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| PAINFUL DISCOVERY BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 1 - 4 |
Author's note: This story was written in January 1999 and was originally intended as a daily series.
Chapter One
Todd stands at a distance and watches as Tea hugs Carlotta before leaving the diner. As she walks through Angel Square he follows her. He always makes sure that he's at enough of a distance from her that she won't hear or see him but close enough that he can watch her as she moves. He stops when he sees that she has stopped to sit on a bench in the park. He finds a good hiding place that allows him secrecy while still allowing him to see her face clearly.
As she sits on the bench he sees her hand move to her stomach. His heart shatters when the thought occurs to him that maybe she found someone else. Maybe one of those men she works with that he's seen her talking to outside the courthouse. As she rubs her stomach he feels nauseous thinking that maybe she's pregnant with some other jerk's kid. She was never supposed to have kids with any jerk but him.
Todd continues staring angrily at Tea. How dare she be with someone else. She's married to him. How could she cheat on him? When she was with Andrew they weren't a real couple but now they are. Okay, so he broke her heart and left her months ago and has been secretly stalking her ever since but still how could she cheat on him? After everything they had together, or almost had, how dare she find companionship with anyone else.
Todd glares at Tea, incensed about her shabby treatment of him. Tea moves slightly and Todd can see her cringe in obvious pain. Without even thinking about it he rushes to her as she doubles over from the pain in her stomach. The second his hand touches her body he realizes that he just blew it. All of the months of carefully concealing his presence has just been destroyed in an instant. It's too late for him to back away though. It's too late for him to stop himself from offering his help, his concern.
In the middle of the most intense physical pain that Tea can remember ever feeling in her life she feels the pressure of a strong hand gently touching her shoulder. She can't open her eyes because it hurts so much. She doesn't know if it's safe for some stranger to be touching her but she finds that this touch gives her an odd sense of security. Somehow this stranger's touch helps her to survive the pain.
As the pain starts to slowly subside, Tea is focused completely on slowly breathing as she desperately hopes that the pain will end. She's almost completely forgotten about the stranger who is now sitting next to her. The touch on her shoulder feels so natural, as if it belongs, as if it's always been a part of her being. Tea keeps her eyes closed as she gradually relaxes as the pain finally lessens enough for her to think again.
As Tea is about to open her eyes and for the first time look upon the kind stranger who helped her through this painful moment she hears his breathing. "No. No. No. It can't be," she tells herself. He's somewhere far away. Even if he were in Llanview, what would the chances be that he would happen along the park at the same time as her. Unless...
Todd studies Tea intently. For a moment he thought the pain had lessened but now Tea has an odd look on her face. He thinks about running before she opens her eyes and sees him but he needs to know that she's okay. He can't leave her in the park alone. Maybe she'll need him to take her to the hospital or something.
They both sit there quietly, each contemplating the situation, each trying to figure out what they should do next. Suddenly nature, or more specifically Tea's body, decides for them as another pain hits her.
Tea reaches her hand up and clasps Todd's hand on her shoulder. Even through gloves she can sense the warmth and comfort of his hand in hers. He gently moves her hair out of her face with his other hand because it's the only thing he can think to do that might soothe her. As the pain again subsides Tea leans her head against his shoulder.
Todd's body freezes. Would she do this with a stranger? Does she know it's him? Did he speak to her without even realizing it? Has she known all along that he's been following her? Is she faking this pain? Was it just a ploy to get him to reveal himself?
Todd's mind continues throwing questions at him as Tea snuggles closer to him on the bench. Todd wants so desperately to run, to get away from her, but he can't move. He can't leave her. He can't let go of her...not when she might really be in pain...when she might really need him.
They stay in the same position - Todd rigid, Tea relaxed - for several minutes until another pain hits Tea's stomach. She pushes her face into his chest as the pain overtakes her. Todd's terrified. What's wrong with her? Should he take her to the hospital?
As he senses her body finally relaxing again he decides that he has to know what's wrong with her, why she's in so much pain.
Todd: What's going on here, Tea?
[Tea keeps her eyes closed and moves her head back to his shoulder.]
Tea: I told you before I sometimes have painful attacks because of my gallbladder.
Todd: You were faking that. You were faking just so I'd get caught before I could make it out of the country. You wanted me to go on trial, to go to jail.
Tea: Oh, shut up!
[Tea lifts her head off of Todd's shoulder and for the first time in months she looks into the eyes of the only man she's ever been in love with. She's reminded of how beautiful his eyes are, even when they're full of misplaced anger.]
Tea (angrily): When did I ever want you to go to jail, you jerk?
Todd: At that trial you said you wanted me to be punished to the full extent of the law.
Tea: That wasn't a trial, it was a preliminary hearing. What I said there didn't matter. You were going to be sent to trial anyway.
Todd: You don't know that.
Tea: Yes, I do. You help fourteen people hostage, including the District Attorney and several Buchanans. There was no way you wouldn't go to trial no matter how much money you told Blair to bribe the judge with. Besides, what I said wasn't about you.
Todd: Wanting me to go to jail for the rest of my life wasn't about me?
Tea: You never would have been sentenced that severely even if you had been convicted. The judge would have been too concerned about the negative publicity if someone trying to clear his name while he was being obviously framed received a substantially stiffer sentence for fake explosives than the real murderer received when an unborn baby was one of the victims. It would have been a publicity nightmare. No judge would have wanted that.
Todd: Why didn't you tell me that?
Tea: I didn't want you to get overly confident, do something stupid and blow it.
Todd: When have I ever done anything like that?
[Tea gives him a look that tells him she's not in the mood for him to joke with her right now.]
Todd: You said it wasn't about me. If it wasn't about me then what was it about?
Tea (starting to feel uncomfortable again): Sam.
Todd: What about Sam?
Tea: At the hearing he said that what happened to me was irrelevant. I got a little upset.
Todd: A little... You were ready to send me to jail for life.
Tea: I told you...
Todd: Right, I know, it didn't matter what you said at the hearing.
Tea: It really didn't, Todd.
Todd: I do remember your angry outburst when Sam objected to Hank's questioning of you.
Tea (shifting uncomfortably): That's why I said what I did. Sam didn't care about what happened in the woods or the garden shed. He saw the bruise on my forehead at the police station, he read the police report about how you forcibly kidnapped me, gagged me, punched me, tied me up. I was angry that he treated it all like it didn't matter. Even Hank chose not to include your punching me in the charges against you. Apparently, your punching Max and Kevin was criminal but I guess it was no big deal to anyone that you punched me.
Todd: I'm sorry. I mean, I hope you already know that I'm sorry about punching you, and all the other stuff I did, but I'm also sorry that they made you feel like it wasn't important.
Tea: That's not your fault.
Todd: The punch is. And everything else that I did...
Tea: I don't feel like talking about this now, Todd.
Todd: Tea, it's been a long time and we've never really talked about it. Maybe we should.
Tea (holding her stomach): I mean I literally don't feel like talking about this right now.
Todd: Are you having another pain?
Tea: Not yet but I can feel it coming.
Todd: Is this really your gallbladder?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: Do you want me to take you to the hospital?
Tea: No, there's nothing they can do. I just have to suffer through it. Eventually it will pass. It just takes awhile sometimes.
Todd: Well, we shouldn't stay out here. I don't live that far. You could stay with me if you want...just until the pain stops...if you want to...but you don't have to. You know, I'll just take you to your hotel, okay? Or I could take you to Carlotta's. She could do that mothering thing.
[Tea grabs Todd's hand again as pain shoots through her stomach. Todd puts Tea's hand on his shoulder and picks her up and carries her out of the park.]
[Tea has her arms around Todd's neck as he carries her to a nondescript building in Angel Square. After unsuccessfully trying to open the door with Tea in his arms he gently places her on her feet. As Todd leads Tea into the building, up the stairs and into his 'home' she is shocked at the sparse surroundings Todd has chosen for himself. His apartment consists of a small living room, bedroom and very tiny kitchen all taking up space in the same room. The only other room in the place is the bathroom. His furnishings are just as sparse. He has a bed that faces a small TV that sits on a cardboard box with a picture of Starr on one side and a picture of Tea on the other. Todd tries to hide Tea's picture before she sees it but it's too late. She continues to look around the apartment.]
Todd (noticing her disapproving look): What? It doesn't meet your standards?
Tea: Todd, I'm just surprised you would choose to live like this.
Todd: I've lived in worse places.
Tea: I've only known you to live at the penthouse, except when you were staying at Viki's mansion, of course. This entire apartment is probably smaller than your living room at the penthouse.
Todd: This is fine. I don't need much. And this place has a much better view than the penthouse did.
[Tea goes to one of the small windows that line one of the walls of the apartment. Out the window she can see the park very clearly. She realizes that Todd could have watched her numerous time from his windows as she spent hours in the park not wanting to go back to an empty hotel room. He was probably also able to occasionally watched Starr play in the park, as well. She realizes that was precisely his reason for picking this particular place to live.]
Tea: Weren't you worried that someone would recognize you and everyone would find out you were back in town?
Todd: Most people in this neighborhood mind their own business, unlike in the Buchananville neighborhood. Besides, it's not like I have neighbors or anything.
Tea: No one else lives in the building?
Todd: No.
Tea; Why not?
Todd: I own the building. I threw them all out.
Tea: Todd!
Todd: Oh, don't look at me like that. I gave them all plenty of money to find a better place to live.
Tea: I can understand why you picked this building to hide out in but why hide at all? Why not just reveal that you're back in town?
Todd: It's nobody's business that I'm here.
Tea: Did you ever leave to begin with?
Todd: Yeah, I left. I was gone a long time, too.
Tea: How long?
Todd: Four days.
Tea (mockingly): Wow! Four whole days.
Todd: Don't make fun of me. Do you have any idea how hard it was to leave and let those Buchanan hypocrites think they had won and run me out of town?
Tea: Then why did you leave?
Todd: You and Starr were better off without me.
Tea: Then why didn't you stay gone?
Todd: Is that what you wanted?
Tea: Why would I want that?
Todd: I thought it was pretty clear when I left that you were through with me.
Tea: Even if that were true I would still want you to be a part of Starr's life.
Todd: I thought it was better for Starr if I stayed away until I had my head figured out.
Tea: And when do you think that will be?
Todd: I don't know.
Tea: Maybe you could speed up the process if...
Todd: Wait...no talking about therapy or any of that garbage or you can get out and go back to that park or anywhere else. I don't care how much pain you're in no one talks about therapy in my home. What happened to all of that pain, anyway, huh? Suddenly you seem very healthy.
Tea: The pains come and go. For the moment they're gone.
Todd: But they could come back?
Tea: Eventually they always do but hopefully they're gone, at least for the night.
Todd: So, it doesn't hurt at all anymore?
Tea: No, it's just kind of sore.
Todd: And you're sure you don't need to go to the doctor?
Tea: I'm positive. I just need to lie down for a while or maybe take a bath.
Todd: Are you dirty?
Tea: Soaking in warm water sometimes makes it feel better.
Todd: I have a bathtub if you want. (Tea looks cautious) It's clean, I swear.
Tea: Maybe I should go back to my hotel room.
Todd (looking disappointed): Okay. If that's what you want. Are you gonna turn me in?
Tea: To whom would I turn you in? You're not a wanted man... (quietly) well, not in the legal sense.
Todd: Maybe you should stay here...just for tonight. I mean, in case your pain comes back or gets worse or something.
Tea: I suppose...maybe...I could, uh, stay...here...with you, I guess. If you're sure I wouldn't get in the way.
Todd: You don't take up much space. (pause) Do you want to do that bath thing? I have a towel and you can use it. I don't have any of that bubble stuff but I could go and buy some if you want.
Tea: No I don't need that. Just warm water and do you have any candles?
Todd: Not the kind that you probably want.
Tea: What kind do you have?
Todd (softly): Birthday.
Tea (her heart breaking for him): Oh.
Todd: Why do you need candles anyway?
Tea: Well, sometimes it helps me to relax if I turn the lights out and just have candlelight.
Todd: You could turn the lights out without candles too, if you wanted to. There aren't any windows in the bathroom so if you don't want it to be totally dark you could leave the door open and the light from out here would shine in there.
Tea: Um...
Todd: Okay, I'll go get you candles and bubble stuff. Do you want anything else? Or I could go to the park for a while and give you some privacy.
Tea (gently touching his arm): It's okay, Todd. You don't have to go.
Todd: Are you sure?
Tea: Yeah, I'm sure.
Todd (nervously): Okay.
Tea (nervously): Okay.
[It's been more than an hour since Tea went into the bathroom to soak in the bathtub. Todd has been waiting patiently in the other room watching old reruns on television. Todd turns off the television and goes to the bathroom door, which has been left slightly ajar to allow some light into the bathroom so Tea wouldn't have to use the harsh bathroom lights. He knocks gently. He doesn't receive a response.]
Todd (softly): Tea?
[Todd slowly opens the bathroom door all the way and stares at the sight before him. Tea is lying in the tub with her head resting on the side and she is using his towel as her pillow. Her eyes are closed. Todd approaches her and realizes from the sound of her breathing that she is asleep. He kneels down next to the tub and stare at her. He has missed so much being able to watch her sleep. He sits with her for several minutes just looking at her face. He gently touches her hair and feels its softness. When his hand lightly touches her face she opens her eyes.]
Todd: I'm sorry, Tea, I didn't mean to wake you. I just thought you'd been in here long enough. You're gonna get all wrinkly.
Tea: How long have I been in here?
Todd: More than an hour.
Tea (straightening her body up): Oh, I guess I fell asleep.
Todd: Well, at least you must have relaxed, right?
Tea: Right.
Todd (getting up): I'll give you some privacy.
Tea: Actually, could you help me up?
Todd: What?
Tea: The entire side of my body seems to have fallen asleep. Could you help me?
Todd: Uh...okay, I guess...yeah, okay.
[Todd takes the towel that Tea had been resting her head on and grabs it between his teeth. He puts his hands under Tea's arms to help her up. He makes sure not to touch any other part of her body or to look anywhere but at her eyes. After Tea is standing up he lets go of her and takes the towel out of his mouth and holds it out to her. She wraps it around her body.]
Todd: I'll be right back.
[Tea starts to get out of the tub but then realizes that Todd doesn't have any rugs in his bathroom and the floor is freezing. She decides to wait in the emptying bathtub for Todd, hoping he'll bring her some socks or slippers. Todd returns with one of his shirts and a pair of shorts.]
Todd: Here you can wear these.
Tea: Do you have something I could wear on my feet? Your floor is really cold.
Todd: Sure. I'll be right back.
[Todd leaves the bathroom and Tea picks up the shorts that Todd left on the floor. She pulls them on underneath the towel and then sits on the edge of the tub and puts the shirt on over the towel. As she's buttoning the shirt Todd returns with a pair of socks. Tea swings her legs over the edge of the tub and takes the socks from Todd and starts putting them on.]
Todd: Anything else?
Tea: Do you have anything warmer than shorts?
Todd: Um, well, I thought you might just want to go right to bed...to sleep. You fell asleep while you were in the tub so you must be tired.
Tea: Yeah, I haven't really been sleeping much lately.
Todd: Really?
Tea: I've had a lot on my mind...you know, work and everything.
Todd: Of course.
Tea: Maybe I should just get dressed and go back to the hotel. I don't want to put you out of your bed.
Todd: I thought...maybe...if you wanted, we could...share...the bed.
Tea: I thought you didn't believe in sharing.
Todd: Well, I don't...but just this once...if you wanted to. You don't have to worry about keeping me awake with your snoring, I'm pretty tired myself.
Tea: I don't snore!
Todd: How do you know? You're asleep when you do it.
[Tea finishes buttoning the last button on the shirt and pulls the towel out from under it. Todd stares at her uncertain what to do.]
Tea: You wouldn't happen to have a spare toothbrush, would you?
Todd: Nope. Just the one I use. If you want I'll go to the bodega and get you one or you could just use mine, if you want.
Tea: Whatever you prefer.
Todd: I don't mind if you use it.
Tea: Okay.
[Todd turns abruptly and leaves the room.]
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