"Cara mia," he whispers, "I have missed you so."
Tea freezes. Rodd.
Todd pulls away, again pinning Tea roughly against the wall. "Get out of here you funny talking loser...Delgado's all mine."
Tea sees the coldness, hears the evil in his voice and knows Pete has returned.
"Todd," she says softly, staring straight into his cold eyes, "Please come back to me."
The sound of her gentle, calm voice seems to help. She notices the evil, harsh eyes softening and feels his grip on her relax. He slowly backs away, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Stay away from her Pete, you won't win this one."
"Oh shut up Todd...you don't need her...she'll only hurt you...just like the others," Pete yells.
"You're wrong about Delgado...I won't let you hurt her," Todd's voice is becoming louder.
Tea is staring silently, watching this internal struggle he seems to be having.
"She doesn't love you!" Pete roars.
"Yes, I do, Todd...I love you," Tea yells, tears running down her cheeks.
"Shut up Pete...Delgado loves me....Delgado loves me," Todd repeats it, staring at Tea, as if the words he said finally sunk in.
He sits down on his bed, still staring at Tea. He runs his hands through his hair, not exactly sure how to handle what just happened. Tea walks over to him, slowly. She sits down next to him, close but not touching.
"Todd?" she whispers.
"I'm sorry," he says, his voice ragged.
"For what?"
"You should go. I wanted you to find me. But...it's too dangerous for you to be around me."
Tea stares hard at him. "Don't you dare try and push me away Todd. I finally found you...I'm not going to just walk away...I don't care what just happened."
"I almost raped you," he says, his tone flat, lifeless.
"No, you didn't...Pete wanted to," she pauses and gently places her hand over his, "but you fought him, you wouldn't let him hurt me. I know that you will not let him hurt me, Todd."
"What if I couldn't stop him?"
"But you did, because you're strong...you're stronger than him."
There is a momentary silence as they look at each other. Todd reaches up and runs his finger along her cheek. He can't believe she is sitting her in front of him...after everything that happened.
Tea searches those incredible hazel eyes. "Do you really want me to go?"
"I don't want to hurt you."
"I didn't ask you that. I asked if you want me to go."
Todd thinks about how much he has missed her since he left Llanview...without Tea and Starr...he felt like he was missing his heart.
"No, I don't want you to go."
Tea smiles. "Good. Well, at least we got that settled."
"So you liked the clues?" Todd asks, a hint of a smile on his handsome face.
"Like I said, you certainly did not make it easy. And Todd, the house is beautiful."
Todd grins, "Only the best for you Delgado."
They are startled by a knock on the door.
Todd looks confused, but gets up to answer the door. Tea smiles, knowing who is on the other side.
Todd opens the door, and is surprised to see his sister standing there.
Viki smiles, for a moment taken aback by the difference in Todd's appearance.
"Hello Todd."
Todd grins, "Viki...I'm surprised to see you."
"Well, Tea came to me for help..besides, I've been worried about you too."
"I'm glad you're here...after everything."
Viki looks around the room, somewhat surprised at the meager surroundings. "We met your doctor. Therapy is going well?" Viki asks.
"Okay, I guess."
Todd sits down next to Tea again. Tea turns to face him.
"Todd, you wanted me to find you...well we're here...what now?"
Todd takes a deep breath. "You had to find out for yourself that I was sick, because I knew you wouldn't believe me if I told you. That's why you had to find me. Now, I keep getting therapy."
Tea is a bit confused. "So, what? We're just supposed to go home and leave you here?"
Todd looks at her, "Well, you know, we can keep in touch now."
Viki looks at Todd, "Or you could come home and finish your therapy there."
"NO! I mean I don't think I can go back there yet."
"Todd, I can't just leave you here...I just found you...I can't just walk away and talk to you on the phone a couple of times a week. I want you to come home. Viki does too...Starr misses you. Besides, you need the love and support of your family...it would help your therapy," Tea is almost pleading with him. The thought of just leaving him here makes her heart break.
Todd looks at Viki, then at Tea. He doesn't want to be alone...but he is scared to go back.
Tea reaches up and strokes his hair, her eyes meeting his.
"So, Todd, what do you say?"

To be continued....