Eileen buzzed Blair in. As soon as the doors opened Blair heard Adam screaming and crying. Like Nora, for a second, Blair thought someone had brought a baby onto the unit, but then quickly asked, "Is that Todd?"
"Yes, another alter came out yesterday. He's only about three years old and he's . . ."
Before Eileen had a chance to finish her sentence Blair pushed past her and headed into Todd's room.
Blair was not prepared for the scene she walked in on. Adam was still on the floor. He was kicking his legs, his arms were flailing wildly and his face was red, as he continued to scream and cry. Susannah, Kevin and Frank were all standing around, doing absolute nothing to help or comfort him.
"WHAT ARE YOU SADISTS DOING TO HIM!" WHERE'S VIKI! DOES SHE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO TODD!" Blair shrieked and rushed to Adam.
"Blair don't!" Susannah cautioned.
"Go to hell!" Blair shot back. She rushed over to Adam and pulled him up to her and held him against her chest. "Baby, what are they doing to you? Shhh, Blair is here. I won't let them hurt you." Adam continued to tantrum.
Susannah didn't want to get the techs or nurses involved in physically removing Blair unless she presented a real danger to Todd, herself or anyone. She did think of calling security, however, was afraid of traumatizing Adam. "Blair! You are not helping. Please step away from him and I will explain what is going on to you," Susannah tried to keep her voice calm.
"I know what's going on. God! Is Todd right? Are the Buchanans paying you off!"
Kevin stepped over to Blair. "Come on Blair. Either you leave or I will help you to."
"You lay one finger on me and I will have your ass in jail so fast your tramp will have to pay conjugal visits to you."
Blair turned her attention back to Adam. "Todd please. Tell me what they did to you. I'll help you. I'll stop them. I promise, but you have to tell me what they did." Adam continued to tantrum. Blair was starting to panic. She was terrified for Todd. "There! Do you see! He's so terrified of you that he can't even speak!"
"Blair, you idiot! This is another alter. He's autistic. He doesn't have any language skills. He's having a tantrum because he wants something and we don't know what it is because he can't tell us." Kevin spoke loudly, into Blair's ear!
Blair held Adam tightly pressed to her. "Autistic!" Blair heard the term before but knew little about it. Adam's tantrum continued. "Look Kevin! I don't care what your reasons or yours are." Blair directed that to Susannah. "You are torturing this little boy and I will not stand for it. Give him what he wants! For God's sake! Haven't they all suffered enough? Why are you adding to it?"
"Blair!" Kevin spoke through clenched teeth. "As usual, you don't know what your talking about. You are making things worse for him. Now let go of him and . . ."
"LEAVE HER ALONE!" They were all surprised to hear Sam shouting at them from the doorway. Sam entered the room. He had overheard the last thing Blair had to say and he fully agreed with her. None of them were more shocked than Blair herself. She could not believe Sam was on her side and standing up for her against the rest of them.
"Sam, you don't understand. Adam is tantruming bec . . . " Kevin began.
"Because of something you all did to him!" Sam accused, before Kevin had a chance to finish. He joined Blair by Adam's side. He stroked Adam's head as Blair continued to hold him close to her. "Adam, shhhh, we won't let anyone hurt you, shhh." Sam turned to Susannah. "Does he want more candy? Are you doing this to him over a lousy bit of candy!"
Susannah could see that Sam was ready to fall apart. She spoke to him calmly. "Sam, we don't know what he wants. We've tried several things. He didn't really seem to want candy today or the ball. Sam went to the toy box and pulled out several more toys. He had Mr. Rabbit, one of Thomas' trucks, one of Andy's stuffed dinosaurs. The more he held them up to where he thought Adam could see them the more Adam screamed and cried. Blair's silk blouse was stained with Adam's tears.
"Maybe he's hungry?" Blair suggested.
Sam rushed to the table and got the sippy cup of juice the bowl of oatmeal that he remembered Adam liking last night. "Don't you dare tell me to make him beg for this before I try to give it to him," Sam bellowed to Susannah, Frank and Kevin.
"Beg! They're making him beg for food?" Blair asked, incredulously.
Sam knew that was not really the case, but in his eyes it came close enough. "I'll explain things to you later," Sam told Blair. He knelt down to Adam and held up the cup of juice. Adam continued to cry and scream. He tried the cereal next and Adam knocked it out of his hand sending oatmeal flying everywhere.
"What's is going on here!" Viki could not believe her eyes as she and Téa came into the room. Viki was still holding some of the containers of coffee they had brought back with them. Viki put hers down and rushed to where Sam knelt next to Blair and Adam. Viki could see by Adam's red, swollen and tearstained face that he had been crying for a very long time. She rubbed his back as Blair continued to hold him.
Not knowing the circumstance, Téa immediately assumed Blair had set this all in motion. "What did you do to him, Blair!"
"Me! It was Kevin and Doctor Hanen and this whole damn hospital. I should have you all brought up on charges." Blair threatened.
"Blair, Adam is in a special program and his treatment is different from th . . ."
Blair cut Viki off. "Viki, my God! Not you too. You approve of this! You're allowing Doctor Hanen and her staff and Kevin and Téa to torture Todd this way?" Blair turned to Téa. She looked daggers at her. "And you! You are probably the one who instigated this whole thing. I don't think, he'd," Blair pointed to Kevin, "be smart enough to think of this on his own. You both want Todd dead or in such a state that he can never come back!"
Susannah knew she had to do what ever it took to stop this right now. "Blair, if you don't let go of him and leave right now I will call security and I will have you permanently barred from coming onto this unit."
"You just try that! When I get finished with all of you . . . " Blair caught herself before she said too much and gave herself away. Blair looked at Adam. "Oh baby please stop crying. I don't want to leave you like this." Blair started to rock him and sing to him. "Hush little baby don't say a word, mama's gonna buy you a mocking bird." Adam stopped screaming and his crying lowered. "If that mocking bird don't sing, mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring," Blair continued.
"Ehhhh," Adam cooed softly, as Blair continued the song.
"My God! It was the singing," Kevin suddenly realized. He knew Adam had jumped up and down in front of him because he wanted him to sing to him as he had yesterday. Kevin was about to rush to him and start singing the cartoon theme song when he realized that would be rewarding Adam's tantrum. He held off until he had the chance to ask Susannah what to do."
Susannah realized that someone had reinforced almost every one of Adam's tantrums. He was constantly learning that this was his best shot at getting attention and what he wanted. "I want everyone to leave here. He needs to either eat something or receive a feeding. He needs to get his meds and a bath. That will most likely keep him calm."
Blair only hoped that what Adam had just been through made it to his chart. She wished she could get a look at it. She was afraid they were going to cover this up. Blair had no idea of the careful documentation the staff always made sure to do. Todd could barely sneeze without it being charted.
Adam was still crying slightly, but not tanturming. He pulled away from Blair and started to suck on his blanket and wiggle his fingers in front of his eyes again. Susannah walked over to him. "Adam, I love how quiet you are" Blair noticed the exuberance in Susannah's voice. Susannah tickled the back of Adam's neck. He scrunched it back.
"Ehhh," Adam vocalized, obviously enjoying the tickle.
Blair didn't understand what was going on, but she intended to find out. She stood up. She had never seen this strange behavior in a child. She headed for Viki. "Please, Viki, come outside. I need to talk to you. I'll wait for you outside."
Blair hated to leave Adam. She was terrified for him. She genuinely believed that Todd was in danger. Before she thought that Susannah just wasn't doing right by him because of poor judgment, now she was afraid it was deliberate. She remembered how Asa and Kevin were willing to do anything to get the Sun away from Todd. Since Blair had taken over they have not made any moves against her or the paper. She knew that was because she did not have Todd's edge. They had no reason to come after her. She also had no reason to expose them. Their lives had been quiet of late. Were they planning something? Was Asa up to something and he needed to make sure Todd was kept out of the picture? Susannah was, after all, related to the Buchannans through Nora. She heard that Susannah and Nora didn't get along or even speak to each other. Was that just to cover things up? What if she was being paid to keep Todd sick? Blair's thoughts sounded paranoid, even to her, but she wasn't so sure she was off base. She would have to sound Matthew Allen on this. Her lawyer might think she had gone over the edge or maybe he would see that she had reason to be concerned, Blair reasoned to herself.
Adam had stopped crying. Now he was just quietly stimming. Blair stroked Adam's hair. She kissed the top of his head. He didn't act as if he even knew she was in the room with him. He kept staring at his wiggling fingers with his sideways stare. He was making a squeaking sound and once again clutching his blanket. Blair wiped away the tears that slid down her cheeks. She looked to where Susannah, Frank, Téa and Kevin stood and shot them a look or intense anger. Blair walked out and to the lounge.
Sam stared at Adam and then looked up at Viki. He knelt down. He brushed Adam's silky hair out of his face. "I never stopped the pain for you, maybe now I can," Sam thought to himself. He stood up. "I'll be outside," he said to Viki without looking at her.
Viki walked over to where Susannah, Kevin and Téa stood. "Susannah, what in God's name happened here?" "Adam wanted something. We couldn't figure out what it was he became frustrated and angry and began to tantrum. Blair saw what was happening and became upset," Susannah filled Viki and Téa in on what had transpired.
"Upset! She wouldn't listen. She was all accusations and threats," Kevin spoke up. Téa didn't even want to hear it. She could only imagine what Blair's accusations were all about. "Mom, Sam is losing it. He screamed at all of us to leave Blair alone. He believes that she is right about us torturing Todd."
"He told you Blair was right?" Téa couldn't believe she heard right.
"Susannah, I'm afraid for him. I don't know how he will react when I tell him I'm along the ABA program for Adam," Viki admitted.
"Viki, if you need some more time to think about it you are under no obligation to give me your permission." Susannah wanted to make sure that Viki did not feel any pressure to agree to this.
Viki looked away. "I don't know. I want to do what is best Todd. That comes first. I understand Sam wants to keep Adam happy and he sees this as causing him to suffer needlessly, but he is not thinking rationally now," Viki lamented.
"Doctor Hanen, it's as if something in Sam snapped when he heard Todd remember Peter molesting him," Téa pointed out.
"He must have become deranged if he's agreeing with Blair," Kevin exclaimed.
"Kevin!" Viki raised her voice, "Sam, is suffering."
"Come on mom! You know I like Sam. I also know a thing or two about guilt, but he is not being rational. He shouldn't be making any decisions for Todd."
Sam saw Blair sitting in the lounge. He noticed she was twisting a handkerchief in her hands. She occasionally blotted her tears with it. He sat down next to her. "Adam is still quiet. He's doing what Susannah calls stimming. It's self-stimulation. It may help him to calm himself or give him some kind of sensory input."
"Sam, is Doctor Hanen claiming this is some kind of psychotic behavior?" Blair inquired.
Sam's jumbled thoughts could not remember the word pervasive. "It's some kind of developmental disorder not psychosis."
Blair could not understand of what purpose a handicapped alter could serve. "Sam, I know that is what Doctor Hanen said, but how do you know it's true? How do you know they aren't doing something to Todd with all those drugs that is making him act this way?"
Sam was quiet for a moment. "No . . . no, they . . . they are trying to help Todd." Sam said this as if he were trying to convince himself more than Blair.
Blair picked up on this. "Sam, we both know Todd has never been . . . well . . . 'right,' but he was not like this. Sam, he ran a newspaper. He raised Starr. He took care of her when she was so sick. He took care of me. He did all that until he was put into this hospital. Since then look at him. Look at him, Sam!" Blair started to cry again. She thought of telling Sam about the pictures and the tape of Téa telling Starr how much she liked Kevin and that she saw him outside the hospital and in her hotel room. She had spoken to Cassie that morning and she knew that Kevin and Cassie were divorcing. Cassie said she believed that Kevin was not having an affair with Téa, although he didn't really know his own feelings. Blair still didn't think she could trust Sam. When push came to shove he would side with Viki, Téa, Susannah and Kevin.
"Sam please just think about what I'm about to say. Do you think there is any chance that Doctor Hanen is being bribed to keep Todd sick?"
Sam was not so far-gone that he would believe that. "No! Absolutely not!"
"Sam, think about it. Bo is Susannah's brother-in-law. Nora is her sister and she hates Todd with all her heart. She never forgave him for what he did to her. Asa swore revenge on Todd for all the things he wrote about Bo. Kevin hated Todd and lived to hurt him before he did this about face." Blair took a deep breath and continued. "I know you don't believe me but Téa and Kevin are having an affair. They are making a fool out of Todd and God only knows what else they have in mind for him."
Sam was confused. The part of him that was rational knew how off base Blair was. Then there was part of him that wanted to get Todd out of there and be the one to protect him and to be the one Todd turned to instead of Goodone. That part and the part of Sam that wanted to make it up to Todd for not protecting him when it counted grasped onto what Blair said. That part of him tried to find some grains of truth in it, no matter how small they might be. Sam's need to do this frightened him. He didn't know what was happening to him.
"I think I know what Adam wanted," Kevin spoke up. In the confusion he almost forgot to tell that to Susannah. "I think he wanted me to sing him that silly little Yogi Bear cartoon song. Did you notice the way he calmed as soon as Blair started singing to him? He did the same thing yesterday. I think he wanted the song to come out of my mouth or maybe he thought the music came from the stuffed bear I held up."
Susannah realized that probably was just what Adam wanted. "I think you're right," she concurred.
"You mean that baby suffered through all that tantruming because he wanted someone to sing to him. All he wanted was for someone to sing to him!" Tears fell from Viki's eyes as she realized this to be true. Téa began to cry at the thought of it too. "Susannah I have no doubt in my mind. I want you to do the ABA program with Adam. He must learn to communicate. He has to be able to tell us what he wants. If it does nothing more than that it will be worth it. Sam will just have to accept it." They heard the determination in Viki's voice.
Frank checked Adam. "He needs changing," Frank informed them.
"I want Todd's body to rest for a while. I won't be doing anymore therapy with Adam until later. After the initial training session with all of you we will do one with Adam present," Susannah stated and then turned to Frank. "Frank, I'll call Don and Steve in here. I think this would be a good time for his bath, feeding and meds. Don't do program with him. Let him enjoy the water and hopefully he will calm down and get sleepy. Afterwards, I want you to try to get him into bed for a nap. Call me if you have any problems getting the blanket away from him before he goes into the tub."
Kevin turned to Téa. "The blankets are a really big hit. He has not let go of one you gave him. He's been dragging it all over the place." Téa smiled, happy that she was able to do something to give this child pleasure.
"I guess we'd better go talk to Blair," Viki sighed.
"I can imagine what she is filling Sam's head with," Kevin said bitterly.
"Kevin," Viki began, "Even though Sam may be very upset right now he still knows better than to agree with Blair, for the most part." Téa hoped Viki was right, but she was afraid she was wrong. Téa saw desperation in Sam's eyes. She was well aware of what that could do to a person's ability to think straight and rationally.
Susannah spoke to Kevin and Tea. "I think it's best if you and Téa left for now. I don't want the two of you getting into a confrontation with Blair. Why don't you come back in an hour and we will begin the first training session." Susannah knew she had to ask this. "Viki, I think it would be a good idea to ask Blair if she wants to participate in Adam's program. She is a member of the treatment team and . . ."
"Susannah are you crazy! You want Blair to come in here and work with Adam! You saw how she responded to you when you asked her not to go near him while he was tantruming. She told you to go to hell!" Kevin reminded her. Viki was shocked. She didn't realize Blair had such little respect for Susannah.
"Kevin, Blair had no idea why I was asking her that. She knew nothing about the program or Adam being autistic. She walked in and saw Adam appearing to be suffering and us doing nothing to help him."
Téa wondered how Susannah did it. How did she stay so fair and able to see everyone's side? Téa did understand how things must have seemed to Blair. "I can understand that. She must have been very frightened for Todd," Téa agreed.
"Not you too! What the hell is going on here? Téa! Blair was just being Blair and she was making a bad situation worse," Kevin exclaimed angrily.
Viki realized Téa and Susannah were right and she could imagine how terrified Blair must have been to see what was happening to Todd without knowing about Adam. "Kevin, I'm no fan of Blair's actions most of the time, but I can understand what happened here today. Maybe it would be best to ask her to participate in Adam's program," Viki said, as she looked into Kevin's troubled eyes.
"Mom, no . . . oh I don't know, maybe. I'd hate to have both Blair and Sam giving you a hard time. Maybe Blair will understand when we explain to her. Mom, I gotta be honest. I don't think Sam will. Something's happening to him. I'm really afraid for him." Everyone in the room agreed with Kevin's last statement. Sam was losing it.
Blair knew her time to talk to Sam was limited. The others would be joining them soon. "Sam, I know how much you love Todd. I know how much Viki does too, but she also loves her son. You and I are the only ones Todd has who are looking out only for him. Please, just think about the things I said. Think about what Todd was like before he came into this hospital. Think about the fact that Kevin made it his life's work to hurt Todd. Téa was ready to send him to prison. Sam, I know first hand what all those drugs can do to a person. Please, I know you want what's best for Todd. So do I. You know that. You know I want my little girl to have her daddy back. I don't want Todd to end up spending the rest of his life in an institution, like mama."
