"She's fine Todd. The only thing wrong with Téa is that she's trying to get them to let her leave so she can call or see you."

"Me?" Todd was clearly surprised. Then he looked like he figured it out. "She's mad at me for getting her hurt. She hates me. She wants to tell me that."

"No. You've got it all wrong Todd. Téa is afraid you are doing just what you're doing . . . blaming yourself. She wants to get to you to tell you it's not your fault."

Todd didn't respond. He was confused. He thought Téa should be blaming him. "She really wants to see me?" Todd asked wistfully.

"Yes! I know you can't see, but you can still hear can't you?" Kevin said this more because he knew Todd expected such a remark out of him.

"Shut up! Yes, I can hear. I just want to be sure. I figured by now you had plenty of time to bad mouth me to her," Todd responded. Susannah and her staff could tell Todd was not really angry with Kevin. He liked that Kevin wasn't treating him like he would break.

"Nope, not this time. I figure Téa's got enough of a headache without my talking about you to her," Kevin stated. He did not let the pang he felt in his heart at the sight of Todd, standing there holding Frank's jacket wrapped tightly around him, as if he were holding himself together, allow him show Todd all the compassion he felt for him. He knew Todd could not handle that.

"Where's Viki?" Todd asked.

"She's in with Téa. She hasn't left Téa's side," Kevin informed him.

"Good. Viki's a good mom. Téa needs a mom."

"Todd, do you want to go in to see Téa now?" Susannah asked gently.

Todd felt a lump in his stomach and throat. Now that he was so close, he became anxious again. "Yeah," he answered simply.

"Kevin how long ago were you in with Téa?" Susannah asked.

"Just a few minutes ago," Kevin replied.

"Were they running any tests on her or doing any procedures on her when you left?" Susannah wanted to make sure it was a good time to take Todd in to see her.

"No, they are giving her a while before they do the neuro exam and before they take her for another CT scan," Kevin stated.

"Why are they doing that to her? You lied to me, Buchanan! She's hurt worse than you said," Todd accused Kevin.

"Those are standard tests after a head injury. They do that to every patient. They want to make sure Téa is okay before they move her to a regular room," Susannah explained.

Todd thought about it for a moment. "Okay. I just don't want nobody to lying to me about Delgado's condition," Todd stated firmly.

"No one is, pal. I promise. We'll all tell you the truth." Sam swore to him.

Todd took a deep breath. "I wanna see Delgado," Todd declared. His voice trembled with emotion.

*****

"Honey, they said it was all right for you to have a little water. Would you like some?" Viki asked Téa.

"No thank you. Viki, maybe you should go back to seven. This is the longest you've been away from Todd in months. You know how upset he gets when you're not around." Téa could not get her mind off of Todd. She was so afraid this would set him back drastically.

"No, Todd made it very clear that he wants us to stay with you. It puts his mind at ease to know that Kevin and I are with you. Actually he wanted Sam to be here to. I hope he's all right."

"It's all right if you want to go find Sam. I'll be okay."

Viki smiled at Téa. "No, honey. I'm not only here because Todd wants me to be. I'm here because I want to be here with you."

Téa smiled and squeezed Viki's hand.

A nurse came over to do vitals on Téa. "You’re doing fine Mrs. Manning. Your vitals are all within normal range."

"Thank you. Now can I get out of here?" Téa pressed.

"Mrs. Manning. Please try to relax. Doctor Marahbee is with another patient in the ER. He and Doctor Anderson should be here soon."

"AARRRGGHHH! I can't stand this waiting! I could go and see Todd and be back by the time they get here! What's wrong with you people? Can't you understand that I need to leave here to make a phone call!" Téa exclaimed angrily.

"Jesus Delgado! You sound like me."

Téa and Viki both gasped. They were shocked to see and hear Todd as Susannah and Frank guided him into the ICU. Jeff and Dan waited right outside the door. They all prayed there would be no incident.

"Todd! My God! What are you doing here?" Téa was flabbergasted.

"You mean how come they let me out?" Todd asked in a half-joking manner. He was so relieved to hear Téa . . . well enough to be giving everyone a hard time . . . that he was on an emotional high.

Viki approached him. She looked at Susannah. Her eyes were questioning. She was very happy to see Todd here, but terrified for him to be away from the safety of the unit. "Sweetheart. I'm so happy to see you. I've missed you. Are you feeling all right?"

"I have a legal right to be here. Sam said I have a legal right to be here. He's right outside. You can ask him!" Todd was afraid she'd want him to go back to his own unit.

Viki got the picture of what had transpired and she was shocked that Sam would take it upon himself to tie Susannah's hands that way without discussing it with her first. Then she imagined how Todd must have been begging to see his Téa. Viki realized Sam tried to do what he thought best for Todd. Still, she felt a fleeting moment of concern over giving Sam the right to make decisions for Todd.

"Téa's much better. We're just waiting for her doctors to come and give her another neurological exam and then she'll have to go for another CT scan. Just as a precaution," Viki added. She didn't want to frighten Todd.

"I know. Kevin told me." Todd turned in Frank's direction. "I want to go over to where Téa is."

"Sure, buddy," Frank said. He and Susannah walked Todd over to Téa's bedside. They sat him in the chair that Viki had pulled next to Téa's bed.

"Sweetheart, I'll be right outside with Sam. I'm sure you want some time alone with Téa," Viki stated. She waited to see if he wanted her to stay with him.

"Thanks," was Todd's only comment.

Todd reached out and felt that Susannah and Frank were standing on either side of his chair. "What part of alone don't you get! Can we have some privacy!" Todd asked sharply.

"Todd, two of us have to stay in the room with you. We will move away from the bed so you and Téa can talk," Susannah told him calmly. She hoped this would not set him off.

"Whatever!" Todd muttered. As much as he hated to admit it to himself, he was relieved that they were there to keep him and Téa safe.

They all felt relief that, while he didn't like it, he understood. Susannah and Frank moved away, but stayed within arm's reach of him.

Todd felt for Téa's bed and pulled himself and his chair a little closer to it. "Delgado, are you really all right?"

"Yes. Todd I'm going to be fine. I just got a bump on the head."

"Some kind of . . . of . . ." Todd tried to think of what Kevin told him it was called. "Some kind of sub thing. Kevin said they thought you were going to need surgery. That's serious. They don't do that for just a bump on the head. I should know. I've had a lot of bumps on my head."

Téa smiled. "I know you have. Well, I guess we both have pretty hard heads because I didn't need surgery either."

"Yeah," Todd smiled at Téa's remark. His eyes filled with tears. "Delgado, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Todd, listen to me. It wasn't your fault. It was an accident. You didn't push me or cause me to be hurt in any way. It was an accident. I lost my balance and fell." Téa didn't remember it. She was going by what she had been told.

"I was trying to get away from you. I pulled away. That's why you fell! Delgado don't you see! Oh God! Don't you see now why I didn't want you coming around here? I hurt you. That's what I do. The only way for me not to hurt you is if you're not near me."

"That's your idea of not hurting me?" Téa desperately wanted him to understand.

"That's the only way I know, Delgado. As long as I'm alive and anywhere near you, you're gonna get hurt. I don't wanna hurt you and I don't mean to hurt you, but I do. I always do." Todd started to sob. He was mortified by his inability to control his tears. He put his face in his hands and hunched over until he reached his lap.

Téa moved close to the edge of the bed. She reached out and stroked Todd's head. "Mi corazon. "Don't you know the worst way you can hurt me is to cut me out of your life again?" Todd shook his head in protest without raising it from his lap. His shoulders shook as well, as he continued to sob. "Todd, when I stayed away from you . . . that was more painful than this. It was more painful than anything we'd ever been through. Not having you in my life left a void that nothing could fill . . . not work . . . not friends . . . not even family. Remember our original deal, pal? We have a contract that says I won't allow you to hurt me. Well, this time I'm holding you to the contract. I won't allow you to push me out of your life again. That would be hurting me in the worst possible way."

Todd reached up and placed his hand on top of Téa's hand as it rested on his head. He lifted his head and took Téa's hand into both of his. Her hand felt warm and soft. His were ice cold, as always. Todd ran his fingers over Téa's wedding ring. "You always saw a human being when everyone else saw a monster," Todd said softly. "What if you're wrong Delgado? What if there is only a monster?"

Téa reached out with her other hand and brushed his hair out of his face. "I'm not wrong. I not only see the human being. I've gotten to know him."

Todd blushed with shame. "Oh, you mean those people who run around in my head."

"No, I mean you. Even within you there are so many parts. I love each of them. I love the part of you that is unique and sees the world like no one else I have ever known. You see the absurdity of things that most of us accept and I love looking at the world through that part of you. I also love the part of you that wants, so much, to be like everyone else. You can deny it all you want, Manning. There is a big part of you that wants what most everyone else wants. You want a family Todd. You want to belong to someone other than yourself. You want to come home and know this is the place where there are people who love you. You want to be happy. I know you think you never can be, but I also know you want it."

Todd squeezed Téa's hand. "Sometimes I remember being a kid . . . you know . . . what it felt like. I don't remember feeling all this hate and anger so much back then. It's faded . . . like an old photograph . . . it keeps fading . . . more and more . . . it gets further and further away from me . . ." Todd reached out into the air with his other hand, as if he were trying to grasp something and hold onto it.

"What is getting further away from you?" Téa asked gently.

"Me. That little boy. He was innocent. He never hurt anyone. He trusted. He loved." Téa felt hot tears from Todd's eyes splash on the back of the hand Todd still held. "He was able to feel love," Todd continued. "Before it was all ripped out of him. All of it . . . the innocence . . . the trust . . . the love."

"No, querido. It wasn't ripped out of you. It's still there. It's just buried deep inside you where it's protected from being hurt. It's there. It's waiting for the day it's safe to come out again."

Todd smiled sadly and shook his head. "No, it's gone, Delgado. I can't feel it. I can't remember the last time I was ever able to feel it."

"It's not gone. It's there Todd. Believe me. I know it is."

"Whata you have . . . X-ray vision?"

"I don't need that. You've shown me what's inside you. You've shown me glimpses of that little boy . . . you Todd . . . not one of those people who run around in your head. You've let that part of yourself out with me . . . maybe for just a second or two, but I've seen it. "

Todd was quiet for a moment. Then his chin began to tremble and more tears fell. Todd brought Téa's hand up to his face and rested his cheek on it. "Is that what I used to see when I looked in your eyes, Delgado? Was I able to see that innocent part of me that could trust and love and feel love . . . the part I didn't hate so much? I thought he was destroyed forever. Were you able to find him and save him? I hope so, Delgado, because I can't find him anymore. I look for him, but he's lost. I think he's lost forever."

Téa brought Todd's hand to her heart. "He's not lost, mi amor. He's right here. He's safe. I'll keep him safe with me until you're ready to feel him here." Téa placed her hand on Todd's heart. "And you keep the real me safe inside you. Do you know you do that for me, Todd?"

Todd sat quietly for a few moments. He kept his hand on Téa's heart. He then placed his other hand on his own, where Téa's hand had just been. Todd felt the beat of both hearts. "They're the same," he whispered. Then he pulled his hand away sharply. "No! No, they're not the same. Yours is good! Your heart has tried to help me over and over again and what have I done! I've hurt you. I've abused you! You've tried to bring me into a world I want to get to so bad . . . I tried Delgado. I tried to get there . . . it's . . . it's like I'm on this ladder and I'm climbing and climbing and every time . . . every single time," Todd emphasized each of the last three words, "I try, it's like the skin is coming off my hands . . . it hurts . . . it hurts so much I can't hold onto the ladder anymore and I fall back down."

Téa swung her legs over the side of the bed. The ICU staff, Susannah and Frank watched, ready to stop her if she tried to get out of bed. She didn't. Téa put her arms around Todd and pulled him to her. Todd tried to pull away. Téa held him tightly. "I won't let you fall. Stop! Don't pull away from me. You're safe, mi amor. I'll never let you fall. Don't you know this world that I'm trying to bring you into is new to me too. I wasn't always there. You're the one who brought me there."

"Me?” Todd looked shocked. "Oh Delgado. You got hit on the head too hard."

Téa laughed. She rocked Todd gently. "No, I knew this way before I got hit on the head. Todd, my world was filled with darkness before you. Even though I had this promising career and this nice airy apartment . . . in my heart . . . in my mind I was still living in that dark apartment without any windows."

"So I gave you a nice apartment to live in. Big deal!"

"Todd, no. Let me finish. It wasn't living in the penthouse that made the darkness go away. It was you. It no longer had to do with where I lived. My life was dark. You brought me into the light. You and Starr. You gave me windows and fresh air. You gave me a family. You gave me excitement . . . you gave me belonging and most of all you gave me love," Téa whispered softly, near Todd's ear. "Yeah, there was pain. I'm not going to say there wasn't . . . even through the pain there was light. I knew that once the pain went away, you would still be there. I knew, no matter what, you would be there. Even when you walked away from me . . . even when you pushed me away . . . I always knew you would be there. I knew you would never desert me. Todd, I wish I had done the same for you. I didn't. I walked out on you over and over again. You once said there should be a revolving door in the front of the penthouse. I made you feel that you would be abandoned if the going got rough. I made you afraid to trust that I would always be there for you. I'm so sorry, querido. I know it's asking a lot when I ask you to trust me now and believe that I'll never leave you again. No matter what."

Todd let his head rest on Téa's shoulder. "I can't trust me not to hurt you. I hurt people Delgado. Sometimes I get so mad that I want to hurt someone, but even when I don't mean to, they get hurt anyway." Téa felt Todd's arms tighten around her. "You could have died. People can die from hitting their head. A man died because I made him hit his head."

Téa kissed the top of Todd's head. "Have I ever made it easy for you to get away with anything?"

"Huh?" Todd didn't understand.

"I'm not about to die and let you get away with all the hard work you have to do to fight your way back to your life and back to your daughter and back to me." Téa whispered the last three words. "I'm going to stick around for the long haul and you're just going to have to get used to the idea that you're not getting rid of me. You can huff and puff and push me away and pull away from me and I'm still going to be there."

"I never huffed and puffed," Todd quipped.

"Oh you huffed and puffed like a pissed off wolf with a thorn in your paw. But it didn't do you any good. I'm still here."

"Yeah," Todd murmured softly. "And sometimes you were even able to take the thorn out."

Téa lifted Todd's hand. She brought it to her lips and gently kissed his palm. "I want to make everything all better for you, Todd." Téa placed his palm on her cheek. "And I want you to continue to make them all better for me."

"How?" Todd asked desperately. "I'm crazy. I'll be here for the rest of my life."

"No, you won't be. You're going to have to take my word on that. And all you have to do to continue making my life better is to just be a part of it. Don't shut me out. Let me love you."

"How come you didn't say that you want me to love you?" Todd asked shyly.

"Because I already know you love me. I know it as surely as I know my name."

"Yeah, well you got hit on the head. Maybe you don't know your own name?"

Téa laughed. "Sorry, Manning. I've got your number. In your own unique and frustrating way you've shown me and told me you love me over and over again."

"Yeah," Todd answered softly.

Téa rested her cheek on top of his head. Susannah and Frank exchanged smiles. Susannah, Frank and Téa looked up when Doctor Marahbee and Doctor Anderson entered the ICU. Todd heard them. He gently pulled away from Téa.

"I hear you are eager to leave these luxurious accommodations," Doctor Marahbee joked as he approached Téa's bed.

"More than ready," Téa admitted. "I'm not in quite so much of a rush now that my husband was able to visit." Téa pointed to Todd. "Doctor Marahbee, this is my husband, Todd Manning."

"Hello Mr. Manning. I'm Téa's neurosurgeon. Don't let that make you nervous. My part of the job is just about over. Your wife obviously does not need surgery. Doctor Anderson is a neurologist and he will be taking over Téa's case," Doctor Marahbee explained.

"Hello Todd. Do you remember me?" Doctor Anderson asked. He was happily surprised to see that Todd had progressed to the point of Susannah allowing him off the unit. He, of course, did not have the full picture.

"I . . . no . . . I'm not sure . . . I" Todd became anxious because he did not remember him.

"That's okay, Todd. I know you've had a lot of doctors come to see you since you've been here," Doctor Anderson said gently.

"Mr. Manning. We are going to need you to wait outside while we examine your wife," Doctor Marahbee informed him.

Todd reached out until he felt Téa's hand. He took it in his own and held it tightly. "Are you going to do stuff that hurts her?"

"No, not at all. I promise we won't do anything at all that hurts," Doctor Anderson assured Todd. He, more than Doctor Marahbee, knew how fragile Todd was and how quickly he escalated.

"You're gonna fix it if you find something wrong with her, right?" Todd asked in a childlike way.

"Yes. We will do our very best to fix any problems we find," Doctor Marahbee promised. He was beginning to see that Todd needed to be handled gently.

Susannah and Frank walked over to Todd. "Come on buddy. The doctors need to get going with Téa's exam. Let's get you back to your own unit," Frank stated. He rubbed Todd's arm.

"No! I'll wait outside. I'm not leaving until I find out how Delgado is," Todd declared adamantly.

They all exchanged looks. Susannah knelt down to where Todd sat. She turned his face so that he was facing her. She spoke softly to him. "Todd, we said we'd bring you to see Téa and we did. Now it's time for you to go back to your own unit. You need to rest. Téa is fine. She'll probably be going to her own room in a little while."

"No! You said I could find out how Téa is. I won't know for sure until they examine her. I wanna wait. Then I'll go back. I'll be quiet. I won't bother anyone," Todd added.

Susannah and Frank did not want to chance Todd losing it. They were also happy to see that his thoughts were organized enough to make a good argument for his case.

"All right. You can sit in the waiting area outside Téa's room. The exam shouldn't take too long. Then it's back to your own unit, understand?" Susannah spoke firmly.

"Yeah! You should have been a general instead of a shrink," Todd snapped.

Everyone in the room smiled, including Susannah. "I'm sure I was in a previous life," Susannah quipped, "now let's get going so they can examine Téa."

Todd reached for Téa's hand again. He held it tenderly. "Delgado." Todd leaned in toward Téa and whispered. "Don't be afraid. They said it won't hurt and that they'll be able to fix anything that's wrong. I'll be right outside. If you get scared, you yell. I won't let anything bad happen to you."

Tears filled Téa's eyes and splashed down her face. Téa reached out and caressed Todd's cheek. "I know you won't," she whispered back.

"I'll come in to say goodbye after they finish checking you out. Do you need anything? I can ask someone to go get you anything you want."

"You've already given me everything I want, Todd, by your being here."

"I meant good stuff like flowers or those girls’ magazines."

Téa laughed. "No, you were all the good stuff I needed."

Todd shrugged and headed out with Susannah and Frank. Téa's words made Todd uncomfortable. He wanted to believe he was good for her, but he couldn't. He didn't want to upset her by saying it. He still feared he'd do nothing but end up disappointing her and causing her heartache. Peter's words were never far from Todd's mind.

*****

Saber had been watching and listening. He saw no point in making Todd hear him and get dragged back to his locked unit. Saber reasoned that this part of the hospital might yield much more opportunity than the unit Todd was on. Saber was also a little bored with only being able to scare Todd by talking to him or yelling at him. Saber hated Téa. He hated her as much as he hated Viki, Sam, Blair, Kevin and Susannah. He hated all of them for pretending to care about Todd. 'Lying hypocrites!' Saber thought to himself. He believed without doubt that they were lying to Todd. 'No one could love that bastard or think any of those good things about him any more than they can about any of those other little bastards. They have all ruined my life and they are going to pay. They're all going to pay.' Saber was a patient man. He was good at biding his time.

Pete had thought about making a run for it when the doors to the unit had been opened. He and Saber glared at each other. Saber was the only one that Pete was afraid of, not that Pete would admit it was fear. He thought of it as staying out of Saber's way because Saber pissed him off. Pete didn't fear Mike. In his cocky fourteen-year-old mind, he reasoned he was way too important to Todd to ever be sent away. Pete was not too good about thinking things through. He acted on impulse. He was easily driven by his rage to make foolish moves. Saber knew Pete would not get far if he attempted to run and he would ruin Saber's chance to check out another part of the hospital. Saber smirked to himself when Pete backed down and went back to stay with Miss Perkins.

*****

Since Todd was going to be in with Téa for a while, Del managed to convince Téa's grandmother to go down to the cafeteria with him and at least have a roll, coffee and juice. He would take her to stay with Carlotta later, once Téa's tests were complete. He knew she would not want to leave Llanview until Téa was back on her feet.

Kevin had gone to get Viki and Sam coffee and something to eat. He then went home to shower and change. He planned on coming right back to the hospital afterward. Things were running smoothly at the paper. He wanted to be there in case Todd needed "someone who hated him," with him.

Viki had not broached the subject of Sam apparently insisting Susannah allow Todd to leave the unit. She did not want Sam to feel that he was Todd's guardian in name only. Since Todd did seem to be able to handle being away from the unit Viki thought Sam's judgment in this was sound. She felt better about her decision to have him become Todd's co-guardian. Viki was still concerned. Sam sat silently for the most part. He seemed lost in his own thoughts. Her few attempts at conversation were greeted with one or two word answers. Viki was exhausted. She finally gave up trying to make conversation and closed her eyes and tried to relax.

*****

As they approached the door to leave the ICU, a kitchen worker came through with some trays of food for those patients who were able to eat. "We have to move over here, buddy. Someone needs to pass by with some trays," Frank cautioned Todd and released his arm so he could step in back of Todd and out of the way. A small scissors hanging on a cart that had been pushed up against the wall caught Saber's attention. Neither Susannah nor Frank saw Todd's eyes blink a couple of times. Todd did not feel himself go away for the couple of seconds it took for Saber to reach ever so slightly to his side. He palmed the scissors and slipped it into the pocket of the sweat pants Todd was wearing. He wasn't sure in what way he would make use of it. He wasn't even sure he would get to make use of it or have a chance to hide it somewhere. He realized they might search Todd when they brought him back to his own unit. It didn't matter. He felt good being able to sneak this by them. Saber reasoned to himself. 'If I can make use of it in some way, fine, if not I've lost nothing.' Todd came back without realizing he had lost those few seconds. Inside, Saber smirked to himself and kept his eyes and ears open.

Viki and Sam both jumped up from their seats when they saw Todd being guided into the waiting area by Susannah and Frank. "Are you ready to go back to your own unit now, sweetheart?" Viki asked.

"No, they gotta examine Téa's head. I'm gonna wait here until they say she's okay."

Viki and Sam exchanged looks with Susannah and Frank, who both nodded to let Sam and Viki know it was okay. As far as they knew, Todd was holding it together so far.

"Can I get you something to eat or drink?" Viki offered Todd.

"Water. I’m thirsty." Todd replied.

"How about some milk or juice?" Viki tried.

"No, just water," Todd responded.

Viki shook her head and went to get him a cup of water.

Susannah looked at her watch. It was almost time for his midmorning feeding. She knew they would have to let it for now. It was done, Todd was here and they didn't want him to escalate. Susannah did have some good feelings about bringing Todd to see Téa. It triggered some amazing disclosures in Todd and through sheer willpower; he was keeping himself together so he could be there for Téa. Because he was staying stable, he was able to hear . . . really hear . . . what Téa had to say to him and he was able to express some of what he was feeling. Susannah knew he might not be able to digest it all, but it would still be in that incredible mind of his somewhere.

Viki brought Todd his water. Viki took his hand and placed the cup in it. Todd drank thirstily. When he finished, he wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve and asked, "How long has it been since those doctors started examining Delgado?"

"It's only been a few minutes, buddy. Relax. Téa's fine," Frank assured him.

"They promised they wouldn't hurt her," Todd said more to himself than to them.

"That's right they did," Susannah reassured him. "Neurological testing doesn't hurt. Come on now. Sit back and relax."

Todd took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. They all exchanged concerned glances and hoped Todd would hold it together for at least a little longer.

*****

Starr hopped off the city bus, a half a block away from the hospital. Starr had gotten the number for a couple of cab companies from information as she stood on her backpack, talking on the pay phone a block from her house. Neither company would send a cab to pick up someone on the street. They both required an address. Starr didn't want to wait anywhere near her own apartment house. She was afraid her mom would find her and stop her from going to the hospital. So Starr had taken the bus. Starr was not her father's daughter for nothing. She was smart enough to realize that they might not let children go to this ICU place by themselves. On the ride over she made her plans.

As soon as Starr walked into the hospital lobby she headed for the gift shop. Blair would always take her there after her blood tests and examination to buy her candy or some other treat, so Starr knew where it was. Starr looked around carefully. Her eyes became big as saucers when she spotted some stuffed frogs that looked just like Fred. She took two of them. She paid for them and had the woman behind the counter wrap them for her. When she walked out, she carried the gift boxes out in the open where they would be conspicuous. Starr looked for an appropriate person. She spotted middle-aged woman carrying flowers and candy. Starr was looking for a visitor, not hospital personnel. "Excuse me ma'am."

The woman looked down at the young girl in front of her. "Yes, honey?"

"My mommy is in a part of the hospital called ICU. My daddy sent me to by presents for her. I forgot how to get back. Can you take me?"

"Well, sure I can," the woman gladly agreed.

When the elevator came, Starr took the woman’s hand. She wanted to make sure everyone knew she was with this grown up.

*****

After only a few minutes of waiting, Todd stood up. Frank jumped up. "Todd, where do you want to go?"

"Nowhere. I just want to move around." Todd needed to pace.

Frank glanced at Susannah. She nodded.

"Okay, buddy. I'll walk with you."

Todd and Frank began to walk back and forth across the waiting area.

*****

"This is the ICU, honey." The woman pointed to some double doors. "You go right through there. Do you want me to walk you inside?"

"No thank you. I know where I am now. I just got mixed up when we were downstairs."

The woman smiled. "Okay. I'll just wait out here until you go in. I hope your mommy feels better."

"Thank you," Starr replied sweetly and smiled. She waved goodbye to the woman and walked through the double doors.

Starr walked down the same short corridor Todd had walked down a short time ago. She turned the corner. Starr saw a sign. She read out loud to herself. "ICU and ICU lounge." She saw an arrow that pointed straight ahead.

*****

Todd continued to pace. "Are you sure this is supposed to take so long? Maybe they found something really bad?"

Frank heard the fear in Todd's voice. He knew he had to get him to calm down. "Todd, this exam takes a while. You want them to do a thorough job and really make sure Téa is okay, don't you?"

"Yeah," Todd nodded. "I want Delgado to have the best."

"Then relax and let them do their job. Téa's fine."

Both Todd and Frank turned in Viki's direction when they heard her gasp.

Todd immediately turned back in the direction he had been facing when he heard a familiar, but frightened, voice call out "Daddy?"

TO BE CONTINUED