"Does your mouth hurt?" Tom asked Dorian. He looked into her eyes with his big, innocent ones.

"No, why do you ask, Tom," Dorian felt uncomfortable and a little embarrassed.

"Because your mouth moved funny when you talked." Tom responded.

Susannah, the staff, Téa and even Sam smiled. They realized that Tom didn't need their help in handling Dorian. He was doing a fine job. This seven-year-old with his honest and open nature was catching Dorian totally off guard.

Tom turned to Blair. "Are you mad at me?"

"Oh sweetie pie, noooo. I can never be mad at you. No, it's okay. You have a good time." Blair stroked his head and kissed him on the forehead. She then gave Dorian a look that said, "let him be."

"Yes. Tom, you have a good time. Hopefully next time you can spend some time with Blair and your Auntie Dorian."

Tom looked confused. "Are you my aunt?"

Dorian was sorry she said anything. "My but you are an inquisitive young man." Dorian laughed nervously. "I'm Blair's aunt and since Todd was married to Blair . . . You do know that Todd was married to Blair?" Dorian asked the child.

"Yeah. He was married to Blair and now he's married to Téa. I know lots of stuff," Tom smiled proudly at his knowledge.

"Yes," Dorian sighed. She gave up. "Well. Tom, you have a nice day skating," Dorian proclaimed and patted him on the head.

"Okay, bye." Tom said to Blair and Dorian and turned back in Sam's direction.

"Coach, I have to get washed and dressed while Téa goes to get her skates. That the deal. Then I have to have breakfast." Tom sighed at the thought of all the things he had to do before he could get to do what he really wanted.

"You go ahead Boomer. I'll be here. Don't you worry. I want you to have a big breakfast okay?"

"Téa's gonna bring pizza. You wanna have breakfast with us Coach?"

Sam was going to jump at the opportunity, and then he realized Tom would love to have breakfast alone with Téa. "That's okay Boomer. I think I'd better go look for Viki and have some breakfast with her so she doesn't have to eat alone."

"Okay." Tom shrugged. He hugged Sam again. "I love you Coach."

"I love you too Boomer. I love you more than anyone or anything in the whole world. You're such a good boy." Sam rubbed Tom's back.

"You won't forget to come back in time for skating?" Tom asked in a worried tone.

"Never!" I won't let you down. You never have to worry about that again."

"Okay, bye." Tom said and ran to Téa. "Coach is gonna walk with us and Frank is too. I gotta go get washed and dressed cause that's the deal."

Téa tucked Tom's hair behind his ears. "I'll be back in about an hour and then we are going to do some serious skating."

"No, Téa! I wanna have fun," Tom cried out.

Téa smiled. "We will mijo. That was just an expression. Now you go get washed and dressed and I'll be back with some brand new skates and a pizza."

Tom hugged Téa again. "I love you Téa. Okay, bye." Tom ran off to where Frank and Steve stood. He took Frank's hand and started pulling him toward his room. "Come on Frank. I wanna get washed and dressed real fast so Téa will come back faster." Frank smiled and allowed himself to be dragged to off. Steve followed. They realized that Tom still had trouble understanding time. He assumed the faster he got ready, the faster the time would go for Téa to do her chores too. They didn't care right now. They were just so happy for the progress Todd had made and for the good spirits Tom was in.

Susannah smiled broadly. She could not believe this morning. This was all more than she had dared hope for. Susannah realized that this progress might, in fact most likely would, be followed by Todd taking twenty steps backward, as he usually did. However, he was also building on his progress. She had been right. Unconsciously, Todd was realizing that he was surviving disclosure after disclosure. He was letting tiny bits of the love everyone felt for him seep in. Some of the progress the alters made was being absorbed by Todd. Susannah felt very hopeful. So much so that she thought of soon taking most of a day off to spend some time with Bill and his children.

Blair wanted to strangle Téa. She knew she was up to something. She was dying to know what had gone on in Todd's room.

Dorian headed for Susannah. "Doctor Hanen, I'm a little concerned about Tom. Do you really think it's safe for him to go skating? He still looks so fragile and well . . . Téa is not used to doing activities like that with a child. Now Blair," Dorian chuckled. "Blair has helped teach Starr how to skate and ride a bicycle and all sorts of things like that."

"Mrs. Hayes, I can assure you that Tom will be perfectly safe with Téa. He will be help up by Frank and Sam. He will not fall. He's only going to skate up and down the hallway."

Dorian was about to say that Frank and Sam had let Timmy fall. Then she realized that they probably still blamed her for that, so she kept quiet about it. "As long as you feel secure who am I to doubt it? I was just looking out for that little boy's safety. I have to think not only of Todd and his alters, but of my niece and grandniece. I'm sure you know how much Blair cares about Todd and how good she is for him. I also have to think of my dear friend Viki. She would be devastated if anything were to happen to Todd."

"Thank you for your concern Mrs. Hayes. I can only tell you again that it is perfectly safe for Tom to go rollerblading with Téa. Physically he is well enough for it and we will keep him from getting hurt. Now I really need to get back to my office. Is there anything else you need to ask me?"

Dorian did not like her attitude at all. Still, she smiled sweetly. "No, that's all. Thank you for your time."

"You're welcome," Susannah replied and headed for her office.

Téa had gone over to where Sam sat once Tom went back to his room. At first Sam had looked better than Téa had seen him in a while, but once Tom was away from him he seemed to sink back into despair. Téa had tried to engage him in conversation. All she got were a few nods and some one-word answers. After a couple of minutes Téa was about to give up. She didn't have much time. She wanted to make sure to be back in an hour. She knew how upset Tom got if she was late for any of her visits with him. Before she had a chance to say she was leaving Sam turned to her and said, "I need some coffee. I'll be in the cafeteria if anyone needs me. I'll be back in time for Tom to skate with you." He headed for the doors.

"Sam, I'll walk you out. I have to leave now too, to get those skates and pizza."

"Sure, why not," Sam agreed.

Blair wanted to have a few words with Sam. She was hoping to catch him after Téa left the unit. When she saw Téa and Sam leave together she became concerned. "I wonder what she's up too." Blair was afraid just as Sam had been vulnerable to her he might be to Téa as well. "Dorian, Since we can't spend any time with Tom right now, I think we'd better leave."

"You go ahead, dear. I'm going to wait for Viki. I wonder if she knows they are letting a sick boy like Tom go rolling around on skates with Téa? I'm sure she does. Viki trusts Susannah Hanen and the staff here implicitly. I think it's a good thing Todd and those poor children have someone like you willing to take responsibility for them," Dorian declared firmly.

"Tom did seem happy," Blair admitted.

"Is he always that . . . that . . . that straightforward?" "Dorian, he's only seven. Starr is the same way. He's very intuitive. He just takes some getting used to. He's very sweet, too sweet. He obviously cares a great deal about Téa. He is so young and innocent. He's totally vulnerable to her. I hope she doesn't hurt him. Oh Dorian. I really want to get all of them out of here. I have such a bad feeling about this place. It's nothing like the place I found mama in, but I still get a similar feeling when I see Todd and those innocent children here."

Blair left the unit and Dorian sat in the lounge and waited for Viki.

As soon as Viki saw Kevin she knew she was right about him having more than a couple of drinks the night before. She tried to make him feel better about the things Todd had said to him yesterday. Kevin told her that Susannah had already told him that she was not going to keep him away from the hospital and from Timmy and Adam. "I do think Todd may have a thing or two to say about that though," Kevin had added. Viki encouraged him to talk about what he was feeling, but Kevin couldn't. Not only did he feel slightly hung over. He thought Viki had enough on her mind without hearing him whining about her loving Todd best and the other thoughts he had that made him hate himself. There was a reason Kevin had wanted to talk to him mom.

"Mom, I know how much you love Sam and I know Sam loves you and Todd very much. Mom, do you really think this is a good time to give Sam the same rights as you have as far as Todd is concerned?"

Viki sighed. 'Not Kevin too,' she thought. "Sweetheart, I know Sam has not been acting like himself lately. You have to understand how difficult it is for him to see Todd going through all this. He blames himself. He thinks he could have put a stop to this when Todd was eleven."

"Mom," Kevin began quietly, "if the truth be said, Sam could have put a stop to this when Todd was eleven."

"Kevin!" Viki said sharply. "Sam had no idea Todd was being abused so severely. Todd never told him. You know Todd and the alters were taught to lie about how they got hurt. Both Peter and Barbara made sure those children never told anyone what was really happening to them."

"I know. I just don't understand how Sam could not have figured it out. He was Todd's coach. He must have seen him in the locker room. How could he believe all those bruises came from playing football or from some of the other flimsy excuses Todd gave him for being hurt?"

"Sweetheart, abused children can be very convincing when they're trying to protect their secret. You also have to remember that Todd himself may not have known where some of his bruises and burns came from. He may not have remembered Peter doing anything to him. As far as he knew he was telling the truth."

"I suppose. I guess I'm being too hard on Sam, and who am I to talk anyway. I don't know what shape my own son is in. For all I know his body is covered with wounds. For all I know someone is abusing him right now."

"No. I never cared much for Lee Ann, but she was a good mother and a strong woman. She was not weak and disturbed like Barbara Manning. She would not allow anyone to abuse Duke and she would certainly not abuse him herself." Viki declared with certainty.

"Mom, you knew Lee Ann a long time ago. People change. She's been alone for a while now. Who knows what kinds of men she sees. Who knows if she hasn't changed? She seems okay when I talk to her, but I'm not there. I really have no idea."

"Honey, maybe it's time you went to visit your son. I know things here are too hectic for him to come for a visit and I also know that Lee Ann does not want that and gives you a hard time if you even suggest it."

Kevin thought for a few moments. "I don't think this would be a great time for me to go to see Duke. He was not very anxious to see me the last time I went down there. I'm a stranger to him, mom. I'm this guy who walks into his life for a week, once in a blue moon, and brings him toys and games. I'm someone his mother clearly dislikes. He's a sharp kid. He picks up on all of it. You can't hide things from a kid, mom. He knows what his old man is like. He doesn't like me and I don't blame him."

"Kevin! How can you say that? You are a wonderful father. Look how you are with Timmy and Adam. They adore you. Timmy nearly became sick with grief when he didn't see you."

"You're proving my point, mom. Why did Timmy become so depressed? Because I was drinking myself blind and wallowing in self-pity while he was suffering. I put my own suffering before his. Come on mom. Don't pretend. I know that you see how selfish I can be. You've told it to me yourself many times. You can say it. I'm not going to fall apart."

"Kevin, I'm not going to deny that you can be selfish at times. So can I. So can everyone. Sweetheart, you have a good heart. When you see with your own eyes that you are wrong about something, like you did with Todd, your generous and forgiving heart shines through. I know I don't always say it. Honey. You’ve been such a help. I know I can count on you. You've done an excellent job with the paper. I know Clint is as proud of you as I am. I know your dad must be smiling whenever he looks down at you. Kevin, you have so much of your father in you." Viki smiled. "Sometimes I look at you and I see my Joe. I think if your dad was still alive he'd feel very much about Todd as you do."

'Would my dad have been jealous of Todd like a three year old with a new baby brother?' Kevin thought to himself. To Viki he replied, "I wish I could have gotten to know dad better. Most of what I remember is dad playing catch with me and his red sports car. I remember waiting for that car to turn into the driveway every night. I couldn't understand that he was never coming back again."

Tears filled Viki's eyes. "You were so young when he died. I remember the sad look you would get in your eyes when I would come outside and tell you that your dad wasn't coming home anymore."

Tears now filled Kevin's eyes as well. "I'm sorry mom. I'm sorry you had to do that. I'm even more sorry dad got taken away from us." Kevin squeezed his mother's hand. Then he asked. "Did you ever again find what you had with dad with Clint or Sloan or Sam?"

Viki was surprised by the question. She was not quick to answer. She thought about it first. Finally she said, "Joe was my first love. He was the one person in my life I was willing to leave Father for. He gave me the strength to do that. He taught me how to love and be loved without pain. He taught me how to have fun. Oh sweetheart, your old mom was such a sourpuss. I had no idea how to have fun like other young girls. I was Victoria Lord. I was as serious and as uptight as they come. Your dad had this amazing sense of fun and of the absurd. In some ways he was like Todd. He looked at life a little differently from everyone else."

Kevin laughed. "Todd's view of things is more than a little different."

Viki returned his laugh. "Yes, Todd has a unique way of seeing things. He also has little tolerance for hypocrisy and for blowhards like Father and Asa. Your dad was like that. Your dad was the first person I'd ever known who stood up to Father. He never took any crap from him. I think Father respected Joe. He hated him for his own sick reasons, but he also respected him. I think if Father had ever gotten to know Todd he would have respected the man that little precocious two year old grew up to be." Viki looked deeply into her son's eyes. "And I think he would have respect you too. He would have seen someone strong and willing to look his mistakes straight in the eye and change them. Father could never do that. I like to think that he knew how despicable his actions were. Maybe not," Viki sighed. "If he did I know he never had the courage to change or even to say he was sorry. Not even on his deathbed did he say he was sorry." Tears ran down Viki's cheeks.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought all this up. All I really wanted to do was to make sure you thought long and hard about making Sam Todd's guardian. Are you really sure he's up to it?"

"Aren't you man enough to say that to my face!" Sam angrily accused Kevin. They had not seen Sam enter the cafeteria or head over to their table.

"Honey. Kevin didn't mean it like that. He was just expressing some concern because you've been so upset lately."

"Do you always need your mother to speak for you?" Sam snapped bitterly.

"No Sam, I can tell you to your face that you've been acting irrational lately. You hardly seem able to care for yourself, let alone Todd!"

"Kevin!" Viki was furious with him.

"No! That's all right! At least he said what the rest of you are thinking!" Sam wanted to walk out of the hospital, but he would not allow himself to disappoint Tom.

"Sam that is not what I'm thinking. You know I love Todd more than my own life. As much as I love you, if I didn't think this was best for Todd I wouldn't go through with it," Viki insisted.

Kevin hated himself for the feelings he had when his mother said she loved Todd more than her own life. 'What the fuck is wrong with me?' Kevin thought. He was still punishing himself for the very natural feelings of jealousy that he had. Kevin couldn't understand there was a middle ground. He believed that he had to completely hate or completely love Todd. He was terrified that if his love for Todd wasn't complete and included not only the children, but Todd, Pete, Rodd and any other adult alters that were in there, that he would revert to the man who deliberately threw a football, injuring Timmy. "Sam, look, I know you love Todd. I know you love him the way mom does, more than your own life. If you and mom think this is a good idea than I have no problem with it. Maybe Todd does need to know you have legal rights to him to feel secure."

Sam started to calm. The part of Sam that was still rational agreed with Kevin. Sam wasn't any surer he was fit to care for Todd than Kevin was. Without saying any more to Kevin about this Sam told them, "Todd was out. He woke up from the sedation and he was very agitated. He didn't want to get out of bed. They tried to force him. I'm sure Susannah will tell you anyway . . . I tried to stop them from forcing him out of bed. Don't expect me to say I'm sorry for that. I'm not. They drugged the hell out of him and then when he felt too bad to get up they tried to force him. You may as well also know that Todd still can't stand for me to touch him. You need to know that Viki, before you go through with this."

Viki wasn't sure if she wanted to hear this. She was afraid Sam was going to say that Todd was in restraints. "How is Todd now?" she asked cautiously.

"I don't know how Todd is. As far as I know he was out for a long while and Téa was with him."

"Téa!" Kevin was surprised. "Are you sure it was Todd?" Kevin asked. "No, I'm not sure of anything. I didn't wait around to find out. Tom came out. He and Téa are going skating and he was happy and excited. He wants me to help hold him. I needed some coffee so I came here for some. I want to make sure to get back in plenty of time to see him put on his new skates." Sam's tone became wistful. "I don’t' want to miss that."

Viki smiled. She was very concerned about what had gone on with Todd, but she was also happy to hear that Tom was out and that he was finally going to realize one of his dreams. Viki was a little nervous at the thought of him on skates, but she knew he would be all right with the staff and Sam nearby.

"Let's finish up, shall we?" Viki suggested.

"Honey, why don't you get that coffee to go? I would love to be there to see this myself." Viki turned to Kevin. "I don't mean to rush you, but I know you wouldn't want to miss Tom's first time on skates."

Both Kevin and Sam looked at Viki. "Uh, mom. Maybe my being there isn't such a good idea. You know Tom is usually never too happy to see me."

"I think he's right," Sam added.

Viki wanted her family together and at peace. She knew that for some reason Tom had a problem with Kevin. "Sweetheart, you and Tom will never work out whatever the problem between the two of you is if you stay away from him. Why not come see him. If he gets upset, you can leave."

Sam didn't say anything further. He didn't want to upset Viki. 'Maybe if Kevin learned to keep his hands off of Téa Tom wouldn't have a problem with him,' Sam thought.

Kevin couldn't believe he was so nervous about facing a seven-year-old. He hated that Tom didn't like him. He knew what Tom was thinking and he felt some guilt because he knew that Tom was not entirely off base. Kevin desperately wanted to make it right to this little boy. Not being able to face this child made Kevin feel like a gutless wonder. "Maybe you're right, mom. Maybe Tom and I need to talk."

"Don't ruin this for him Kevin." Sam warned.

"I won't. Kevin promised. I just want him to know I care about him and I won't ever do anything to hurt him."

Sam didn't want to say any more. He didn't trust himself not to blurt out everything. It wasn't that he promised Blair he wouldn't reveal what she told him and showed him. It was that he still wasn't sure if it was true. Sam knew if he were to find out it was true he would never let Kevin or Téa anywhere near Todd. Sam knew that was why he had to allow himself to become Todd's guardian. If it were true, would Viki believe it of her own son and of Téa? He knew how much Viki had come to love Téa.

Sam got his coffee and the three of them headed back upstairs to Todd's unit. They were all nervous about what Tom's reaction to Kevin was going to be, but none more than Kevin. He was the only one of the three to know that Tom's suspicions of his having feelings for Téa were true. Kevin's heart pounded as he, Viki and Sam got on the elevator and pressed seven.

TO BE CONTINUED