Tea's eyelids start to open, blinking slowly. She sees Todd's sleeping face in front of her, and smiles a little...then slowly furrows her brow, making a face. She picks her head up and waits a moment...she swallows...then swallows again...and again...feeling her stomach contorting, as a wave of nausea comes up fast. She starts to gag and pulls her hand away from Todd's, slapping it over her mouth as she gets up. Todd stirs a little, turning on his back as Tea runs for the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

The sound of the toilet flushing wakes Todd up a few minutes later. He rubs his eyes and face, yawning...then looks over at the empty side of the bed. He lifts his head and looks over, seeing the bathroom door shut and the sliver of light coming from underneath it. He puts his head back down on the pillow and closes his eyes.

Cough...cough, cough...

He picks his head up again at the sounds coming from the bathroom. He listens...nothing for a second...then hears the awful sounds of someone vomiting. His eyes widen, and he gets up, stepping on the bed and jumping off of it, landing in front of the bathroom door. He puts his ear to the door, and hears her inside, coughing, gagging.

He knocks, and speaks softly. "Hey...uh...you alright?"

After a few seconds, the toilet flushes again in response. He does a take. "Tea?"

He hears her turn on the faucet, and throws his hands up, clueless. Finally, the door clicks as it opens a crack. He waits a second, then pushes it open, peering inside...

Tea stands at the sink, squirting a huge amount of toothpaste on to her toothbrush and sticking it in her mouth. She looks up at him as she starts to brush vigorously. He pushes the door all the way open and leans on the doorway, looking at her strangely.

She offers him a weak, foamy smile. He scratches his forehead, making a face.

"You alright?"

She nods, moving the toothbrush to the other side of her mouth, brushing.

"Must have been that pizza."

She holds up a finger as she dips her head down toward the sink and spits, rinsing her brush. She uses her hands to cup some water to her mouth, swishes and spits again. She lifts herself back up, wiping her mouth with her hand.

She takes a deep breath as she turns the faucet off. "Wow. That was...ugh."

They stand there looking at each other a moment. Then Tea steps toward him...and he steps back, letting her out. She hits the light switch and walks to the bed, turning around to look at him. Then she falls backward, flopping onto the mattress.

"Ohhhhhhh...." He walks over and sits down next to her, looking down at her. "Sure you're okay?"

She nods, turning on her side to see him better. "Yeah...fine now. I have no idea where that came from..."

Then she sighs, looking down. "...probably stress."

His eyes narrow. "...or your GALL bladder."

She looks up at him sharply, then makes an embarrassed face. She grabs a pillow from behind him and covers her face with it, rolling onto her back again.

Her muffled voice comes through the pillow. "Sssuuuuuut uuuuup."

He chuckles to himself, looking at her limp body with a pillow for a head. He lies down on his side, propping himself up on his elbow, then reaches out and taps the part of the pillow right over her face.

"Hey y'know, I suddenly feel like some REALLY spicy Mexican food, whaddaya say?"

A groan leaks out from underneath...then she suddenly grabs the pillow with both hands and socks him in the face with it. She sits up, holding the pillow ready to strike again.

He blows the hair out of his face, then cocks his head.

"Don't like that? Okay, how 'bout Vietnamese...I hear that stuff'll singe your eyebrows off..."

She groans again, giggling as she hauls the pillow back. She takes a swing, but he reaches out and grabs it from her. He gives her the evil eye...

"Oooh, not the face!" She shuts her eyes and crinkles her nose, holding her hands out in front of her...

...but nothing happens. She opens one eye, cautiously, still bracing for impact. He cracks up at her, throwing the pillow down. She starts to relax, slowly, lowering her arms. The giggles settle as they stare at each other for a moment. His face softens as she closes her eyes, and rubs her head and neck.

He sits up suddenly, putting his face right into hers and kissing her. She jumps a little, then relaxes, responding...running a hand across his cheek and up into his hair. He reaches up, cradling her face, and starts to turn them around, lowering them back down on the bed. He pulls back to look at her, his hair falling like a curtain around her face. He strokes her forehead gently, and she smiles up at him, her eyelids heavy now.

He makes a face, and his tone lowers to a wavering whisper.

"Y-you know I...I really want you right now. Is that bad? I mean, I kinda feel like we shouldn't be doing this while Shorty's..."

She nods. "...yeah, I know...I know what you mean. Like we shouldn't be happy right now."

He nods back. She sighs, twirling a strand of his hair around her finger.

"Well, it's not like we don't love her...or don't care about her...or that we're not worried, but...it's okay. I could just stay like this, you know?"

She smiles as she wraps her arms around him, pulling him down and hugging him. He relaxes, letting out a deep breath as he rests his head against the warmth of her neck, sliding his arms around her. They stay quiet like that for a moment, wrapped around each other. Tea closes her eyes, touching their heads together, her fingers stroking his back delicately. She whispers, more to herself than to him...

"...mmmm. Definitely...I could definitely stay juuuuuusssst like this...this is good."

Todd smiles a little at that, as he lies there peacefully, eyes closed, his head tucked in against her neck...worried for his daughter, but feeling warm, safe...and loved...the way only she can make him feel. Before he even knows it, he starts nuzzling her neck with the tip of his nose, feeling the softness of her skin. Tip of the nose becomes the bottom lip...Tea reacts, arching her neck and turning her head. Nuzzles become kisses as he works his way up to the back of her ear, behind the earlobe...she starts breathing a little faster. He whispers to her, his lips right against her ear.

"I love you, Tea."

Eyes still closed, she smiles. He pushes himself up as she turns her head back to look at him. He lowers himself back down on top of her, kissing her deeply. She reaches up into his hair and grabs on. He pulls away from the kiss...both of them looking sleepy, and drunk...on each other. He kisses her chin and moves down her neck as she tilts her head back. His hands start roaming, from the top of her head, over her shoulders, grazing her chest, and down to her waist. She lets out a soft moan as he rubs his face against her collarbone, kissing her skin as his hands start to slide up underneath her shirt...

...and the cell phone starts chirping. Both of their heads pop up, looking at each other, then at the phone on the night stand. Todd sits up, moving aside as Tea jumps up and grabs the phone.

"Hello?"

Back at Llanfair, Viki turns from the terrace door, checking the double doors. She speaks quietly.

"It's Viki."

Tea smiles at Todd. "Hey...we were hoping to hear from you."

"I just got back from Dorian's. Starr's okay, she's alright."

Tea closes her eyes, sighing heavily...she nods at Todd, smiling and whispering.

"Oh... gracias a Dios."

Todd lets out a tension-filled breath, getting up and pacing. Their eyes lock, and stay that way as she continues talking.

"Did they catch anyone?"

"Well, Bo wasn't real forthcoming with details...but he did say there was a standoff. A suspect was shot and taken to the hospital. That's all I know."

Tea bites her lip. "W-what about Joh-I mean, Sykes?"

Viki shrugs, then turns, hearing some noise in the foyer.

"I have no idea. But I'll let you know as soon as I find out anything. I have to go."

Tea nods, waving Todd over. "Oh...wait..."

He runs over and grabs the phone. "Hello...sis?"

Viki stops, holding her breath at hearing his voice again. She whispers in surprise. "Todd..."

"Hi...uh...so, Shorty's alright?"

Viki's eyes mist up...she covers her mouth, nodding. "Yes. She's a little, you know, shell-shocked...but she's okay...oh...I really have to go, someone's in the foyer."

"Okay...uh..."

She smiles. "It was so good to hear your voice. Be careful."

He smiles a little. "Yeah...you too."

He hears the click on the other end, then holds the phone out to Tea, looking up at him. She takes it from him, punches the end button and puts it back on the table. They look at each other for a moment.

Then Todd grabs Tea's hands and pulls her up off the bed, wrapping his arms around her waist and hugging her tightly. She wraps her arms around his neck. The tension slowly turns into giggles, as they both start to crack up. Tea pulls back, covering her eyes, starting to cry as she giggles.

Todd stares at her. "Delgado."

Her nervous laughter starts to die down, and becomes just plain crying. She keeps a hand over her eyes. "Mmmm?"

"Delgado, look at me."

She hesitates, sniffling...then slowly, uncovers her eyes, wiping her face. A stray tear runs down her cheek, about to fall from her chin. He reaches out and wipes it away, then turns her face slightly, to look at him.

"Did Viki say anything about..." His face starts to twist up with anger.

She sighs, shaking her head. He glances off to the side for a second, then back at her, his face relaxing somewhat.

"I,uh...I think we should go now...I...uh...I wanna be with Shorty."

Tea takes a deep breath, thinking...then she nods. "Yeah...yeah. Well, I'm sure they'll have questioned that guy by the time we get back...and Blair'll have dropped the charges."

He nods. They stand there for a moment, both thinking. He watches her as she suddenly wipes her face again, sniffling.

"Well. Guess we'd better start heading back to Joely's, huh? Mmmm...better get dressed."

She starts to walk away...Todd's eyes follow her...then suddenly he reaches out and grabs her hand. She stops, turning back and looking at him. He stares at her as he lifts her hand to his face, turning her palm up. She smiles as he places her palm against his cheek, closing his eyes for a second...then looking back into her big brown eyes. They linger like that for a moment, both feeling the depth of their connection. Finally, Tea sniffs, gently pulling her hand away, then smiling wider as she lightly punches his shoulder.

"C'mon, Manning. Starr's waiting for you."