Todd's Saga 3: Interlude

Todd watched from the darkened corner of the hangar as his jet took off for Louisiana.  He saw his shadow follower move into the doorway, his back to Todd.  The follower took a phone out of his pocket and made a call, then walked away from the hangar.  Todd hung back waiting until he was sure his tail had completely left the vicinity.  He took out his phone and sent his message, then took the long walk to the road where his ride was waiting for him..

****

Blair checked and double-checked the books.  She was trying to concentrate on work, but her mind kept wandering to the surprises she had received that morning.  After breakfast, she had wasted no time getting to the drugstore, to confirm what she suspected, and had been overjoyed to find out she had been right.  Then she had gone to The Sun to check up on the paper.  She told Jack that Todd had asked her to make sure the Llanviewpaper was running smoothly, but in reality, it was an excuse to go to the building where Todd’s secret room was housed.  She had made the obligatory stops in editing and printing before heading to the morgue and the hallway that led to the room where Todd had set up his viewing screens.  Using the key Todd had given her, she entered the room and turned on the light.  She had planned to view the screens for a little bit and sit in Todd’s chair just to be a little closer to him when she had seen her second surprise. 

Blair closed her books and reached into her pocket and pulled out the phone Todd had left for her. At first, she had been afraid someone else had discovered the room until she had seen the note attached to the phone.

Blair, I’m back as promised.  Hang on to this phone, it’s a burner,  they won’t be able to trace it.  Watch for my message.  I love you, Blair Manning!
Todd

Her joy at finding the note and phone had caused her to break down in tears, and it had taken her a while to compose herself.  She wasn’t sure how long she had sat in his chair.  He was alive and somewhere in Llanview.  Now she hugged the phone close to her heart wishing it would ring.  Todd, please call.  I can’t stand this, knowing you’re here somewhere, I need to see you.  She sighed as she realized he would contact her when he could, but she longed to hear his voice after so many weeks away. 

        She forced herself to put the phone back in her pocket and went back to her books.  Taking another look at the page in front she paused and pulled a set of sheets from another pile and began to peruse them.  “Damn!” She looked around when she realized she had spoken aloud.  There was a discrepancy, and a sizable one if the inventory was correct.  There was only one thing to do.  She’d have to check the inventory to make sure it was correct, and if so, then it would be time to talk to Cutter.   She slipped off the stool and headed to the cooler where the wine inventories were stored.  She was in the midst of counting the bottles of the Dom Perignon when a familiar tune rang in her pocket.  Hearing the notes to “Unforgettable”, Blair almost dropped the very expensive bottle she held in her hand as she suddenly reached for her pocket.  She put the bottle down and looked at the message printed on the screen.

         Meet me in the room.  Be careful.  I love you. T

All thought went out the window, Blair put the bottle back in its case. She could feel her heart beating a mile a minute.  She rushed out of the cooler, grabbed the books, closed them, and stuck them and the inventory sheets in her office, and locked the door.  Todd was waiting for her.  On her way out the door, she stopped Cutter.

“I’m going to be busy the rest of the night.  You’re in charge.  By the way, keep yourself free tomorrow.  We need to talk.”

****
         Todd moved slowly through the morgue, making sure to avoid anyone still in the area.  He had planned his rendezvous to coincide with the shift change so he could get in virtually unseen.  He walked to the storage room just down from the viewing room and entered to find his supplies there as he had ordered.   Moving the items from one room to the other only took a matter of minutes.  Once in the room, he started setting up for the night.  He had contemplated meeting Blair at Viki’s cabin but after several weeks of being followed, he was pretty sure the cabin wasn’t safe.  The organization knew too much about him and his family.  

        Finished, Todd stood back and looked at his handiwork.  It wasn’t perfect, but once Blair arrived it would be.  He sat down in his chair and turned on the monitors.  He didn’t like how his sister looked.  He had read about the Man of the Year debacle and Clint’s collapse.   He should have been home for Viki and instead, he had spent the last month going from one dead end to the other.  They were playing him, and he had had it.  It had just made him more determined to find Victor and then get even.  But tonight belonged to him and Blair.  The organization thought he was on his way to Louisiana.  If everything went as planned, his double would report back in tomorrow.  Todd didn’t think much would happen before then and no matter what, he had someone keeping an eye on the double.  He took a few moments to check on Tea and Dani as well as Jack and Sam.  Then he turned his attention to Shelter where he watched Blair working on her books. 

           He marveled that she had ever looked at him twice.  She was still as beautiful now as when he first met her.  He saw her frown and wondered what had upset her.  First, she hadn’t been well that morning, and now something at work was bothering her.  He knew it was hard for her because it was for him.   He was struggling with being apart from her, every bone in his body wanted her at that moment.  He had waited long enough.  Shelter would be opening soon, and he needed to get Blair out of there before people began looking for her.  He picked up his phone and made the call.  A few minutes later he watched her leave.  It was only a matter of minutes now.

****

It would have taken less than fifteen minutes to drive from Shelter to the Manning building. But Blair had felt like someone was watching her so she had opted to drive home to La Boulaie and parked the car in the driveway. Then, after feeding a story to Dorian about working late on the club books, she had gone out the back way and walked across the property to Viki’s house. She had called a cab to pick her up near the carriage house.  Blair wasn’t taking any chances on someone from the organization following her to Todd.

Todd was getting frantic, he had expected Blair within minutes and now almost half an hour had passed since she left the club..  He kept seeing her lying in a heap somewhere outside Shelter, and it was driving him crazy.  Unable to stop himself, he texted.  “Where the hell are you?” God, Woman, if you’re not dead I’ll kill you myself.  Just then he heard the sound of “Unforgettable” coming from the other side of the door.  He shook his head back and forth and also his hands to get himself to calm down. She was there.  It had to be her.  He watched anxiously as the door opened and Blair stepped in. She was a vision, her eyes sparkling as she took in the room.  He could see her heart pumping and he knew it was probably going as fast as his.  Not moving he opened his arms to her.

Blair stopped far enough in for the door to close behind her and looked at the transformation Todd had performed in the room.  The room was lit with candlelight, and Todd had the table set for dinner.  She gasped as she saw a bed taking up half the room covered in satin sheets and pillows. She couldn’t help blushing a little bit, especially when she saw him standing alone across the room.  The love in his eyes was evident.  His arms were opened in welcome, and she flew across the room, her arms going around his neck as he enclosed her.

“Oh my god, Todd, I’ve missed you so much!” she whispered in his ear. Unable to help herself, she was soon covering his neck and ears with her kisses and Todd was equally devouring her as well.   Nothing else mattered at that moment but being with each other.  Before either of them realized it, they had stripped each other of their clothes.  Todd picked her up and laid her gently on the bed.  He joined her and slowed down to a leisurely pace as he began to explore every part of her.
  
        Blair was immersed in the feel of him next to her, his hands stroking and touching her while his tongue did the same.  He was ready and waiting for her and she reached to massage and fondle him, but then became lost in sensations as her body responded to every delicious touch. Soon she was moaning and ready to topple off the world.  She begged, “Oh Todd, Please!” as he slid deep inside her. With her tight around him, Todd let himself go, and soon he was joining her on the ride to the top.  He pulled her close as he dropped to her side.  “God, I love you!”

         Over the next several hours, they continued to explore and caress each other. Finally, Blair drifted off to sleep in Todd’s arms, and he just held her.  He listened to her breathing and stroked her hair.  Her left hand laid across his chest, and he saw that she had put her rings on before coming to him.   He covered her hand with his and thought of all the times they had held hands over the years. To some, it was a simple gesture, but to him, the first time she held her hand out to him and wished him Merry Christmas had been the gesture that had turned his life around.  She was his soulmate, and he was hers.  They no longer denied it.  Too much time had already been lost, and now they would use every bit they had to strengthen that love. 

          He kissed the top of her head and settled himself against the pillows, for now, it was enough that they were together.  He would have to leave again.  He couldn’t take any chances the organization would find out he’d been home.  But that was a good four or five hours away and he still deserved this little bit of happiness, and so did she.  He would be back, this room was their safe haven, and he intended to keep it that way.

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Hope from the Ocean: 13

"Marty?  This is Blair."  Thinking of what Todd wanted, Blair had decided, even though he relented, to at least find out what was going on.

"Yes, Blair, hello."

"How are you?  Todd and I noticed the article in the paper, about Patrick.  He . . . wanted me to call you."

"He's missing.  One morning, I woke up, and he wasn't beside me.  I haven't heard from him since the night before that discovery.  He's just . . . gone, Blair."

Her heart jumped, and she said, "Any idea what happened to him?"

"You know as well as I do what this is about."

Blair closed her eyes, as if to block it out.  "The Men of 21."

"Yes.  Just because Hesser is dead, does not mean they don't exist.  And they have long memories."

And they have long memories.

"Can it be anything else?  At all?"

"You mean did he just up and leave me?  Does that sound like Patrick to you?"

She thought about it.  "No.  He wouldn't.  I wanted to say . . . so sorry, Marty."

"Thanks," her voice cracked.

"Is there anything we can do?"  she offered.

"No.  Every day, I wait and see if I hear something.  Inside, I'm dying."  

Blair pictured herself, on the bed at the penthouse, doubled over from the pain of Todd missing when Leona took him at knife point from her.  "I understand."

"I know you do, you've been through it."

"Yeah, I have."

"Then you know.  You know."

Marty's words reverberated in her head.  "Yes, I know."

"Thank you for calling, Blair.  I really appreciate it.  Well, tell Todd."

"I will tell him," Blair said.  The phone went dead.  Blair held it to her ear for a while after the dial tone  began to hum again.  "I will."

***

"Bea!  I'm so glad to see ya!"  Sister Rebecca Katherine said, embracing the woman.  She handed the nun a picture.  "Ya drew this?"

She nodded, as if to let her know it was a gift.  

"For me?"  The nun asked.

Bea agreed.

"It's beautiful."  It was a picture of the altar at St. Anne's, adorned with flowers.  "I do love this."  The nun could not help but realize it was poignant in reminding her that soon, St. Anne's would be a part of her past.  "Now, Bea, Dear, get your pad, I want to talk to ya about your art and your upcoming art show at The Diamond Gallery."

Bea eagerly went to the desk, and Sister Rebecca Katherine went with her.  Both sat down, and Bea began to write.  Todd named the gallery because of me, he told me.

"Yes, he is just smitten with ya!"

I'm the only Momma he's ever had.  He named it The Diamond Gallery because you said I am a 'diamond in the rough.'  Remember that?

"Yes, of course I do.  And I meant it."

Bea wrote more, and handed it to the nun.  I think Todd is a diamond in the rough, too, Sister.  He's still trying to shine.

The clergywoman could not hide her emotion at Bea's words.  "Well, he's on his way, Dear."

He is very strong.

"I agree.  Very strong.  Now, what are ya going to wear to the opening next week?"

Bea wrote.  I don't know.  What do you think, Sister?  Shall I wear the dress todd bought me for Christmas?

"If ya want, but maybe he'll just buy another."

He has a lot of money, doesn't he?  He got it from Victor.

"Yes, and he's made more of it.  Much more.  He's quite wealthy."

I am excited about the art show.  Do you think people will like my sketches?

"I am sure they will."

I hope they do. I keep thinking of my dreams, Sister.  They are so real sometimes.  Like the one about the tiny baby in Todd's hand.  Dr. Martino says they are not real, but they seem to be.

She had underlined "seem."  Sister Rebecca Katherine said, "No, they aren't real.  They're a part of ya, in your mind, but not real when you're awake."

I want them to have a healthy baby.  Blair cannot lose another one.  But I know she won't.  I saw the baby, she was so small, but beautiful.

"It's in God's hands, Dear.  I am sure the baby will be fine.  Can I see some of the sketches you're going to display?"

Bea nodded and opened the large portfolio folder that Todd bought for her.  Inside were several drawings, it almost seemed like hundreds.  Bea spread several out of the desk, and the nun was intrigued.  "My goodness, these are lovely."  She noticed, as she thumbed through them, that there were many of Todd, his family, his childhood, or something related to that past.  There were also landscapes, portraits, still life representations of various slices of life, beauty and also sadness.  "You are ready, Bea.  You'll do wonderfully."

Bea smiled, and folded her ams, nodding.

***

"I'll ask Lynnette, don't worry.  Trust me a little with this."

"She's not going to let me come over your house, Jack.  She's already said no."  Jenna said.

"I really want you to come.  It would be good for you to get out of your house and do something else.  Be around people.  My parents would love for you to come there and have dinner."

"I know, I just don't think she'll say yes."

"Just leave it to me, okay?"

"I will, but don't say I didn't warn you."

They pulled up in front of Jenna's apartment building, and exited the bus, hand in hand.  Walking into the building, Jack kept her hand in his, not giving way to the letting go.  He loved the feel of her hand in his, and even at times when it got awkward and would make sense to let it fall free, he didn't want to, and kept it in his.  They got into the elevator, and he said, "It's going to be okay."

"All right," she said.  "We'll see."

Lynnette opened the door to the apartment and said, "Jack, nice to see you."

"Hi, Lynnie.  Good to see you, too."

"Are you guys going to stay a while?  You both still have your coats on."

"We were hoping to go somewhere, with your permission."

"Where?"

"My house.  I really want Jenna to be able to relax a little and see Unforgettable.  It's beautiful there, we're on Llantano Mountain.  I  . . . was thinking she could use a change of scenery, if it's okay."

Lynnette looked at Jack, and then at Jenna, and back.  "I . . . guess you know that I've had problems with the idea before."

"Yeah, I know.  But that was before.  Now you know me, you know I really like Jenna and care about her.  And, you know my father now, and my mother.  I promise, nothing bad will happen to Jenna while I am around."

Lynnette was not sure what to say, so she swallowed and said, "I know, Jack.  Yes.  Yes, Jenna can go.  Just make sure she's home at a decent time.  All right?"

"Sure.  Thanks, Lynnette.  I promise she'll be home by ten, is that okay?"  Jack said, smiling.

"Yes, that's fine.  Jenna, just stay in touch."

"Okay, Lynnie."  They headed out and back to the elevator and she looked at Jack.  "You did it."

"I don't think it was me, she already had gotten over things about my father.  From before."

"Maybe, but thanks, Jack.  I can't wait to see Unforgettable in person."

"It'll be cool.  Just one thing."

"Yeah?"

"Want me to call my dad and we take the copter?  It's quicker."

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Todd's Saga 2: Shadows

        Crossroads had turned into a dive after his sister’s husband Ben had died.  Easy to figure, since Max Holden had never proven to be a very good businessman.  Max had dumped the bar quickly when he couldn’t make a profit.  Now it catered to bikers and riffraff. The fact that the place was also out of the way, suited Todd just fine.  

He sat in the darkened booth and kept an eye on the front door.  As he drank his scotch, he recalled the events of the night that had torn him away from Blair.  She had been keeping him company while they waited for word from his man.  Then his phone had rung and the body that was to be Victor, had been pulled from the river, and the police were going to be notified. As Blair hugged him, he had seen it.   It was lying on the floor just inside the door.   Everything had changed in that one moment with that note.  After the initial shock, he and Blair had pulled themselves together and gone to work figuring out their next step.  As much as they hated it, he would have to disappear.   In order to protect his family, he had to follow the demands in the note, but that was all they would get from him.  He was done playing their game.

        He had said his goodbye to Viki and had felt overwhelmed.  She had just broken up with Clint and was struggling with her paper and it had been difficult to leave her.  He had finally been in the position to be a good brother to her and help her like she had helped him for so many years, but the organization had ruined that too.  Once again he was forced to lie to her to keep her and Natalie safe.  

        His goodbye to Jack and Sam had been tough.  Sam had been his usual friendly self and had told him he’d be missed.  The little guy had always treated him like a friend.  On the other hand, Jack had been almost pleased he was leaving and had expressed his concern for his mother being hurt all over again.  He had managed to convince Jack that he had no intentions of hurting Blair and Jack had condescended to give him a handshake and then had left the room.  It hadn’t been the goodbye he would have liked, but it was a step in the right direction.

        The toughest part of the whole day had been leaving Blair.  The marriage had gone off without a hitch, and they had been able to get lost in each other for some time after but then the time had come to separate.  He couldn’t forget the heart-wrenching sobs coming from the other side of the door to his suite when he left her.  It had taken every bit of strength he had, not to open the door and take her back into his arms and hold her.  Todd shook his head to shake away the memories and gulped the remainder of his drink. The smooth heat of the liquor flowed down his throat lighting a fire deep within.

        He looked down at the table at the two papers residing there.  For the last month, he had been trying to get a handle on the organization as well as stay ahead of his shadows. One of the papers had an address on it and the words “Don’t fail us again.”  Getting that note had been maddening.  They had just ordered him to leave his family and had claimed they had Victor.  Now they were ordering him to go to some strange address and essentially telling him to kill Victor again.  None of it made sense.  Who were these damn people? He had located five different locations for the address on the note and had been to all, but the last.  The first one he had checked out had been in Compton, California.  It was too close to Starr in Los Angeles, and he had been anxious to make sure she was still unharmed.  The address in Compton turned out to be an empty lot.  Then he stopped to see Starr.  He sat there remembering the conversation that had followed.

        “Dad, what are you doing here?  When we last talked you said you had decided to stay in Llanview for a while.”  

        Starr opened the door, looking as fresh and as beautiful as he remembered, but he had this sense that someone was watching.  He looked around for a moment, then turned back to his daughter.  “Um Hi, I’m headed out of the country on business and had the urge to check on you and make sure everything was going okay here.  Can’t a father do that? Check up on his daughter?”

         Starr laughed.  “Of course.  It’s just a surprise.”

         “Are you alone?”

 Starr looked at him puzzled.  “Well, yeah. Langston and Marco are at the studio working right now.  Dad, what’s wrong?”

 “Let me in Shorty, a lot’s happened since we talked last.”  Starr stood back and Todd entered her apartment.  He turned to her.  “I’m not sure where to start.  Sit down.”  

 “What’s this all about?  I thought you just came to check up on  me, but it’s more than that isn’t it?”  She sat down.

 After pacing for a little bit. Todd sat down abruptly in front of her.  “Look, there’s no way to sugarcoat this.  Victor’s alive and he’s messed up in something that affects all of us.  I promised myself I’d never lie to you again so I’m here to tell you everything that’s gone down and to warn you.”

“Dad, are you sure you’re alright?  Victor’s been dead for almost two years.  What would make you think otherwise?”  Starr watched as her father began pacing again.

         “I saw him.   We all did, the night Dani overdosed.”  As soon as he said the words he knew he had made a mistake.  They had kept Starr out of the loop with regards to Dani because they had wanted her not to worry.  Starr was shocked.

“Wait, Dani overdosed.   Why didn’t you call me?”

“Because you would have hopped the first flight home.  She‘s alright, but this is where things began to get complicated.”  He sat back down and looked her straight in the eyes. “ Victor showed up out of the blue.  No explanation, no nothing.  It was a shock.  We all tried to get back on track.  I was doing everything I could to get somewhere with Dani and Jack.  I even went to Victor and tried to call a truce, and then he up and decided to leave again.  Starr, he’s not the same man you knew.  He’s changed.  He tried to kill me and then he disappeared.  The people, he’s been involved with, in the last year, are dangerous, and they want him dead.  To make matters worse they want me to kill him.  If I don’t, they’ll hurt all of you: You, your mother, Jack, Sam, Tea, Dani, even Viki, and Natalie.  I can’t let that happen.” Todd stopped talking and waited for it all to sink in for Starr.  He clasped his hands together to keep them from shaking, blurting it all out like that sounded crazy.  Would Starr believe him?

Starr didn’t know what to say.  She had been all set to call him a liar and then he had met her eyes.  She remembered the morning after Victor died and her father had come to the house and had sworn he didn’t kill Victor.  She had believed him, then John had arrested him and he told her he hadn’t remembered it until after he was shot by Irene.  “Dad, if Victor’s alive, why did you think you killed him?”

Todd sat back, he hadn’t expected that particular question.  “I’ve been asking myself that question since he turned up.  None of what’s happened recently makes any sense.  I mean obviously, I didn’t kill him, but he wouldn’t tell us anything."  He stopped and ran his fingers through his hair, pausing to rub his forehead where the pain started to throb.  Shaking his head he looked back at Starr.   "It doesn’t matter anymore.  To these people I have to finish the job I started.  Starr, Dani’s overdose wasn’t an accident, and someone tried to shoot your mother.  When Victor disappeared again, we thought we could make it look like he was dead, but two days ago all of that changed.”  Todd reached into his pocket and pulled out the last note he had.  “This is the last of several notes I’ve received since dropping you off here.” He handed her the note. “I need you to be careful.  I know I’m being followed.  If anything happened to you I’d never forgive myself.”

Starr looked at the note.  She struggled to understand what it all meant. “What are you going to  do?”

“I don’t know.  I’ve made a lot of promises lately.  I’m not sure which ones I’ll be able to keep.  One of the locations for that address was close to here.  I had to know you were okay.  I need to go.” His voice cracked, and he steeled himself for what was to come. Taking the note back,  he stood up.   “I’m a danger to you just being here.”  He pulled a picture from his pocket.  “This man has been hired to keep an eye on you.  Don’t be alarmed if you see him.  His name is on the back.  If you see anyone else following you, tell him.  I love you, Shorty, stay safe.”  He dropped the picture and headed for the door.

Starr got up quickly and intercepted her father as he went to leave.  She hugged him fiercely. “Dad, I don’t want you to go.   Go to Uncle Bo.  Get his help.  Don’t do this yourself?”

“I have to Starr.  It’s the only way to keep you all safe.” He returned her hug, kissing her on the head.  “It’s going to be alright.  I promise.” He tenderly unlinked her arms from around him and walked to the door stopping once to turn and look at her.  He closed the door behind him, and for the second time in several days, he heard sobbing on the other side of the door.   Once again he walked away.

        Todd poured himself another drink.   He looked at the second paper sitting on the table in front of him. The names of seven men were written there; Carlo Hesser, R.J. Gannon, Patrick Thornhart, Tomas Delgado, Kevin Buchanan, and two names were crossed off; Powell Lord and Mitch Laurence.  Seven enemies, five were still around, but which one was capable of leading an organization this large.   Todd wrote five question marks next to the last name and underlined them.  If it wasn’t any of the five, then who? Who else had it in for Victor and why had he been picked as the one to kill his brother?  Whoever was behind this was going to pay.  He swallowed his drink and left the bar. There was one more destination he had to look into.   From the corner of his eye, he caught a movement.  His shadow had found him again. 



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Hope from the Ocean: 12

"Jack, I really love the snow," Sam said, his face practically pressed to the glass of the window in his room.

"It's okay," Jack said, pulling Sam away and tucking him in.

"I wait for Mom for that," Sam said.

"I know, Squirt, I just like to do it sometimes."

"Jack, that girl, Jenna?  Are you gonna marry her?"

"I don't know.  I guess I could, someday."

"So if you marry an artist, what are you?"

"Married to an artist, you goof."

"Do you ever make wishes?"

"Yeah, I make wishes."

"I do, too.  Lots of times."

"Why?"

"I don't know.  I want one of my wishes to come true but it hasn't yet."

"What is it?"

"I can't say it because then it won't come true."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yeah.  How does Superman fly?"

"He doesn't.  He's a superhero, which means he's not real."

"Like Spiderman?"

"Right."

"Jack, when I wake up, will it still be snowing?"

"I don't know, Stumpy."

"If it is, will the snow be as high as the house?  I could jump out into it?"

"No, Sam.  You can't.  You talk about that all the time, you just can't.  The snow isn't soft like that.  You'll get hurt."

"It's soft.  I felt it before.  It's really soft, like when I lay down in it on the ground."

Jack's phone went off in his pocket.  Dismissing Sam, he turned to his phone.  "Uh, Runt, I have to go take care of something.  See ya later.  Mom will be up in a while."  He turned to go to his room, and almost bumped into Blair on the way.  "Oh, sorry, Mom."

"That's okay.  Is this a 911 call?"

"It's Jenna, she's texting me, I'm going to go read it.  Looks like Sam is just about ready for bed.  Jabbering about the snow, though."

"What else is new?  He has such a fascination with it right now.  All right, thanks, Jack, for getting Ray put down."

She went into Sam's room.  He was already falling asleep.  She put the blanket up around his shoulders, and kissed his forehead.  "Night, Little Man."

She pulled the shade, and left him to go back to Todd in home office.

***

I don't know what to do.  It just hurts.  I never told her the things I felt.  I should have.

Jack read Jenna's words over twice before answering.

Maybe you should talk to someone.  Like a counselor.

After he sent it, he hoped she was not too upset by his response.  It took slightly longer than he would have liked for her to respond.  

I might.  That is really not the worst idea.  Maybe Ray?  I know he's a good therapist.  You saw him, didn't you?

Jack typed rapidly.

Yep.  And my Dad.  

Maybe I'll ask Lynnette.

Sure.  And if there's any problem with the insurance or money, let me know.  Me and Ray go way back.

She wrote back simply:

:D 

He turned over and shut the light.  In the dark, he could still see the small flakes cascading past the moon in his skylight.

***

"I know what this is going to do to you, Todd.  I know how your mind works,"  Blair said, walking in to the home office, and catching him facing the window, his fingers pressed together.

"You do?"

"Yeah, I do.  You're going to worry yourself silly over this.  We have our lives, Patrick and Marty have theirs."

He looked at her in the dimly-lit office.  "Marty will never have a life totally separate from mine thanks to me.  She'll always have . . . memories of what I did."

She sighed, and went behind him.  She put her hands on his shoulders and kneaded softly. "Maybe.  But all that is behind both of you.  She's forgiven you, Todd."

"So?"

"So she has.  They have their own lives."

"He's missing.  What does that do for her?  Ruins her again?  He saved my life, Blair.  He saved me.  He saved us."

She listened, not liking where it was going, and said, "I know he did.  I'm grateful."

"Call her."

"Huh?"

"Call Marty, for me, please?  Ask her if he was found, or what's going on."

"Todd, no.  I don't want us involved in this.  Not again, Todd."  She walked from behind him, and lowered herself to the couch, as if uncomfortable.  "Not again."

He looked at her, and in doing so, saw everything at once.  She was slightly bent forward, as if she was in pain.  Her face, on the other hand, wasn't stricken with discomfort.  It was twisted with a combination of fear and anger.  Palpable.  

He said, "He saved my life, Blair."

She almost wilted, like a flower in front of him.  "He saved your life.  You saved his.  You're even."

"Really?"  he said, asking both of them, not just her.  I could live for 200 years, and I'd still be in the red to you.  

"Todd, don't.  Please."  Her face had changed.  The anger was gone, but the remnants of it glistened in her eyes, shining.

"Don't what?"

"Don't do this, please, to us.  Please don't get involved."

"What if I were gone?  What if I disappeared again?  Wouldn't you expect someone to help you?"

"Yes.  I'd go to John.  I'd get him into it."

"You would do better to ask Patrick or Timothy.  Someone who cares about us, who knows us, right?  I  can't just let this happen.  I have to at least know what's going on."

"No."

"Call her, Babe, please."  She stood, and wobbled.  

He was out of the chair in seconds, and took her arm.  "You all right?"

"Yeah, I'm all right.  You go ahead and call her.  You want to know so bad.  You want to be in her business so much . . ."

"Blair, that's not fair.  You know there's nothing like that with Marty and me."

"I'm not going to talk with you about this anymore," she pulled away from him and went down the hall.  He heard the door slam. 

Can she really think I've got a thing for Marty, now, after all this time?  After all we've been through? Doesn't she know I love her . . . I love her, more than anything . . .

He got up and walked down the hall, toward their bedroom.  He knocked, quietly.  She didn't respond.  He knocked again, then turned the knob.  It was unlocked, and he walked in, and could see her on the bed, her back toward him.  He could tell from her position that her knees were tucked up close to her.  

He approached the bed, and sat on it, next to her.  "Babe?"

"Leave me alone."

"You don't have anything to be jealous of."

"Is that what you think?  Jealous, sure."  She was sarcastic.  He stopped, and placed his hand on her head, touching her hair, gently.  "I said leave me alone."

"Blair, don't shut me out, now.  Come on."

"Jealous is all you can think of?  Shit, Todd, after all this time, you can do better than that."

"You can't be jealous, of anyone.  Ever.  You're Blair."

"That's because I'm not.  Not the way you think I am."

He stroked her hair, and her shoulder.  "Come on, look at me."

"No.  Just stop, please.  I can't . . ."

He took a chance and lifted her into his arms, and she collapsed against him in tears.  "Oh, Todd."

"Shhh," he said, "it's okay.  Shhh."

After a few minutes, she pulled herself together.  "You want me to call her, I'll call her.  I'll do it for you because, well, I'd do anything for you.  You're my heart.  But don't expect me to ever get over this one, Todd Manning."

"Hey, hey, what's this about?  I just want to find out what's wrong."

"No, it's more than that."

"Wonder why McBain didn't mention this?"

"He either doesn't know, or figures you wouldn't want back in to this again.  Gee, what would make him ever get that idea?  As if you'd mind your business and stay out of it.  This is another piece of that golden ticket to being absolved for something you've already been forgiven for, years ago."

"Maybe.  But I still feel it, here."  He pointed to his chest.   She leaned down and kissed the spot he touched, and then leaned away from him, her hands propping her behind her on the bed.

"I thought you were about letting go," she said, then closed her eyes and grimaced.

The baby.  Manning, you promised to take care of her, not let her get upset. . .

"You're right.  I did say that.  Okay.  No call then."

She looked at his face, and into his eyes.  "You're not happy with that, and you know it."  She thought about it, "But I can't be happy with the other."

He said, "Then nothing.  I can do without this.  I'll go to John, get him involved instead."

She didn't answer.  Instead, she hopped off the bed and ran to the bathroom.  The slam of the seat to the toilet hitting against the tank startled Todd, as he followed her.  Patting her back and holding her hair out of the way, he watched her become violently ill into the bowl.  He got a cold towel, as she has done for him so many times, and placed it at the base of her neck.  She cried.  "Just, Todd, please.  I . . ."  More heaving.

Finally, it passed, and she fell back against him.  He guided her to sit on the edge of the tub, with her head against his shoulder.  "I'm so scared," he heard her whisper.

"There's nothing to be scared of.  Last time, you got sick like this.  And the first time, too.  You always had it."

"I know, I'm just scared, Todd.  I can't lose her."

He ran his hand over her face, and turned her to look at him.  "You won't.  We won't."

"I don't want to fight," she said, huskily.

"Fight?  Who, us?"

She smirked.  "Hold me," she said.

He did.  He pulled her close and they stayed there until the room fell silent except for her breathing.  Picking her up in his arms like a child, he brought her to the bed, and placed her in, lovingly.  She breathed against him gently in the dark, and he was hesitant to let go and join sleep.

He said softly, "No one is going to take us from each other.  And no one is going to hurt this baby."

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Spidey Sam: Chapter 23

Todd was awakened by the sound of his cell phone vibrating on his nightstand. He sat up in bed and reached for his phone. He looked at his caller ID and saw that it was Viki calling. Todd thought for a second about not answering the phone.  His last conversation with his sister didn't go so well. He then thought, Viki probably wasn't calling to give him a hard time but to find out how Blair was. Todd took a deep breath and answered phone.

"Good morning Sis."

"Good morning Todd.  How are Blair and the children?"

"Blair is pretty banged up and sore but, she will be fine with a few days rest.  The kids are fine.  I hired a security detail for them, since Blair can't identify who attacked her Bo thought it would be a good idea."

"Bo wanted to give you police protection.  He said you refused."

"I did, I don't trust the cops in this town as far as I can throw them."

"I think the feeling is mutual, Todd."

"We are well protected, Viki, I can assure you of that."

"Where are Blair and the kids now?"

"They are all still sleeping.  I will tell Blair that you called."

"No, actually, Todd, if it is ok with you, I would like to stop by the hotel and see Blair?"

"Yeah, that is fine Sis, don't worry I won't be here.  I will take the kids to a movie or something, so that you can have nice visit with Blair and Starr."

"You don't have to leave on my account."

"Viki, our last meeting didn't go so well and, Blair doesn't need that kind of stress right now.  It is better this way."

"Todd I would really like to see you again before you go back to Port Charles.  I think that we still have some things that we need to talk about."

"I don't want to subject Blair and the kids to whatever is going on between the two of us."

"Ok, how about dinner tonight at Llanfair, just you and I?"

"I would have to leave Blair and the kids."

"You could leave them with the security team you hired, Todd, please."

"Yeah, ok, fine, I will take the kids to the movies this afternoon when you come by and then tonight, I will come to dinner at Llanfair."

"Thank you, Todd." He hung the phone looked at the clock sitting on his nightstand. It was 8 am.  The kids would be up soon. Just as Todd was about to get out of bed there was a knock at his door.

"Todd can I come in?"

"Yeah, Blair come in."

"You left Todd, I thought you would stay the night."

"My back was killing me in that chair, Blair.  I only left about an hour ago.  When I was away, they would keep me up strapped to a chair for days at a time.  I had to get out of that chair into a bed for a while."

"I'm sorry, Todd."

"It's fine."

"You don't talk about the time that you were away very much Todd."

"Blair, there is a reason for that, I don't like to.  My sister called, she wants to come see you this afternoon.  I'm going to take the kids to the movies so that you and Shorty can have a nice visit with her."

"Why don't you stay Todd?  I'm sure that your sister would love to see you."

"I'm having dinner with her tonight at Llanfair.  We agreed to not subject you and the kids to our drama."

"Your sister loves you, Todd, you know that."

"My sister loved me Blair.  I'm not sure what she feels for me now."

"Todd, she still loves you, she is just very angry at you."

"I don't know, Blair, what she feels for me."

"I do, Todd, and it is love.  I'm going to take shower.  Will you get the kids and tell them about our plans?  Oh and order some breakfast.  I will be out of the shower in a few minutes."

***

Todd was trying to hurry the kids along so that they could be out of the suite by the time Viki got there. Todd thought to himself one run in with his sister today would really be all that he could handle. He would have to sit through dinner with her at Llanfair. He was almost home free and out the door with the kids when there was a knock. The kids stood ready to leave the suite and make their way to the movies just soon as Todd let Viki in and showed her to Blair's room, where Blair was laying down awaiting Viki's visit. Todd opened the door for Viki.

"Hi Sis"

"Hello Todd, our we still on for tonight?"

"Yes, I have Blair and the kids all set with the security detail."

"What about you?"

"I can take care of myself."

"I will be there around eight, is if that is ok with you?"

"Yes that will be fine."

Todd led Viki into Blair's room as the talked a bit more about the plans for the evening. They walked into Blair's room and Blair was resting comfortably on the bed and Starr was sitting next to her. Starr got up to greet her aunt when she walked into the room.

"Blair, I'm going to go now.  Do you need anything before I leave?"  Todd asked.

"No, I think that we are fine."

"I left two of my men outside the door and I'm taking two of them with us to the movies.  Shorty, Tom or Fred, the guys I left, will knock on the door if they have anyone that come to door to visit to see if they should let them in.  I should be back with the kids in just a few hour."

"Thanks, Dad, for including Hope."

"You're welcome, Shorty."

"Blair I will see you in a few hours, Viki I will see you tonight." Todd walked out of Blair and back to where the kids were waiting for him. "Let's go, kids"


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Hope from the Ocean: 11

"Bea, you must have had a wonderful time at Hope Weekend," Ray said.  It was still snowing, and the tiny flakes were sticking to the windows in places, melting and sliding down in others.

She nodded, and was drawing.  He asked, "What are you working on?"

She turned the pad toward him.  It was nothing like what he expected; she was drawing a dark room, with a single lightbulb overhead, which he immediately recognized.  He noticed that she had drawn a closet, ajar, with shackles coming from the ceiling.  She let him peruse the artwork, then matter-of-factly turned it back to herself.  

He said, "You're thinking about time in the past.  With Peter."

She nodded and continued to draw.

"Has this been on your mind a lot?"

She nodded again, disinterested in his presence.

Ray finally, sat back in his chair, "Would you like to meet another time, Bea?  It seems like you're very interested in your drawing today and not in communicating with me."

She turned a new page in her pad, and moved her chair toward his desk.  Turning the pad, he read, I'm sorry.

He smiled at her.  "That's okay.  Maybe you wanted to draw today instead of talk."

She shook her head no, and wrote.  Even if I don't want to talk, I should, because it helps me.  Right?

"That sounds right," Ray said.

I think of Peter sometimes.  I think of him in dreams the most.  Sometimes when I am awake.  When I went to Hope Weekend, I saw Todd.  He was happy.  I met Sam.  He's precious.  Blair was there, she is pregnant.  Some man said he adopted Todd.  I was wondering about that.

"That's Timothy.  He is a friend of Todd and Blair.  He helped find Todd one of the times he was missing."

Does he love Todd?  Because Peter adopted Todd.  But Peter hurt Todd, so badly.  

"He does.  And Todd is an adult, now, Bea.  He's a man.  It wouldn't be the same now.  He can defend himself."

I was his mother.  I was supposed to protect him.  I still wonder why it all happened.  I should have protected him.  I should have died protecting him.  That is what Blair would do.

"Blair?  What made you think of Blair?"

I can read.  When we go to the library on library day, I read.  I looked on the box, they call it a computer.  I looked on there, and I saw.  I saw many things. No one has told me things but the box.  Blair protected her baby.  She fought to save him.  Todd traded his life for the baby.  The little baby, Ray.  She wouldn't let anyone hurt him.  I was wrong.

She looked to the floor.  Ray said, "You were hurt, too, Bea.  You were beaten, you were hurt many ways.  You were not well, in your mind.  Peter abused you, too."

She shook her head, vehemently.  

"That's what happened, and you know this.  You went through so many things, your mind did different things to get away from it.  Sometimes, you went inside yourself.  Sometimes, you tried to fight.  You're not to blame.  Todd would say the same thing."

She looked up to Ray with tears in her eyes.  He noticed, and commented to himself, that at least she wasn't rocking, or going catatonic.  He said, "Todd would tell you it was not your fault."

He was my baby.

"Yes, he was.  And now, he's a man.  He's a fine man, isn't he?"

She began to rock.  

"That's enough for today, Bea, if you don't want to talk anymore.  Let's go back to your room now, and we'll finish another time."  He was already at her side, and lifted her by the elbow and lead her into the hallway.  Two orderlies flanked her, and assisted her in getting back to her room.  

He watched her go, and went back to his desk to make notes on her case.  "Just how much did you find out, Bea, about our boy, Todd?"

***

"Todd, is that you?"  Blair said from the kitchen.

He threw his keys on the table by the door and said, "Yep."

As he stepped into the foyer, Mixie, who was sitting quietly by the fireplace, ran to him and sniffed his shoes.  He bent down.  "Hi, Mixie.  You any less confused?"  He took the dog's face in his hand and looked into his eyes.  "Nope.  Nothing in there but us pebbles."

She walked to the outskirts of the kitchen, and wiped her hands on a dishcloth.  "Stop, now, he's a good boy."

"No accounting for brains," Todd said, swooping her into his arms.

"Sam's excited.  He's decided to be an artist now and wants to learn to draw.  Aside from being a superhero."

"Hmf, that's Sam, he's a good kid."

"Jack's upstairs.  He came home with news.  He wanted to be honest with me and tell me he cut class today."

"Why, did he say?"  Todd said, walking into the kitchen.  He took a piece of carrot from the salad bowl.  

"Jenna.  She was not doing well.  He skipped class to be with her."

"Sounds like they needed a break."

"Yeah, but how long can he do this?  It will start affecting his grades.  He's a junior.  You know how important this is."

"I guess, but Jenna is important, too."

"He said she's not sleeping.  Not dealing with her mother's death well."   Blair said.  He stopped, remembering his own bouts with sleeplessness.  He marveled that for the most part, they were a thing of the past.

"We can't expect that to be easy," he said.

"No," she said.  "Let's call the kids for dinner."

Todd went to the base of the stairs, "Kids?  Dinner."

He went back to the kitchen, and sat at the island.  He opened a copy of The Sun, and leafed through it.  In a small article at the bottom of the third page, Todd spotted a familiar photo.  "What the Hell?"

"What is it?"

"Look for yourself."

At that moment, Jack and Sam bounded into the kitchen, and Todd put his copy of The Sun aside.  Sam jumped onto his lap.  "Dad!  I am learning how to draw!  Do you think Grandma Bitsy can teach me?"

"Sure, why not?"

"I like her.  Why can't she talk, Dad?"

"She got hurt once," Blair interjected. 

"Oh.  Is she okay now?"

"Pretty okay,"  Todd said.  "Did you like her drawings?"

"Yes.  She made me a Spiderman one."

"I know.  We're opening an art gallery so she can show more of her art, and we can have Jenna's, too."  Blair said.

"That's cool.  Maybe mine, someday."

"Maybe," Todd said, putting Sam into his own chair.  Jack was quiet.  "Hey, you all right over there?"

"Yeah, I'm okay."

"You skipped class today?"

"Yeah."

"Jenna all right?"

"No."  

Jack was down to one-word answers, and Todd realized what that meant.  "We'll talk about this later, okay?"  he said to his son.

Jack said, "Okay."

The dinner went along as usual.  Jack was a great deal more reticent, Sam was a chatterbox full of questions, and Little Ray cooed and threw a few pieces of food around.  Todd and Blair talked of Hope Weekend and of The Diamond Gallery opening they were planning, and Todd filled the family in on Dorian's decor.  He reminded himself to let Blair in on the conversation he had with Dorian as well.  

Clearing the dishes, Jack stood with his back to them as they went over Sam's homework and his new spelling stickers.  Finally, Blair said, "Sam, not too long before bed.  Go on upstairs and wash up and get into your pajamas so you can finish your homework and watch your show."

"Okay, Mom!"  he said, and ran off.  His little feet, and the noise of a stumble, echoed off the staircase.  Then all was quiet.

Jack turned and said, "I'll go bring Ray upstairs and change him for bed."

"Uh, wait a second," Todd said, "It's nice you want to help out, but we have some talking to do."

"Dad, I know I was wrong, I just couldn't leave her.  Not like that."

Todd was without words.  Blair said, "Your education and your future are important, too.  She'd understand that."

"I'm not going to make it an all-the-time thing.  She was . . . she was sleeping on my shoulder.  And she hasn't been sleeping well.  I just thought that it was better to let her rest."

Todd eyed Blair, and said, "Well, as long as it's not too often.  Skipping class can't help grades or your record, right?"

"Yeah.  I know.  I'll just bring her to the nurse next time, or to guidance.  It was just . . . it was too much, Dad.  She just needed that time."

"Don't the teachers or kids notice when you're missing?"  Blair asked.

"We have a special place to be quiet.  We eat lunch together there, it's a back hallway near the courtyard.  No one goes there often.  Near the art room.  When it's not passing time, it's silent."

Todd slightly smirked to himself, "Well, looks like you know the deal, but don't get into a habit of missing too much class.  It's not good for either of you."

"I won't.  Can I take Ray up now?"

"He already had his bath, so go ahead,"  Blair said, washing his little hands off, and getting the rest of the food off his face.  He smiled.

Jack picked his little brother up out of the highchair, and said, "Come on, Big Guy.  Time for some pajamas and a few tosses in the air," and headed up the stairs.

Todd said, "Look at this," and took The Sun off the counter again.  

Blair went behind him and looked over his shoulder.  "It's Patrick.  My God.  What is it?"

Todd looked up at her.  "He's gone missing."

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