The Devil You Know: Chapter 43

By the time Todd and Blair had arrived at the Metrocourt’s Grand Ballroom, the place was packed.  It seemed that the town had come out for the gala, and not just the residents.  Former townfolk, like Nikolas Cassadine and Ned Ashton were milling around.  In fact, Todd was headed to talk to the Russian prince when he was waylaid by Lucy Coe.

“There is the man of the hour.  I am so glad you finally got here!” the mistress of ceremonies called out.

“Ah, Lucy, there’s no problems right?  It’s not Tina, is it?” he asked cautiously.

“It’s the Nurses Ball!  Of course there are problems!” she cried, pulling him towards a table with his sister and Cord.  

Strangely, though, Tina gave him a reassuring smile.  “Actually, everything is under control, Lucy.  Believe me, I’ve run a number of events in my day, including my niece’s wedding, and they all went smooth as silk.”

Todd raised an eyebrow.  “Are you talking about Natalie’s wedding to Brady?  Cause that wedding, not so much,” he commented.  Then he turned to Cord.  “Unless you count using it for your own remarriage.”

Tina was about to make a retort when Viki’s voice called out, “Alright, children, back into your corners.”  Then she offered Lucy one of her graceful smiles as she approached with Clint.  “Ms. Coe, it is a delight to see you.”

“Mrs. Buchanan, how are you!  Thank you again for being so generous with your donation,” Lucy bubbled.   

Todd pulled Viki aside.  “Can I ask a favor tonight?”  She offered him a curious look as he continued.  “Look, I’m no good at these public speechifying things.  And I would bet Lucy’s gonna want me to say a few words.  Can you say something?  I kinda wanted to remain as anonymous as possible.”

Viki grew concerned.  She knew it was true of Todd, but this was slightly worrying, especially by the look in his eyes.  She was about to ask if he was alright, but she knew what his answer would be.  “Fine, if Lucy asks you go say a few words, I’ll step in for you.”

“Thanks, sis,” he replied, kissing her on the cheek.  Then he returned to Blair’s side, where she was talking with Lucy.  “So, are we ready to get this show on the road?”

Lucy smiled brightly.  “Yes, we are!”

It took a good half hour for everyone to be seated in the Grand Ballroom.  The head table consisted of Todd and Blair, Cord and Tina, Clint and Viki and a late arriving Victor and Tea, along with Kevin Collins.  The younger generation of the family was spread out around the room.  Jack sat with Molly at a table bought by Nikolas Cassadine, who had also invited Jessica Buchanan, Starr was, to Todd’s chagrin, with Michael at Sonny Corinthos’ table and Sarah was with the Quartermaine table with Dillon. 

Soon, the room darkened and Lucy Coe appeared on the stage.  After twirling around in a rainbow hued dress, she began, “Thank you all for coming tonight.  This is a big night for Port Charles.  Many of you know, of course, about the Nurses’ Ball, but there are some here who don’t.  It was an event that went on for a number of years to raise money to combat the fight against AIDS.  And it did.  But, there have been lean years and AIDS isn’t on the mindset of the public as it was so many years ago.”

“We in Port Charles, of course, saw how devastating AIDS and HIV were firsthand.  We saw a wonderful young man, Stone Cates, succumb to it and he left behind a girlfriend, a wonderful woman who also contracted HIV.  She, however, lived a long and happy life.  She married and has a beautiful daughter and it is in her memory that we gather here again tonight.  So, I would like to start tonight with a toast.”  Lucy was handed a flute of champagne which she held out to the audience, who followed suit.  “To Doctor Robin Scorpio-Drake.”

When that was over, Lucy said, “Now, without further ado, I am so proud to present our first act, Dillon Quartermaine with Cameron Webber and Sam Manning, performing “Hakuna Matata.”  That was followed by Starr and Michael singing “When Your Sixteen Going on Seventeen” from “The Sound of Music”.  There were a few other performances and then the intermission. 

As people milled about, Sonny Corinthos came up to Todd.  “Your daughter has a real talent, Manning,” he said. 

“Thank you, Sonny,” was Todd’s reply.  “And Michael’s…not so bad either.”

Near the end of the intermission, Blair looked at her watch.  “Oh, I have to get ready for my number,” she said.

“I’ll come back with you.  I want the best view in the place,” Todd said as he got up from the table and followed her backstage, as was their pre-planned signal.

Just after they left, Lucy returned to the stage, this time in a dark blue gown.  After a round of applause, she began to speak again.  “As many of you know, the Nurses Ball ran out of funding over a decade ago.  But with the passing of Robin, and the many wonderful memories of this gala, the push was on to bring it back.  And I know how generous the people of Port Charles were.  It surprised me, though, that is was one of our newest residents who stepped forward to fund the ball.  And, along with his family who were equally generous, I would like to acknowledge them here and now.  So, please, a round of applause for the publisher of the Sun, Todd Manning!”

The applause began as the spotlight turned table number one.  However, Todd was not there.  Clint rolled his eyes and looked at Viki, who wore a slightly annoyed look on her face.  “Well, that’s Todd for you.  At least he prepared me for this.”  She stood up and approached the stage.  Lucy looked confused, but handed her the microphone.  “Thank you on behalf of my brother Todd.  He’s a bit shy when it comes to events like this and he asked me to speak for him.  Though I am unsure if this disease has ever affected him, it has touched me.  I had a stepson I never met because he succumbed before I married his father and also because he and his father were estranged due to conflicts regarding lifestyles.  I know that my husband came to regret the time he lost with his son because of that conflict.  But it is truly amazing how far we have come in the fight against AIDS and HIV.  There is still a long way to go before we will eradicate it, but it is heartening to know, the fight still goes on.”  With that Viki handed the phone back to Lucy.

“Now, for our next act, from the nightclub Capricorn in Llanview, Pennsylvania, Blair Cramer and accompanist, with an ‘Unforgettable’ song,” Lucy announced.

A few notes came from a piano as Blair walked across the stage, beginning the Nat King Cole classic.  As the song moved into the second verse, the curtain rose and a gasp came from the head table and from around the room.  Viki hadn’t even made it off stage when she heard the noise.  She turned around and stood off stage in amazement as she saw Todd playing the piano.

On the ballroom floor, Starr walked over to her parent’s table and Jack followed suit, equally stunned to see their parents performing together.  For the length of the song, they were mesmerized watching them, Todd mostly concentrating on his playing, but occasionally looking up to throw a knowing smile Blair’s way.  He had loosened his tie for affect and Blair pranced around the piano, finally coming to sit next to him, as if singing to him.  They acted as though they were the only ones in the room for the whole time they were on stage. 

Once and a while, the press who were present for the gala would snap a shot.  This was the only time it seemed Todd noticed anyone else.  After about the third flash, Todd jerked ever so slightly as it seemed to be affecting him.

When the song finished, Starr was jumping up and down with excitement as the rest of the room followed suit.  Tina had a huge grin on her face and Clint and Cord were complimenting Todd’s performance.  Even Tea was smiling like she hadn’t smiled for Todd in a while.  It was only Victor who looked unhappy.  Tea noticed that and paused.  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

Victor took his eyes off his brother for a minute.  “I have a feeling something bad is going to happen,” was all he said. 

As the applause grew louder, Blair took Todd’s hand as they took their curtain call.  But when she touched it, it was clammy.  She looked over at Todd, who had a blank expression on his face for a moment.  Then he saw her and pasted a smile on and took his bow.  After taking a second, he pulled her to the backstage, away from where Viki was standing. 

As they headed back, Blair could hear Todd’s breathing become labored.  “Todd, what’s the matter?  Todd?” she called out in panic.  When he looked up at her, the blank look was back but before he could say anything, he collapsed to the floor.  “Oh, my God!”

It was that cry that sent Viki rushing over to her brother.  By time she got there, Todd was lying on the floor, staring into nothingness and Blair was desperately calling for him.  Lucy came running and when she saw the state Todd was in, ran out to the floor and called for her husband. 

After Todd and Blair left the stage, Kevin had noticed the look on Victor’s face.  Before he had any time to ask about it, Lucy came running out.  “Doc, come quick!  I think Todd passed out!”

Victor ran to his brother before Kevin even pieced together what Lucy was calling about.  Tea and Clint followed with Starr and Jack bringing up the rear.  What they saw was Blair calling to him and Todd unresponsive. 

Starr looked from her parents to her aunt.  “What happened?” she asked, tear forming in her eyes. 

Kevin approached Todd and looked to Clint and Victor.  It was Clint who tried to ease Blair away.  She fought him until she saw Kevin.  “He just couldn’t breathe and then he just collapsed there,” she explained to the shrink.

Kevin stepped closer and searched for a pulse.  It was there and strong and he let out a quick breath.  “Todd, can you hear me?  Todd?” he asked loudly, but there was no response.  Then, Todd began to shake.  “Lucy, call 911.  Tell them we have a potential catatonic patient who is going into shock.”  With that, Kevin took off his tuxedo jacket, which Clint and Victor did as well.  They cover him with them, trying to keep him warm.  “What happened?  He seemed fine on stage.”

“He remembered, I’ll bet,” Victor said.

“Remembered what?” Kevin asked.

“He remembered the first concert he played in, when he was seven,” Victor explained.

Viki put her hands to her mouth.  “The night Peter Manning beat his mother.  Is that what you’re talking about?”

Victor shook his head.  “It’s more than that.  That night…I was there.  I was there with Irene and afterwards, I was running on a sidewalk and I saw him.  I saw Todd.”

“What do you mean you saw him?” Kevin asked.

Victor was about to answer but the ambulance crew arrived and began to attend to Todd.  Blair stood back, tears in her eyes.  Her children moved to her side and watched along with her.  “This has to do with Dad’s zone outs, right?” Jack asked.

Blair couldn’t answer him, she was so bereft.  When the crew had gotten on a stretcher, Blair finally spoke.  “I’m going with you to the hospital.”  The EMTs merely nodded and they headed out to the main ballroom. 

It was Viki who stopped them.  “Can you take him out the side?” she asked.  When they looked at her, she expounded, “The press is there.”  They nodded and changed direction. 

Victor looked at Starr and Jack.  “Come on, I’ll get you two there.  I think…I should be there.”  They headed out and Kevin followed, telling Lucy he needed to go in a medical capacity.

“You want to go too?” Clint asked his wife. 

Viki nodded, but said, “First, I think we need to ask Tina and Cord to look after Sam and the little ones.  After a few minutes, Tina, shocked as well, promised to get little Sam home and Tea agreed to stay with them as well.  When Viki finally got into the car, she burst into tears.  Clint held her before they were off; assuring her that Todd would be alright.

“I pray so, Clint.  Oh, how I pray,” she replied.  Then silently, she asked anyone she could think of to help Todd get through this latest trauma.

Somewhere, a woman smiled.
  
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