Frank, Jeff and Sam all grabbed him. Susannah hit the code button near the door. Blood was already saturating Rocky's shirt. His hand was cut and bleeding from holding the ragged glass tightly. He didn't seem to feel any of the pain he was causing Todd's body. Frank and Jeff were as surprised as Sam at Rocky's ability to resist. He was very weak, but still stronger than the others. They wrestled him to the floor. Susannah was able to hold his arm down while Frank tried to take the remaining glass out of Rocky's bleeding hand. They were becoming covered with Todd's blood. Rocky was screaming obscenities and fighting them with all his might. Just as Susannah's office was flooded with the staff that came running to assist, Frank managed to get the broken glass out of Rocky's hand. He cut his own hand in the process. Terry came running in with the strong sedative Susannah ordered. Rocky screamed in protest and called Terry every vile name he had ever learned from Peter. When Susannah knelt down and cut his shirt open and put pressure on his wound, Rocky spit in her face.
"I love my dad . . . My dad loves me! . . . I love my da . . . ." The medication put him to sleep. They lifted him to a gurney. Susannah knew he was going to need at least fifteen stitches to close his chest wound and perhaps as many to close the wounds on his right palm and his fingers. Susannah checked out Frank's hand. He too would need some stitches. She ordered him to go to the ER. Susannah had them call a surgeon. As they wheeled Todd to the treatment room, Susannah put her arm around Viki, who was as pale as Todd. Just as they approached the door to the treatment room, they all saw Blair and Dorian waiting to be let onto the unit.
*****
From where they stood outside the unit Blair and Dorian could see Todd, Sam, Susannah and several staff members covered with blood. Blair frantically pounded on the door.
Margie, a clerk at the desk, called, "Doctor Hanen, is it all right to buzz them in?"
Susannah was not happy to have them there now, but she called back, "go ahead."
Blair ran to Todd, leaving Dorian behind. "WHAT HAPPENED! WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?" she screamed.
"Blair, calm down or I will have to ask you to leave," Susannah stated firmly.
"Todd cut himself with some glass," Sam explained.
As they wheeled Todd into the treatment room, Blair started to go in with them. Susannah stopped her. "Blair, please wait out here. I'll be out soon."
"No! I want to be in there with him," Blair protested.
"Blair, if you want to stay on the unit, please, just wait out here."
Dorian saw Susannah meant business. "Blair. Come on honey. Let's just wait here. Todd has plenty of people with him." Dorian put her arm around Blair's shoulders.
Susannah turned to Frank. "You! Go to the ER. Everything is under control." Frank headed for the elevators and Susannah headed into the treatment room.
"Dorian, did you see him! He was covered in his own blood. They all had Todd's blood all over them. He's already anemic. My God! How could they let him get hold of glass? Do you see what I mean! Todd will die in this hospital. I want him out of here. I want him out of here today!"
"Blair, listen to me. I know you're upset and seeing Todd like that is horrible . . . honey, you cannot just take him out of here. Blair don't you see that this incident only makes your case stronger."
"My case! Damn it Dorian. I'm not thinking about my case. Todd is in danger. He could die in there. He needs to be home, with Starr and me. They are not helping him here. They let him hurt himself."
"I know it seems that way, but we don't know the whole situation, and . . ." Blair started to protest. Dorian put up her hand. "And you cannot . . . Blair, listen to me! You cannot legally take Todd out of here. What are you going to do? Take him to the penthouse and hide him in a closet?"
Blair realized Dorian was right and sat down. She put her face in her hands and then threw her head back as her hands brushed through her hair. "What am I going to do? How can I just leave him here? If he didn't already kill himself?"
"First of all, I am sure Todd will be all right. Many times wounds bleed profusely, even when they are not serious. Todd is in a hospital and if he needs blood they will give him a transfusion."
"Oh God! Dorian, Todd has O negative. What if he does need blood and they can't find any?"
"Blair, I don't think that will be a problem. Please, you really need to calm down. If you continue to carry on this way Doctor Hanen will have security throw you out and how will that look? Todd will be all right. He probably needs some stitches and then he will be fine. Now, why don't you just wait here, calmly." Dorian emphasized the word calmly.
"Viki and Sam are in there with him. Why can't I be?" Blair pressed.
"Blair, like it or not, Viki and Sam are Todd's family. The staff considers them to be his parents. You and Todd are no longer married. You have no legal rights to him."
"Todd and I share a bond that no one else in this world shares with him. We share Starr. That bond makes us a family."
"Not in the eyes of the law or in the eyes of the staff of this hospital." Dorian tried to get Blair to see the reality of the situation. They both looked up when Sam came out of the treatment room.
"Is he all right?" Blair stood up and practically shouted.
"They're stitching him up. He is getting a unit of blood."
"Then they did have a supply of his blood here. I was so afraid they wouldn't." Blair was very relieved over that.
"Yes, they have enough. He's going to need twenty-three stitches to close the gash he put in his chest and about another twenty to close the ones on his hand and fingers. He really did a number on himself," Sam declared.
Blair took a good look at Sam. "Are you all right? Is all that Todd's blood or did you get cut?"
"I'm fine. It's all Todd's. Frank got his hand cut up pretty badly when he tried to get the broken glass away from Todd. He'll be fine too. Susannah insisted he go to the ER."
"Is Todd in pain?" Dorian asked.
"No. They have him heavily sedated. He probably will be when he wakes up . . . or whoever wakes up," Sam added.
"Sam, how could this happen? Wasn't anyone watching him?" Blair tried not to sound accusatory.
"Susannah, Viki and I were all in the room with him. An alter named Rocky came out. He became upset and angry. He broke a lamp. Before we could stop him, he picked up some of the broken glass and cut himself. He thought he was hurting Todd," Sam explained.
"He wanted to hurt Todd? You mean like Pete . . . or that one Saber you told me about?" Blair didn't understand.
"This one is a child. He's ten and he thinks he's very tough and very much like Peter. This one loves Peter and stands up for him. He thinks is father is the greatest guy on earth." Sam emphasized the word greatest.
"How is that possible?" Dorian posed.
"I don't know. Maybe Susannah can explain it to us later," Sam answered as he sat down, wearily.
"Sam, how is Viki doing? This must have been devastating for her." Dorian asked. She made sure the proper amount of concern was in her voice.
"She's hanging in there. Susannah wanted her to go to the lounge and relax, but she insisted on staying with Todd even though he doesn't know she's in the room."
"Well, that does sound like Viki," Dorian acknowledged and then asked. "Can I get you something? Some coffee or something to eat . . . or . . . ah . . . something to wear?"
Sam looked down at his blood-covered clothes. "I keep some clothes here. I guess I'd better go shower and change. Will you ladies excuse me?"
"Of course. We'll wait right here and be here for Viki when she comes out," Dorian offered.
Sam nodded his head. He thanked them and headed for the family lounge to get some fresh clothes.
"Did you hear that," Blair asked as soon as Sam was out of earshot. "They were in the room with him. They were right in the room with him and they let him hurt himself. Oh, you bet I'm going to tell my lawyer about this."
"Blair, just to play the devil's advocate here, there might not have been anything they could have done. It might have happened too quickly, like Sam said. Also, they were dealing with an angry child who had sharp, broken glass in his hand. They had to act cautiously."
"What does that mean? Just let him cut himself to ribbons because they were afraid of getting hurt?"
"Honey, I don't think it was like that. From the looks of Sam, Doctor Hanen and the staff we saw, I'd say they did try to stop him. Blair, we have to get all the facts. You and I both know how difficult it is to deal with the mentally ill."
Blair folded her arms across her chest and shook her head. She was not really accepting everything Dorian just said.
"Why don't I go get us some coffee? Will you be all right for a few minutes?" Dorian suggested and asked.
"Yes, of course I'll be all right. I'm not the one in trouble, Todd is."
"Blair, stay out of that treatment room. They will let you know when you can see Todd."
"Yes, Dorian. I know. Don't worry. I'll behave."
*****
Doctor Kaiser, the surgeon on call, was just finishing up the last of the sutures in Todd's fingers.
"Will he have any mobility problems?" Viki asked Susannah, as they stood to the side.
"No. The cuts to his hand weren't deep enough to do any damage. He will not have the use of that hand for a couple of weeks though."
"Susannah, is he in any danger?"
"No. We are giving him enough blood to replace what he lost and we're going to start the Procrit tomorrow anyway. The only danger is in a possible infection and he's already he's getting antibiotics for that."
"Is that what that bag is that they added to his IV?" Viki asked.
"Yes. He's getting a strong, broad spectrum antibiotic. We will also have to keep his wounds clean. That is going to hurt him. He will be in considerable pain for the next week or so. He will probably have to be kept sedated and on a lot of pain med, especially if the children come out. We can't risk him tearing out the stitches."
"All done," Doctor Kaiser assistant announced. Todd's wounds were dressed.
*****
Blair stood up when she saw them wheel Todd out of the treatment room. He had been cleaned up and was in a hospital gown. She could see a white bandage sticking out of the top of this gown. His right hand was bandaged. She saw various bags of IV solution and a bag of blood hanging over him. He was even paler than she remembered.
"We're taking him back to his room. Just give us a few minutes to get him settled and then you can come in and visit with him," Susannah informed Blair.
"Viki are you okay?" Blair asked.
"I'm fine. Blair, thank you for waiting. Honey, you'll be able to see Todd in a few minutes."
"Viki, I'm not a stranger to him. Of course I'll wait." Viki realized that somehow her statement offended Blair.
"I'm sorry. Of course you would wait. I'm also sorry if Susannah was abrupt with you. We are all understandably upset," Viki admitted.
"Sam went to take a shower and change his clothes. Dorian went for coffee. Can I get you anything?" Blair offered.
"No honey. I'm fine. Thank you for offering and telling me where Sam is though."
Just as she said that they saw Dorian heading back from the cafeteria. "I brought an extra coffee just in case," Dorian announced. She handed Viki a container.
"Thank you Dorian. I was just telling Blair that I'm sorry if we were abrupt with you when you and Blair first got here."
"Oh please, Viki. We understand. You had to see about Todd. How is he?"
"He'll be okay. He lost a lot of blood. He's getting a transfusion and also some antibiotics to guard against infection."
"Infection! I didn't think of that. Viki, that wound is so close to his heart . . . what if he loses the use of his hand and . . ."
"Blair!" Dorian stopped her from saying any more. "Viki, you'll have to forgive her. Blair is still very upset after seeing Todd like that." Dorian turned back to Blair. "Dear, Viki told you Todd is getting medication to prevent infection."
"Blair, I know how frightening this all is. Believe me. I know. I appreciate how worried about you are. It's all right to voice your concern and ask anything you want," Viki declared.
'Isn't that charitable of her? Blair is only the mother of his child,' Dorian thought sarcastically.
They saw Connie enter the unit. "Hi, I came in a little early. They called me and told me what happened. They also told me Todd will be fine," Connie said reassuringly. She patted Viki's arm. She then headed for Todd's room. A few minutes later Terry came out and told them they could go to Todd's room now. Then Terry headed to change.
Todd was still in a deep sleep when they got to his room. His bed was at a forty-five degree angle and his face looked pale and drawn. He was in restraints.
"Why is he tied down? He's unconscious," Blair asked. She was not able to hide the anger in her tone.
"Todd or one of the alters sometimes wakes up unexpectedly. They all react differently to sedation. We don't want him to hurt himself," Susannah calmly explained.
"Isn't it too late to worry about that?" Blair remarked sarcastically.
"No one could have stopped this alter from hurting himself. It happened too quickly," Viki spoke up Susannah's defense.
"Of course not. Blair knows that. She's just upset," Dorian commented sweetly.
"Yes. I'm sorry," Blair apologized. But she thought to herself, 'doesn't Viki even care that they let Todd hurt himself?'
"Viki, can I speak with you outside?" Susannah asked.
Viki was hesitant. Even though Dave was in the room with Todd she hated to leave.
"We'll watch over him," Dorian offered.
"Thank you," Viki stated. She did not like the idea, but was not sure why.
Blair waked over to Todd. She stroked back the hair that had fallen in his face. It fell back down again. She gently tucked it behind his ears. She let her fingers linger on it for a few seconds. "I always did love touching your hair. Do you remember that, Todd? It's so beautiful and silky . . . like a child's. Starr's hair feels like yours when it's freshly washed, but after a couple of hours it feels more like mine. She misses you. Todd, your little girl really misses you. There's not a day that goes by when she doesn't add something she made for you to her 'Daddy Box.' When you come home you're gonna have a so many presents from Starr. There's only one present she wants. Do you know I brought her right here to this hospital for a check up last week? She was on the fourth floor. That's only three floors away from the unit you're on. She was that close to you Todd. She asked if we could come to see you. I told her not yet . . . maybe someday soon. I hope what I told her is true. She was so brave. They did her blood test and she only cried a little bit. She was holding the frog you gave her. She always carries that with her. She talks to it all the time."
Blair bent down and whispered in Todd's ear, "I'm gonna try to get you out of here, baby. I want you to come home with Starr and me. I love you Todd. I want to take care of you and make you well again. Starr and I need you to be strong and well." Blair kissed him on his lips.
Dorian was wishing that she could be alone in that room for just a few minutes. She saw Viki's purse resting on the chair. She wanted to take a quick look through it to see if those papers she found were in there. She wanted to take one of the canceled checks. She needed to find out who James Porter was. Dorian looked at Dave. He was reading a newspaper. Blair had her attention on Todd. Dorian inched her way toward Viki's purse. She was just about to reach down to unlatch it when Blair turned to her and asked. "Dorian, does he feel warm to you?"
Dorian walked over to Todd's bed. She looked at him and felt a small tug in her heart. 'No one deserves this,' she thought to herself. She felt his forehead.
"Is there a problem?" Dave asked.
"I thought Todd felt feverish. I wanted my aunt to feel his head. She's a doctor."
Dorian rested her hand on Todd's forehead for a couple of seconds. "He may be a little warm. It is normal to run a low-grade fever when there is a major wound to the body. Todd's white blood cells are increasing in response to the wound. They rush to the affected area. That is normal," Dorian explained to Blair.
"I'll have Connie come in and do a temp on him?" Dave offered.
"Yes, please, will you do that?" Blair asked. Dave went to the door and told Carl, who was posted outside the door, to let Connie know Todd may have a fever.
Connie stopped to tell Susannah and Viki about it on her way into Todd's room.
Viki became immediately concerned. Susannah told her pretty much the same thing Dorian had told Blair. Susannah had been going over Todd's meds with Viki. She let her know that she wanted to meet with her and Sam as soon as she had a chance to shower and change. She wanted to explain Rocky to them. Before she headed for the showers, Susannah said, "Viki, I know today has been traumatic for everyone, but I hope you remember we have a session scheduled for tomorrow."
"Susannah, do you really think this is a good time for you to be doing this. I know you will have your hands full once Todd wakes up."
"I think we can manage to get your session in," Susannah pointed out. She gently squeezed Viki's arm and asked, "have you given any thought to the last things we spoke about?"
"Some," Viki replied.
"That's okay. I know you've had a lot on your mind. We can talk about it during your session. Just remember . . . we are meeting later to talk about Todd. Tomorrow is all about you . . . not Todd." Susannah gave Viki's arm a final pat and headed for the shower.
*****
"One hundred point six," Connie announced after taking the thermometer out of Todd's ear.
"Do you think his wounds are getting infected?" Blair asked nervously.
"No, not at all. He's running a low grade fever in response to the wounds," Connie explained.
Blair looked at Dorian. Her look acknowledged Dorian saying the same thing Connie did.
Connie checked Todd's vitals. "He's fine," she remarked. She patted Blair on the shoulder to reassure her. Connie knew Blair cared a great deal about Todd and was frightened for him and worried about him.
"Todd and my niece have a child together. She's very concerned," Dorian said to Connie.
"Yes. Viki showed me a picture of Starr. You have a beautiful little girl."
Blair thanked Connie and asked, "You will be checking his temperature throughout the rest of the day and night?"
"Oh, yes. Doctor Hanen ordered his vitals done every hour. Don't worry. We'll be here for him." Connie stroked Todd's head as she assured them.
Viki came back into the room as Connie left. Connie told her what Todd's temperature was. She told her the same thing she told Blair. Viki walked over to the bed and put her lips to Todd's forehead. She pulled his blankets up a little higher and kissed his head. "He's had quite a day," Viki commented. She looked at Blair and Dorian.
"What made him want to hurt himself this way? Sam said an alter who thinks Peter Manning is a great guy came out. How can that be?" Blair wondered out loud.
"I'm not sure. Susannah is going to meet with us as soon as she cleans up. Would you like to attend the meeting?"
"Yes, I would. Thank you," Blair gratefully accepted the offer. Blair turned to Dorian. "Would you mind going to the penthouse and relieving the nanny?"
"No. Of course I don't mind. You know I love spending time with Starr." Dorian hoped that once Blair and Viki left for the meeting she might have a chance to look for those checks and the letter from Victor. "Viki, why don't you go get something to eat or just go put your feet up for a while," Dorian suggested. "Blair and I will stay with Todd and that tech is with him."
Viki looked toward Todd. He was in a deep sleep. "I would like to go home for a little while. I want to bring some things home and bring some fresh clothes here." What Viki didn't add was that she also wanted to check up on Kevin. She knew he was staying at the house and he wasn't answering the phone. "Will you please let Sam and Susannah know I went home? I should be back in an hour or so." Viki went to her purse and checked her cell phone to make sure the battery was working. "The staff knows to get me immediately if there is any change in Todd's condition." Viki placed the phone back in her purse. She then got her coat, took her purse and left. Dorian knew she may as well head for the penthouse.
Blair sat in a chair she pulled up next to Todd's bed. She told him about Starr's latest adventures and about how well Starr was doing in school in some things. "She's inherited your brains, baby. Our little girl is so much like you. I wonder if Starr is the child you would have been if you hadn't been raised by Peter," Blair whispered softly. She stroked Todd's head. She kissed him on the lips again. "If you were awake you would not like me touching you this much, would you?"
Blair bent down and whispered in Todd's ear. "Do you remember the first time we made love? It was my Christmas present to you. I frightened you that night didn't I? I remember how hard it was for you. At first you were afraid of me. You were afraid of yourself. You acted like my touch hurt you. Did it baby? Oh Todd, did I hurt you? Was it even you? You seemed to change a little after a while. I thought you were starting to trust me . . . maybe it wasn't you? Todd, I'm so sorry for all the lies and dirty tricks. I know I tricked you at first . . . but baby . . . I started to love you . . . not your money, Todd . . . you! I grew to love you more than I ever thought it was possible to love anyone. I don't know if you still love me . . . I want you to know you are the love of my life. You are my soulmate. You always were and you always will be." Blair kissed him again. She then just sat quietly by his bedside. Blair believed with all her heart that she could get Todd back. She longed for the life she once had with him and threw away.
