Try again in a few minutes."

Sam's sharp eyes noted the silent communication between them. Look...I hate to butt in here, but will someone tell me what the hell is going on?"

****

Nick's face radiated a controlled ferocity, and his snapping eyes dared her to challenge him as she stared back at him. Clutching her bag, he listened to the insistent ringing until it stopped.

What the...no...no. You're not! Nick, you're not going to turn this into some nightmare...I won't let you!

Nick...give me my bag. That could be an emergency call," she said as she tried to muster some appearance of calm.

No...it's an interruption, Sherry...you know that...and we don't need any more of those. You haven't heard it all, and nothing is going to interfere with that!"

Handle him...just handle him like a patient...

Sherry resolutely walked over to the window and folded her arms -- her eyes now focused on the outside world and the need to get out at all cost.

So talk, Nick...I'm listening."

****

Sam...Viki...please...have a seat. While we're waiting, I'll try to fill in some gaps...but it will have to be quick."

Looking at Viki's worried face, Sam took her hand and led her over to the sofa. Tea sat on the edge of an arm chair with the phone in her hand while Slider loomed over them -- his lightly tanned face illuminated with an inner fire.

I'll come straight to the point. Todd is very much alive, but his mind has been taken over by a personality...a DID alter."

Sam leaned forward and clasped his hands. We know all about his problem, Slider...who is this alter? What is his name?"

His name is Nick, and I knew him...I knew him back then, Sam."

In school? When I was there?"

Yes...he's been a part of Todd's life since he was a child."

I knew it!" Sam slapped his thigh. Everything makes sense now...I saw his whole pattern change around a certain time...and what...you say that you were aware of it?"

I not only knew it...I was there when he first...when that alter came to be."

****

Nick studied her seemingly quiet face. Now she doesn't trust me...you screwed that up but good, didn't you, Toddy...but it's not over...

Okay," he said evenly as he dropped her bag with a thud to the floor. Let me give you a scenario. Imagine a young boy...a child...alone in a home with no love...no kind words...just abuse...more and more of it piled on every day...in continual doses. There is no one to run to...no one to talk to...just an ever-present image of the face of cruelty."

Sherry turned toward him, and she saw how his eyes seemed to be hypnotized by some invisible scene.

...He's afraid...just about all of the time...and he doesn't know what to do...he needs someone to talk to about his fear..someone who will be there night and day. One day...when it's really bad for him...something happens that surprises him. A new voice enters his mind, and he knows instinctively that he's not alone anymore."

...and almost immediately he's not as afraid because this voice talks to him and comforts him. The boy gives him a name -- a special name that he thought of and from that moment on, the voice is stronger...more present and real to him than before."

Sherry felt the lump in her throat as she watched his rapt hazel eyes.

Time goes by, and the boy gets bigger. He still deals with abuse every day, but it's not just him anymore. He has a friend.. someone to confide in and someone who will patch up his mental wounds when he needs it. Things are not good at home, but he can now manage...with the voice."

Stealthily moving closer to her, Nick's body froze midway, and the normal tone of his voice lowered an octave.

It would have worked out...he could have gone on that way until he could leave home, but something happened one night...something that crushed his hope of ever escaping his hellish life at home."

What?" Sherry spoke and realized how caught up she was in his story despite herself..

His father...that pathetic excuse for one...he violated the boy..."

Are you saying that he..."

Nick nodded. That night...what he was subjected to...the awful, horrible, d ebasing nature of that violation broke his spirit to such a point that he was almost lost. That's when the alter stepped in...to save him."

What do you mean...stepped in?"

He took over...he came in and occupied his mind and body while the boy's consciousness escaped to a place of security."

So...this Toddy possessed you?"

Nick's eyes shifted slightly and he looked unexpectantly down at his hands. Yes."

Sherry's eyes focused back on the window and the deepening, blue-black darkness of early evening -- her mind attempting to replay every moment she had had with Nick. What if that alter has already show his face? How do I know that Toddy didn't appear to me? My God...I'm dealing with a possible psychopath, and I don't know what to do next!

****

A man with sandy-colored hair sat in a car looking across the street at a prestigious, older home. Delgado had ordered him to keep a watchful eye on the place, but he had seen nothing so far. Every window on the front and side of the large home was dark, and except for a front porch light, the place looked like it hadn't been lived in or seen a visitor in some time. It all seemed to be a waste of Department time, but as always, he was just following orders. A few of the men that worked with him were grumbling about Delgado's almost irrational mode in trying to find his sister. He figured the Department wouldn't put up with this for long.

A sleek black car rolled slowly down the street, and the driver peered out through his open window to try to read house numbers. Seeing a few numbers as he drove by, he calculated in his mind the possible location of the street number he was looking for. As the car moved along, the other occupant of the car spoke out sharply.

Wait...I see something...you don't want to go ahead."

What?"

That car...that car parked on the right. It's either an unmarked police car or..."

Or FBI," Sykes scowled. Damnit! Well, why should I be surprised? So far, Delgado's been one step ahead of us."

I don't think it's him. This is probably just a lookout."

Lookout or no, we can't afford to be seen. We'll have to park."

Sykes swung the car easily toward the curb, and cut off the engine. It wasn't what he wanted, to have to sit and wait, but he now knew that he was on the right track because Tea Manning's dogged FBI agent brother was on the same one. He wouldn't have ordered this agent over here unless he knew something...something is definitely in the air...something is brewing...

Now what?" Edwards asked him although he pretty much knew the answer.

We wait." Opening up a large black case of compact discs, Sykes removed one and slid it into the CD player -- leaning back in the leather seat.

Do you like R&B?"

****

Sam's head lowered and snapped up quickly -- a strange, questioning look in his eyes.

Slider...when...when did Nick come out?"

Slider's eyes met Sam's and an instant silent acknowledgment of truth passed between them.

I think you know the answer to that, Sam," Slider said -- reinforcing what had just been communicated between them.

If he were alive now," Sam's normally soft eyes hardened into dark slits, ...I'd finish the job."

He's still alive, Sam...still lurking in Todd's mind somewhere. That's the problem...that's why this psychosis has never really left him."

****

You can't hide from me, Sherry," Nick's voice rose again with a clear quality. Don't you think I know what you're thinking? This is me...remember? I can see straight into your soul."

...and right now you want to run like hell back to the safe arms of Slider, don't you? He'll fix everything, won't he? You two can go back to your little friendship...or maybe it's not so much a friendship anymore?"

He waited for some kind of response, but there was no answer.

A low, rich, breathy voice just next to her ear sent waves of shock through Sherry, and she felt her mind sinking into some foggy oblivion as she felt the touch of his fingers on her back.

Why do you think that I brought you here? I knew you had to know. You came, didn't you? You must have had some doubts, but you came."

I...I don't know...a natural curiosity, Nick. You were...different, and I didn't know anything about you," she murmured and her body tensed with the feel of his hand slowly sliding down her back.

I'm showing you who I am...this house...my past...me, and...I let you see inside me. No one else has ever been allowed to do that. You already saw what I have to deal with."

Sherry nodded and tried not to be affected by his strong, persuasive tones. Why...why am I still so drawn to you...even after what I saw...

You're not kicking up a fuss now, are you Toddy? That all must have worn you out and you're taking a rest break...I've got another idea that I think you'll have a real problem with...

When you showed up that day...to take care of my wounds," he leaned his head down even closer to hers -- his cheek almost touching hers, ...something told me that you would be the one to make him go away...for good."

A repeat of the ringing sound almost caused Sherry to jump out of her skin.

Let it go, Sherry...you can call whoever it is back," he whispered in a commanding tone. Do this one thing for me, and...I'll let you do that."

He'll let me? I don't like any of this...what...what on earth does he want?

****

Shaking her head strongly this time as she held the phone, Tea looked at Slider.

Should I leave a message?"

No. It might make him do something rash. We've got to go ahead and find them. There's just no time to waste."

Grabbing a windbreaker jacket, Slider tugged it on over his shoulders and faced his visitors.

Sam, we think Todd, or rather Nick, has run off with someone I know -- a woman. Is there any place that you know of in Chicago where he might go?"

Sam moistened his lips and rubbed his hands together. Suddenly he snapped his fingers. Wait a minute! Wouldn't he go somewhere familiar to him? There's only one place I know that..."

I'm way ahead of you," Slider with the ghost of a smile. I just wanted a confirmation."

Viki stood up -- finally making her presence known. I suppose I'm going to have to find all about this in piecemeal fashion, aren't I? You're leaving to find Todd, right? Then, I'm going, too."

There was no denying her stubborn determination as she looked at both men. Tea walked over to her and extended her hand to her. Of course, you're going, Viki...he needs you just as he needs all of us."

****

It's always been me who started things...I'm the one who always initiated everything. Have to admit, she's always been a pretty willing participant...but now...maybe it's time to see if it matters to him if it's all her idea...

What?" Sherry heard every beat of her heart as his hands turned her toward him.

What do you want me to do, Nick?"

I want you to kiss me."

COPYRIGHT NOTICE:: The stories published on The Florencia Lozano Home Page are the property of the individual authors. You may not: Distribute the text to others without the EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION of the copyright owner. You may: print copies of the information for your own personal use, store the files on your computer for your own personal use, reference hypertext documents on this server from your own documents.

This site (and linked sites) is not affiliated with ABC Soaps and is not endorsed by them. The images, characters and settings are all copyrighted by ABC Daytime. All material included on these pages is for educational purposes, in accordance with the "Fair Use" Act.