| IN SICKNESS BY TIMA |
CHAPTER 98 |
PREVIOUSLY:
Todd: But, now you want everything? And, you want me to flash the world, too?
Tea: We're not outside. It's just you and me.
Todd: So, you're not going to have us running naked across the mountain?
Tea: That's a thought...
Todd: I would do it for you, Tea.
Tea: You would?
Todd: If it would make you smile right now, I would. As long as it's dark and no one can see us. We could go out into the back yard and feel free together.
Tea: Would you really do that?
Todd: I would do anything to help you get through the rest of this night.
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chapter 98:
[Minutes later, Tea and Todd are standing in the kitchen of their home, each completely naked. Todd is hesitating about going outside while naked, and Tea knows that he's hesitating.]
Tea: We don't have to do this.
Todd: You want to.
Tea: This is enough.
Todd: No, it isn't. You won't feel free unless you feel the wind and all that junk.
Tea: I feel very free right now.
Todd: You're not going to expect me to be nude all the time, are you?
Tea: Of course not.
Todd: We're not doing this in front of our kids, or anyone else, right?
Tea: Right.
Todd: So, after this kid is born?
Tea: We'll only be naked together when we're alone, in our bedroom.
Todd: With the door locked.
Tea: With the door locked, yes.
Todd: Okay. Let's do this.
Tea: We don't have to.
Todd: This is the one chance you have to see me streak across the mountain.
Tea: Only if you're absolutely positive that you want to do this.
Todd: I'm positive that there's probably a photographer hiding out there, just waiting for something like this.
Tea: Why would there be a photographer on the mountain at this time of night?
Todd: Maybe Blair wants to fight for sole custody of Starr and is looking for dirt on us.
Tea: That's it! We're not doing this.
Todd: You think there's a photographer, too?
Tea: I think you're paranoid and it's impossible for this to create any sense of freedom in either of us if one of us is so paranoid.
Todd: You want me to risk everything for you? Okay. I'll risk everything for you. I'll do it.
Tea: I don't want you to risk time with your daughter, if that's truly what you think you would be doing. It was a silly idea anyway. Let's go to bed and stare at the ceiling until morning.
[Todd surprises Tea by pulling open the door and rushing outside. He quickly returns, before she has time to react.]
Todd: I knew this was a bad idea.
Tea: There really was a photographer out there?
Todd: I stepped on something. I'm not letting you out there naked. You're wearing shoes.
Tea: Are you hurt?
Todd: I'm a man. I can handle pain. You're just a girl. You're wearing shoes.
Tea: Did something get stuck in your foot? Do you need me to take it out?
Todd: I need you to hurry up and put on your shoes before I change my mind.
Tea: You're certain about this?
Todd: I'm certain that I'm starting to get irritated that you keep stalling. I want to run naked across the mountain and you're holding me up.
[Tea smiles as she puts on her shoes, amazed that her husband is standing naked before her, willing to spend time naked outside, just to cheer her up and help both of them survive until morning, until they can visit her doctor and discover if the small lump they both felt in her breast minutes earlier is more cancer they'll have to fight, or a false alarm.
Whatever the medical outcome, Tea knows that she's grateful to have this man to go through this terrifying time with. She just wishes that her body would stop putting them both through such emotional hell.
After they both have shoes on, Todd takes Tea's hand and looks toward her, in the darkened kitchen.]
Todd: Ready?
Tea: Todd?
Todd: Did you change your mind?
Tea: I love you.
Todd: You're hitting on me? Now?
Tea: I'm sorry that you have to go through this again because of me.
Todd: It's not your fault.
Tea: I'm so grateful that you are going through this with me. I wish I could control it so that cancer would never again be a part of our lives. But, since I don't have any control over this, I can't tell you how much it means to me to know that you'll be with me through whatever I have to go through.
Todd: Do you really believe that?
Tea: You were with me through every step before.
Todd: Not every step.
Tea: It was almost every step.
Todd: Yeah, but not every step, like I should have been, like I promised I would be. This time, I won't let you down.
Tea: You didn't let me down before.
Todd: Sure, I did.
Tea: You didn't. You were going through your own internal minefield.
Todd: I still am.
Tea: I know.
Todd: I won't let it get in the way, not for any part of anything that you need me for.
Tea: I need you for every moment of every day, for the rest of my life. Cancer, or no cancer, I'll always need you.
Todd: Maybe we should do this before you start blubbering. Once the tears start coming, you won't be able to see me, and I want full credit for doing this.
Tea: Believe me, I'll be watching you very carefully. If you give me a moment, I'll go and get our video camera and we can turn on the exterior lights and capture every moment of this on video.
Todd: Since no one has any interest in seeing video of Todd Manning naked...
Tea: I have interest.
Todd: You get to see the live thing whenever you want to.
Tea: Is that a promise?
Todd: Your hormones are going horny again, aren't they?
Tea: It's not because I'm pregnant. It's because I'm married to you. I'm attracted to you. I'm...
Todd: You're stalling. Do you want to do this, or not?
Tea: Are you really sure that you're okay with this?
[In response, Todd again opens the door and, holding her hand, leads her outside.
He keeps walking until they're halfway into their vast backyard and then abruptly stops.]
Todd: Now what do we do?
Tea: I thought you wanted to run across the land?
Todd: You're pregnant.
Tea: We could walk briskly.
[They each feel a few drops of moisture fall upon their skin.]
Tea: It's starting to rain. We should go back in.
Todd: Not yet.
[For several minutes, they continue to silently stand together in the middle of their backyard as the level of rain gradually increases.
Without knowing that the other person is doing the same, they each close their eyes and enjoy the cleansing rain falling upon their bare bodies.
Todd's concern for Tea, and the baby, soon surfaces and he opens his eyes and turns toward her, placing his hand on her stomach as he moves his body closer to her.]
Todd: Is it too cold out here for both of you?
Tea: It's perfect.
Todd: Yeah, it is.
[Tea is startled for a moment, as Todd unexpectantly embraces her. She quickly embraces him back, taking much needed strength and love from him.
The rain continues until they're both soaked, but neither cares as they share a wet kiss, followed by another.
Minutes later, when they finally return to their home, they're both surprised at how refreshed they feel, as their laughter fills the kitchen.
Earlier, when they each felt the slight lump in Tea's breast, they both felt defeated. They had battled cancer together and won but neither felt up for another battle so soon. Now, for reasons neither understands, they each feel energized and ready to fight to ensure the future together that they both want. Whether that fight needs to be against cancer, his past, her past, or still unknown threats to their future together, is irrelevant. They both know that anything, or anyone, that tries to come between them won't succeed. Their love, and need, for each other, will always win against any challenges.]
to be continued...
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2001 COPYRIGHT BY TIMA
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