Kevin stepped away and walked over to the window and stared out of it for a few minutes. He turned around and faced Cassie once again. "Will you try to put your family back together?" "I think it might be too late for that. I hurt Andrew very much. Also, the problems we had before you and I got together are probably still there. If there is any chance for Andrew and I we would have to go for counseling."

Kevin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Do you want me to get things going with the divorce or do you want to do it?" "I know you are stretched to the limit with Todd and running the paper. I'll do it," Cassie volunteered. "You can have everything. Whatever you want. Just tell your lawyer it will be all right with me," Kevin offered.

Kevin stepped close to Cassie again. "Please tell River I love him and I will always be his friend. If he ever needs anything or needs to talk I'll be there for him." "I will," Cassie promised. Kevin took both her hands in his and kissed her on the cheek. She smiled and they looked in each other's eyes one last time. They both knew this was for the best. "It'll be all right," Cassie whispered. Kevin couldn't answer. He nodded and squeezed Cassie's hands again and left. He wanted to head for the nearest bar or for Téa's hotel room. Instead he headed for the Banner to lose himself in some work.

Viki came back to Adam's room a little after midnight. "Has he woken up at all?" Viki asked Carl, who was sitting next to Adam's bed. "No, not even when we turned him over for his feeding and his meds or when we changed him around ten," Carl replied. Viki was beginning to perspire. She noticed Carl was perspiring too. She also noticed how very warm it was in the room. She stroked Adam's face. "His skin is cool. Do you think he's warm enough without a blanket?" "We tried to cover him earlier, but he started to whimper in his sleep after the sheet and blankets were on him for a few seconds. We turned the heat up to the max. I'm afraid you're going to be pretty uncomfortable in here tonight," Carl informed her.

"That's fine. I want it as warm as possible," Viki responded, then added, "Téa is going to have some blankets custom made for him. They'll make them out of the same material as his sweatsuits." "I think he'll like that. He's seems to be taking comfort in that kind of material," Carl observed. Carl pulled the reclining chair over to the side of the bed. He spread a fresh sheet over it, making Viki's "bed" as comfortable as can be for her. "I'll let you get to sleep. I'll be right outside the door. Carl checked Adam one more time. He was dry. He headed for his post outside the door.

Viki looked down at Adam. He remained on his stomach, his thumb in his mouth. Viki had not seen Todd's body experience such peaceful sleep since the last time the Baby was out. She brushed his hair back and kissed his cheek. She then turned down all the lights and settled in the chair and closed her eyes. Sleep still did not come. Viki usually could rest peacefully when she was in the physical proximity of "her child." Tonight, thoughts of Sam prevented that. Viki looked at her watch. It was nearly one and Sam had not returned. "Maybe I should have let Téa and Kevin look for him," Viki thought. She thought of asking them to bring in the television. She realized she would not be able concentrate on it so there was no point in bothering anyone.

Susannah and Bill rewound the last of the movies they watched. "Well, it's been pretty quiet around here tonight," Bill observed. "Yes, so far Adam seems to be a good sleeper. If I were a superstitious person, I would say, 'knock wood,'" Susannah joked. She looked around at all the empty food and snack containers. "Did we really eat all that?" She asked, unbelievably. "Looks like we did," Bill smiled.

Susannah shook her head. "The only person I know who loves junk food more than I do is my sister." For a moment Susannah had a flash of Nora and herself as children, wolfing down all the candy in their Halloween bags and still wanting more. Susannah smiled at the memory and felt nostalgic for the days when she and Nora were close.

"There is still so much left. If it's all right with you I'd like to take it to the pantry so the rest of the staff can see what a great catch you are." "You'd better be careful, Doctor Hanen. Once they've tasted my cooking some of them might just try to steal me away from you." "Just let 'em try! They've never seen me in action when I have found someone who can cook the way you do, Commissioner," Susannah joked. Then in a more serious tone, she said, "I think I'm going to check in on Adam and Viki. I hope Sam's come back. I'm really worried about him. Todd's memory and his reaction to it was very hard on Sam," Susannah admitted, her tone worried. "That guilt has been eating away at Sam since I've known him, way before then too, I'm sure." Bill stated.

Susannah nodded in agreement. "I think Sam is heading for trouble if he doesn't talk to someone about it. He's overcompensating for his feelings of guilt with Adam. He doesn't want to see any restrictions placed on that child at all. He seems to be trying make up for all the suffering Todd is going through." "Is that really so bad? I mean from you've told me Adam is most likely about three. Would it hurt to spoil him a little?" "Oh Bill. I would love to spoil all of them. I would love to open those doors and tell Todd, 'go! Enjoy the sunshine. Go see your daughter. Don't try to think about all the things that hurt you so.' We have to do what is best for them, even if it is the hardest thing in the world for all of us."

Bill nodded. He understood. "Are you sure Adam is autistic?" "Yeah, I can't make an official diagnosis until I've observed some more, but yeah, he's autistic. Parents of children with autism need to be very strong. In many cases they have to be able to listen to their child scream and cry as if he's being tortured and allow his therapy to continue. Their arm's may long to hold a child who squirms away from their touch. They live for the slightest acknowledgment from the child that he even knows they are in the room with him. Adam is not looking to be comforted by Viki or any of them. He soothes himself. He doesn't want to play with Kevin or Téa. The thing is, Adam may understand a lot more than he can say. There may be things going on in his mind that he can't express and he becomes frustrated and angry and right now his only way to let us know he is unhappy is to tantrum. The most important thing we need to give him is a way to communicate. The rest is important, but that is essential."

Bill put his arm around Susannah's shoulder. "If anyone can get through to that little boy I know you and Todd's family can. If Sam needs someone he's got no emotional attachment to, to listen, just listen, I'll be there. All he has to do is ask." Susannah stroked Bill's cheek and then hugged him. "Thank you. I will tell Sam when I see him. I just hope he's all right. He was so upset when he left." "Well then, let's head back down the hall and see if all is well with Adam and if Sam has come back." "Then you had better go back to your room and get your beauty sleep, Commissioner. I wouldn't want you getting circles under those amazing brown eyes." Bill laughed. "Shouldn't that be my line?" Susannah laughed back. "Oh I don't know. I'm a firm believer in role reversal. Especially when you do the cooking instead of me. That is something else I have in common with my sister. With the exception of my grandmother, the Hanen women are notoriously bad cooks."

Bill helped Susannah carry the many containers to the pantry and they placed them in the refrigerator and cupboard. He then walked her back to Todd's room. He knew that if Sam were back he would probably be too tired to talk. Even so, Bill wanted to let him know that his ear was always available. Susannah stopped at the nurses station. She checked Todd's chart. She told Connie and Marcia to alert the rest of the staff that there were some wonderful goodies in the pantry. Susannah was happy that all still seemed quiet with Adam. Susannah saw Carl sitting calmly outside Todd's room so she didn't want to go in and disturb Viki. "Did Sam come back to the hospital?" Susannah asked. "Not that we know of," Marcia responded. "He could have come up the back elevators and gone directly to the family lounge, but I imagine he would have come here first," Connie remarked. "I think he would have come directly to Todd's room too, but I will check the lounge before I go back to my office," Susannah stated.

Marcia was telling Susannah and Bill a joke that Carl had told them earlier when they heard a tap on the doors that led onto the unit. All of them, especially Susannah, were shocked to see Sam and Nora at the door. They could also see that Sam didn't look so good and was slightly leaning against Nora. Connie buzzed them in.

To say that Nora was surprised to see Susannah still there at this hour was an understatement. She never dreamed she'd come face to face with her sister tonight. "Susannah," Nora nodded in Susannah's direction. "Hello Nora." Susannah said with a small smile on her face. She turned to Sam. "Are you okay?" "Yeah, I'm fine! Just fine and dandy!" Sam snapped. Susannah could see he was still very troubled. "Is Adam still out?" Sam asked. "As far as we know. He's been sleeping. Viki is with him," Susannah informed him. Sam looked like he was about to head toward Todd's room, but instead sat down wearily in the lounge near it. Susannah and the others could see Sam was not steady on his feet. Susannah did not ask him any more questions. She knew this was not a good time to talk to him.

Susannah and Nora looked at each other awkwardly . Nora looked in Bill's direction. Dressed in jeans, a tee shirt and a sweat jacket, he did not look like a doctor or a staff member. She wondered if it was Bill. Bo told her about Bill. She was happy for her sister, yet she felt it was Susannah's place to come tell her in person.

Susannah motioned Bill over. "Nora, I'd like you to meet Commissioner Bill Jackson. He's from our old neck of the woods, Chicago." Nora extended her hand. "Hello Bill. I wonder if it has slipped Susannah's mind or did she tell you she has a sister?" Everyone could feel the tension between Nora and Susannah.

"Yes, I do know about you, Nora," Bill said, smiling, not making a bad situation worse by acknowledging Nora's sarcasm. "In fact, I have heard some preeeety wild stories about the antics of the Hanen girls." Susannah looked down and smiled. "Well, if she said I was the instigator," Nora paused and smiled a small smile herself, "I guess she was telling the truth, but Susannah came up with plenty of ways to get us in trouble too." "I would love to hear about some of those ways one of these days," Bill admitted, smiling first at Nora and then at Susannah.

Nora's tone became cold again. "How have you been Susannah? Still tending to Llanview's most wanted?" Sam was about to say something to Nora. He started to stand up and then felt as if he were going to be sick. He sat quietly. Susannah was not about to get into here, in front of Todd's room. She was furious that Nora would demonstrate such little self-control, not to mention compassion.

Susannah glared at Nora. That didn't phase her one bit. "Bill," Nora began, "did you know that Susannah always had a big heart? She was always bringing home injured or sick animals, cats, dogs, birds. She once even brought home a lizard some kid didn't want. I just never thought she's progress to a rapist and murder." "Damn it, Nora!" Sam managed to mutter.

Inside Todd's room, Viki did not hear the conversation in the lounge, neither did Carl. Viki was still lost in thoughts of Sam when she heard Adam start to stir. She stroked his head. "Shhh, go back to sleep, baby." Adam's eyes opened. They immediately shifted to the right. Viki looked at her watch. It was almost one-forty. Adam sat up. He tried to get off the bed and was stopped by the side rail. He started to climb over it. "Carl!" Viki called out. Carl was at Adam's bedside in a second. "Hey Adam, it's bedtime." Carl gently pushed him back on the bed.

"AAAAHHHHH!" Adam protested loudly. He seemed suddenly wide-awake and ready to go. What they didn't know was that Adam wanted to hear Kevin sing the Yogi Bear song again. Adam had no concept of time or people or that they come and go. He assumed the voice that sang the song was still there. He could not tell them what he wanted. He became frustrated, angry and sad.

Adam started to scream and cry. "What is it Adam?" Viki tried to put her arm around him to comfort him. He squirmed away and tried to get off the bed again, only to become more upset when Carl, and Dave who had come into the room with Connie as soon as they heard Adam's cries, once again, stopped him. "Maybe he's thirsty?" Viki suggested. Carl didn't have a sippy cup handy. He held a standard cup of water to Adam's lips. Adam pushed Carl's hand, causing the water to spill all over his sweatshirt. "I'd better get this wet top off of him," Carl announced. He asked Connie to get another top out of the drawer. "Oh dear!" Connie exclaimed. "All the sweats that are exactly like the ones he's wearing are in the laundry. Let me go see if there are some clean ones in the dryer. Do you guys want me to get Marcia to come in?" "Nah, this one may bite but he's no problem. Carl and I will be fine," Dave replied for both of them. Connie left the room.

"Let me check to see if he needs changing. We may need to get these pants off too," Carl called out as he slipped on a pair of gloves. Dave held him while Carl checked. Adam kicked out a little, but not enough to cause any injury or to require anyone hold down his legs. It was more the way a baby kicks when being diapered. "He's wet. He needs changing. Maybe that's what woke him up. Let's get the pants off of him too," Carl stated.

Viki stepped outside while they changed him. Unlike the other children and Todd it didn't seem to matter to Adam if she were in the room with him or not. As soon as she walked the few steps toward the lounge Viki heard voices and was shocked to see Nora there and Sam sitting in one of the chairs, his face tinged almost green.

Viki approached them. She immediately headed for Sam, before she said a word to anyone else, even Nora. Viki sat next to him and took his hand. "I've been so worried about you. Are you all right?" Sam noticed there was no anger in her voice, only concern. He was sorry he worried her. "I'm fine. I had too much to drink and Nora drove me here. I was wobbly on my feet so she came up with me. Viki, I'm sorry I gave you something else to worry about. I don't want to talk anymore right now." Viki took his right hand and held it in both of hers. "You don't have to. I'm just thankful that you are all right and you are here." Sam looked at her. Tears formed in his eyes. He said nothing further. He didn't have to. Viki understood that he was in too much pain to even talk about it.

Adam continued to cry as they took his clothes off. When they had both the pants and the shirt off and removed the absorbent brief, he thought they were going to take him back to the bathtub. "Ehhhh," he called out excitedly. "Ehhhh," great talking, Adam," Carl reinforced. They did not know that the tub and the song were what he wanted. Now naked, Adam managed to get off the bed. He headed toward the bathroom. "Adam no." Dave put his hand on Adam's shoulders and tried to gently lead him back to the bed. They knew if they used physical restraint to get him back to the bed he would begin to tantrum. Adam did an about face and headed right back to the bathroom. "Come here!" Carl instructed, moving a little closer to the bed. He felt for the Ziplock bag of yellow M&M's he had in his pocket to use as a reinforcer, if Adam complied.

Viki patted Sam's knee and stood up. She headed in Nora's direction. "Nora, thank you for bringing Sam here. I know this couldn't' have been easy for you." Nora felt so bad for Viki. She knew how much Viki loved Todd and she feared for her or anyone who loved Todd Manning. She believed anyone who became involved in Todd's life would end up being hurt, badly, by him. "No, problem. Although, to be honest, I didn't think it would be party time at this hour. I didn't realize my sister ran such a swinging unit." Nora was only half joking and Susannah sensed a dig in there.

"Well, it is usually quiet at this hour but a new alter came out today. He's only about three years old and Susannah is staying in case she's needed." Nora looked at Viki, unbelievingly. She smiled and raised her eyebrows. "Todd Manning as a three year old! Ooookaaaay!" "Nora, it's true. I know how you feel about Todd and that it's hard to believe. My brother is very ill. Much more so than I was. Nora, things were done to Todd that you could never imagine." "Yes, well Todd has done some things that no one could imagine one human being doing to another." "Nora I know Todd hurt you. I'm sorry and I know Todd is too. I'm not excusing him to you, I . . . " Nora cut her off. "Viki, I know Todd is your brother and you love him, but don't you see that he is making a fool out you and Sam and Téa and he is taking Susannah along for the ride? He's preying on all of you. I don't know what he hopes to gain with this charade. He already managed to get away with taking us all hostage. All he had to do was attend therapy. He didn't have to get himself locked away, so I don't know what his game is. I do know it's something, and in the end you and Sam and Téa and my sister will be hurt."

Susannah was just about to tell Nora she should leave. Susannah was used to Nora's attitude but she knew that Viki and Sam had enough to contend with and didn't need to hear this.

Adam's frustration and sadness increased. He wanted the song and he wanted to stim with the water and he was getting neither. He now started to scream and cry in earnest.

Nora stopped talking. A puzzled look appeared on her face. She looked around. "Do you have a baby on this unit?" she asked, incredulously, not being able to imagine who would bring a baby on a lock-down psychiatric unit. Susannah looked Nora in the eye. "That's Todd." For once, Nora was left speechless for a few seconds. She shook her head. "Todd, no . . . no . . . that sounded like . . ." "A baby," Viki finished her sentence for her. "Nora, Todd is not pretending. The alter who's out is only a baby. He's also autistic," Viki informed her.

Nora had some knowledge of autistic children from some of her conversations with Rachel. She could no more imagine Todd being like one of those children then she could imagine what it felt like to be a kangaroo. Nora then became angry that Todd would use something like autism to pull whatever the hell it was he was pulling.

Carl and Dave kept trying to gently guide Adam back to the bed. Adam remembered the long hallway outside and felt compelled walk back and forth as he had earlier. He surprised them by suddenly running for the door. Just as Connie was coming back into the room with clean laundry in her arms, Adam managed to get by her and get out. Before they could stop him he ran down the hallway in the direction of Susannah's office and the lounge.

"Oh my God!" Nora shrieked at the sight of Adam, completely naked, running down the hallway towards them. Nora backed away, her mouth agape. She could not believe this was Todd. Bo had told her over and over again how sick Todd was. Still, she could not believe her own eyes. Nora could see the outline of Todd's entire ribcage. His arms and legs were so thin. His eyes were huge and his skin very pale. He did not look like the man Nora still had nightmares about. He looked ill, fragile and pathetic and what shocked Nora the most was how young he looked. Her immediate reaction to him confused and frightened her. She felt compassion for him. For a moment her heart ached for him. She then reminded herself and kept telling herself, "This is Todd Manning . . . This is Todd Manning." Nora was not ready to let go of everything she felt about Todd.

The one thing Nora realized was that Todd would never have run out into the hall naked. He would never allow himself to be exposed to anyone that way. "God! He has lost his mind," Nora thought, but she still did not think of this being anyone but Todd.

Viki and Sam jumped to their feet. Susannah held her hand up as Dave, Connie, Carl and Marcia, who came out from behind the nurses station, ran after Adam. She knew he would become terrified and need to go into a restraint if they were all to approach him. The first thing Susannah wanted was to protect Todd's privacy and dignity. She knew he would never want anyone to see him that way. She also knew how Adam would react to a blanket or sheet being placed on him. Susannah turned to Bill. "Let me have your jacket." Susannah pointed to the zippered jacket Bill was wearing. It was of similar material to the sweatsuits Adam liked.

"Come here!" Susannah instructed firmly. Adam ignored her and continued running down the hall. He had absolutely no self-consciousness about his naked body. He made it down the hallway to Susannah's office door. As he had earlier he placed the palms of his hands on it and started back towards the nurses station. Susannah realized this behavior had already become a ritual.

This time Adam didn't run. He began toe-walking again. Nora stared in total disbelief. Sam couldn't stand it. He knew how much Todd would hate having them see him this way. For the moment, Sam forgot about Adam's discomfort at having some materials placed on him. Sam stood up and ran to the linen cart and pulled a sheet off of it and ran to Adam. "Sam don't!" Susannah called out, but Sam either didn't hear or chose to ignore her. He wrapped the sheet tightly around Adam and held it in place .

Adam immediately started to scream and cry at the top of his lungs. He tried to pull the sheet away from him. Susannah, Dave and Connie ran up to where Sam struggled with Adam. "Sam, leave him be! He can't stand the feel of that material on his skin." Susannah called out. "Oh God! Adam, I'm sorry! Adam!" Sam immediately pulled the sheet off of the screaming child. Adam slid down to the floor and began to self-soothe. Sam looked down at Adam. He was horrified that he had further upset this child. Adam was rocking himself rapidly and sucking his thumb. Susannah rushed to him and wrapped Bill's jacket around him. It was large enough to cover Todd's thin frame like a nightshirt.

Susannah looked up. Viki had tears streaming down her cheeks. Sam looked like he was going to be sick. Susannah's eyes shifted to Nora. She noticed that Nora was subconsciously holding onto Bill's arm. She looked faint.

"Do you want us to get him back to his room?" Carl asked. "No, just leave him be for a few minutes. Maybe he'll come out of this," Susannah instructed. Dave and Connie knelt near Adam. Susannah stood up an was about to tell Sam to go lie down and Nora to sit down when she heard the involuntary cry of an approaching seizure. "GET HIS THUMB OUT OF HIS MOUTH!" Susannah shouted to Dave and Connie. Dave pulled Adam's thumb out just as his body stiffened and his jaw clamped shut. They quickly turned him on his side. Connie put her thigh under his head until a pillow was brought to her.

Adam seized for three minutes and forty-two seconds. Viki walked over to Sam. She linked her arm through his and held onto him tightly. Sam stood there feeling as impotent in this situation as he did in every other. There was nothing he could do to help either of the people he loved. Nora watched in horror as the seizure gripped Todd's body. She had never seen anyone have a generalized seizure before. She wondered why they all just stood around and did nothing.