He momentarily stops breathing, wanting to reach out to her, afraid to touch her. Slowly, he lifts himself from the chair, and backs out of the room. His rubber legs somehow finding their way into the hall, where he rests his body on the wall. He runs his fingers through his hair, repeatedly.

The sounds coming from her bedroom make it impossible for him to leave her in such a state. All of the time she had stayed with him when he had a nightmare, it was the least he could do. But he couldn't allow himself the pleasure of being in the room with her; he wanted to hold her too bad. Instead, he sat on the ground outside of the bedroom, where he could watch her every move without being discovered. His motive was selfish, and he knew that, but he couldn't make himself go back in that room and do the one thing that he longed to do, hold her until she stopped trembling.

Her body, folded like an accordion, filled with tension. Agonizing moans escaped from her soul. But she did not wake.

Todd watched over her: his angel. He cried at the sound of her pain, helpless to do anything to ease it.

As the first rays of morning sun, trickled through the blinds, she began to stir. Taking his cue, grateful that she had survived another night, he leaves before she wakes. She stretches, her body feeling the effects of the previous night's recklessness.

Constant throbbing beats against her head, her mouth very dry. Still woozy, she stumbles from the bed, into the bathroom, where she splashes cold water on her face. Looking in the mirror, she sees the toll that the past week has taken on her. The red, puffy eyes punctuated by the darkness that surrounds them. Her cheeks were drawn, her mouth in the form of a scowl. Noticing she's still wearing last night's clothes, and last night's makeup spread across her face, she peels off her clothes, dropping them on the floor. She avoided the mirror, unable to tolerate the sight of her own, contaminated body.

The shower is steaming hot when she tests it with her foot. Perfect for sterilization. She takes the body scrub, the soap, and the shampoo and begins to wash her dead cells away, layer by layer. Scrubbing until her body is raw.

*****

Downstairs, over coffee, she pondered the events of the night before. Still feeling the effects of the alcohol, she was unable to remember exactly how she made it home. She remembered a dream she had about Todd. He was floating over her, watching, guarding. Incredible warmth washes over her body, as she remembered his face next to her. She shook her head, attempting to banish the thoughts from her mind.

On the table, she sees a business card. Benjamin Michaels, Cardiologist, the card reads. She recalls the handsome man she met at the bar. Realizing that he's probably the reason she made it home safely, she resigns to call him later. Much later, after the headache had dissipated.

The phone rings suddenly, breaking her concentration.

"Hello?" She answers.

"Tea, it's Viki. I was worried about you."

"Why?"

"Well, I stopped by last night and you weren't there. Is everything okay?"

"Yes. I just needed to get some air so I went out for awhile." She rubs her temples, massaging the headache away.

"Oh. Well, I'm glad to know that you're getting out. Would you like to dine with me this afternoon at the country club?"

"Uh, I think I better pass. I'm really not feeling well."

"I could bring something over there."

"Okay, I'll be here," Tea says, not wanting to alarm Viki and her reporter's mind.

*****

An Apartment Across Town

Todd being back was going to throw a wrench in his plans. He figured that Todd would have guards watching her, sparing no expense to ensure her safety. But he was smarter. The difference between he and Todd is that he is always able to get away with it. Always. He always enjoyed a challenge, and Todd Manning was nothing, if not a challenge. He began to rethink his plan. Oh, he would have her again, that was a fact, but he would have to be more resourceful gaining access to the penthouse.

*****

Penthouse 1

The morning had been mostly quiet. The police did visit Tea, he didn't know why or for how long. He would ask Viki about it later, hoping they had come to say that they found the bastard. From the look on Tea's face, as she walked them to the door, he knew that was not the case. He watched her closely, her eyes especially. She's hung over. Before he knows it, he has the phone in his hand and is dialing Viki's cell phone.

"Viki Carpenter," she answers, speeding down the road in her silver Volvo.

"Yeah, just where the hell were you last night?"

"It's good to hear your voice too Todd."

"Yeah, right. Answer my question."

"Why do you ask?"

"You're supposed to be watching over Delgado, right? Well, if you were doing your job, you'd know that she went to some bar last night and got completely wasted." He paces around the room, working off the tension in his body.

"Todd, she is a grown woman. If she wants to go out, who am I to stop her?"

"Yeah, but she's not who she used to be. She doesn't know what she's doing."

"Give her a little more credit then that little brother. Did you ever think that maybe she is starting to feel better, and that last night was her first step toward recovery?" Viki did not want to alarm Todd, but it was not a good sign that Tea was drinking. She could not drown her sorrows.

"You didn't see her."

"Todd, if you're so concerned about someone watching her every move, why don't you do it?"

He stops pacing. "Don't you think I would if I could? She doesn't want me around. I'd probably make things worse if she knew I was around. I always make things worse," he sighs.

"You may be exactly what she needs."

"Yeah, a rapist to help her recover from her rape. Do you ever listen to what you say?"

"She knew about your past before she married you, and whether you want to believe it or not, she loved you in spite of that, in spite of it Todd. Look, I will try to be around for her more, but frankly, I think she might resent someone always being around, watching her."

"Yeah, uh, thanks." He hangs up the phone without a goodbye, and tosses it on the couch.

*****

Penthouse 2

Upstairs, in the bedroom, Tea paces with the phone in her hand. Several times that day, she had picked up the phone to dial, Benjamin's number, but before she could press the seventh digit, she hung up. She was embarrassed, ashamed and had no idea what to say. She had practices several speeches, but somehow, none of them had seemed fitting. She takes a deep breath, determined to pick up the phone and speak to him. With shaky fingers, she dials the number on the card, and waits for someone to answer. She doesn't wait long, as his secretary answers on the third ring.

"Dr. Michaels' office, how may I help you?"

"Yes, my name is Tea Delgado-Manning-"

"Oh, yes, Mrs. Manning, Dr. Michaels' is expecting your call."

"He is?" She asks, completely shocked that he was so confident that she would contact him.

"Yes. One moment and I'll transfer you."

"Okay," Tea says, listening to the blues music that is playing while she is on hold. "Hmm, Miles Davis." A smile creeps across her face.

"Tea, how are you feeling?"

"I'm good, Dr. Michaels"

"Ben, please. No hangover?"

"Yes, but I'm getting over it." She sits on the edge of the bed, comforted by his calm, soothing voice, smooth like glass. "I want to thank you for seeing me home last night."

"That was not a problem."

"I thought chivalry was dead long ago."

He laughs lightly. "Not where I come from. I was raised to help a lady in distress, so that's what I did."

"And where is that?"

"What?"

"Where are you from?"

"The rough and tough streets of New York City."

"Me too. I'm a born and bread New Yorker."

Viki uses her key, and is surprised to hear laughter from the bedroom. "Tea?" Viki calls from the bottom of the stair.

"Hold on for a minute Ben." She takes the phone away from her mouth and responds to Viki. "I'll be down in a minute." She frowns, hating to end the conversation. "Ben, I'm going to have to go. I have company."

"Okay, sure. Listen, I wouldn't mind seeing you again, as friends."

"I would like that. I'll give you a call later and we can make plans."

*****

Viki and Tea enjoyed the lunch that Carlotta had specially prepared. Two of her world famous chilidogs and cheese fries, along with strawberry shakes. Tea had practically devoured her meal as Viki was just getting started.

"Well, it's good to see that you're getting your appetite back."

"I don't know why, but suddenly, I was famished. Thanks for bringing this over."

"You're welcome. Your eyes are a little red, did you sleep okay?" Viki talks between bites as Tea sips her shake.

"I haven't slept okay in months, but today has been a good day for me." A cloud comes over her face as she remembers the last time she saw Todd.

"One day at a time, right? So, what made today such a good day?"

She had said too much, Tea knew, but she was still able to cover. "I just woke up feeling okay about myself, that's all."

"Good. Each day will get a little easier for you, although right now, it may not seem that way."

"I almost forgot to tell you. Bo stopped by earlier today and told me that they got the results of the DNA tests that they ran after, you know." She still couldn't bring herself to say the word. "Anyway, he said that they ran the results through the Llanview police database, and then the FBI database. Apparently, the results matched samples taken from six other cases, two in Llanview."

"What? So basically, what we have here is a serial rapist? So are they going to issue warnings to the citizens of Llanview, or are they going to sit on it?"

"He didn't say one way or another. He's going to compare my statement to other women, and try to come up with something."

*****

Penthouse 1

Todd yanked open the door and pulled Viki inside before she was able to knock.

"So, how is she?"

"She seems to be doing better. In fact, she was in a pretty good mood."

"Really?" He asks surprised.

"Yes."

"Well, that's good, I guess. She wasn't in such a good mood when I saw her earlier."

"After Bo left?"

"Yeah. What was he doing there anyway?"

"Well, there was a development in the case. They made a DNA match with several other cases."

"Damnit!" He throws his water glass against the wall.

"Todd, at least it's something. Something to work with. Tea can't remember much of what happened, so this certainly helps." She looks at her watch, noticing that she is running late for a meeting. "Listen, I hate to do this to you, but I have to run"

"Fine," he says, stalking over to the door, and opening it for her. She kisses him on the cheek, and barely gets out of the door before he slams it.

*****

An Apartment Across Town

The man opens his notebook, containing information on each of his victims. Victims one through six, their schedules, habits, height, weight all of the information that he could gather. He turns to the page with his latest victim's picture, and scribbles notes in the empty spaces.

Todd Manning is back in town, watching over her like the predator that he is. Taken home by someone she met at a bar. Tall, black man with a goatee. Well built, with an earring. Met at Blues Club outside of town.

*Note: Go back to bar and find out who the man is.

He takes one last look at the picture, tracing her picture with his index finger. He brings to book to his mouth, and kisses her lips.

"We will be together again, my love."