*****

Viki rolled over. She had forgotten how comforting it was to share a bed with Sam, instead of sleeping in a bed separate from his in the family lounge. When Sam had slept at home during the time Ritchie was out, it may as well have been in the family lounge. He slept with either his back to Viki, as far to the edge of his side of their bed as he could get, or stayed in the den. Last night Sam had held Viki.

Sam's elevated mood had continued as he and Viki walked through the doors of Llanfair last night. When Viki suggested they order in dinner, Sam responded enthusiastically. He suggested meals from their favorite Italian restaurant. Sam had even joked as he and Viki shared the food and a bottle of wine. Viki couldn't remember the last time Sam's sense of humor had shown. For the first time, in a long time, Sam and Viki talked about the future. They thought it might be nice to take Todd, Téa and Starr to California for a few weeks, when Todd was well enough for that. They knew that if Todd chose full integration, it would take years. The alters would still be coming out, even after Todd was stable enough to leave the hospital. Susannah had explained to Sam that Todd would have better control of the alters then and he and they would be able to function as outpatients. Sam thought some of the child alters and Starr would enjoy Disneyland and Todd might enjoy a trip to Universal Studios to see how some special effects were produced. Viki thought she and Téa could enjoy a shopping trip or two to Rodeo Drive. Viki wanted to share with Téa some of the things she never got to do with Megan.

Sam's mood remained upbeat when he and Viki had gotten into bed. Viki and Sam were content to hold each other as they drifted off to sleep. Their sleep was as peaceful as Todd and Téa's had been. They remained in each other's arms until the alarm woke them at eight-thirty the next morning. Viki called the hospital. She and Sam were very happy to hear that Todd and Téa had a good night and Todd had not needed any medication to help him sleep or keep him asleep.

Sam lingered in bed while Viki took her shower first. Sam smiled when he heard Viki humming in the shower. It was a sound he had not heard in a very long time. Sam folded his arms behind him and rested them against the pillow. He laid his head on them. Susannah was right. It was okay for us to come home for night. Kevin seems to genuinely care about Todd and he's helping him. Téa seems to love Todd with all her heart. Maybe the hospital, Susannah, the staff, and a relationship with Téa and Kevin are the best thing for Todd and the alters? Blair must be reading this all wrong. She has her own agenda. I need to stop listening to her. I should have more faith in Viki's judgment. Susannah did save Viki's sanity and her life. Maybe she can do the same for Todd? Sam thought to himself. This was the first time in months that Sam had allowed himself to feel hope. He planned on taking Viki out for a leisurely breakfast before going to the hospital. "Our kid is in good hands," Sam said to himself, out loud.

*****

By the time Téa got to Doctor Anderson's office, two patients were in the waiting area. Doctor Anderson's receptionist told Téa that she would have to wait until these patients were examined, since it was now time for their appointments. Téa hesitated for a minute when she heard that. She knew she'd end up being there for over an hour. Téa didn't understand it, since Todd was better than he'd been in a long time, but every instinct in her told her to get back to his room. Then Téa remembered how upset Todd was at the thought of her canceling her appointment. She knew Todd wanted Doctor Anderson's reassurance that she was all right.

"Is it all right to use my cell phone in here?" Téa asked the receptionist.

"Well, you're really not supposed to use it anywhere in the hospital, but go ahead. We're not near any sensitive equipment."

Téa walked off to the side, for privacy, and called Todd's unit. It put her mind somewhat at ease when Terry told her that Todd was fine. She went on to say that he got up to use the bathroom and then asked if he could rest in bed for a while before he took a shower and started his day. Terry told her once Todd got back into bed, he seemed to daydream for a short while. Then he fell asleep again. When Téa expressed her concern over Todd's need for so much sleep, Terry told her it was normal for a patient to desire sleep when they felt the weight of an issue had been lifted. Terry also pointed out that Todd putting off taking his shower was a good sign. He was not exhibiting the compulsion to wash. Téa told the receptionist that she would wait to see the doctor. While Terry's information on Todd gave Téa enough peace of mind to wait to be examined, she still had an uneasy feeling she didn't understand.

*****

Terry was right. Todd had been daydreaming before he fell asleep. He'd been thinking about the slay ride he and Téa took when they stayed at the Bayberry inn. Todd remembered the snow fight they had and how they both ended up laughing as they fell into a pile of snow. Todd remembered the way the flakes that stuck to Téa's eyelashes and cheeks had glistened. I wish I hadn't spoiled it for you, Delgado, Todd thought. I wish I hadn't of gotten so scared. Maybe someday we can go back there and I won't be scared anymore. Todd thought about the way Téa had looked in the pictures he took of her. He was sorry he ripped some of them up when he thought Téa was cheating on him. Todd scrunched down in the bed and pulled the sheet and blanket up. His mind went back to the present. He remembered how Téa had looked when he woke up that morning. Delgado's still nice to look at and think about, Todd thought as he drifted off to sleep.

*****

Susannah arrived at nine-thirty. Jeff filled her in on the latest and then asked, "How long should we let him sleep?"

"For as long as he needs to. When he feels rested, I want him to shower and change his clothes." Todd still had on the clothes he wore when he and Téa went in for what was supposed to be a nap. "Try to get him to eat something, as usual. Try something like Saltines and a soda. It may not repulse him as much as the thought of eating a meal. Then I want him in my office for a session. I plan on discussing some treatment goals with him today, while hopefully his mood is positive."

Jeff laughed. "You're not getting your hopes up and expecting complete compliance are you?"

Susannah joined in on the laughter. "Nah. I know our boy. He won't like this. I'm hoping he'll at least be able to listen and understand what we're asking him to do."

Susannah headed for her office.

Jeff checked Todd. He was smiling in his sleep. Jeff gently stroked Todd's head. "You have a good sleep buddy," he whispered. Jeff went to his post outside the door and continued to read his newspaper.

*****

Todd saw himself and Téa sitting on the living room floor. They were at the penthouse. The Money Hungry board was open and resting on the floor between them.

"I can't believe you won again," Téa exclaimed.

"And I let you be the iron this time, and the banker," Todd reminded her.

Téa smiled. "Yes you did."

"You just got me on a bad day that other time. I told you I'm the world's best Money Hungry player."

"So you are." Téa held up a playing card, a two of hearts. "It worked Todd. The substitute emergency card worked. We got to use it to do it all over. Everything that we didn't do right the first time, mi amor, we got to do again. Querido, I'm so proud of you, not just for the way you play this game. I'm proud of you for everything you've been able to do with your life."

"I'll bet you never thought I'd get out of the hospital," Todd guessed.

"I always knew you would. I never gave up hope that it would all be some horrible mistake and that you weren't really crazy after all."

"It was the medicines they gave me. They did it because they love me. They didn't want me to have nightmares and wake them up. They didn't mean to get me in trouble with my teacher."

"They love you very much Todd. They forgive you. We all forgive you. Even God forgives you for being born in the first place."

"Do you really think so, Delgado?"

"I know so. That's why everything is all right now. We're happily married and we'll be together forever. Sam and Viki are happily married too, and they want you to be their son. Kevin wants you for a brother as much as he wants Joey and Jess for a brother and sister. Everyone from the hospital cares about you, Blair is happy and takes wonderful care of Starr when she's not with us. She always makes sure to keep Dorian away from her. When Starr is here, she is the happiest little girl in the world. She's healthy and she's very proud of her daddy. Even Bo and Nora forgive you, and no one in this town thinks you're a monster or a loser."

"What about those kids, the ones I see sometimes?"

"They're happy too. Doctor Hanen and the staff at the hospital take very good care of them. They're safe and no one can ever hurt them again. No one can hurt any of you again, Todd, and you'll never hurt anyone. No one will ever hurt or leave you again because you're good now. You're not bad anymore."

"Are you safe from me, Delgado?"

Téa smiled. "Very safe. You don't ever have to be afraid you'll hurt me. It's safe to touch me, Todd. It's safe to let me touch you."

"I wanted to, Delgado. I swear I did. All those times. I wanted to and then something would happen inside and I couldn't."

"It's fixed now Todd. All the bad feelings are fixed. It happened just like that," Téa snapped her fingers. "You'll never have to talk about things that hurt or frighten you, or remember anything that you don't want to remember again."

Todd held his hand out. "Everything’s really going to be okay from now on, right Delgado?"

Téa took Todd's hand and held it. "Yes, mi amor. From now on everything's going to be the best it's ever been. We'll be together forever. I told you that I wanted to grow old with you."

"It's safe," Todd whispered.

"It's safe," Téa confirmed.

Todd pulled Téa to him. He looked deeply into her eyes. "You make me believe, Delgado. It's safe," Todd repeated.

Todd felt his lips press against Téa's, gently at first, and then with an urgency he'd never experienced before. Todd's tongue explored Téa's mouth. It tasted sweet, the way he knew it would. Todd felt Téa's body pressed up against his. He started to reach for her breast and then pulled his hand away.

"It's all right, querido. You'll never hurt me. I promise." Todd felt his hand tremble as he touched the silky skin of Téa's breast. He felt himself getting hard. He gently pushed Téa back, against the carpet. Suddenly both he and Téa were naked. Todd pulled back.

Téa held onto Todd's hands before he could pull away. "Don't be afraid, mi amore. It'll be all right."

Todd and Téa's eyes locked. "I love you, Delgado," Todd whispered. "I won't ever hurt you."

In his sleep, Todd reached out across the bed for Téa. That side of the bed was empty. He whimpered softly in his sleep as he continued to dream.

Todd rubbed his erect penis against Téa's inner thighs and vagina. Téa moaned. Todd looked down at her again. He gasped when he saw a sweatband stuffed into Téa's mouth. He looked down at his body and saw slime and filth dripping from it. It landed on Téa's naked breasts and stomach like pools of toxic waste. Sores immediately festered where the filth landed. Todd saw Téa's flesh melt away.

"NOOOOOOO! DELGADO!" Todd jumped off of Téa. He threw his head back and wailed. "OH GOD! I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WOULD NEVER LEAVE ME."

Todd looked down at Téa again. He backed away frantically when he saw Marty's face.

Marty stood up. She cornered Todd against the wall. "This is all your fault! You found another way to hurt me. You always manage to find a way. You're not a man Todd. You're a curse!"

"I'm sorry! Please. I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Marty please!"

"I told you never to say my name again! Never! You hurt everyone, Todd." Marty pressed against him. "You can't stop. It's inside you Todd. There's evil inside you. Both your mothers and fathers knew it. Everyone you've ever known knows it. You're a curse! You're a curse! Ask her! Go ahead and ask her!" Marty pointed to the floor. "You're a curse! YOU'RE A CURSE!"

Todd looked where Marty pointed. He saw his mother lying on the floor. She was naked, as Téa had been.

Todd dropped to his knees and rested his head on his mother's chest. "Mama. Mama I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be disgusting. Mama please don't leave me. MAMA!"

"You got it on her too Todd. Look what you've done to her," Marty taunted.

"MAMA!" Todd screamed when he felt his naked body being pushed on top of his mother. He felt his penis rub against her. "No! Mama I don't want to. He'll hurt you if I don't. Mama, I'm sorry. I love you. I don't wanna be disgusting."

"Look Todd. Look what your love has done. Look at what a curse you are." Marty's voice echoed.

Todd looked down at his mother's naked body. He saw the same wounds he caused Téa appearing on his mother's body. He saw the red pulp as blood and muscle were exposed. Todd had seen this before. He couldn't remember when or where . . . creatures . . . helpless creatures . . . their skin removed. Todd shut his eyes tightly. He didn't want to see. He didn't want to remember.

"You've hurt everyone and everything Todd, especially everyone you've ever loved. Your love is as much of a curse as your haltered. Look Todd. Come see what you've done to all of them. Come," Marty beckoned Todd with a gesture.

Todd followed Marty into darkness. He felt his heart pounding in his chest. It suddenly tuned cold, very cold. Todd shivered. He didn't want to see when the lights came on. Todd squeezed his eyes shut again.

"You have to see what you've done now Todd. You don't have the darkness to protect you anymore. Open your eyes!" Marty ordered.

Todd didn't realize his eyes were still closed. He forced them open. He was in a crypt, Victor Lord's crypt. There were many coffins there now.

"They're all here Todd. Everyone that you've hurt . . . everyone that you've touched. Look at them. See what you've done to all of them."

"No. No, Marty. Please!"

"Are you begging me Todd? I don't like hearing you plead with me."

Todd felt Marty shove a sweatband in his mouth. He felt her tie his wrists behind him with a man's necktie.

"No one can hear you now Todd. It's too late anyway. No one can save them. No one can help them. You've destroyed all of them."

Todd wanted to scream as he went from casket to casket. He saw his mother, Viki, Sam, Susannah, and every staff member he cared about. All their flesh was now eaten away. Their bodies were raw and oozing.

Todd managed to spit the sweatband out. "Marty. I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt any of them. I'm sorry I hurt you. Give them back to me. Please! Give them back to me."

"You took Suede from me. You took Patrick from me. You took everything from me. Now it's your turn to be alone, Todd!"

"I never meant to kill Suede or get Patrick killed."

Marty cut the ties off Todd's wrists and ordered, "You put that back in your mouth until I say you can take it out."

Todd pushed the sweatband back into his mouth.

Marty laughed loudly. "That's why you're a curse Todd. You don't have to mean to destroy someone. Just being near you destroys them." Marty walked over to Todd and pulled the sweatband from his mouth. "Ask your father. He knows what you are. He knows that everyone will leave you because you've destroyed them. He knows that you must be punished."

"My f-f-father's dead," Todd whispered.

"You always were stupid Todd."

Todd froze at the sound of Peter's voice.

"I'll never be dead. I'll always be inside you Todd. You'll always be just like me. I'm still trying to make a man out of you. I'm still here to make sure you get the punishment you deserve." Peter's loud laughter mingled with Marty's.

Todd pressed the palms of his hands to his ears.

"You can't shut us out, Todd! Be a man and come see what you've done. Marty saved the best for last," Peter taunted.

In the corner of the crypt Todd saw two white caskets. One was a small one.

"Get over here!" Peter ordered.

Todd tried to keep himself from trembling as he approached the white caskets.

"NOOOOOOOO! OH GOD, NOOOOOOO!" Todd shrieked as he saw Téa's body in one casket and Starr's body in the smaller one. Both were skeletons. Their once beautiful hair was now nothing but thin wisps coming out of their scalp. Their flesh was eaten away, to the bone, by Todd's evil filth.

Todd ran up to where his father and Marty stood. "I'll help them. I'll be good. I'll save them if I'm good. I won't be disgusting anymore. Viki said it was safe to touch Starr. Téa said it was safe to touch her. You said I had to touch Mama. Oh God! I shouldn't have listened. It's my fault. I shouldn't have done it." Todd ran back to the coffins. "I'll help you. I'll save you. Please. Don't hate me. Don't leave me. I'll be good. I'll stop being disgusting. I swear. I swear!"

Marty and Peter pointed to Todd.

Todd looked down and saw what they saw . . . his nakedness . . . the slime . . . the filth. Todd desperately tried to get it off with his hands. The more he tried the thicker it became.

Marty and Peter began to laugh again. Now Bo and Nora joined them. They too pointed to Todd and joined Marty and Peter in laughter. Todd suddenly heard the laughter of the voice that would come to terrify him and torture him. That voice joined in the laughter too. The laughter grew deafening. It reverberated off the walls.

"LET ME DIEEEEEEEE!" Todd shrieked. He gasped. He jumped off the bed and pulled his clothes off.

Jeff rushed into the room.

Todd didn't seem to see him approaching. Before Jeff could reach him, Todd ran for the bathroom. Jeff saw him look directly into his eyes for a split second and smirk. He pulled his desk chair in with him.

"I need staff," Jeff called out loudly. From that one look and that smirk, Jeff knew Todd was not in there alone. Another alter, he wasn't sure which one, had been out, at least for that moment. Jeff ran for the bathroom. The door wouldn't budge. The chair had been rammed under the doorknob.

Within moments Frank, Angelo, Terry, Eileen, Janet, Susannah, Dan and Mark rushed into Todd's room. They heard the shower running.

"I'M SORRY! GIVE THEM BACK TO ME! I'LL GET IT OFF! YOU CAN PUNISH ME. JUST DON'T LET THEM BE DEAD! I'M SORRYYYYY!" Todd's shrieks could be heard over the sound of running water.

Frank and Jeff, using their combined strength, managed to push the door open on their third try. Billows of steam already filled the bathroom. They realized Todd had turned on the hot water only. They rushed to the shower. Todd's body was already red. It was covered with deep scratches as Todd clawed savagely at his skin with his fingernails.

"IT'S NOT COMING OFF!" Todd shrieked. He began to bang his head into the tile wall.

Frank reached Todd first. He managed to pull him into a hold. Jeff and Angelo quickly grabbed for Todd's legs. They got him out of the shower. Frank slid across the wet floor until his back made contact with the wall. Susannah, Terry, Eileen Janet, Mark and Dan all rushed to help with the restraint.

Todd fought more fiercely than he'd been able to in a long time.

"Call a code white," Susannah called out.

Todd managed to pull one slippery leg from Angelo's grasp. He kicked out wildly, getting Angelo in the mouth and eye.

Angelo tasted blood in his mouth and felt one of his bottom teeth come loose. Despite his injury, he quickly managed to hold down Todd's leg again.

"LET GO! YOU'RE KILLING THEM. I HAVE TO GET IT OFF. I HAVE TO TRY TO SAVE THEM. HE'S HERE. MY FATHER'S HERE! ASK HIM. ASK HIM. HE'LL TELL YOU THAT I HAVE TO BE PUNISHED. HE'LL TELL YOU I HURT AND KILLED EVERYONE. HE'LL TELL YOU I'M FILTH! DAD. DAAAAAD. I'M TRYING. I'M TRYING TO GET IT OFF. DON'T HATE ME. I'M TRYING TO TAKE IT LIKE A MAN. LET GOOOO! DONT YELL. PLEASE STOP YELLING AT ME! LET ME GET IT OFF. MARTY'S HERE. ASK HER! THEY'RE DEAD. THEY'RE ALL DEAD. YOU'RE DEAD. YOU CAME BACK TO PUNISH ME. DO IT! DO IT! I WANT YOU TO PUNISH ME. I WANT YOU TO KILL ME. PLEASE! DON'T TOUCH ME! IT'LL GET ON YOU. LET ME GET IT OFF. I HAVE TO PUNISH ME. EVERYONE'LL GET HURT IF I DON'T. NO! NO! YOU'RE DEAD ALREADY. MAKE HIM STOP LAUGHING. I KILLED THEM. I GOT IT ON THEM AND I KILLED THEM. I KILLED YOU. YOU'RE NOT REAL! I KILLED YOU! LET GO! LET ME GET IT OFF. I WAS BAD AND DISGUSTING. NONE OF THEM WILL FORGIVE ME. I KEEP HURTHING ALL OF THEM. LET ME WASH IT OFF. LET ME WASH THE BAD AND EVIL OFF. IT'S ALL OVER ME. I FEEL IT CRAWLING ON ME. LET GO! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU! THERE! YOU LEAVE ME! GET AWAY! GET YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF OF ME! YOU'RE NOT REAL! YOU'RE ALL DEAD! DON'T TOUCH ME!"

Additional staff from the two closest units rushed in.

A bruise was already forming on Todd's forehead. Susannah checked Todd's eyes and then checked his head for bumps or lacerations, as Eileen and a tech from the one of the other units held his head tightly. Susannah wanted to make sure there was no head injury before she ordered medication.

Todd was beyond hearing their soothing words. He was lost in a reality that was even more terrifying than his nightmare. Susannah gave orders for Todd to be sedated and for the bed to be set up with a four-point restraint. Todd's abdomen and torso had numerous deep scratches that had to be treated, so no restraint could be placed across either.

Todd continued to shriek and cry. He was gasping for breath. He continued to struggle with all his might.

"Roll him," Terry instructed. As soon as he was in position, she injected him.

Todd struggled, screamed and cried for another few minutes.

"Shhhh. You didn't hurt anyone, Todd. No one's going to hurt you. You're safe. We're all safe. Shhhh. Sleep. It's sleep time," Susannah soothed as Todd's muscles began to relax and his cries and screams faded to whimpers and moans.

"Please kill me," Todd begged in a slurred voice. His body became limp. When Eileen let go of Todd's head, it slumped down and to the side. His breathing was deep and heavy.

As the staff from the other units left, Susannah and the staff from Todd's unit sprung into action. They poured some cool saline on some sheets and wrapped them around Todd's body to cool and soothe his reddened skin. Vitals were done on him. Susannah listened to his heart and lungs. They were fine. His deep scratches needed to be cleaned and treated with antibiotic cream. Susannah ordered an IV started on Todd and IV antibiotics to guard against infection. She told Dan to cut Todd's fingernails as short as possible while he was out.

"Angelo, you put some ice on that eye and keep that tooth in its socket and bite on some gauze to hold it in place. Get down to the dental clinic," Susannah called out. When Angelo hesitated, in case he was needed, Susannah added, "Now!"

Todd's burns were not serious. His skin would be red for a while, but the burn needed no further treatment.

Susannah told them to put a hospital gown and disposable briefs on Todd after his wounds were taken care of. She instructed Mark and Dan to sit right next to Todd's bed. If he started to seize the restraints could be taken off in seconds. Frank and Jeff had to change into dry clothes.

"There'll be a debriefing in the lounge outside this room in thirty minutes," Susannah announced. She did not want the staff too far from Todd's room. She also wanted to catch Téa as soon as she got back to the unit.

*****

"Téa, you seem to be doing great. Are you still having symptoms?" Doctor Anderson asked.

"The headaches are less frequent. So are the dizzy spells and the nausea. I find I either need more sleep and sleep very deeply or I toss and turn and can't sleep."

"Every night?" Doctor Anderson probed.

"No, maybe two or three times a week," Téa replied.

"How often are you experiencing headaches?"

Téa thought for a few seconds. "One or two times a week and they're not as severe as they were. They don't cause as much nausea and dizziness."

"Well, those are all typical post concussion symptoms. I'd like you to have one more CT scan in about a month. You can take some Tylenol for the headaches. If you're able to live with the nausea and dizziness, I don't want to give you anything for them because those medications will cause side effects," Doctor Anderson stated.

"Oh yeah. None of my symptoms are debilitating in any way. I'm getting plenty of rest and taking care of myself. I'm really feeling fine most of the time," Téa said happily.

"Great. So, I'll see you in a month. Make an appointment for the CT scan first and then for an appointment to see me. Well, how's that young man of yours doing?" Doctor Anderson asked. "Susannah told me that he's allowed himself to see again."

Téa smiled. "He's doing much better. He's had some amazing breakthroughs. We're all feeling very hopeful. Actually, Todd would feel much better if he could see some kind of report from you and if you would call him. I'm sorry to bother you . . ."

"Not at all," Doctor Anderson cut Téa off. "I have two more patient to see after you and then I will do a note and a phone call one better. I'll stop by and tell Todd in person that you are doing great and he doesn't have to worry."

"Thank you!" Téa exclaimed. "It will mean so much to Todd. I know he'll take great comfort in that."

"My pleasure. Todd is a very special young man. I have great respect and admiration for him, and I'm very fond of some of those children that live inside him."

Doctor Anderson walked Téa to the door.

Téa got a sudden chill down her spine.

"Are you all right?" Doctor Anderson noticed her shiver for a second.

"Yes. I . . . I'm a little uneasy about being away from Todd right now."

Doctor Anderson put his arm around Téa's shoulder and waked her to the door. "Then I won't keep you. Say hello to Todd's family for me."

"I will. Thank you," Téa said. She rushed to the elevator.

*****

Sam and Viki had just asked for second cups of coffee when Viki's phone rang.

"It's Susannah," Viki informed Sam.

They exchanged quick, anxious looks. They knew Susannah would probably not be calling unless there was a problem.

Sam noticed Viki's face go pale as she listened.

"We'll be right there," Viki said and closed the phone.

"What happened?" Sam asked immediately.

"Todd went into a restraint."

"They tied him down again!" Sam was furious.

"They had to. He was hurting himself and the staff. He's been sedated. He's asleep."

"Why . . . what . . . " Sam's mind was reeling. He couldn't finish a sentence. Guilt rained down on him like a heavy summer storm.

"They think a nightmare triggered this episode," Viki filled him in on what little she knew at this point.

Sam took a deep breath. "A nightmare? Where the Hell was Téa? Wasn't she sleeping next to him? Couldn't she tell he was having a nightmare?"

"Sam! It's not reasonable to expect Téa to keep Todd from dreaming."

"The Hell it's not! Todd believed she could. Where was she . . . with Kevin!"

Viki looked at Sam disbelievingly. "No! At least I don't think so. Kevin is at the Banner. I saw him before he left this morning, while you were in the shower. He came in late last night, after we'd gone to bed. He'd been on a date with Rachel. He said he was going to the paper and that he'd come to the hospital later in the day."

"Téa was supposed to be watching Todd," Sam said insistently, "Téa and the staff."

"Sam. I didn't get all the details. We can sit here trying to guess what happened or we can get to hospital and find out."

Sam heard panic and exasperation in Viki's voice. "Let's go," he said angrily.

*****

As soon as the elevator doors opened on seven, Téa rushed off. She was becoming uneasier by the minute. Téa heard the click as Nancy, from where she stood at the nurses station, pushed the button that unlocked the door. Eileen approached Téa as soon as she walked through the door. Téa saw that something was wrong. She could tell from the look on Eileen's face. She could feel the tension on the too quiet unit.

"Téa," Eileen began. "Todd had an episode. He's in a restraint. He's been heavily sedated. He's sleeping. Susannah's in the lounge outside his room. She wants to talk to you."

"I want to see Todd first," Téa stated.

"Not right now. They're getting him settled," Eileen informed Téa.

"Settled?" Téa didn't like the sound of that.

"Todd needs an IV. He dug his fingernails deeply into his skin, all over his body. Many of the scratches are bleeding. They need to be cleaned and treated. He needs to get some fluids and an antibiotic. Todd's skin is also quite red. He stood under the hot shower for the few minutes it took to get to him. There's a bruise on his head, don't let it frighten you. He didn't hurt his brain in any way."

"Ay dios mio. I had a feeling something was wrong. The whole time I was there I had this bad feeling." Téa hurried to the lounge.

"Téa, come sit and talk to me," Susannah said as soon as she saw a very obviously upset Téa walking toward her.

"What happened? What made Todd lose it like that?"

Susannah pointed to a chair next to hers. "Téa, please sit down and I'll fill you in on everything that I know."

"He was frightened because I left," Téa stated.

"We think it was a nightmare. Todd was sound asleep. Jeff was outside the door. The next thing Jeff knew, Todd had gotten out of breath. His breathing indicated that something frightened him and sent him into a panic. We think an alter, possibly Saber, came out at least for a moment or two. Before Jeff could stop him, Todd took off his clothes and ran into the bathroom. He or an alter stuck the desk chair under the knob."

Before Susannah had a chance to finish telling Téa everything that had occurred, Viki and Sam got there. Sam pounded on the unit door.

"Where's Susannah?"

Susannah and Téa heard Sam's loud angry voice.

"What the Hell did you two do to him?" Sam asked as he approached the lounge.

"Sam! For God's sake!" Viki called after him, as she made her way to the lounge.

"Sam, you need to calm down," Susannah said firmly.

Viki placed her hand on Sam's shoulder. "Honey, please."

Sam took some more deep breaths. He calmed as much as possible. "Todd was fine when we left here. He was supposedly fine when Viki called this morning. What made him become so agitated and violent that you had to put him in a restraint and sedate him?"

Susannah repeated what she had already told Téa. She continued and told all three of them the rest.

"I'm sorry Angelo was hurt," Viki said with tears in her eyes. "Will he be all right?"

"You're worried about Angelo! What about your brother! He almost burned himself to death. He's all cut up."

"Doctor Hanen said he wasn't under the water long enough for any serious burns to occur and he has some deep scratches, not cuts," Téa reminded Sam.

Sam turned to Téa. "Where the Hell were you when this was happening?" Through clenched teeth, Sam added, "You were supposed to be watching him and taking care of him."

"Sam! Stop this. Don't speak to Téa that way. What has gotten into you?" Viki's tone indicated more fear than anger.

Tears spilled down Téa's cheeks. "I shouldn't have left him. It didn't feel right. I should have listened to my instincts. Doctor Anderson called. I'd forgotten that I had an appointment with him for this morning. Todd insisted I go." More tears fell. "Todd was worried and he wanted to make sure I had a clean bill of health. I had to wait for two other patients because I was late. Oh God." Téa turned to Susannah. "Was it my fault? I promised him I'd keep the nightmares away. I promised him I'd keep him safe."

Viki put her arm around Téa. "Honey, no one can do that. Nightmares have haunted Todd his whole life. They will come back sooner or later. Your medical appointments are important, for you and for Todd."

"I want to see him." Sam started to head into Todd's room.

"Not yet Sam. Please wait until Terry and Janet finish taking care of him," Susannah instructed.

"I'm not going to get in their way. He's my kid and I have a right to see him!" Sam barked.

"Susannah, please. Let Sam see him for just a few minutes," Viki pleaded. She was afraid of what Sam's reaction would be to being kept from Todd.

"I'll wait out here," Téa offered. She knew Sam would not want her in there with him.

Susannah was about to say, "Go ahead," when Janet and Terry came out. Terry was carrying a tray with saline, unused bandages and a tube of cream on it.

"Sam, Viki, you can go in now," Susannah told them.

Secrets 119, Page 2