Timmy stared at the cup but didn't reach for it.
"Hey, buddy. Isn't pineapple juice your favorite?" Kevin pressed.
Timmy looked into Kevin's eyes. "I wan ba-ba."
Those around Timmy exchanged looks. Susannah once again kneeled down to him. She wanted to verify that he was asking for what she thought he was asking for. "Timmy, can you tell me what ba-ba is?"
Timmy looked up into Susannah's eyes. "To dwink. I wan ba-ba."
"You want your juice in a bottle," Susannah restated.
Timmy nodded. Once again he placed his thumb in his mouth as he continued to stare into Susannah's eyes.
Kevin placed his arm around Timmy's shoulder again. "Timmy, come on. You know how to drink from a cup like a big boy."
With a slight shake of her head, Susannah gave Kevin a look that let him know this was not the way to handle this.
Timmy hung his head. His lower lip and chin were already quivering.
Kevin hugged Timmy to him. "Well, if Timmy wants his juice in a bottle than that's what he'll get. Right, buddy?"
"Janet, please get a bottle and put Timmy's juice in it," Susannah directed.
Viki took the bowl of pudding and brought it to Timmy. "Sweetheart, do you want your pudding while Janet gets a bottle for your juice?"
Timmy opened his mouth and waited for a spoonful of pudding. His message was clear. He wanted Viki to feed him.
"Timmy, Mommy would love to feed you the pudding, but can we go sit over in the lounge or at the table in the dayroom. Mommy's knees hurt when she bends too much."
Timmy nodded. He stood up for the first time since he came out and headed over to where Téa was sitting, silently and anxiously, taking in Timmy's behavior. They all noticed that Timmy was now walking more like a toddler than like a four-year-old.
Timmy sat on the couch, next to Téa and leaned into her. "Tee, you hod me."
Téa put her arms around Timmy and held him tightly. His back was pressed up against her chest. Téa rested her chin atop his silky head.
Viki sat on the other side of Timmy and fed him the pudding. She and Téa exchanged occasional glances. They were both deeply concerned about the extent of Timmy's regression since he came out. They were anxious and wanted to talk to Susannah. Timmy didn't say anything more. He stared into Viki's eyes as she fed him the chocolate pudding. After every few spoonfuls, Viki would wipe Timmy's mouth with a napkin or stroke his cheek lovingly.
Janet waited until the pudding was finished. "Here's your juice, hon." She handed Timmy the bottle. Timmy held onto it with both hands and brought the nipple to his mouth. He drank thirstily. After a couple of minutes Timmy leaned back onto Téa until his head rested on her arm. He drank from his bottle and stared into her eyes as she cradled him. Timmy's eyes began to get heavy with sleep. Téa softly sang a Spanish lullaby to him. She gently removed the bottle from his mouth and hand as Timmy fell asleep. Jeff and Eileen help Téa extricate herself. They gently lowered Timmy to the couch after Téa had gotten up. They placed a pillow under Timmy's head and covered him with a blanket.
Téa rubbed her arm. It was a little stiff from holding him.
"Honey, are you okay?" Viki asked.
"Yes. I'm fine. I wish you would all stop worrying about me."
"I think everything you've been through in the past couple of days, gives us the right to worry about you," Kevin stated.
"Right now I want to know what's going on with Timmy and I want to know if I did the right thing with Pete," Téa said firmly.
Before anyone had a chance to answer her, Doctors Anderson and Marahbee showed up at the unit's doors waiting to be let in.
Susannah approached Téa. "We will not discuss the situation until you are ready to join us."
"Thank you." Téa patted Susannah on the arm. She was grateful that she understood that she did not want to be left out of the discussion.
*****
"Mrs. Manning, as far as I can see the incident today caused no further damage to you. I would feel more comfortable if you had a cervical MRI done to make sure no damage was done to your neck," Doctor Marahbee advised. He and Doctor Anderson had taken Téa into the treatment room on seven.
"I can do that as an outpatient, can't I?" Téa did not want to go for any test right now. She wanted to be there in case Timmy woke up. Téa once again minimized the headache, slight nausea and occasional dizziness she felt when they questioned her.
"Yes, but please, don't put it off. You can have an injury that is not apparent to us right now," Doctor Anderson added.
Téa sighed. "I won't wait too long. Right now I do need to be here. Todd switched to a four-year-old who becomes very upset if all those he loves are not around."
Both doctors had seen Timmy, asleep on the couch, when they entered the unit. "I understand. I've met Timmy and I know he's very fragile," Doctor Anderson stated. "That is even more of a reason you need to take care of yourself, Mrs. Manning. You want to make sure that you stay well enough to be there for that little fellow and for Todd and the others."
Téa nodded. "I will. I promise. Can I be officially discharged today . . . right now?"
Both doctors shook their heads and smiled. "Since we can't seem to keep you in your room anyway, we might as well discharge you," Doctor Marahbee agreed.
"Thank you. I really mean it. You both took wonderful care of me and I'm very grateful. I know I wasn't the most cooperative patient."
"We understand that your situation is difficult," Doctor Anderson conceded.
"I'll have the paperwork on your discharge and your things brought up here so you don't have to leave," Doctor Marahbee offered.
"Thank you. I appreciate that so much." Téa was impressed with both of them.
Doctor Marahbee's beeper went off. "ER," he muttered out loud. Before he left, he turned to his colleague. "John, I need you to do a consult. I have a sixty-eight-year-old female brought in after a car accident. There's a history of stroke."
"I'll be there in a bit. Susannah wants me to have a look at young Timmy before I go."
Téa became frightened. "Does she think Timmy's acting this way because something's wrong with his brain?"
"I'm sure she's just playing it safe and covering all the bases." Doctor Anderson tried to reassure Téa.
Téa, and the two men walked out of the treatment room.
*****
Viki and Sam were both sitting in the club chairs that faced the couch Timmy slept on. Sam seemed to be staring off into space. Téa guessed right when she assumed that Pete's words were haunting Sam and painfully adding to his guilt. Viki was holding Sam's hand. He didn't seem to notice. Viki would alternate between watching Timmy sleep and stealing worried glances in Sam's direction.
Kevin and Rachel were off in a corner of the room, talking. Rachel was still upset over the things Pete said. Pete had caused memories of the night Rachel killed Georgie to surface. These were memories that Rachel tried to keep buried.
The two doctors headed for the nurses station, where Susannah quietly talked to some of her staff. Doctor Marahbee quickly told Susannah's his findings with Téa and headed for the ER. He left Doctor Anderson there to answer any further questions.
Téa sat in a chair next to Viki. "I'm being discharged. See, I told you I was okay." Téa smiled reassuringly.
Viki stroked Téa's cheek, lovingly. "I'm happy, honey. I'm so sorry you've been so injured because of Todd and Pete."
"Todd did nothing to injure me. That was my fault and Pete . . . well, I understand him more each time he comes out. Viki, do you think he really felt how much we love him?"
"I do. Téa I felt his body drinking in our affection, didn't you?"
"Yes. Oh, Viki. I did. I thought maybe it was my imagination, but you felt it too. I'm so glad. Pete breaks my heart. He is so isolated, both inside and out. At least Todd and most of the children allow Miss Perkins or Carol or Goodone to love them. Poor Pete. He has no one."
Before they had a chance to discuss this any further or before Téa had a chance to tell Viki and Sam about Susannah wanting a neuro exam done on Timmy, Susannah and Doctor Anderson motioned for them to come to the nurses station. Susannah didn't want to talk in Timmy's earshot, even though he was asleep.
"I want John to examine Timmy before he leaves," Susannah informed them.
"You think he has a neurological problem?" Kevin asked anxiously.
"No." Susannah shook her head. "But anytime there is a significant change in behavior or cognitive abilities I like to be on the safe side and have it checked out."
"Timmy is acting like two year old. He never spoke that way before or wanted to drink out of a bottle," Téa pointed out.
"From what Susannah has told me Timmy has regressed considerably. What I'd like to do wake him up and if it is still Timmy and he's in shape for it, I'd like to observe him walking, playing, drawing doing things that require gross and fine motor skills . . . if he's willing. I'll also talk to him and ask him a few questions that are age appropriate for a four-year-old. I want to get a picture of his mental status. I won't do any extensive testing or anything to hurt or frighten him. As with the other times I examined him, he'll think it's a game," Doctor Anderson explained.
"I checked with Allan and the playroom is free. Kevin, why don't you wake Timmy up? We'll give him a few minutes to orient," Susannah directed. Susannah turned to Rachel. "Can you wait around for a while? I would like to talk to you once we have Timmy settled." Susannah was worried about her niece. She saw that Rachel was still upset by the incident with Pete.
"Sure, no problem." Rachel turned to Sam and Viki. "Would you rather I wait somewhere else while Timmy is examined?"
Viki looked to Sam for his opinion. He shrugged. Right now he had more on his mind than Rachel.
"We have no problem with you being here," Viki confirmed.
Kevin crouched next to the couch. He stroked Timmy's head tenderly. "Timmy." There was no response. "Timmy, hey buddy. Time to wake up." Timmy's eyes opened slowly. He gazed sleepily into Kevin's eyes. "That's my boy. Come on, Timmy. Wake up. I thought we'd go to the playroom for a while. Would you like that?"
Timmy nodded. "I wike bwocks."
"Yeah, me too. We can build something or spell out our names. Come." Kevin held his hand out.
Timmy took it and let Kevin help him into a sitting position. "Tee and Mommy and Daddy and Dota Hamen and Tewee and Fwank all pway too."
"Terry and Frank aren't here today, Timmy. Remember Doctor Hanen told you it's their day off?" Kevin pointed out.
"Day go way! Day weave me!" Timmy started to sob.
Susannah glanced in Doctor Anderson's direction. She saw that he also recognized this as extreme behavior. She headed for Timmy. "Sweetie. I told you that Terry and Frank will be here tomorrow. They won't leave forever. They have to have some time off. Your staff that's here today is very nice and they have wanted to meet you for a long time. They're very happy that they're getting a chance to know you."
"Dey are?" Timmy looked surprised.
"You bet they are," Kevin joined in. "We've all told them what a good and smart and wonderful little boy you are and they looked forward to meeting you."
"Fwank and Tewwy weawwy come back?"
"I promise you Timmy. They'll really come back. They’ll be back tomorrow morning," Susannah assured him. "There's someone else here who would really like to spend some time with you." Susannah motioned Doctor Anderson over.
Timmy stared up at him. "You pwayed games wid me."
"I sure did! I'm so happy you remembered that. I have some more games we can play today, if you like," Doctor Anderson tried to tempt him.
"I pway bwocks wid Kebin in pwaywoom."
"Would it be all right if I came along and watched?" Doctor Anderson posed.
Timmy looked at Kevin for direction.
"Sure, the more the merrier," Kevin quipped.
Timmy smiled at Doctor Anderson. "Thure, more da mewwier," Timmy copied Kevin's words.
Doctor Anderson rumpled Timmy's hair. "Then we're off to the playroom."
Rachel told Susannah she'd wait in the lounge for her. Rachel wanted to get her thoughts together. Also, she did not want to keep intruding on Timmy and his family.
*****
The whole way over to the playroom, Timmy continued to turn around to make sure his parade of loved ones had not deserted him. He seemed to stand still and take a head count every few steps. Once they were in the playroom, Timmy greeted Allan warmly enough, however he wouldn't budge toward any of the toys until everyone, except Kevin, who was standing along side him, was seated. Once they were all in their chairs, Timmy went from person to person. He said their name and touched their hand or leg as if he were making sure they were real. "Mommy, Daddy, Tee, Dota Hamen, Dota Amson . . ." Timmy looked around. "Wheth Mthter Wabbit?"
"Right here, baby." Viki made sure to pick Mr. Rabbit up from the couch, where Timmy had left him.
Timmy took Mr. Rabbit from her. He sat the stuffed animal on Téa's lap. "Mthter Wabbit wants you hod him."
Téa took the toy from Timmy. She held it up so it was facing her. "Hi, Mr. Rabbit. I'd love to hold you while Timmy plays."
"Tee, Mthter Wabbit wan you twckle him."
"Tickle him?" Téa was surprised.
"Wike dis." Timmy tickled the back of Mr. Rabbit's neck and then tickled his chubby tummy.
A light bulb went off in Susannah's head. "Timmy, when you were inside, did you see Téa tickle anyone like that?"
Timmy ignored Susannah's question. He toddled over to blocks and plopped down on the floor. "Kebin, you pway wid me!" This demanding tone was not like Timmy.
With a slight nod of her head, Susannah motioned Kevin to play with Timmy. Téa, Viki and Sam looked questioningly at Susannah. They did not make the connection she did. Neither did Doctor Anderson.
Kevin sat down on the floor, next to Timmy. First Kevin tried to interest Timmy in spelling with the blocks. This time Timmy could not even manage the simple words, like dog and cat, which he managed last time. Kevin didn't press for Timmy to spell out either of their names. He was getting frightened for Timmy.
"Thtupid bwocks! Bad bwocks!" Timmy picked up one of the blocks that Kevin had finally handed him to spell the words. He threw it across the room. Timmy drew his knees to his chest and buried his head in them.
Kevin placed his arm around Timmy's shoulders. "Spelling's hard. I have trouble spelling some words too and I have to look them up."
Timmy looked up at Kevin. Tears were already staining his cheeks. "You don wike me now."
"Timmy, I like you." Kevin tightened his grip. "I love you. You're my bestest friend in the whole world."
"You wike me best?" Timmy looked at Kevin with eyes so sad Kevin had to fight to keep himself from crying.
"You will always be my bestest friend in the whole world."
Timmy stared at the blocks. He stood up and began placing them in a circle around Kevin. He only left a very small opening, just big enough for them to step through. Kevin watched for a few moments. He was not sure what Timmy was trying to build. Timmy placed block on top of block, slowly encasing Kevin in his wall. Kevin and the rest of them finally realized that Timmy was trying to keep Kevin "all his" in his private little fort.
Doctor Anderson and Susannah watched Timmy's movements. They were clumsy and uncertain. He lifted the blocks awkwardly, dropping the block before he had a chance to carry it to his wall. He was not balancing the blocks on top of each other and they kept falling off and crashing to the floor. He did not seem to notice what he was doing wrong. Finally, Kevin showed him how to stack them. When Timmy tired to follow Kevin's instruction, he still could not place the blocks in a way that kept them from toppling over. Timmy got down on his knees and began to bang the latest block to fall on the floor.
"I hate you! I hate you! Thtupid bwock!" Timmy's face was getting red as he cried this out over and over again and continued to bang the block against the playroom floor.
Kevin sat in back of Timmy and put his legs around him. He put his arms around both of Timmy's to keep him from continuing to bang the block. He pulled Timmy to him. "Okay, Timmy. Shhhh. No more hitting the block. It's okay. We'll play with something else. Shhhh."
"NO!" Timmy screamed. "I WANNA PWAY WID DIS! I WANNA PWAY WID DIS!" Timmy began to kick his feet.
Timmy was escalating too quickly for Susannah and her staff's comfort. It was too late for one of them to get Timmy in a hold. Kevin had acted too quickly. They were not comfortable with him being a part of the physical restraint, but he didn't leave them a choice right now. Jeff held Timmy's legs to keep him from kicking. Susannah stabilized his head. She spoke to him soothingly.
"WET GO! I HATE YOU!" Timmy tried to kick his legs again. "YOU BIG DOO-DOO HEAD! I HATE YOU! WET GO!"
None of them had ever seen Timmy acting out like this before. He had never called anyone names before or needed to be physically restrained for anything, other than medical procedures. Sam started to rush to Timmy when he heard him call for Téa.
"TEE! TEE!" Timmy screamed out for her.
Téa rushed over to where they were holding him on the floor. "Angelito, I'm right here. What's the matter? What is it that has you so upset?"
"Mthter Wabbit wan you thay I wove you and twckle him more." Timmy screams had now lowered to sobs.
Téa cradled Mr. Rabbit in her arms. "I love you so much Mr. Rabbit." Téa tickled his neck the way Timmy had demonstrated. Téa held the toy in front of her again. "I'd love to tell Timmy how much I love him too, but he's so upset I don't know if he'd listen to me." Téa held Mr. Rabbit's mouth up to her ear. "Okay, I'll ask him. Thank you Mr. Rabbit. That's very good advice."
Téa knelt down to Timmy. Kevin, Jeff and Susannah were still holding him, but they all had loosened their grip when they felt Timmy's struggling ease. "Angelito, Mr. Rabbit knows how much I want to tell you I love you and hold you. Will you stay safe so they can let me hold you?"
Timmy looked at Téa. She saw more tears glistening in his long lashes. He nodded.
Slowly and with caution, Susannah and Jeff released Timmy's head and legs. When they saw that he was staying calm, they got up and made room for Téa.
Téa sat on the floor, next to Timmy and Kevin.
"Okay, Timmy. I'll let Téa have her chance to hold you now." Kevin started to let go.
"Noooo. I wan you and Tee to hod me," Timmy whined.
Téa moved in and sandwiched Timmy between her and Kevin.
Timmy pulled both Téa and Kevin's arms around him tightly. Once that was done, he reached for Mr. Rabbit. He looked up at Kevin. "You twckle him too."
Susannah sat on the floor in front of Timmy. "Sweetie, can you tell me if you've ever seen Téa and Kevin holding and tickling anyone?"
"I don wike him!" Timmy said angrily.
"Who don't you like," Susannah pressed.
"Dat wittle boy. I don wike him! He big baby and he bad! I hate him!"
Viki and Sam exchanged looks, as did Kevin and Téa. Now they all had a fairly good idea who Timmy had seen getting a lot of love and attention.
"Sweetie, did the little boy you saw have a name?" Susannah pushed.
Timmy nodded.
"Can you tell us his name?" Susannah prompted.
"Adam," Timmy whimpered. "I don't wike him!" Timmy turned to Kevin. "You twckle Mthter Wabbit." Timmy once again, uncharacteristically whined.
Now they all had the picture. In addition to everything else that was bothering Timmy, he had a ferocious case of sibling rivalry with Adam. Apparently he had been able to see some of the interaction between the "newest baby in the family" and those Timmy considered "his."
Timmy watched longingly while Kevin tickled Mr. Rabbit's soft fur.
"Sweetie, can you tell why you don't like Adam?"
"He bad!"
"What does he do that's so bad?" Susannah asked.
"He make too much doise and he wan too much ttention. He bad boy!"
"Whom does he want all this attention from?" Susannah gently encouraged him to talk about his jealousy.
"Kebin," Timmy whimpered. A tear spilled down his cheek. "Kebin and Tee."
Susannah realized that Kevin and Téa were the ones who played with Adam more than Sam or Viki or the staff and it was far more likely that Timmy would have seen them with him. "Yeah, Adam did get a lot of attention from Kevin and Téa. But you know, you weren't out when he was. If you had been there Kevin and Téa would have given you attention too," Susannah explained.
"Dey wike Adam. He baby." Timmy hung his head.
"Timmy, Adam has some special problems that need a lot of attention, but because of his problems and because he's a baby he doesn't get to do a lot of the fun things that you get to do," Susannah pointed out.
Timmy got on his knees and threw his arms around Téa's neck. He rested his head on her shoulder. He was obviously not ready to hear this yet.
Téa hugged him tightly. "Angelito, there's something I love to do with you that I can't do with Adam. I love to draw and color with you."
Kevin rubbed Timmy's back as Téa held him. "And I love to play with the cars with you and do puzzles with you. I can't do that with Adam."
Timmy didn't respond. He continued to hold onto Téa. His head remained on her shoulder, turned away from everyone.
Susannah turned to Jeff, who was sitting on a chair near where she, Kevin, Téa and Timmy sat on the floor. "Poor Kevin and Téa," Susannah began. "They love to color and play with the cars and do puzzles, but they had no one to do any of that with, because a baby is too young to know how to do those things. I'll bet they were hoping that Timmy would come out and play with them."
"I'll bet they were too." Jeff went along with it. "It doesn't look to me like Timmy wants to draw or play with the cars of put together any puzzles. I guess Téa and Kevin are going to have to stay sad. They still won't have anyone to play with."
Timmy turned around in Téa's arms. He now sat with his back leaning into her. He looked at Jeff. "I pway wid dem," Timmy spoke up.
"You will!" Téa exclaimed. "Kevin, did you hear that! Timmy said he'll play with us. That makes me sooooo happyyyyy." Téa hugged Timmy to her tightly. She tickled his tummy.
Timmy giggled.
"Me too!" Kevin's voice was gleeful. "I love playing with Timmy. I love spending time with Timmy." Kevin joined in the hug. "I love Timmy." Kevin emphasized each of those last three words. He tickled the back of Timmy's neck.
Timmy didn't scrunch his neck back the way Adam did. He was not as ticklish there, but he still enjoyed it and giggled in response.
Téa remembered Doctor Anderson saying he wanted to observe Timmy 's motor skills. "Why don't we go play with the remote control cars?"
"Kebin wike dat too," Timmy stated happily.
"That's right! Hey, Timmy remembered. I love to play with those cars."
They headed over to the cars. "You thit dhere," Timmy pointed to a spot on the floor for Téa to sit. He said it more like an order than a request. "You thit dhere," he showed Kevin where he wanted him to sit. This was not at all like the meek, docile child they had come to know. Timmy toddled over to a car and placed it where he wanted it to be. Allan handed Timmy the remote. Timmy sat down on the floor, between Kevin and Téa. He had even more trouble using the remote to direct the cars than he did the last time he was out. Téa and Kevin exchanged nervous glances. Everyone seemed concerned.
*****
Rachel was feeling a little better. She wanted to get something to eat. She asked Eileen if it were all right for her to go into the playroom and wait until Susannah had a chance to talk to her for a moment. If Susannah was still going to be a while, Rachel was going to go to the cafeteria. Rachel quietly slipped into the playroom. She stood in the back, near the door, and watched quietly.
*****
Kevin could see Timmy was getting frustrated. He did not want Timmy to start escalating again. "I think this has to be a team effort, Timmy. Since we’re using one remote we all need to do it together so everyone gets a chance."
Timmy looked at him. Kevin could see tears had already formed in Timmy's eyes over his inability to work the car. "Let's do it like this. Timmy gets to hold the remote and I'll put my hands on top and, Téa, you can put your hands on top of mine. Then we'll be like the Three Musketeers."
Kevin manipulated Timmy's fingers to work the remote and Téa basically held on, just to give Timmy a sense of them doing it together. "Wow, Timmy's making the car go so fast," Téa praised him. Timmy's big smile was a reward to them.
"Hey Timmy, wanna give Mr. Rabbit a ride?" Kevin suggested.
Timmy nodded eagerly.
Kevin moved Timmy's fingers so the car came back to them. He picked up the stuffed toy and balanced it on the car. Timmy clapped his hands gleefully and bounced up and down. "Wook! Mommy, Daddy, wook! Dota Hamen, ewewybowy wook! Mthter Wabbit wide da car." Timmy's smile covered his face. Kevin and Téa both hugged Timmy the way they had Adam. They tickled him until the sound of his laughter filled the room, making everyone smile.
