Hope from the Ocean: 61

Aiden, Tina, Todd and Blair walked the last length of road to town, and Aiden said, "It's not much further, but we can get a taxi, Blair, if ya need to stop."

"Can we just rest?  I'm really fine, just need a breather."  Blair said.

"Sure, why not?"  Aiden said.  It had not been long, but she was visibly tired.

Todd said, "I'm calling a taxi, she's not going to walk any further."

"Oh, Todd, it's nothing," Blair said.  "I chase Ray around the house longer than this every day."

"Still, no woman of mine is walking, pregnant, when she can ride in style."

She smiled, and threw her hands up.  "Whatever he says, goes."

Within a few moments, a taxi approached.  Todd put their small bags into the trunk, and practically carried Blair to the car.  "Todd, I'm fine!" she said, smiling.  His attention to her pleased her.

Everyone loaded into the cab, Aiden in the front with the driver.  After a few twists and turns, they came into the village, and stopped in the center of the town.  To the left, it loomed, not much different except for a bit of weathering:  The Wild Swan.

Everyone got out, Aiden, smiling, grabbed everyone's bags and headed for the door, and Tina followed.  Todd and Blair stood outside, even as the cab pulled off.  He said, "God."

She slid her arm under his.  "I know.  It's . . . like time stopped."

He turned to the right.  "There's the woods.  Where . . .can you walk a little?  I want to show you something."

She knew what he wanted to show her; she had already seen it.  But he needed to, and wanted to, and she said, "Sure."

He took her hand and led her a short way into the trees.  He said, "Here," and pointed to the ground.  

Her tears were already flowing.  "I know, My Love.  I was here."

"You found this spot?"

"Yes.  Someone in the tavern showed me."

"Here.  I never told you before, but I was being a pigheaded fool."

"You didn't have to tell me that."

"Hmf.  You knew, huh?"

"I know how you are.  So determined to take away what you'd done.  You put yourself into harm's way.  A penance."

He gulped.  "When I went down, it felt hot in my back, at first.  I said your name, twice.  That's all I remember before I woke up."

"You said my name?"

"Yeah, I called out to you.  It was like, all of the sudden, I realized what I had risked and lost."

She forced back more tears.  "You didn't lose me.  Ever."

He reached up and touched her cheek.  "Maybe not.  Maybe it was all an illusion.  All part of what we had to go through . . . we hurt each other, but I did most of the hurting."

"Until now.  And now is what counts, Todd.  We can't live here, in the past."

He looked to the ground, and for a moment, he could feel all of it:  the metallic pinch of the Celtic cross in his hand; the mud against his face; the blood, warm, over his back.  He shook himself loose of it.  You're right.  What's the sense in that?"  He put his hand out.  "Let's go into The Wild Swan."

"All right.  Lead the way, Mr. Manning."

Walking into the foyer of the tavern, Todd had a feeling come over him that was a mixture of nostalgia and nausea.  Blair was still holding under his arm, conscious of what he was feeling, and having her own, noxious feeling in her stomach.  She wondered if it were hormones, exhaustion or just being in the place they were in.  Regardless, for his sake, she stood strong and smiled.  She said, "It's quaint."

He side-eyed her.  "Quaint?"

"Well, yes.  I mean, look.  A fireplace, a sitting area.  There's like little storage areas under the seats."

"Thornhart hid in one.  While I talked to the terrorists that were after him."

She swallowed.  "Where's Tina?"

"Over there," he said, and led her across the way.  Tina and Aiden had a small table across the room and sat, waving them on.  The bags were piled up along side them.

"Shouldn't we check in or something?"  Todd said.

"No rooms.  Only one.  We may have to bunk up, Brotha."  Aiden said.

Todd smiled, and looked at Blair, who smiled as well.

"Great," Tina said, but looked as half-hearted as all of them felt.

"Now, it's the four of us.  Well, it would have been you and I, right Tina?"  Blair said, pulling out a chair.  

"Who says?"  Aiden added, looking at Tina and winking his eye. 

She played it as if she were offended, but inside, she was disappointed that he wasn't right,  They would have had to at least make the choice if there were two rooms.  "Yes, it would have been you and I, Blair," she answered, pretending to be cool to him.

Todd laughed aloud.  "Yeah, sure, okay."

"Todd!"  Blair said.  

"Well, we are a married couple Blair.  And you know how badly you snore, when you're pregnant."

Tina blushed slightly, and Blair took Todd's ear and slightly twisted it.  He laughed, and said, "Barkeep, a glass of ginger ale for the lady here, and a scotch neat for me."

Aiden tipped his beer back, and Tina, attempting to throw her brother off the scent, tried not to look at the Irishman.  However, Aiden drew her eyes to him like something magnetic.  He finished off his beer, and turned to her.  "Ya didn't drink ya'r daquiri, My Lady."  He leaned in exceptionally close to her.

"I will," she said, smiling, and leaning toward him as well.

"Blair and I will fly home, you two take the room," Todd suddenly burst out.  

"TAWD!"  Blair exclaimed, hitting his arm three times in succession.  

This almost caused him to spill his scotch, and he said, "Careful, Mommy."

"Todd, just stop," she admonished.

"I say keep on, Broham.  Ya might do my work for me,"  Aiden said.

Tina said, "Well, I don't think that's appropriate, Todd."

"Maybe not, but it's good stuff, and overdue," he lifted his glass.

"Oh my God, I've had enough.  Todd, let's just go.  Let's go up so I can go to bed.  I'm tired, and you're . . . you're just, well you're you."  Blair said, standing.  

Todd got up and got her bags.  "Whatever you say, Babe."  He winked at Aiden.

"We're going to hang here and have a few more," Aiden said, "Right, Little Tina?"

"Yes, we're going to have a few drinks and talk, thank you very much Todd Manning."

"You're welcome, and you're right, Sis, the bill is on me."  He walked toward the stairs.  Blair leaned down, and said, "Aiden, the key?"

He handed it to her.  She said, "I'm sorry about Todd, he's . . . just tired.  Or maybe that's me, and he's just being himself.  However you look at it, I apologize for his cracks."

Blair headed up the stairs, and Todd was at the top, waiting.  She said, "Todd, you were . . ."

"Ah, whatever.  Come on, the truth is, they want each other, and Tina's playing hard to get, which isn't even close."

"Well, still, you're . . ." she began laughing.  "Did you see her face, when you said . . ."

"Yeah, oh yeah, I saw her face.  Sure."   He laughed as well.

"She was . . . Todd that was so mean," she said, still laughing.  But now, she was at the point of rocking back with laughter, as she sat on the edge of the bed.  

This distracted both of them from surveying the room.  There were two, small double beds, in the very small space.  She stopped laughing, and said, "This is a small room for four of us."

He stopped laughing as well.  "It is."

It became silent.  "You all right?"  she said, "being here?

"Yeah.  I guess.  You?"

"I'm fine wherever you are."

"Okay.  Bed?"

"What else is there?"

They both sat in silence.  He said, "You could sing to me."

"I could."  She said, pausing.  "You could hold me."

"I could," he said, removing his shoes.  She did the same.  He laid back on the bed, and she found her place against his chest.  The baby was against his hip.  He said, "She's awake.  She's punching me."

She smiled, and closed her eyes.  

He said, "Where's your end of the deal?"

She said, "Okay."


So you walked with me for a while
Bared your naked soul
And you told me of your plan
How you would never let them know
In the morning of the night
You cried a long lost child
And I tried on I tried to hold you
But you were young
And you were wild

But I, I will never be the same
Oh I, I will never be the same
Caught in your eyes
Lost in your name
I will never be the same

Secrets of your life
I never wanted for myself
But you guarded them like a lie
Placed up on the highest shelf
In the morning of the night
When I woke to find you gone
I knew your distant devil
Must be draggin' you along

But I, I will never be the same
Oh I, I will never be the same
Caught in your eyes
Lost in your name
I will never be the same

And you swore that you were bound for glory
And for wanting you had no shame
But I loved you
And then I lost you
And I will never be the same

But I, I will never be the same
Oh I, I will never be the same
Caught in your eyes
Lost in your name
I will never be the same

"I know that song," he said, when she had finished.  "It was . . . did it play on our wedding night?"

"Yes."

"My God, the words.  It's like . . . Geez, Blair, what is this thing we've got?"

"I don't know.  But I am glad we've got it.  I love you, Todd," she said, dozing.

With the baby still lightly pushing against his side, he kept both of them close to his heart and closed his eyes.

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Todd's Saga 19: Brotherly Hate

        Todd walked into his room.  He was exhausted. Clint had been shaken by all that he had heard in the car and after eating a little something, he had gone to bed. He promised to help keep Todd’s whereabouts a secret and had agreed to help with Victor.  Todd frowned; Victor was tied up in the room next to him. Now he had to decide how to handle him and his other problem.  Damn it, Baker, Blair was right.  You were playing both sides. He pushed his hair out of his eyes. Okay, think, you have Victor and Clint, but now Baker is a liability.  What are you going to do about him?  Todd reached into his pocket and pulled out the burner phone he used for his conversations with Baker.  He had a voice message.

Mr. Manning, there have been developments. Just as I located those parties you were interested in, they disappeared.  Right now, everyone is under the impression your brother helped Buchanan, but it won’t be long before they look elsewhere.  I fear Alison Perkins and her brother might soon figure out there is a spy in their midst and turn their sights on me. As I am fully aware what that would entail, I feel the need to cut my ties with them.  Since I have no knowledge of your brother’s or Buchanan’s current location, I find I must use the only thing I have.  I can give them your general location or you can deposit a million dollars in my account. My apologies, but this is just business.  The million or you’ll find them searching for you again.  You have until nine tomorrow morning to complete the transaction.  It is, of course, your choice.  You’ve been a lucrative client, and now I hope you’ll be a smart one.  

Todd threw the phone against the wall and watched it shatter.  He had no choice but to trust Baker one last time.  One thing Todd knew: the man was in it for the money.  He was greedy and a coward, but he wasn’t stupid.  If he betrayed Todd to Alison, he knew Todd would have him tracked down and disposed of.  “You’ll get your million, but you better run far away, because if I see you again, I’ll kill you myself.”

He sat down on the edge of the bed and picked up a second phone.  So much had happened since he had left Key West, he needed to hear her voice.

****
Blair was just reaching across to turn off the lamp by her bed when she heard the ring come from inside the nightstand drawer.  She got worried as she looked at the clock. “Todd, what’s the matter?”

“It’s nothing. I just had to talk to you. With everything that’s been going on the last couple of days…” Todd paused.   “I wish you were here, that‘s all.”

         Blair breathed a sigh of relief.  “I wish I was there too.  Are you alright?  You sound upset.  Just what have you been up to the last couple of days?  Philippa said you had to go out of town.”

        “I did.  I decided to check out the compound after we talked about Baker.  Wait, before you read me the riot act, I was careful.  They had no idea I was there.”

        Blair sat up in alarm.  “Todd, are you telling me that you went inside the compound?” 

        “Yeah, but like I said, they didn’t know I was there.  They had their hands full with the police at the time…. Blair, I found them.”

        “Found them?... Todd, you found Clint and Victor?“

        “Yes.”

        “Oh, what are you going to do?  How can we get them out of there?  Please tell me you’re not going back into the compound.” Blair leaned back against her pillows.  Worried that Todd might do something foolish, she began rubbing circles over her tummy and the baby within.   

        “That’s not the problem.  You don’t understand.  I didn’t just find them but I got them out.  The problem is Victor.  He’s under their control and I had to hogtie and bring him with me and Clint just to make it out of the compound.  Clint’s been through the wringer too.  But he knows everything we know now.  He’s willing to stay hidden until we can get Alison and her brother.  Blair…” Todd stopped and ran his hand through his hair.

        “What, Todd?”

         “I want you to promise me, you’ll stay close to home.  There’s no telling what the organization will do now.  Baker notified me and said they think Victor got Clint out. So they’ll be waiting to see if Clint or Victor or both show up in Llanview.  I’m going to try and get through to Victor, but I need to know you and the kids are safe.”

        “Todd, if I come there you wouldn’t have to worry about me.  I can bring the boys with me and we’d all be together.  Maybe I could help you with Victor.”

         “Damn it, Blair, don’t you get it?  It’s too dangerous here!  They really did a number on Victor and he’s now a good little soldier for the organization.  I don’t even know if I’m going to be able to get him to see reason.   I’m not even sure I can trust Clint.  I know what Baker’s treatments did to me.  There’s no telling what they did to Clint.  Just stay home. Please!”

          Blair heard the worry and the frustration in Todd’s voice.  “Okay.  I’ll stay...as long as you need me to.”

        “Blair...I love you.” 

        “I love you too. Always.” Blair put the phone back into the drawer and wiped away the tear that dropped on her cheek.  Todd hated telling her to stay away and it was tearing him apart.

        Todd slumped back against his pillows. His heart was beating so fast. For one minute he had almost accepted her offer to come and stay, but he had stirred up a hornet’s nest.  Louisiana was the last place he wanted her to be.  He picked up her gown lying next to him.  “Just stay safe Blair and I’ll get this resolved soon.  I  promise.”  

****

Victor lay on the bed.  He tried to shake off the last blow Todd had given him.  He kept trying to process the story he had overheard in the car, with what he knew about Todd, and it was giving him a headache.  Todd had shown the tattoo to Clint and then told his story.  Clint had been quiet for most of the ride as Todd had informed him of the threats to Vicki and Natalie as well as Todd’s whole family, including Tea and Dani.  At first, Clint had been skeptical until Todd had pushed up Clint’s sleeve and pointed out the needle marks indicating he had been drugged, and more than once. At the mention of needle marks, Victor had been forced to pay attention. When the car came to a halt, he feigned unconsciousness and let Clint and Todd remove him from the car. The next thing he had felt was the bed they laid him on.  He had almost given himself away out of surprise.  A soft bed was the last thing he expected.

He made his mistake when Todd went to release his hands from the tape.  Instead of lying quietly, his anger had gotten the better of him and he had gone for Todd’s throat.  But Todd had been too quick for him and backhanded him so hard he had almost blacked out again.  He recalled Todd’s words.

“Damn it, Victor, you’re not making this easy.  You’ve left me no choice but to do this.”

By this, Todd had meant cuffing him to the headboard.  Now as he lay there, he heard movement in the room next to his and then a shower going. He opened his eyes and looked around.  He wasn’t sure where he was, but the surroundings were anything but what he expected of Todd.  The room surrounding him was loaded with antique furniture.  Even the bed he rested on was an antique four-poster. He felt like he had stepped back in time.  Where the hell am I?

Soon there was silence coming from the room next door and the only sound Victor heard was his stomach growling.  Just then there was movement at the door and he watched as it opened.  

        Todd entered the room and turned on the light.  He glanced over at the bed and saw Victor wince and close his eyes.  “Oops sorry, Brother, forgot about your head.  But I’m sure you’re going to live.  You're too stubborn and hardheaded to die.”

       Victor opened his eyes and glared at Todd.  “Did you come to kill me?  I mean, I’m an easy target all tied up, or do you just like to catch people off guard and gun them down?”

       “Look who’s talking?  You tried to poison me and then you strangled me.  If Jack hadn’t found me I’d be dead right now.” Todd looked at him in disgust. “Why did I bother?”  He headed back to the door. 

        Victor was puzzled. “Hey wait. Why did you come in here, if it wasn’t to kill me?”

        Todd stopped and turned to face his brother. “I thought, just maybe, we could clear the air.  I don’t want to kill you, Victor.  Oh, don’t get me wrong, I despise you, but it’s not me that wants you dead.  You know that damn organization you’re working for?  Well, they’re the ones that ordered me to kill you.  Believe me, I was tempted after what you did to me.  Still, Tea loves you and for her sake, I wouldn’t put her through that again.”

        Victor saw red and he was filled with anger. “You’re lying.  Tea’s dead and Dani too.  They died in a car accident, I saw the paper.  You know that, you bastard!  Hell, you were the one driving.  You escaped unharmed but not them.  I know why our mother hated you.  You’re a curse, and anyone who gets close to you suffers.”

        Todd was stunned.  The organization had gotten to Victor by making him believe Tea and Dani were dead.  “Victor, I swear on my daughter’s life, Tea and Dani are fine.  Whatever you saw or read, it was all a lie.”

          Victor began to struggle, trying to free his hands from the headboard.  “I’ll kill you.  Even now you’re lying just to soften me up.  I know what I read.  I even saw the news report.  You’ll say anything to not be responsible for their deaths.  Uncuff me and see how long you can keep lying.”

          “Victor, I’m not lying.  Papers can be faked and news reports can be staged.  Think man.  Don’t you see the ones lying to you are the heads of the organization?  Alison Perkins has done a number on you the same way she worked on Clint.”

          Victor stilled.  He looked at Todd coldly. “Prove it.  If Tea is alive, you prove it.  If what you say is true get her on the phone.”  He saw Todd’s hesitation.  “You can’t, can you? Because you’re lying.  It’s all you know how to do.”

         It was Todd’s turn to get angry. “You don’t understand.  To Llanview and everyone there, I’m dead.  I have to stay dead until I can unmask this damn organization and find out why they wanted you and me so bad.  If you would just help me, we could get Alison and her brother and you could go home to Tea.” Todd stood waiting to see if Victor would listen to reason.

       “You can go to hell.  Without Tea and Dani, I’ve got no one but the organization.  They were right. They told me you would use my weakness against me the next time you saw me.  I don’t care how long you keep me here.  I’ll never reveal their secrets.”

        “You’re wrong Victor.  You still have Jack and Sam, Viki, and most importantly, Tea and Dani.  I’ll find some way to prove to you that Tea is alive.  I just can’t do it right this minute. You should try to sleep.  Unfortunately, I’m going to have to gag you.  It wouldn’t be very good if the housekeeper were to hear you.  I’ll bring you some food in the morning.”  He pulled the duck tape out of his pocket and slapped it over Victor’s mouth.  Then he wrapped some around each ankle and finished tying Victor to the bed.  “Sorry, I can’t take the chance you wouldn’t try and knock something over with your feet.”  Todd frowned as he surveyed his brother struggling even more.  He knew how it felt to be tied down and helpless but he was out of options.  Victor had all but stated he would do anything to get away and back to the organization.  Todd couldn’t let that happen.  He turned off the light and left the room.

         Okay, Manning.  Now what?  Can you trust Tea?  Todd looked at his watch.  It was too late to do anything else that night.  He wandered back into his room and flopped on the bed.  Shortly thereafter he fell into a restless slumber.






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Hope from the Ocean: 60

The movie started, and Jack said, "This is my favorite scene.  There's a lady in here who looks just like my mom, Jenna.  Watch."

The family was gathered in the drawing room, which had the large screen tv that Todd had ordered put in.  Sam was in the oversized armchair and had his foot up on the coffee table, Jack and Jenna were on the floor, sitting against the sofa.  Dorian, Sister and Timothy had their places on the couch itself.  Dorian, whose head was on Timothy's shoulder on the other side of him, was dozing.  The nun said in hushed tones, "What did ya say to Sam, Broham?"

"I just told him his parents were all right, and they would be back, and that Santa wouldn't want to see him crying."

"He fell for that one, eh?" she whispered.

"Yes.  He seemed to.  Shortly after, I made the popcorn, talked about other things, and he seemed to move on.  He's a child, resilient."    Timothy said to his sister, "He trusts his grandpappy.  I believe he just needed me to say it, for some reason.  As if I would know any better than anyone else."

"He has a great amount of respect and love for ya.  Ya mean a lot to him.  He sees you as important; Todd adopted him, and Todd was adopted by ya."

"True.  I never thought of that."

"Well, it's clear he feels secure with ya.  Poor Jack.  He was beside himself," she whispered softer into his ear, because of the proximity of the teen.

"It will be all right.  As soon as this Ireland caper is over, their lives will begin to normalize."

"Are ya sure?  I haven't heard much promise for normal in this clan."

"True, again.  But something has to start to give them reprieve.  They need it.  Respite."

"I know.  Perhaps these good deeds Todd's been in will bring them peace for a while."

"With the new babby comes hope, Dear Creena."

***

"It's not so bad, now is it?"  Tina said, looking at Aiden.

He turned from the window to her.  "It's not, because y'ar not afraid.  It makes me feel like a gack to be fearing things in front of a lady."

"A gack?"  She asked.

"Ay.  A Jammy client.  A Muppet.  You know."

She smiled, "I'm getting the point.  The Muppet idea sort of rang true.  An empty-headed puppet?"

"That's the long and short of it."

"Todd, how did you learn to fly this thing?"  she shouted.  He didn't answer.

Aiden said, "I don't think he can hear ya."

"Probably not."

"It is a bit of beauty, looking over the world."  He looked back to the window.

"It's beautiful, yes."

"And ya are.  If ya don't mind me saying."

"I don't mind you saying."

"Ah, we'd call ya a Beor, we would."

"That sounds weird, but thanks, I think."

"Ya'r beautiful, Miss Tina."

"Thank you.  And you are, too."

He laughed, throwing his head back, "Me?  Beautiful?"

"Yes." She was serious.  Something about him had stirred something in her from the first time she saw him.  Maybe it was his dark, shining hair, or his ivory skin and striking blue eyes.  Whatever it was, she knew she was likely to get lost in his looks if she were not careful.

"Ah, thank ya.  I've not heard that one a'fore."

In the front seat, Todd piloted, and Blair sat beside him, her hand on her stomach, rubbing in small circles.  "She's kicking, Todd.  My God, I love her already, so much."

"Me, too.  She's part of you.  What's not to love?"

"Todd, are you . . . feeling anything about going back here?"

"What, to Innishcreg?"  She nodded, then smiled and slightly jumped at a small kick against her hand.  He interrupted the thought.  "She's going to be a punter, huh?  First female punter on the Patriots?"

"Maybe," she said.  Then, "I asked you something."

"I heard you.  What do you want me to say, Blair?"

"The truth, Todd."

"I'll admit, it messes with my head a little, yeah.  I don't know what I'll really feel until I get there."

"I know what I'll feel," she said, her voice suddenly turning cold.  "Starr was just as big as Jewel, inside me, when I was here before."

"Don't, Blair.  Don't start that."

"I'm just telling you, Todd.  It's true."

"I'm sorry, Babe.  That I left you that day."

"Oh, no, not so fast.  I'm sorry, I've already told you.  I should have gone with you that day.  I should have put Melador aside and gone.  We're not going over this again.  Both of us were wrong, at least a little."

"And now, everything's right."

"So right, Todd."

"No more Men of 21, so we have nothing to worry about.  Just think of it of as a mercy mission.  We'll help Aiden, and we'll go back, then get home to Unforgettable."

"When you said, that, she kicked really hard!"

"Oh boy, another Cramer woman, listening in."

"Manning.  She's a Manning woman."

"I'm lucky."

"Uh - huh," she nodded.

"Jammy," he said.

"Jammy?"

"That's how ya say it in Sister's lingo," he imitated her.

"Well, I'm Jammy, too, then."

"I suppose we all are."

"Just take it easy in Innishcreg, Todd.  No risks.  Nothing off course.  We go, help Aiden, we leave.  Promise?"

"Yeah, I don't see why not.  Sure."

"All right. Then let's land this puppy!"  she said, and laughed.

"I don't want to land it now.  We're over water.  But any time now, we'll be there, and set foot on the land of Innish."

Pulling the copter to the right, Todd circled the helipad, and without warning, a flush of recognition came over him.  Blair saw his expression, and said, "It's all right, My Love.  We're together."

He swallowed, and planted the machine down on its place.  Looking to her face, he said, "It feels so much the same.  But it's so different."

Aiden and Tina had already gotten out and stepped down, as Todd went around to Blair's side to help her.  All four of them stood, on Innishcreg soil, and looked around.  More green than anything else, it was quiet, with many trees surrounding, and the sounds of a small town could be heard not far off.  Aiden shouted, "Yeee-oooo!  The Isle of Green!  Cracker!"  He looked to Tina.  "It's home, Lass.  Home," and he rushed to her and lifted her off the ground in an embrace.

Todd looked at Blair, and she recognized the greyish hue of his skin.  She said, "Are you all right, Todd?"

"We're here.  This place.  It changed the path of my whole life."  His eyes were crystal with moisture.

She bit her bottom lip.  "But, look where it brought you," she said, moving his hand to touch their child, and then hugging him.  Birds flew over the four of them, as they embraced on the helipad, surrounded on all sides by the verdant countryside of Innishcreg.

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Hope from the Ocean: 59

"It's time for us to go.  Give me a kiss, Sam," Blair said, leaning down.

"I don't want you to go, Mom."

"Why, Sam?  We'll be back."

"I'll miss you and Dad.  What if something happens to you?"

"Sam, nothing is going to happen to us.  Why are you so worried, Little Guy?"

"I'm scared.  I don't want you to leave.  I don't want you to go away, and not come back."

"We're coming back, Honey," she said, turning to Todd.  Her face showed puzzlement.

"Hey, Bud, what's the matter?"  Todd said, sitting on the edge of Sam's bed.

"I don't want you and Mom to leave me."

"We're not leaving you."

"I don't want you to go away."

"We're not, Sam.  We'll be back in a few days.  It won't be long."

"Dad, I'm scared," he said, breaking into tears.  "I don't want you to.  Can't you stay here?  Please?"  

His anxiety was palpable to both of them, and Todd took him in his arms.  "Hey, hey.  It's all right.  You don't have to be scared."

"I just want you to stay here," he said, through tears.

"I promise we will be right back, Sam.  You believe me, right?  I never lied to you, have I?"  Todd reassured.

Sam sniffed.  "No.  I don't think so."

"I'm not going to start now.  We'll be back in a couple of days."

"How many?  Three?"

"Probably, maybe less."

He sniffed again, and Todd dried his tears with his thumbs.  "Now, don't cry, Bud.  Come on, trust me.  Mommy and I will be all right, and we will be back."

"Mom's got a baby in her tummy.  She needs to be home to rest.  Ray needs her."

Todd and Blair exchanged looks.  Todd looked back to him and said, "Come on, we'll call you every couple of hours.  You'll be able to hear that we're okay."


"Okay," he said, but his face did not change.  

Still concerned, Todd stood and kissed his son's forehead.  Blair, kissing his cheek, touched his chin.  "I love you, Sam."

His bottom lip trembled.  "I love you, Mom.  I love you, Dad."

"Love you too, Sam.  Love you lots."  Todd said, exiting the bedroom.  

Blair waved and went out the door.  Meeting up with Todd in the hall, she said, "My God, what's wrong with him? He's so afraid."

"New setting, reminders of before.  He had a lot of anxiety when we were in Ireland last time and he was at Unforgettable, remember?  He is afraid because the last time you were away and pregnant . . ."

"I lost Sommer."  When she said it, her mouth twitched.

He petted her hair.  "That's not happening here.  You know that.  I'm going to make sure of that."

"I know.  An entirely different time."  She swallowed.  "That day, it was so. . ."

"Shhh," he said, leaning her toward him and kissing the top of her head.  He loved how her hair smelled. "That's over, Babe."

She nodded and pulled herself together.  "I'm okay.  Let's go, I guess."

"All right.  You know . . ."

"I can stay here?  No, Todd.  I can't be away from you.  Not with being pregnant and what happened last time.  When you have it all . . ."

"I know, okay.  Then we're off, right?"

"I guess so."  They walked down the staircase together, and in the lobby was a conglomeration of the family, waiting to say their goodbyes.

"Mr. and Mrs. Manning, Jack and I promise to help with the children," Jenna said.

"Jenna, that's very thoughtful.  Ray will need to be held a lot, without his Mommy."  Blair said, hesitating.

"And Mommy will need to be held a lot without Ray," Todd said.  He felt Blair's elbow poke into his ribs.

"Yeah, Dad, don't worry.  We'll help."  Jack said.  "Love you, Mom."  He kissed her cheek.

"Love you, Son," she said in response, and hugged Jenna.

"This is carrying on too long," the nun said, "it's getting out of hand here."  She wiped her eyes.  "We'll take care of the little ones, and the teens."

"All right.  Call us if you need us," Todd said, putting a hand in the center of Blair's back.  Tina and Aiden followed.

The copter was fueled and on the helipad, running.  Perzno was there, doing safety checks and getting things ready.  The foursome walked toward the copter pad, and the wind from the propeller was tousling their hair.  Todd said, "Ever ride over the ocean in one of these?"

No one answered, except Blair, "I did."

He gave her the side-eye.  "I know you did!"  He hugged her close in his arm.  Moving closer to the vehicle, he helped her inside the cab, buckling her in.  Tina and Aiden loaded the back, and Perzno helped buckle them as well.  "Thanks," Todd said, patting the man's back.

"No problem, Mr. Manning."

"Ay, Pal, I don't like this.  I feel odd.  Not a bird, and should not be in the sky."  Aiden said, looking to Tina, who took his hand.

"Don't be scared, it's really nothing," Tina said, and she covered his hand with hers.

"Lift off," Todd said, pulling the copter off the helipad and aiming for Innishcreg.

***

As soon as Todd and Blair had left the house, it became quiet, and Jack, Jenna and Sam, who they had carried down to the lower level, all sat in silence.  Sister Rebecca Katherine said, "Why so quiet, young ones?"

Jack picked at one of the holes in his designer jeans.  "Nothing."

Jenna said, "When we went up to get Sam, he was crying so hard he threw up.  It just made Jack sad, and me."

Sister Rebecca Katherine sat by Sam.  His cast leg was up on the coffee table with a pillow underneath.  Jack was still silent, and Sam was as well, his eyes very big.  "Sam, Dear, why are you sad?"

"Mommy and Dad, they're not coming back."

"Yes, they are, Sweetness.  They are.  They'll be back in a short while,"  The nun said.

"I know what this is about.  I know my little bro,"  Jack said, standing.  He sat on the other side of his little brother, and said, "Come here, Bud."  For a moment, he sounded so like Todd that Sister Rebecca Katherine got a lump in her throat.  He took the little boy in his arms, and held him.  Sam put his head over Jack's shoulder, and breathed the way little children do after crying and they attempt to bring their breathing back to normal.  

The nun said, tenderly, "I certainly hope you'll tell us what it is, Jack."

He couldn't speak.  All he could do was hold his brother, and think his father, slashed across the shins with a blade. . .

Jenna interjected.  "Sister, do you remember the last time Todd and Blair went away," she filled up with tears.

"Well, let me think.  I believe it was, earlier this winter.  Possibly . . . oh dear."

Jenna nodded, and the nun put an arm around her shoulder.  The Mitch home invasion.  The threat of death.  Jenna's mother's role in Mitch's escape and her murder.  Sam was relating it to the visit to Chicago, and so were the rest of them.  Jack rubbed his back in circles, as he'd seen his parents do.  Jenna, fading fast, was crumbling into tears, when Timothy popped through the front door.  "Y'ar not going to believe it, but I've got it!  Evil Dead II!  The favorite of the family!"  He stopped, "My goodness, what happened?  Did Santa Claus retire, eh, Creena?"

The nun shot him a serious cautionary look, and he caught on.  "Well, Gobsmack me!  What happened here?  Sam, ya made me go and find this movie, and it was a very hard thing to do.  It was at the bottom of the leisure box your parents packed.  What a job!  I was up to me elbows in films."

Sam didn't answer.  Jack was beginning to falter, holding his brother close, thinking of him, small and blueish, in the snowpile, and his father, digging into the snow until his hands bled.  Jenna was beside herself, and the nun said, "All right, this is all about our fears and our pasts.  Why don't we talk about it, and get it out, and then we'll be able to finish movie night, eh?"

Jenna, whose head was now on Sister Rebecca Katherine's shoulder, said, "I'd like to talk about it," in a very small voice.

"All right, Dear One,"  the nun responded softly.  

Jenna said, "I miss my mother, every day.  When I saw Sam so sad, I just felt my heart break.  I still feel guilty sometimes.  It was my mother's fault that Mitch got out.  The Mannings never would have been taken hostage if it weren't for what she did.  But I don't think . . ."  she stopped, and Timothy, taking a strong signal from the conversation, bent and took Sam from Jack.  She continued, "I don't think she deserved to . . ."

The nun got up and moved to the other side of the girl as she fell into tears, and into Jack's arms.  The older woman put her hand onto the girl's back, and Jack held her, minutes from shattering himself.  The clergywoman noted how much he looked like Todd, especially when fighting emotion.  But his eyes.   His eyes were Blair's.  

Timothy had vanished with Sam into the kitchen, and the nun said, "Jenna, no one blames ya, or y'ar mother."

Jack, almost breaking down, continued to hold her and smooth her hair.

The nun went on, "Sometimes we can't understand why things happen.  But people have free will.  They have the ability to choose their actions.  Ya didn't choose, and therefore, you mustn't ever take on the responsibility for something like this.  But the sadness of losing your mother, ah, that can't be replaced.  I lost my mother, years back, and I can still feel the absence."

She pulled out of Jack's arms a little, to turn to the nun.  "Really?"

The nun nodded.  "Yes.  But it gets easier, simpler.  It gets less painful.  Doesn't twist y'ar insides as much after years pass."

The girl was comforted, somehow, by the words.  "Thank you.  It just feels so bad sometimes, I wonder if it will ever end.  But I believe you.  Maybe someday . . ."

"Yes, Dear.  Someday," she said, hugging the girl.  She could see Jack over Jenna's shoulder.  He had tears streaming down his face in silent tracks.  The nun, reached out and touched his arm.

He said, "If anything happens to Mom or Dad in Innishcreg, it won't be pretty, Sister.  We won't handle it.  I know we won't.  Sam and me, and Ray, we'll . . . freaking crack up or something."

She realized how all of the emotion, and Jack's apparent strength for his brother and friend, was masking his own terror.  She said, "Jack,"

He had folded his arms over his chest, and his face had taken on an angry appearance.  Todd.  Mixing fear and anger . . . and sadness.  So like his father.

"Jack.  Your parents will be all right.  Is this the first time they have been apart from ya since the Chicago trip?"

"Pretty much.  Besides normal stuff."

"What are ya thinking?"

"I'm not thinking what everyone else is, I know that."

The nun was interested.  "What do ya mean, Son?"

"I know what Jenna's feeling.  Makes sense.  She just lost her mom recently.  She's grieving.  I get that.  Sam, he's just scared they'll leave us, and that he'll have to go live with Zeus.  Zeus abused him, he's afraid.  He doesn't want to lose Mom, which he almost did before.  He doesn't want dad to go away, like he was before he met him, and like in Ireland, two years ago, when he almost didn't make it home.  Lucky Sam doesn't know Dad was here before that, and was shot and almost died, left Mom when she was pregnant; we'd never be able to calm him down."

"You've listed quite a bit.  What's missing, then?"

"It's Dad.  I know him, better than anyone thinks."

"Yes, Jack, I believe ya do, Boy.  Tell us what this is about, then?"

"When he went to Chicago, he found out things . . . he almost lost it.  That terrible shit Peter Manning did to him, and to Grandma Bitsy."

"The language, Jack,"  the nun cautioned.

He stood, becoming agitated.  "Forget the language.  Do you realize what happened to my father and his mother?  He had to face all that, plus deal with Mom, and us.  After coming back here, seeing that life went on without him, and all of us were suckered into believing Zeus was him?  He gets kidnapped, cut to pieces, almost dies.  He lost his baby girl, not that long ago.  He finds out his father was a fucking pervert and did that bad stuff to him as a little kid.  Did it to his mother, beat her and tormented them.  Even Shaun couldn't handle this shit when he found out.  Then, Mitch, then Sam, jumps off the roof.  Then comes here, does all this.  Now he's off to fucking who knows where.  What if . . . what if . . ."

Both Jenna (who was composed, but horrified at the things revealed) and the nun looked at Jack with concern.  The nun said, "What if your father loses his mind.  Are ya thinking that, Jack?  What if he has a breakdown?"  Everyone was silent.  "Because if ya are, y'ar not alone."

His momentum lost; his face showed surprise.  "What do you mean?"

"Y'ar mother, me, Timothy, too, we wonder about it, every day.  How did he keep his mind?  Why doesn't he shatter?  How did he not go into the depths of insanity and hide from the truths and the torment?  We think of it often, and we have discussed it as well.  And we know the answer.  Ya know it too, if ya think hard enough."

  

Jenna said, meekly, "I know what it is."  Jack, who was breathing heavily, and at this point was allowing the tears to just come, and then drifted down either side of he face as he waited for her to speak.  She said, "He has you.  And your mother.  You all are his reason.  I can see it, all over his face, every time he looks at any of you.  Isn't it obvious?"

The nun, overcome with emotion, choked out, "That's right.  Jenna's right."

Jack sat back down, and Jenna, getting up, knelt in front of him on the floor.  He said, quietly, "What if he goes back there, to where he was shot, and he . . . finds out something else.  Shit!  How much can one person take?"

And there it was.  

The nun shifted her position and said, "As much as he can take, Jack.  As much as is given, I think.  Y'ar father is strong, but as Jenna said, a lot of his moving forward is about ya, y'ar brothers and sister, and of course, Blair.  He will be all right.  He will."  He reached up and put her hand behind his head and patted it.  Jenna, on the floor, had rested her head on his knee.  The nun saw his hand go to her hair.  She said, "Well, I'm going to go and check on that old man and Sam.  I'll be back, though, in about three minutes, Cub and Cuttie," and she left the room.

In the kitchen, she spied Sam, shoving a handful of popcorn into his mouth and laughing, as Timothy did the same, saying, "Now don't choke, chew it well."

"Ah, I see this kitchen is full of action.  Ya both are hoarding the food."

"Nah, there's plenty for ya, Creena."

"Why do you call her 'Creena?'  Her name is Sister Becca Thrin."

Timothy smiled, "That it is.  I call her Creena because it means, 'my heart.'  She's my sister whom I love very much, Sam, my boy."

He thought about it.  As he did, the nun saw that there was no trace of his tears, or his upset, catching breath.  He was back to normal; his grandfather had accomplished that.  Sam said, "Does that mean I'll call the baby in Mommy's tummy Creena?"

"If ya want to."  Timothy said.  "She'll have a name, she will."

"Jewel.  Mom said,"  Sam added, chewing more popcorn.

"Ah, yes, Jewel.  A rare one.  Makes sense.  She's precious."

"I'll love her so much.  I'll love her in my heart.  Right here," he pointed.

"I know ya will, Sam."  Timothy said, petting his head.

"Can we go watch now, before Jack and Jenna get into that icky mushy stuff?"

The nun said, "Actually, Sam, I think that's a perfect idea."  The three of them brought the tray of snacks and drinks into the other room.

Dorian was just coming into the lobby.  "Am I late?" she asked, carrying a huge container of nachos.

"Ya can't understand the impact of that statement, Dorie," Timothy said, and all of them continued to the drawing room.

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Hope from the Ocean: 58 (adult)

"We're going to leave in the morning, then?"  Blair said, massaging his shoulders for a few moments.  He was taking off his shoes and socks.

"Yeah.  A fresh start.  That's what we need.  Then, we'll get out to Innishcreg via copter.  Hopefully, we can help Aiden get past all this."

"Maybe you can help him."

"I guess, at least he'll have support with him.  I'll fly, so we can go anytime we want."

"That's not what I meant, and you know that, Todd."

He didn't respond.  Instead, he continued with his shoes, putting the socks into them, and beginning to unbutton his shirt.  "I guess I know what you mean."

"What you've been through.  You feel like you can help him, you know, face whatever it is.  Because you did."

"Maybe."  

"You don't have to hide it from me.  This whole thing has really gotten to you."

"Yeah, I guess it has.  And Momma."

"You're proud of her."

He nodded.  "Ray said it's bad, Blair.  What Peter did to her."

"You knew that," she said, slipping her arm through his.  "You knew it would be."

"She lived.  Whatever it was, she fought to survive.  Now I know where I learned that."

"Yes."

It was momentarily quiet.  Then, "What would you call Peter Manning, Blair?  What was he?  Some kind of sick man, or was he just evil?"

She paused.  "I don't know.  But what I do know is that you have shown everyone that you're not him.  You've made me so proud to be your wife, Todd.  We've had our rough spots, but I've loved you, so very long," she said, and he stopped messing with his shirt, and turned toward her.

"Only you see it that way."

"What does the rest matter?  Us and our kids.  We have everything.  Who cares what the rest of them say?  You and me against the world.  And you've done a lot to be proud of in your life.  Stop focusing on the mistakes all the time."

"Well, you and the kids, you are my world.  You know that."

"Yes.  And in that world, you're still my hero.  You saved Patrick.  And now, you're helping Aiden.  That makes you deserving of a hero's reward."  She kissed his neck, and ran her tongue up to his ear.  She took his earlobe into her mouth, and sucked, lightly.  "I want you, Todd," she said, softly.  Her hands went to his shirt; his hands went to her breasts, massaging softly, and his mouth to hers.  

He pulled back a moment to say, "I've been thinking about us, this way, since earlier.  Downstairs earlier.  Want you," he interjected kisses between words, "Want you so much."

She wasted no time running her hands down his torso and into his pants, groping for him.  He was overtaken, and pushed her back onto the bed, hurriedly, as if they were in danger of being caught.  She smiled, "What's your hurry?"

"I don't know, I just have to. . .feel you."  He was urgent; she spotted the need in his eyes and felt herself become wet between her legs.  She loved him this way.  His face was intent with desire, his hands worked adeptly to free himself from his clothes.  She sat back and watched him, then helped by removing his open shirt as he unzipped.  He fell free of his boxers, and he pointed forward,  touching against her lower belly.  She smiled.  "This is nice."

He rubbed himself along her, having pushed up her nightgown.  He'd moved aside her bikini panties with his thumb, and his fingers found the moist, warm inviting folds of her skin just under them.  He held himself in his hand and drew a line against her and she gasped, letting out a small cry of pleasure.

He was typically a believer in long foreplay, and she adored everything he did and how he worked to make her ecstasy last.  But when times like this came up, and they weren't often, she found herself incredibly excited; in fact, she was utterly desperate and ravenously hungry for him.  Her breathing was heightening, and suddenly, she wanted him inside her more than anything else.

As always, he was on the same track she was.  Already hard and finding it impossible to be separated from her body, he plunged himself into her, and moaned.  He kissed her mouth and pumped into her with an exquisite rhythm that brought her voice to the high place of passion he so wanted to hear.  Moments later, she looked at him, as he ended his kiss, and she placed her fingers on his mouth, sliding one inside.  He licked it, and sucked it.  "Oh my God, Todd, my God, love me," her tones were hushed as he made love to her.

Hearing her, he moved faster, and harder, shifting his position to what he knew would bring her to a powerful peak, and him to the sublime surrender of letting go into her.  "Blair," he said, closing his eyes and stroking, long and fast.

She said, "Yes.  I love you, Todd," just before he felt her hips buck against him and her body convulse around him.  She was coming, as her concurrent cries announced, just as waves of rapture went through him, and he came with her.  

His finishing was so intense it shook him.  Unexpectedly enduring, it went through his core and into his legs to the knees and he came just short of hyperventilating in expression of it.  His resonant cries and the feeling of his body pulsing filled her with awe and made her release all the more forceful.  Wanting to bring her legs together, she squeezed him with her thighs.  The spasms continued, and she ran her fingers over his back, then pulling his bottom closer.  "Don't let it stop," she whispered, and he responded with a groan. 

He sighed, and took one of her nipples in his lips, licked it, and gently sucked.  She had her fingers in his hair.  He said, "I won't.  I won't let it stop.  You and I," he tried to catch his breath, "you and I don't ever stop, Blair."  He moved back from her, shifting, and finally slipped out of her.

She opened her eyes again, and saw him, covered in sweat, to the point of glistening, flushed from his chest to his face, his hair matted with moisture, his chest, tight and heaving.  He leaned forward, and collapsed to the side of her, lying on his back.  He reached for her hand, and she interlocked her fingers with his.  Her other hand went instinctively to her abdomen, and she gently rubbed along her bump.  She said, "That was . . . "

"Awesome.  So . . ."

"Intense."

"You okay," he said, turning on his side toward her.

She laughed, "Yes, I'm more than okay.  It was so good," he knew her contented smile, but it never ceased to please him.

"You were so good.  You feel like home to me, something . . ."  he couldn't finish his sentence.

"I know.  We can't make any more words to explain it," she said, turning on her side to face him, also.  "No one has ever loved me like you do, Todd.  Something about us, it just makes everything . . . work."

He kissed the tip of her nose.  "Babe," he said, moving closer, and kissing her lips tenderly.  "You deserve things to work."

"You do, too.  You deserve love, Todd, and you will never be without mine."  She shut her eyes.

***

"We're on duty," Dorian said, "starting tomorrow morning."  She had walked into the living room in her guest wing, and saw Timothy and his sister having tea.

She said, "Any extra?"

"Yes, there's plenty, Dorian.  Help yourself."  The nun said.

She did.  Sitting down, with a hot cup of tea in her hand, Dorian said, "Well, looks like we're on parent patrol for the next few days.  Todd and Blair are going with Aiden to Innishcreg.  Tina wants to go along."

"That sounds like quite the adventure."  Sister Rebecca Katherine said.

"Well, seems Aiden wants to find his family, the adoptive one.  He hopes it will help him connect to his past."  Dorian added, sipping her tea.

"I meant ours," the nun added.  "Seems like we're in for a big adventure with these children."

Timothy said, '"I'll say.  We've got two teens to monitor.  That alone could drive us to drink.  Uh, excuse the pun.  No one has to call AA on me."

Dorian said, "Well, we can divide the workload.  Who's going to chase Ray around, who's going to run interference for the teens, who's going to wait hand and foot on Sam. . ."

"Sounds like three jobs, three of us."  Sister Rebecca Katherine said.  "Even though I'm older, I believe I'm the best choice to chase Ray around," the nun began.  "I am in pretty decent shape, and have been doing it already for a time.  Possibly that would make the most sense."

"Maybe so, but instead of splitting the work that way, we might want to consider this.  Sam doesn't need us every minute.  He's quite self-sufficient, and Jack can also be used to help with his little brother."  Timothy said.

"I've cared for them before, with Addie and Starr.  It was . . . when Todd and Blair went to Chicago."  Dorian said.

The room became quiet.  Aside from the obvious thoughts running through all three minds regarding Todd's past, there was the home invasion that almost cost them The Manning Family.  Timothy broke the silence.  "Well, there's nothing to this.  We've all spent time caring for these children, and we will make it work.  Whatever we think, Blair must be with Todd.  I can't see him going to Innishcreg, and her waiting here for him.  Being pregnant like she is, and with what she went through the last time, I just can't see it happening.  They need to be together, and we need to care for their children, eh ladies?"

"What about Tina," Dorian said, rolling her eyes.

"I think this is the right decision," Sister Rebecca Katherine said.  "Aiden's taken to her, he's never had anyone.  At least that is what I understand.  I am not sure we should be the ones to stand in the way of that."

Dorian said, "It's fine.  I'd already suggested us for the job.  I guess it's difficult for me to hide my disdain for her, considering she was robbing my house when she ran into Mitch and the family."

"Now Dorie, she saved your brother's child, and the rest of his family.  I think ya can overlook it."  Timothy reminded her, and reached out to take her hand.  Rubbing his thumb over her fingers, he smiled, and she backed down.

"Then it's settled.  We will care for those lovely children.  Todd and Blair won't be gone long.  Just to help Aiden try and tap his memories.  We can surely handle it.  They're only children, after all."  The nun said, and all three sipped their tea.

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