well as you or Mom, but from all I know about him, he doesn’t seem like that kind of person.  He always seems to zero in on something and never lose focus.”

Starr was impressed with Jack’s reading of their father.  “When it’s something Dad wants, then yeah, that fits him to a tee.  Especially if that something is named Blair Cramer.”

“But lately, he hasn’t been like that at all.  And now that you mention Mom, have we even heard him mention their wedding?”  Jack looked truly baffled. 

Starr thought about it and realized he was right.  Todd had put off any talk about his fourth wedding to Blair for the sake of Aunt Viki, he claimed, but that was a while ago, in Todd-time.  This was the man who planned five wedding that happened (or should have happened) within forty-eight hours of the engagement.  And yet she had heard nothing about wedding plans. 

“I guess I’m getting…worried about him.  So worried I called Uncle Victor here early,” Jack admitted.

“Why call Uncle Victor?”

Jack thought about his answer and looked embarrassed for a minute.  It sounded as stupid as his guess about Todd and Victor being clones of each other, but it was all he had to go on.  “Uncle Victor was brainwashed to have all of Dad’s memories, right?  Well, I thought that he may have memories that Dad…can’t remember.”  Then he took a deep breath as he added, “The memories that Dad has locked away.  Like Aunt Viki didn’t remember…”

Starr became alarmed.  “You think that Dad was…?”

Jack shook his head.  “No, but I think he doesn’t want to let himself remember things.  Like the good things in his childhood.  I mean, did you ever know he could play the piano at all?  Maybe we can ask Uncle Victor if he remembers any of it.”  Jack shrugged his shoulders.  “It’s a thought anyway.”

A smile formed on Starr’s face.  “But it’s a good thought.  I think you’re right.”  Jack turned back to her suddenly and caught her expression as she continued.  “Tomorrow, we’ll go talk to Victor together.”

Just then, they heard a bellowing from the family room.  “Where’s that popcorn?” came Todd’s voice. 

Starr threw a bag in and the two waited for it to finish.  When they got back to their parents, Starr apologized.  “Jack just had a question about something and we got distracted.”  With that, the Manning family sat down and watched the movie together.

When it ended, Sam was asleep, sprawled across Todd and Blair.  Jack smiled and picked up his brother.  “I’ll put him to bed.”  With that, he headed up stairs.  Blair grabbed the snacks and Starr followed her into the kitchen, with the impression she would help clean up.  Once they were there, Starr looked behind her mother.

Blair noticed how close her daughter was standing to her.  “Is something wrong, Starr?”

Letting out a sigh, Starr said, “I know why Victor came early.  Jack asked him here.”

That surprised Blair.  “Why would Jack need him here?”  Although Jack had been the hardest on Todd in the wake of his return to the land of the living, the father and son had forged a bond that was amazingly strong, especially considering how fractured the relationship had been. 

Starr guided her mother to the table and began to explain.  “Jack thinks there are things Dad doesn’t want to remember but that Victor can that won’t effect his in the same way.”  When Blair gave off a confused look, Starr went further.  “Aunt Viki and Jessica, with their DID, have gatekeeper personalities, Jean and Bess.  They ‘protect’ them from the terrible memories, a way for the hosts to not cope with the terrible truths.  Well, Uncle Victor, because he has all of Dad’s memories, is a walking, talking protector of Dad’s terrible truths.  And we don’t want to ask Dad, because he will just shut down, like he always does.  But if we ask Victor…”

Blair understood.  “It wasn’t something that effect him personally and he may be able to access those memories without collapsing under the weight of them.  I can see what your thinking, sweetheart.”  Then she remembered something.  “I think, though, that you need to be cautious around Victor as well.  He may have your Daddy’s memories, but you could also hit on something from his past that he’s not aware of.”  With that, she headed upstairs to check on Sam and Jack.  Her younger son was asleep but Jack was at his desk with an open textbook.

“Hey Mom,” he said when he noticed her.  Then he saw the look on her face.  “Something wrong?”

Blair shook her head.  “No, nothing, but Starr and I talked about why Victor came early.”  She sat on his bed and smiled.  “I think your idea has merit, but I need to caution you about Victor.  He has his own issues about his past and you, in looking to him to help your father, could hurt him.”

Jack wasn’t sure he understood.  “What kind of issues would Victor have?”

She looked at the floor before answering.  “The night before Viki’s wedding, when I was over at the Buchanan’s, we were talking about how your dad and Victor and your aunts were raised.  None of them were normal, stable atmospheres.”

“Like how Starr and I were raised?” he commented sarcastically.

“You and your sister’s childhoods were almost perfect in comparison to Victor Lord’s children,” Blair informed him.

“Even Aunt Tina’s?”

Blair chuckled.  “Even hers.  But Victor has issues of his own.  He may be aware of them, he may not.  Personally, I think he has to have some, if we only have to guess at his childhood.  He was actually raised by Irene, remember.”  She stood up and headed to the bedroom door.  “Look, just tread with caution when dealing with your father’s childhood.”  Then she turned around and kissed the top of his head.  “But thank you for your efforts.”  With that, she left. 

Jack turned around to his desk and picked up the phone.  Thinking for a minute, he dialed a number, knowing this was the person to turn to when it came to family issues.  The other end picked up.  “Aunt Viki,  I need your help with something tomorrow.”         


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