Angelo stopped Adam's spinning and carefully turned him so that he was facing Susannah. Adam started to cry and tried to pull away. His usual sideways gaze was in place.

Téa's nails cut into her palm at the sound of Adam's crying. "Oh mi pobre bebé," Téa whispered to herself.

"It'll be okay," Kevin whispered to her.

Viki looked at Sam. His jaw was already set in anger. She hoped he would not start in on Susannah. Viki hated upsetting Sam this way. She hated seeing Adam unhappy. What she hated the most was Adam not being able to tell anyone what he wanted or what was hurting him.

Blair had decided she would try her best to keep quiet and just make mental notes of all the ways they were torturing Adam. She knew there was nothing she could do to stop them at this point. She did not want to do anything that would cause them to ask her to leave. Then where would Adam be? Blair knew Sam would not be strong enough to take Adam away from the hospital and away from Viki without her. So Blair stood there quietly with tears in her eyes as she listened to Adam's cries and watched him try to pull away from someone who was so much bigger and stronger than he was.

"Come here!" Susannah instructed.

Adam continued to cry and continued to try to pull away from Angelo.

Angelo walked him to where Susannah stood. "Great coming here, Adam!" Susannah was very specific in her verbal reinforcer. Susannah held out an M&M.

Adam made no attempt to sniff it or take it. It was slowly becoming a less powerful reinforcer.

Susannah knew Toy Story would mean much more to him. She told Angelo to get Adam to her office.

Adam continued to cry as he toe-walked the rest of the way to Susannah's office, with Angelo gently guiding him. He was not trying to pull away anymore and he wasn't tantruming. He was rubbing the blanket material against his cheek. He would occasionally chew on it.

When they got to Susannah's office she had Angelo lead Adam to where some of the toys had been put out along with some of the other possible reinforcers, like soap bubbles. There were also some bowls of pretzels, popcorn, Skittles, Gummy Bears and other tiny treats.

Adam sniffed some of the toys. He picked up one of the blocks and licked it and then put it down again. Susannah blew some soap bubbles through the wand for him. He paid no attention. He didn't even look at the truck he had shown an interest in earlier. So far nothing there was reinforcing to him, at least not at this moment. Susannah decided to continue to use Toy Story.

They did another ten trials of getting Adam near the chair using verbal praise and Toy Story as the reinforcers. Adam's tolerance for being near the chair was now up to twenty seconds. He still needed a prompt. Encouragingly, they had been able to fade the full physical prompt to Angelo merely placing his finger lightly on Adam's shoulders and guiding him to the table. Adam was no longer crying or trying to squirm away. He toe-walked calmly with Angelo guiding him by the shoulders. They allowed him to continue to hold his abbreviated blanket.

Adam had cried the first 6 times the movie was shut off. By the ninth time he was only protesting with a loud "Aaahhhh!" On the tenth time Adam did something that was encouraging to all of them, even Sam and Blair. He reached out to the TV screen with both arms and opened and closed his hands.

"Terrific asking for Toy Story, Adam! Way to go! Great job!" Susannah's praise was huge and highly animated. She allowed him a full five minutes of watching Toy Story.

From Angelo, Steve and Susannah to Adam's family everyone had a smile on his or her face.

Viki took Sam's hand and looked into his eyes. "Sam, he was able to show us what he wanted. Adam was able to show us what he wanted!"

The tears in Viki's eyes matched Sam's. He put his arm around Viki and pulled her into a hug. Blair was torn between her happiness for Adam and the lump in the pit of her stomach that told her Sam might not be as willing to help her now.

Téa had all she could do to keep herself from rushing to Adam and hugging him as tightly as she could. She felt as if her heart would burst with love for Adam, the child who had never been abused the way Todd had been, the child Todd was meant to be. Téa wondered if somehow Victor Lord was able to see the son he named Adam and gave away to a man who named him Todd and then proceeded to torture him until all that was left of Adam was this precious child sitting on the floor watching Toy Story.

Kevin was also deeply moved by Adam's achievement. He looked in Téa's direction. He saw that she didn't even notice him looking at her. Kevin could see the love shining in Téa's beautiful brown eyes as she looked at Adam. More than see it he could feel it. The strength of Téa's love was palpable. Kevin was happy that Todd was loved like that. He couldn't help wishing there was someone who loved him that way, someone whose eyes shone that way for him. Kevin realized he was not feeling jealousy. No, he felt a strong surge of love for Adam too. What he was feeling was sad, sad and lonely. Even more than lonely, he felt alone.

Sam's happiness was short lived. After five minutes Susannah shut the movie off again. Adam did not point it or reach out to it. Susannah hoped that he would. She also understood that Adam might not really understand what he did or be able to make that connection again, not right away, maybe not for a long time.

Susannah decided Adam was ready to sit in the chair or a second or two.

Sitting was modeled for him.

As soon as he was physically prompted to sit in the chair by Steve, Adam began to cry loudly.

Both Blair and Viki glanced at Sam. Viki was worried by the tight and painful expression on Sam's face. Blair was relieved to see that Sam still hated what they were doing to Adam as much as she did.

"I love the way you're sitting, Adam! Go watch TV." Susannah praised and reinforced as she turned on the movie again. Adam had been in the chair for three seconds.

After thirty seconds Susannah shut the movie off again. Adam didn't cry. Before Susannah had a chance to instruct Adam to the chair again he stood up and headed in Kevin's direction. Adam shocked them all by taking Kevin's hands, sitting down on his knees and pulling back. It was obvious to the all that Adam not only remembered the "seesaw" game Kevin had played with him, but he had figured out a way to ask for it.

Kevin looked toward Susannah. She nodded, letting him know it was all right to give Adam what he wanted.

"I love the way you asked me to play with you, Adam!" Kevin praised. Adam continued to tug on Kevin. Kevin allowed himself to be pulled down to his knees and he and Adam pulled each other back and forth over and over again. Adam was giggling and cooing "ehhhh" the entire time.

Everyone including Sam and Blair were enjoying watching Adam having so much fun. Susannah hated to, but it was time to get him to the chair again. "Okay, Kevin stop playing now. I think this time you will give him the Sd to come to the chair. When he does you can use this game . . ."

"Buzz. Buzz Lightyear! You are not worried are you?" Adam echoed. Adam's child's voice did a perfect imitation of the exact way Tom Hanks said this line in the movie. Adam had repeated it verbatim.

Everyone's eyes were wide. No one could believe Adam had been able to say this.

Téa rushed to where Kevin and Adam knelt on the floor. She hugged Adam tightly and then tickled his tummy. "Adam! That's the best talking! I love you so much! Mijo, I love you!" Téa kissed the top of his head.

"Great talking Adam! Whoa! Way to go buddy!" Kevin praised. He joined Téa in hugging Adam. Adam was laughing and giggling and seemed to love being hugged and tickled.

Sam and Viki were holding on to each other. Both were too amazed to speak. Susannah and her staff smiled at each other.

Susannah realized that the delayed echolalia did not indicate that Adam understood receptive language or was ready for expressive language. The words he just spoke may not have had any meaning to him at all. It was still a good indication that he would be able to acquire language skills.

Susannah decided to end this on a high note and she let them know that Adam had enough for today. He still was not really attending and until he learned that he would not be ready for anything else. She also told them all that Adam had shown great promise and that she felt very encouraged by everything he had done today and that they should too. Susannah happily commented that Adam had gone further today than she had hoped he would.

Blair knew she had to get back to the penthouse. She didn't want Starr asking too many questions. Blair also wanted to have time to stop by Dorian's on the way home and get her to recommend some of the doctors and other medical professionals she would need if Todd were to come home. Blair still felt reasonable confident that Sam would help her. She saw that he still could not handle demands being placed on Adam and she was sure he still hated the idea of Todd being on so many drugs.

Blair explained that she had to get back to relieve the nanny and that she would not be staying for Adam's dinner.

Sam agreed to accompany Adam, Viki, Téa and Kevin to the dining area of the day room. All Sam wanted was a cup of coffee. He wasn't hungry for any of the flounder stuffed with crabmeat, asparagus and rice that had been ordered for the adults. Adam's choices were his current favorites . . . macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, apple juice in a sippy cup, and the three new items that had been ordered, egg custard, mashed bananas and vanilla ice cream. All were chosen for their light color and creamy texture. They hoped if they could interest Adam in different foods that were of a color and texture he liked the next step would be to try first a different texture and then a different color.

Adam was allowed his ritualistic run up and down the hallway for a few minutes. Susannah knew he need the physical activity and for now this was his activity of choice. After a couple of minutes Susannah instructed Carl to get Adam to the dayroom. Adam began to cry. Carl, who had been very happy to hear of Adam’s progress, guided him into the dayroom. Adam tried to pull away and bite his own hand.

His hands were once again held down and he was praised for his quiet hands. Adam was verbally praised, only, for walking to the dayroom. Anything more than that would have reinforced his aggressive and inappropriate behavior.

Once in the dayroom Adam didn't try to get back out into the hallway. He plopped down on the floor and began to wiggle the fingers of both hands near his eyes. Susannah believed the function of his stimming, at this time, was frustration and self-soothing. Before they could stop him, Adam suddenly reached up and pulled out some of his hair. It wasn't much. Carl held his hands down. He said nothing until his hands had been down for a few seconds. Then he praised, "Great quiet hands, Adam!"

Adam didn't attempt to pull his hair again. He did pick up some strands of the hair that had fallen to the floor and twirled them between his index finger and his thumb and stared at them, apparently fascinated. He sat there staring at and twirling the hair for fifteen minutes. The others sat down to eat.

Viki was worried about Sam. He looked so unhappy and he wasn't eating. She only picked at the food herself.

They were all disappointed that Adam had regressed after showing so much progress. Susannah explained that it was very typical for that to happen and did not in any way negate Adam's progress.

They became a little less concerned when Adam toe-walked over to the table and grabbed and ate a few handfuls of the macaroni and cheese, until Adam started to cry and jump up and down. Téa thought he might be thirsty and held up his sippy cup. He immediately stopped both the jumping and the crying. Téa was about to hand it to him when she remembered what Susannah said about incidental teaching. "What do you want?" Téa gave the Sd. Adam started to cry again when Téa didn't immediately hand him the cup. Téa felt horrible knowing she had done something to make him cry. It took all she had to keep from crying herself. She stayed strong. Before she handed Adam the cup she formed his finger into a point and modeled "ju." Then she handed Adam the cup. Once again he immediately stopped crying and drank thirstily.

Téa glanced in Sam and Viki's direction. Viki was looking at her proudly and Sam's face was red with anger. He didn't say anything, but she knew in his mind she had just teased and tortured Adam.

"Téa, you did great!" Kevin praised.

"Yes, you handled it exactly right," Susannah confirmed.

"Honey, I know that was very hard for you to do," Viki let Téa know she understood.

Sam glared at Téa and didn't say a word. He wanted to. His thoughts were jumbled. He wasn't sure what he was feeling or what he wanted to say, so he said nothing. He didn't need to. Even if his feelings weren't clear to him they were to everyone else in the room.

Kevin held some of custard up to Adam. "Custard," Kevin labeled. Adam didn't respond. There was no response to the ice cream either. When he tried the bananas Adam sniffed the bowl. "Bananas!" Kevin labeled with enthusiasm. He was encouraged by Adam's interest. "Great sniffing bananas, Adam!" Kevin praised. Adam touched the mashed fruit with his fingertips. "Way to go Adam! Good touching the bananas!" Kevin praised and tickled the back of Adam's neck.

Adam giggled. This time he stuck his hand in the bowl and ate some of the mashed bananas. "Yaaayyy! Adam's eating bananas!" Kevin reinforced. He lifted Adam's sticky hand. "Give me five!" Kevin modeled a high five for Adam. Adam like that. He giggled and smiled and slapped his hand against Kevin's several more times.

Adam ate another handful of bananas. Kevin reinforced him the same way, to Adam's delight. Adam didn't yet understand how to initiate a high five. Kevin prompted him by holding his hand up again.

Adam seemed to have enough to eat. He made no further attempt at any of the foods he liked. Adam toe-walked over to Sam. Sam was happy just to have this child near him. "Adam," Sam whispered and stroked Adam's head. Sam had watched Adam respond with laughs, giggles and smiles to both Téa and Kevin. He longed to make his little boy happy too. Sam didn't intend to wait for Adam to perform for him before he did something the child would like. He tickled the back of Adam's neck. When Adam scrunched his neck back and giggled it was like a present to Sam. Viki saw the light return to Sam's eyes for those few seconds.

Adam didn't appear to be looking in Téa's direction. They realized he must have been when he approached her as she was eating a piece of asparagus. Adam toe-walked to where she sat and grabbed a spear off her plate. Before Téa had a chance to reinforce his touching the food, Adam plopped down to the floor near Téa's chair and began to hold the thin asparagus spear up in front of his eyes and twirl it as he had his hair. Short of taking it away from him and physically prompting his attention, all attempts to engage him in another activity failed.

Susannah told them to leave him be. His bedtime was soon approaching and this was his free time. It also became apparent that Adam was in need of a bath.

Téa asked if it was all right to give him the chocolate bunny she bought him.

"Sure, go ahead," Susannah confirmed.

Téa took it from the box. She sat down in front of where Adam sat, still stimming with the asparagus spear. "Adam! Look!" Chocolate!" Téa "hopped" the bunny in Adam's direction and brought it close to his nose. Adam sniffed it. He grabbed it and licked it.

"Ehhhh," he cooed in delight at the taste of the candy. As Connie had predicted he did not see it as more than candy, but he was enjoying it and that was all that mattered to Téa.

Within a couple of minutes, Adam's hands and face were covered with chocolate. No one cared. They were all happy to see him enjoying the treat. Adam had eaten about a quarter of it when he put it down and once again picked up the asparagus and began to twirl it again.

Adam protested slightly when Don took a washcloth to his face and hands, but he didn't cry or tantrum. He went back to his stimming.

Téa made several attempts to include Sam in a conversation she was having with the rest of them about the way she was dividing up her practice to several different attorneys. Her attempts were met with nods and a few "yeah's" and "uh huh's." Sam was lost in his own thoughts.

Téa felt her beeper vibrate against her. She had turned off her cell phone and put her beeper on vibrate because she feared the noise of either would be uncomfortable to Adam.

Téa looked down at the beeper. "Excuse me. I have to call one of the attorneys who's handling a divorce case for me."

A few minutes later Téa returned and told them one of her clients was very upset over her handing the case over to another attorney. They could see that Téa was torn about leaving.

"Adam, will be having a long bath in just a few minutes. That will most likely make him sleepy enough to be put to bed." Carl assured Téa.

"Sweetie, go help your client. I know how painful a divorce can be," Viki wanted to alleviate any guilt Téa had about leaving.

Téa looked down to where Adam sat. He continued to stim with the asparagus spear. He was in his own world. Téa knelt next to him. She stroked his cheek. "I love you so much. I love you all so much," Téa said softly. She held Adam's head to her chest for a moment and kissed his forehead. Téa hoped somewhere inside Todd heard her.

After Téa left Kevin told Viki, Sam and Susannah about the decision he and Cassie had come to regarding their marriage.

"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry. Are you both sure that you can't work things out?" Viki saw the pain in Kevin's eyes and her heart broke for her son.

"Yeah. Mom our marriage was really over from the moment I . . . from . . . from the day I cheated on Cassie with Barbara. We never really came back from that." In his heart Kevin knew there was more to it than that. He realized Barbara never would have happened if he and Cassie had been happy. He didn't want to think about that now.

"Kevin, if there's anything I can do to help or if you want to talk just say the word," Susannah offered.

"Thanks. I know," Kevin responded with a sad smile.

Sam said nothing. When Kevin said he and Cassie were divorcing the pictures of Téa and Kevin that Blair had shown him flashed through his mind.

Kevin was about to leave when Adam stood up and ran over to him. Adam got down on his knees in front of Kevin and pulled on his hands. They all smiled. It was clear to them that Adam remembered how to ask for his favorite activity.

"What a great boy! Adam! Awesome asking for seesaw!" Kevin praised. He got down on his knees and faced Adam. Kevin was so proud of him.

They played for about seven minutes. Adam was getting a little short of breath. It was still a huge improvement in his health. A few weeks ago Todd's body would not have tolerated even two minutes of this activity.

"Okay Adam. Thaaat's enough. It's time for you to start getting sleepy," Kevin said gently as he slowed down and then stopped the game.

"Uh oh!" Adam echoed.

"Great talking!" Kevin reinforced and pulled Adam into his arms. He rumpled Adam's hair and tickled both his neck and tummy.

Adam burst into laughter. "Ehhhhhh" Adam cooed in delight.

"I love your voice, Adam!" Kevin continued to hold and tickle him.

Viki, Susannah, Carl and Dave smiled as they enjoyed watching Adam have fun. Sam smiled sadly. He was happy Adam was having a good time. It was just that he wished he had Kevin's ease in dealing with Adam. He wished it were he who were making Adam so happy.

Suddenly Adam stopped laughing. Kevin felt Adam's body stiffen in his arms as his muscles became tight.

For a second, Kevin was afraid Adam was going to have a seizure.

When "Adam's" hands shot out in front of him and then felt around until they made contact with Kevin's face, Kevin didn't have to wait until he heard the voice call out "what . . . who . . . Viki . . . Viki!" He knew he was holding Todd in his arms.

TO BE CONTINUED