Scenario for TM's Return to Llanview # 4

TM was grateful to John for the apartment. He realized he had stayed there before. It seemed like another lifetime. Well he had a place to stay and thanks to Louie some clothes, but that was it. He couldn't even go get a job because he had no ID. It didn't matter at the moment.  What mattered was that he was finally home and he could start looking for his family. It was getting later, the evening crowd would be hitting the bar soon which meant for the time being he was stuck in the room. He wasn't sure if the agents had followed him into Llanview, but he knew it was no time to get careless. He found some paper and began making a list.

Downstairs in the bar, the place was waking up. John had come back and asked if his house guest was upstairs and his bartender replied in the affirmative. John debated going up and chatting some more with him when he noticed Blair enter. He nodded and she made her way to him. " Blair, what has you slumming tonight?"

"Hi John.   I don't know, I'm still questioning whether I can trust Tomas. I don't know what it is with the man, but I feel like he's hiding something and I'm also wondering why Todd changed his story. Do you have any thoughts on the subject?" she asked.

"Have a seat Blair," he poured her a drink and said "I think you should be careful Blair. I'm certain he's in this up to his neck and now I think both he and Todd are suddenly working together. That Classified File you found in Todd's office is also a part of this, I'd bet my job on it. The whole thing smells of a cover up of some type. Just don't take everything he says at face value, but you're a big girl or you wouldn't have come calling. Hey how about doing a set with my band, you would certainly add a little class to this joint?"

"Sure John, it'll take my mind off Tomas for a while. I'll go pick something out with them." Blair rose and took her drink over to the group by the stage. After a small discussion the band got up on the stage and began playing.

Upstairs TM heard the band beginning it's set. He decided that he might go down just for a quick listen. As he neared the bottom of the stairs he heard a familiar tune start. He paused. John had someone singing, she began "Wake me up I must be dreaming, I can't believe that you are real." TM walked around the corner and just stared. She was beautiful. It was like it was yesterday, listening to her for the first time. He had done it just to liven things up that night. They had both been down in the dumps, she over Cord and him because of Sam Vance. They had played their most pathetic game and he had won again, but this time the loser had to do something for the winner and he had asked her to sing. It had been a revelation to hear her sing. TM moved through the crowd and found the pillar he had stood in front of that night. He leaned against it and listened.

Blair was finishing the first verse and was beginning the second. Even as she was singing, she remembered the first time she had sung Simply Love. Her eyes roamed the room until she found John at the bar and she smiled. As she was nearing the end of the song she caught a glimpse of a figure standing by the pillar, there was something familiar about him. Her eyes adjusted once more as she finished the final phrases. "Simply lo oo ove, Simply ..."their eyes locked "Love." Blair's breath caught, was she seeing things. She took her eyes away for just a moment to acknowledge the crowd and when she looked back he was gone. She wondered if he had been real, but his eyes, she couldn't forget those eyes. A small chill ran down her spine and her heart started racing. It had been like yesterday, with him standing there watching her. She recalled that night, Todd had tricked her into performing. When she had started singing that song at first, Cord had been on her mind but then as the song continued she had found herself thinking of the relationship she and Todd had developed. It had been funny how fitting the song had been for their relationship, even more so than her and Cord's.

John came up to her noticing she was looking around. "Hey that was great.
Are you looking for someone?"

Blair replied "I thought I saw Todd." She was distracted and continued to search the crowd.

"Manning hasn't been in. He's been avoiding the place since the shooting." said John.

Blair brought her focus back to John." No, he's not the Todd I meant. John I know this is going to sound crazy. But I thought I saw Todd with his old face. You know, the one who's picture was on that file. I swear I saw him watching me sing."

John debated telling her, but since TM had left the moment she was finished, he figured his guest wasn't ready to see Blair yet. John had noticed TM moving into the bar and had watched him as he watched Blair.
Now he was more curious than ever about that file. Something was going on and he was more determined than ever to figure it out. "Blair it probably was just the lighting, you just imagined the guy."

"You're right John but still..." just then the sounds of "Unforgettable" carried over the voices in the bar. Blair's eyes went to the jukebox just in time to see a figure move away. "Excuse me, John" and she moved to follow the gentleman walking away.

TM had made the decision to get out of there quickly when their eyes had met, but he hadn't been able to leave. He had seen her looking around and then he knew he had to see her. TM walked over to the jukebox and there it was. He punched in the number and listened as strains from the song filled the air. Then he made his way heading back toward the stairs to his apartment.

Blair followed him and saw he was headed upstairs. She entered the stairs once he reached the landing and made her way up. As she reached the top she saw him enter a room. With her heart pounding she made her way down the hallway. She knocked tentatively all the while praying she wasn't wrong. The door opened and time stood still. "God "she thought to herself as she gazed at him."He's beautiful."

"Hello Blair" said Todd.