My Brother's Keeper #15

Todd pushed himself away from the window as the pain eased.  Victor had disappeared again, and Todd feared the organization holding him were taking out their frustrations on him.

“You okay there, Fella?”

Todd swung around in shock. Standing in front of him was the man he was looking for.  “Louie?” He blinked, running a hand through his hair and then massaging the back of his neck.  It took a moment to find the words to continue.  “I thought you were dead.”

“Man, I told you I was a tough old bird.  After you left the dock that night, I spotted a couple of guys in the shadows.  When they started moving towards me,  I recognized them as the ones that took those shots at you.  I figured they weren’t going to just shake my hand and offer me a coffee when I saw the guns.  I couldn’t get past them, so I did the next best thing.  I just dove into the river and swam down.  Gotta tell you, them bullets came awful close, but this old vet was too smart for them.  They didn’t know I still had your vest.” Louie walked farther into the room and looked around. “So it’s true.  You really are Todd Manning.”

Todd felt uneasy.  After the revelations of the last few days, he wondered why Louie had suddenly reappeared.  “Where did you go after that?  I gave you the gun to turn into John McBain.  Why didn’t you do it?”

Louie looked at Todd for a moment. “Oh, that.  You see after I knew those guys had given up, I swam to the dock. I was having trouble climbing back up when a hand came towards me. Startled I dropped back into the water.  A guy was kneeling at the edge looking down at me.  He offered to help me out.   I was hesitant, but he claimed he was with the CIA.  He even showed me his credentials and said he had seen what went down.  He said he could get me some protection.”  He moved over to the window and stared out as if curious to see the view.

Todd studied Louie, he looked like he was in pretty good shape, but Todd found himself edging away, as Louie approached the window.  Everything was happening too fast.  He had anticipated trouble finding the man and instead the guy was right beside him. “You just let him help you.  What if he had pulled out another gun?”

Louie shrugged.“I wasn’t worried. If he made any move to hurt me, all I had to do was pull him in the water with me.  I had to do it several times back in Nam, it’s surprising how water can be an equalizer.  Anyway like I was saying, he helped me out.  I told him I had planned to leave town after I turned in your gun and he said he could arrange everything. He would see that the gun got turned in, and I wasn’t to worry.  I figured what the heck, a trip courtesy of the government, one in which I didn’t have to do any fighting, why not take him up on the offer.  I let him have the gun, and he got me out of town for a while....”  His voice trailed off as he watched Todd move to his desk.

Todd wasn’t sure what to feel at that moment.  Louie was standing in the room as big as life, talking about some CIA guy. Was this Louie the one Victor had overheard? Could he be part of Victor’s kidnapping?  Todd poured himself a glass of scotch to steady himself, rubbing his side absentmindedly. “So you just left and gave the gun to someone else.  What made you trust this guy?  I mean, you said someone had just tried to kill you.  What did this other guy look like?” He turned and stared at Louie.  He had trusted the guy because he had saved his life.   Had his instincts gotten so rusty?   “My brother died that night.   That gun is proof I had nothing to do with his death.  The man you gave it to can help me.”

Louie looked at the man standing in front of him.  There were dark circles under the eyes indicating he hadn’t been getting a lot of sleep.  He had noted the pain that had flashed across his face when he had spoken about his brother.  This man is not a cold-blooded killer. You’re a fool, old man.  They fed you lies.  You can fix this and stop them.   You made the right decision to come here.  Louie removed his hat and clutched it in his hand.   “Look, I’m sorry.  He said it was a question of National Security and that you were as dangerous as the men who tried to kill me.  I remembered how you initially reacted when I called out to you that night in the rain. You swung and pointed that gun at me like a professional.  Then you seemed confused.  When I heard about your brother, I couldn’t help wondering.”

“So that‘s why you’re here.  To ask me if I killed my brother.  Go ahead, you won’t be the first.  You’re right, I was confused that night.  I hated my brother because of what he had taken from me.  But I can tell you with certainty that I didn’t kill him.  Please, tell me about the man, There’s so much going on that I can’t explain right now, but I need to know who took that gun.”

Louie looked at Todd for another moment and then turned and stared back out the window.  “I don’t know?  I....”

Todd was frustrated.  “What’s the matter?  Why are you here?  Answer me.”

Straightening his shoulders, and taking a deep breath, Louie turned back around and faced Todd.  “I came here today to help you.  It’s tough, I’ve always prided myself on being loyal to my country.  They fooled me.  I really thought they had turned the gun in.  I found out yesterday that they hadn’t.  The man who took your gun was Tomas Delgado.  After helping me out of the water, he took me to his superior and then left.  I haven’t seen him since.”

“I knew it.  The son of a bitch has been trying to railroad me for something he did.  I have to ask. You said you came to help me.  You didn’t mean, to give me Tomas’ name, did you?”

Louie moved to join Todd at the desk.  He glanced at the decanter sitting on the desk.  He licked his lips. “That looks like something that could warm these old bones of mine up.  I need something right now stiffer than coffee.  I ain’t never betrayed my country and I can’t help wondering if I might be getting ready to do just that.  What I’m about to tell you is going to change your day.  It’s already changed mine.”

Todd poured a second drink and handed it to Louie and gestured for him to take a seat. “You have no idea how much mine has changed already.  What I have to tell you is even more fantastic than the story I told you when we met.  But let’s hear your tale first.”  He took a sip of his own drink and walked to the other side of his desk and sat down waiting for his friend to start talking.  Judging by what Louie had just revealed, Todd was now certain his friend was the one Victor had overheard.  It was imperative to hear Louie out and then get his help contacting the ones who held his brother.

****  

Blair paced her living room.  Todd had dropped her off to get some more sleep but she was too wired.  She didn’t like Todd’s plan, but she had been unable to talk him out of it and he refused to let her go with him.  She walked over to the pile of photo albums, her thoughts going back to the night Todd had looked at them.  He had been so angry that night.  Everywhere he turned there were signs of his brother’s role in their lives.  She had tried to keep him calm, but his anger had gotten the better of him and he had decided to go after Victor. That was when she made her mistake. “Great move Blair, you had to show him the gun, then you didn’t even put it away properly. Look what happened. Stupid.”   

Now Todd was getting ready to go against Calmar and Tomas and whoever they were involved with.  He refused to get Bo involved, and she couldn’t really blame him.  Bo felt Todd was the villain all the time and never really gave him a break.  Blair felt a chill come over her, something bad was about to happen, and she prayed Todd was okay.  Blair poured herself some water and tried to calm down, the rest of the family would be waking up soon.  They had no idea what had transpired the night before, and she didn’t know how she was going to break it to Sam and Jack, that Victor was still alive.

The doorbell rang, and Blair jumped, dropped the glass of water, and watched it shatter at her feet.  She jumped back to avoid the water and glass. “Damn! Get a hold of yourself, Blair!” She looked at the mess, it would have to wait, the constant ringing of the doorbell took whatever patience she had left.  “Alright, I’m coming.  Hold your horses, there are people sleeping here.” Blair opened the door and saw a uniformed officer standing in front of her.

“Excuse me, I’m looking for Blair Cramer.” Said the officer.

“That’s me.  What can I do for you?  Blair looked him up and down there was something familiar about him, but she couldn’t place it.

“The commissioner sent me to get you.  He said there were a few more questions about last night he needed to go over.”

“Oh, okay, but we need to make this quick, I should be here when my sons get up.”  She grabbed her purse off the foyer table, and the officer stood aside to let her pass.  “I don’t understand what more I can tell him, that he doesn’t already know...” She paused as she saw the car they were headed for and noted it wasn’t a patrol car. She stopped beside the car and slowly reached into her purse.  “You didn’t tell me your name.  It’s Officer...?’

“Fish, Mam, Oliver Fish.”

“Liar!” she swung around spraying her can of mace in the direction of the officer’s eyes. Some of it caught him in the face, causing him to react in pain, and she used the distraction to try and run back to the house. She just got the door opened when he caught her from behind.  Blair tried to scream, but he clamped his hand over her mouth.  

His breath was labored as he was still in pain, then he whispered in her ear. “That wasn’t very nice.  I had hoped to do this without hurting you, but you give me no choice.”  He slammed her head against the door.

Blair was stunned and could feel herself losing consciousness as he swept her up in his arms and carried her back toward his car.  She looked blearily up at his face and then realized where she had seen him.  He was the security guard she had seen through the rain.  “I know yo..,” she was unable to finish as darkness swallowed her.

****

Louie finished his story.  “So you see, I knew something wasn’t right.  I found out Calmar was holding someone.  They said it was 'need to know', but I didn’t like it.  I think it’s in connection with your brother.  After finding out they still had your gun, I figured maybe there was more to your brother’s death, and I thought you might want to know that.”

“Oh, there’s definitely more to it. That man, you said they’re holding, is my brother.  He’s not dead.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No, I got proof last night.  They staged the whole death, and they’ve been doing everything to make me look guilty for it.  They have some reason for hanging on to my brother, and I’m pretty sure it has to do with the same thing the organization held me for.  That “it” item I told you about.”

“Man, you’re kidding me.  I knew something was wrong.  What are you going to do?  These guys have some powerful connections.  I was leery of crossing them, but I felt you should have a heads up.”

“I need your help.  Can you take me to this place where they’re holding my brother?  I want to try and deal with these guys.”

“You think that’s wise.  These guys want you in jail from the sounds of it.  What can you bargain with?  You told me you had no idea what they wanted when I pulled you from the river.  Whatever it is, is pretty important to them.”

“I know what it is now.  My mother told me before she died.  It’s a microchip.  Something on it was very important to her, and I’m guessing she held onto it because it gave her power over the guys you know.  I’m going to offer them the chip for my brother.”

Louie looked hard at Todd.  “You mean you have this chip everyone is looking for?”

Todd started to say yes and thought better of it.  “Well no, but they don’t know that.  All I want is my brother free.  I told my mother she was at fault.  All her drugs and manipulations wiped the memory from my brain.  I have no idea where the damn chip is, but I do know neither does Victor.  According to my mother, I’m the one who took it from her, so Victor is innocent in this.  He doesn’t know anything except what my mother told him.”

“How can you bargain then?”  

 “I think I can make them believe my memory has returned, and I found the chip.  I’ll promise to not give them up to the authorities.   I just want my brother free, and I want to get on with my life.  Let them have their conspiracies.”

“Let me get this straight, you’re going to bargain with a bogus chip.  Why will they believe you?”

“I’m going to bluff them.  I don’t have the chip, but I think what I found last night might have something to do with the chip.  I’m going to talk about it and hopefully, they’ll think I have the real thing.  Louie, what choice do I have?  If I don’t do something soon they might kill my brother for real and then you watch, that gun will surface for sure.”

Before Todd could say anything else his phone rang.  He looked at it and saw Blair was calling.  “Hello.  Hey, I thought I told you to get some sleep.”

“Oh she’s asleep Manning, and you’ll do as I tell you, or I’ll make sure she never wakes up,” said Blair’s attacker.

Todd felt cold. “If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”

“Listen, don’t bother with the threats.  If you want her back alive, you’ll go to the commissioner and confess to the murder of your brother and say you staged the fake body to hide your crime.  Once Tomas is released and you’re in custody, then Ms. Cramer will be sent home.  If you don’t want to leave those boys without a mother, I suggest you follow my instructions.”

Louie piped in.  He knew from the conversation that Todd’s woman was in trouble.  “Whatever he’s asking you to do, don’t!” he whispered. “They’ll never let her go.  After what I’ve found out in the last couple of days, I know these guys are ruthless.  Tell them your bargain.  Make them take it!”

Todd straightened his shoulders.  “No, you listen to my terms instead.  I have what you’ve been searching for, and I know what it contains.  You’re going to release my brother and Blair Cramer to me, or I’m going to make sure that the whole world knows what your little organization has been up to.  By the time I’m finished there won’t be a place any of you can hide on this planet.  Tell your boss my conditions, and if you make any attempt to harm me before we can make the exchange, you should know the information is already set to be leaked to the world and only I know the password to stop it.”  There was silence on the other end, and Todd held his breath waiting for an answer.

Suddenly another voice spoke to him. “ Monsieur Manning, I believe we can come to a mutual understanding.  What proof do I have, that you have what we’ve been looking for.”

Todd took a deep breath and rattled off a serial number and waited.

“I see.  Yes, it appears you have us over a barrel as they say.  Very well. I’m willing to make the exchange, but how do I know you won’t release the information anyway if I give you your brother and Ms. Cramer.”

“You don’t, but if you kill them, it definitely will get released.  I guess you’ll have to take my word that I won’t give it to the world as long as my brother and Blair Cramer come back to me unharmed any further.  What do you say, Calmar, do we have a deal?”

“Hmm.  Yes, Mr. Manning, we have a deal.”

“One more thing, Calmar.  You make no attempt to free Tomas Delgado.  He takes the fall for all of this.   Do we understand each other?”

“But of course, Mr. Manning.  Such is the life of an operative.  One is always expendable.  As to the exchange, in light of this new development, I think it should take place somewhere wide open.  I dislike having authorities messing up the works.  Shall we say the end of the runway at the Pine Valley airport?  I’m already picking up another parcel there.  If you cross me.  You’ll get back your parcels quite dead.  Do you understand me?”

“Yes, don’t worry, I’m not very fond of the authorities anyway.  The sooner this exchange is made, the sooner my life can get back to normal.”

“Excellent.  I shall meet you there in two and a half hours.  Don’t be late.” Calmar hung up.

Todd turned to Louie.  “They accepted my offer.  I need you to do me a favor.    I need you to go to the police station and give John whatever information you have on the organization and where it’s located.  Do not say anything about this exchange.”

Louie looked at Todd suspiciously.  “But you don’t have anything to give them, or do you?  Where did you get that number you rattled off?”

“I lied Louie, I do have what they want. I wasn’t going to give it to them, but they’ll kill both Victor and Blair now.   I don’t have a choice.  I took it long ago to protect my family from my mother and her organization, but this is bigger than I realized.  I lost eight years of my life, I’m not losing Blair all over again.”

“Todd, you can’t do it.  I heard you tell them they wouldn’t be able to hide anywhere in the world.  Whatever is on that thing must be pretty important, the government should have it.”

“Don’t you get it, Louie?  The government already has it.  They’re just trying to shut down the leak.   As far as I’m concerned this will shut it and take me off their radar.  Look, you wanted to help, go send the police after the bad guys.   They’ll get whoever is at the compound right now, and I’ll have time to rescue my family.  Will you do that for me?”

Todd waited as Louie debated with his conscience.  If he had read the man right, Louie would help.

“I’ll do it, Todd.  If what you say is true, then we’re just shutting off a leak and netting some government people who have stepped outside the law.  You go get your family.  I’ll go see Detective McBain.”

Todd put out his hand. “Thank you, Louie, I already owed you my life.   Now I owe you for helping me save two more lives.  If you still want to go to Arizona or New Mexico and start over where it's warm.  I’ve got you covered.”

Louie smiled his generous smile and shook Todd’s hand.  “I think I’ll do just that when this is all over.  See you soon, Fella.  You be careful, now.”

“Oh, I will be.   Remember, I’m a survivor.”

 

Scenario for TM's Return to Llanview #6 Pt. 2

TM found himself being hugged and although pleasant, she was beginning to cut off his air. "Um I can't breathe." She let go of him abruptly. He looked at this beautiful young woman standing in front of him. This was his Starr all grown up and with a daughter. As Starr reached to take her daughter's hand, he noticed she wasn't wearing a wedding band. She was awfully young to be a mother of a little two year old, if he had guessed the little girl's age right. What had happened? In order to give his daughter time to compose herself TM crouched back down in front of the little girl and said "I think it's time we let the bug so back home. He's probably missing his family" He removed the bug and set it down close to the hedge. Then he stood back up and gestured to the bench he had vacated just a short time earlier. Starr nodded and they sat down.

He wasn't sure whether he should start the conversation or let her take the lead. It saddened him to realize that he had missed out on eight years of her life and he figured she had questions as to where he had been all these years. Those questions were going to be hard to answer. How do you explain to your daughter that you've been out of commission for eight years because of a mental problem. Even he was having trouble with that explanation and he lived it. "You must have a lot of questions, but before you ask them could you answer one for me. What's your daughter's name?"

"Her name is Hope" replied Starr.

"I see. She reminds me of you at that age." said Todd, he looked at her and said "I'm sorry I wasn't here. It looks as though a lot has happened while I've been gone."

Starr finally gathered her thoughts. "I'm sorry too. I reacted rashly, but when you called me Starr, all I saw was the dad who had left so long ago, standing in front of me. The thing is, you can't be my dad. My dad has been here all these years. He doesn't look like you, but that's because he had plastic surgery because of injuries sustained in 2003. Who are you and how do you know my name? Why are you acting like I'm your daughter?"

TM was stunned, one minute she was hugging him and calling him Daddy, and now she was telling him he couldn't be her dad because her dad was someone else. He knew there was a man in town claiming to be Todd Manning. It became painfully obvious that he was going to have an uphill battle proving he was the real Todd Manning. Even his own daughter didn't believe her own eyes. "You are my daughter. I'm not sure what I can do to make you believe that. I'm aware there is another man in town who claims to be me. He's not. I'm sorry you don't believe me. I haven't been back in town for very long and I'm trying to get my life back on track. I came here looking for you and your mother. You're the first one I remembered when I came to."

"What do you mean, when you came to? You're not making any sense." asked Starr.

"Very well, I'll go back to the beginning. A couple of weeks ago I woke up in a strange facility where it appears I had been a resident for eight years." Todd looked at his daughter, "I was catatonic for the entire eight years. My last memories are from 2003. I'm still trying to adjust to the fact that I've lost so much time. Only a few minutes ago you hugged me, calling me Daddy. I'm begging you to give me a chance. I came looking for you because I love you. Something in you responded to me. Deep down you know I'm really your dad. I need your help Starr, just like all the other times. You helped me with Tea all those years ago. You were the one who made it possible for me to return after being lost on the island. As mad as you were at me back then, you wouldn't let your mom send me to jail. Please Starr, don't turn your back on me now."

He was so sincere and when he started talking about the times she had aided him, she recalled those instances and so many others. Again she found herself drawn to him, he was hurting. She sensed a certain confusion about him. Was it possible, could he have been so traumatized eight years before that he had entered a catatonic state? Her mom had told her of the period when she was younger that her dad had been catatonic. At that time he had only been in that state for a short time. What could possibly have transpired for him to be out of it for eight years?

Her thoughts went back to those first months with Walker. He had said he knew her dad was alive but that he couldn't come home just then. Had Walker known that her dad was catatonic? Had he lied to them all these years? If Walker had lied, then it was possible her dad was indeed sitting opposite her. The man in front of her was asking her to trust her gut. Starr decided then and there it was time for the old Starr to come out. She had been playing things safe for far too long because of Hope and now she felt something inside herself she hadn't felt since the last time she had schemed with her dad. Suddenly she smiled and said. "Okay, I'm going to go with my gut. My head is telling me one thing, but my heart is telling me something else. I'm not sure I understand everything that is going on, but I'm going to help." She looked directly at him and said "I'm going to help my Dad!"

Scenario for TM's Return to Llanview # 7

It was cool that evening on the docks. He had needed to get out and there hadn't been any signs of the agents in over a week. He figured the docks weren't that frequented so he was probably safe. The docks had many memories associated with them, some he really would have liked to have kept buried. But that wasn't going to happen. The memories were returning quickly as he had shaken the effects of the shock they had given him. He found himself walking near the area where he saw Tea with her brother Del.
He sat down on a piling remembering his love for Tea and his problems giving her what she really needed from him. He had been screwed up royally after coming home from Ireland. It hadn't been fair to Tea when he had gotten her mixed up in his war with Blair. Early in their marriage Tea had tried to get him to reconcile with Blair, but he had found Tea sneaking under his guard and before he knew it, he cared for her. That reminded him of the one honest moment he had with her on the dock. He had gotten all upset because Tea was wearing a necklace with an A engraved on it and he had assumed Andrew had given it to her but instead of getting mad she had informed him that it had belonged to her mother. As she had taken it off to show him, it had dropped in the river. After he had retrieved it things had gotten better. Of course he had messed up again when he assumed she was seeing a bum and that had turned out to be her brother Del.

He stares out across the water and another memory comes back as he sees waves on a beach and Tea beckoning to him from the water. For one sweet moment they clung to each other convinced that they weren't going to get off the island, but then his thoughts had drifted back to Blair and Tea had known where his heart would always be. He knew there was a place in his heart that belonged to Tea. But the reality was that Blair and his children had the rest. At the sound of footsteps on the Dock behind him he quickly stood up and moved into the shadows.

She walked to the edge and tore something up and tossed it away. She was upset, he could tell by how still she had gotten before she had torn the paper up. He had always admired that about her, she could be cold as ice in the courtroom but inside she burned red hot. "Hey Delgado, what's got you so steamed up." he moved out into the moonlight so she could see him.

Tea froze when she heard his voice. The words were something Todd would say and the voice sounded like Todd but there was something different, she waited to turn to him and closed her eyes hoping to hear something else. She didn't have to wait too long.

"I really hope that's not something near and dear to your heart, I don't relish taking a swim tonight." he said coming to stand behind her.

Tea opened her eyes and took a deep breath. With her eyes closed all she had seen was the Todd of old. In fact she didn't remember her husband ever bringing up the incident that had happened so long ago. She was afraid to turn around, afraid of what she was going to see.

"Delgado are you alright? Tea talk to me." Todd frowned. He didn't want to scare her but he was about ready to turn her around if she didn't answer him.

"Oh God what have I done?" cried Tea.

"Hey if it's making you upset I'll go get them for you." he started to take off his shoes when he felt her hand on his arm. He looked up into her eyes glistening with tears. "Really, I'll get them for you."

She shook her head no. She brought her hand up to his face. "It's really you isn't it?

"Uh, yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm me. I mean I'm still getting my thoughts back together but I'm still me. You okay Tea." he wasn't sure if she even realized her hand was still on his face.

Tea dropped her hand and looked at him sadly. " I thought I married you and now it's too late." She kissed him and said "Goodbye Todd."

He watched her leave knowing they had finally parted for good.

Scenario for TM's Return to Llanview # 6

It had been a long morning, She and her mom had just come from taking Hope to see her Daddy. They had gone so Cole could see Hope but also because he needed to know what his mother had been doing. It had been so hard to tell him about Marty's latest deeds. But they couldn't keep the truth from him. Starr made the decision to bring Hope to the park after leaving Cole, she wanted Hope to have some happy memories about the day.

It proved to be a good decision as Hope soon had her Mom chasing her around the park. Starr was breathless as Hope kept her moving, but she relished the time she had with her daughter. With all the unusual and dire things happening it was a relief to have a little fun. Starr took Hope's hand and decided it was time for a little quieter adventure and they began exploring for bugs. Hope had a lot of her mother's curiosity and soon they were crawling through the bushes looking for different insects.

TM walked through the park remembering times with his daughter Starr. He had gotten hold of Starr's kite and then asked her help to get a note to Tea. She had always been willing to help him with his schemes. TM sat down on the bench where he and Blair had once sat. It was a pretty area. He heard a child's laughter coming from behind him so he turned and watched as a little girl crawled through the hedge behind him intent on following something. Suddenly he spotted the insect she was stalking. The beetle was walking sedately across the grass and the little girl was creeping along behind it totally absorbed in it's movements. She reminded him of the time Starr had been so fascinated with bugs. Blair had been horrified at Starr's obsession with the creepy crawlies.

Blair put her foot down on the obsession with bugs after Starr started bringing them home. Todd turned Starr's attention to reptiles and Blair gave in. Before they knew it Starr had snakes and an iguana and any other lizard she could find or get her hands on. Todd continued to watch the little girl when he suddenly realized that she was so busy following the bug that she was almost on top of the bike path. She was headed on a collision course with several bike riders. He jumped up and swooped to grab the child just before the riders got there. "Whoa little one,you almost got squished just like that bug. " Hope looked down and saw that her beetle was dead and started to cry. Todd set her back down on the ground and quickly found a different bug and picked it up, Hope stopped crying watching the bug walk on Todd's hand.  She held her hand out and Todd carefully transferred the bug, all the time telling her to hold very still and not try and grab it. As he handed her the bug, he heard a voice calling. It sounded familiar, but he wasn't sure where it was coming from.  He spoke up. "Excuse me but if you're looking for a little girl she's over here on the other side of the hedge."

Starr had been panicking when she had lost sight of Hope. Now her heart stopped. She hadn't heard that voice in a long time. She rounded the hedge and saw a man crouched down talking to Hope. His back was to her so she couldn't see his face. Hope was laughing watching a beetle crawl up her arm. Hope saw her Mommy and said "Mommy look bug." At Hope's statement the man turned his head and looked up. Starr stopped cold.  It couldn't be.  She was trying to breathe in slowly as she walked toward her daughter.

Todd stood up, the young woman was obviously concerned. " I didn't hurt her, she was crawling into the bike path so I figured I should stop her. When she saw the bug she was following had died I gave her another one, I hope you don't mind." The young lady still wasn't saying anything.  She was staring at him like she had seen a ghost, then he took a good look at her. She looked like someone he knew, but he couldn't quite remember. Then it hit him. She looked a little like Starr. Could it be? Was he standing in front of his daughter? The more he took in her features the more he saw the little girl he remembered.  He had to ask, he needed to know. "Starr, is that you?"

When he had turned to face her, she hadn't been able to do anything but stare. He hadn't changed that much. The scar was on his right cheek where it always had been and the tone of his voice especially when he was talking about Hope was so reminiscent of the times they had talked about Jack. She had missed that voice. He was talking about giving a bug to Hope. It was so typically him, but when he suddenly said her name the floodgate burst open. "Daddy" was all she said as she rushed into his arms.

Scenario for TM's Return to Llanview # 5

It was nearing sunset, TM found himself walking the grounds at the cemetery. He had spent the day trying to recall more and more memories. One image kept popping up in his mind and it had led him to the cemetery.
There it was, that god awful mausoleum, he got to the door but could go no further. The day came back to him with blinding clarity. Waking up to find himself handcuffed to the wall. Then Mitch's taunting about Blair and Sam and how his own family was no longer safe, because Mitch was going to show him the errors of his ways. He would have to pay for not heeding the Messenger. When Mitch had returned he had hinted that someone had died and he had let him think for a moment that Blair was dead. Then Mitch had dropped the bombshell that Sam was dead. Todd's world had crumbled around him and then Mitch had ordered the unthinkable. Todd was bound and gagged and laid in the tomb with his dead father Victor. Todd looked on horrified as the lid to the vault was lowered and then darkness and then oblivion.

For eight long years Todd had existed in oblivion. For him the year felt like 2003, but he had been told and now realized it to be true, that it was 2011. Mitch had taken eight years of his life.  Todd slid to the ground against the door sobbing as the enormity of all that had passed hit him.

Vicki had been setting flowers at the graves of her three husbands and stopping to talk to them but with the sun setting it was time to return home. She had to walk past her father's mausoleum on her way to Llanfair, as she rounded the corner she spotted him sitting there sobbing. She walked up to see if she could offer some comfort. "Excuse me, are you alright."

At her voice, Todd raised his head and saw his sister standing above him.

Vicki found herself staring into the face she thought she would never see again. Her brother was staring up at her looking for all the world like some lost soul. She stooped and reached out "Todd, what is it? What has happened?" It didn't even occur to her that she shouldn't be saying those words. All thoughts of the Todd she had known for the last eight years were forgotten the moment she touched the face of the man in front of her. His look was so anguished that she couldn't help herself and she embraced him to give him the comfort he obviously needed at that moment. After a few moments she felt him pulling back so she released him. She took a good look at the man in front of her. He was older but seemed okay.  His eyes were haunted by something and then he started to stand up. Vicki reached for the wall of the mausoleum to stand back up when she felt his hand come out to support her.

Todd helped his sister regain her feet. Then he just looked at her. The years have been kind, but she seemed to have a sense of sorrow about her. "Are you okay Sis?" All the thoughts and feelings that had hit him were drifting away as he took in the picture of his sister in front of him. "Long time no see, huh."

Vicki laughed "That's an understatement" Even as she said the words she suddenly realized that not only was it an understatement there was definitely a problem here. She looked at the man in front of her and felt that she was indeed looking at Todd but if this is Todd standing in front of her then who was the man they all believed to be Todd. "Where have you been all this time?"

Todd ran his hand through his hair and tried to think of an answer that would make sense. " I'm not sure. They told me when I woke up that they had been taking care of me for eight years. I'm not even sure how I got there. My last memory before I woke up was Mitch putting me into Victor's vault. I thought they were lying to me. No way could I have been out of it for eight years. But, My God! Vicki, it's true. It is 2011, I've lost eight years."

Vicki was stunned. Todd was telling her he had been catatonic for eight years. Eight long years he had been trapped in his head. Thirteen years before he had been lost in a catatonic state when Sam had tried to bring to light Todd's past with Peter Manning. She turned and stared at her father's tomb as Todd's other words sunk in. She had know Mitch had been responsible for Todd's disappearance in 2003. But Walker had never told them about the circumstances around his disappearance. "Dear Lord, Todd, you're telling me Mitch actually placed you in with Father!"

Todd looked at the crypt. Suddenly he just wanted to get away from it.
"It doesn't matter, I... I need to get away from here. It's done, I can't get any of it back. I... I've got to go."

"But wait, where are you going? You can't just leave. You show up after eight years and you're just going to go again? Why would you do that?" Vicki grabbed his arm. "Don't leave, we need to talk. I need to know everything you can tell me. Let me help."

Todd stopped, nodded and held out his hand. Vicki took it and they left the cemetery.

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.

Scenario for TM's Return To Llanview #3

Tomas and Todd escort Marty up into the mountain. Todd says "Okay, we're all in agreement then. You're going to stay here with Liam until the search for you dies down. That means no more wandering around town looking for revenge right now. The cabin is well stocked with enough food to last you for a couple of weeks. I'm going to try and bring you some baby supplies, I wish you would reconsider letting me take Liam back to Vicki's. Let's get you inside."

Tomas opens the car door and Marty emerges with Liam. When he reaches to try and help her with the baby she brings her gun up. "Stay back Tomas, I'm going along with this because I won't have to watch my back night and day but don't think you're going get the disc. I have it safely hidden so both of you do what you have to do to keep John and the police from finding me. We'll all be happier."

Tomas and Todd exchange glances and know for the time being a mad woman hold their lives in her hands. Todd grabs the extra items they brought with them and they walk to the door. Todd unlocks the cabin and they enter. Marty looks around happily and talks quietly to Liam. " Oh look Liam our new home. Isn't it lovely. Don't you worry. when the time is right we'll reunite with your Daddy. I promise." she set him down and turns to Tomas and Todd. " Well thank you so much for your hospitality but I think it's time you gentlemen leave. I need to put my son to bed. Remember guys, you keep my secret and I'll keep yours" she watched as they left. and locked the door behind them. then she set about making herself and Liam comfortable.

TM kept looking back, he was pretty sure he had lost them for the time being but dark was approaching. The area looked familiar and he had a feeling there was someplace close he could take shelter for tonight. He broke into the clearing coming face to face with a big cabin. "Yes," he thought, he knew he had remembered right. He didn't see anyone around so he took the chance and went up on the porch and found it under the window box. He opened the door and entered, this was going to work great. He knew he had hidden here before and knew it was the wrong time of year for anyone to come to the cabin, He walked over to the sink to get some water. He was so thirsty, then he heard footsteps on the stairs."Damn, I thought it was empty." he pulled the gun he had gotten from the guard and moved quietly behind the stairs and waited for the person to finish their walk down. He didn't want to hurt whoever it was but he needed to make them understand his need for shelter.

TM watched as she finished her walk down the stairs. When she made the turn for the Kitchen he stepped out from his hiding place. In stunned silence they saw each other, then in some weird moment they spoke simultaneously "You! Why is it always you?"

TM stared at her like he was seeing a ghost. Images flashed though his mind: first he was straddling her on a bed, then he saw her sitting on the floor cradling a body and yelling at him. The memories flooded back and with them the remorse and self loathing. "My God, Marty!"

Marty likewise was revisiting her memories. He was holding her down, then he was carrying her up the side of a mountain, a chat on a rainy evening by a fire but then her heart wrenched as she saw herself cradling her husband, more images of shouting matches and strange talks as the emotions rushed through her. "You!" she yells "You're going to ruin everything. It's what you do. Why can't you leave me alone?"

TM takes a step towards her but she backs away quickly. She's definitely spooked and acting more hyper than he remembered. "Marty wait, I'm not here to hurt you." Then he hears a baby cry. "What?... he starts for the stairs but Marty beats him to them.

"You can't go up there, you stay away from us. Haven't you hurt me enough." She stands there staring at him wildly.

TM realizes he still has the gun in his hand. He sticks the gun away and says "Marty I swear I won't hurt you. Go, go check on the baby. You're safe with me I promise. " he backs away to give her space as she rushes upstairs. He runs his hands through his hair. He takes some deep breaths as he walks to the couch. This really complicates things. Where the hell had she come from and who's baby was upstairs. he hears footsteps behind him on the stairs and turns around to find a gun aimed at him. But it wasn't the gun that was disturbing it was the fact that Marty had a baby in one arm and the gun in the other. It wasn't like Marty to endanger a child like that. "So Marty, is this how it going to end? You're finally going to take your revenge. Surely you're not going to do it with the baby here." he saw her take her eyes off him to look at the baby and he made his move and had the gun from her before she realized it.

Marty screamed in frustration, and the baby began crying.

Scenario for TM's Return to Llanview # Two

Louie took his new friend Tim to the back alley of Rodi's and told him to wait. Slipping in the back door, Louie let his eyes adjust to the gloom and saw his friend John behind the Bar. "John, I've got this friend who could really use your help but he's afraid of cops. I told him you were a good guy and that you'd listen to his trouble and help him. Are you willing to help, I've got him stashed out back?"

"That depends Louie, is he wanted for something? " asks John.

"Nah I don't think so, but he's got some major players chasing him for some reason. Let me go get him." Louie headed out the door, and returned a moment later talking quietly to the guy next to him. John looked up as they near and walk into the light. He paused what he was doing as the man from the CIA files walked toward him.

"Uh hi, Louie said you might be able to help me. I remember this place.  I use to come here I think. It hasn't changed that much. I need a place to stay. I can help out around here, clean up after everybody leaves.  I'm in a little bit of a jam." TM looks over his shoulder nervously.

John's curiosity was peaked. He recognized the man standing in front of him, at least his face. John wondered what the connection was between this stranger with Todd's old face and Manning. The stranger was definitely nervous about something. He pulled out several beers and indicated a table in the corner. He, Louie and the stranger sat down and John asked, "You do know I'm a cop right? If you're involved in anything illegal I can't help."

The stranger nodded and said. " I haven't done anything illegal that I know of. A little over a week ago I woke in this strange room and was told I had been there for eight years. I thought the people who had me were nuts they kept trying to find out if I knew where 'it' was and I had no idea what 'it' even was. I ... They had me strapped to a chair and they did something...when I awoke again, I've been trying to piece together my memories. I know I have a daughter, I remember her mother's name, and another woman who used to be my wife.  Louie showed me a paper. The Sun or something. I feel like it use to belong to me, but it said the publisher had been recently shot. I don't understand what's going on. The people that had me are chasing me for something. And all I know is the answer to my questions and my life are here. The only thing I know for sure is what my name is."

John took a sip of beer, looking intently at the man opposite him. He didn't seem crazy, just confused. "You really have no idea why these men are after you? Do you have any idea where you were for eight years?"

The stranger looked at John and realized if he wasn't straight forward with this guy he wouldn't get any help. "All I know is this. It was some kind of secret installation and I don't know where. I managed to escape when they came to kill me and I hopped onto a plane. I don't even remember where it landed. All I know is that they followed me and tried to kill me again and then Louie helped me out and we've eluded them for the time being. I know that sounds like something weird, but it all happened. How about it? Will you help me?"

John  made the decision to help, he wanted to keep on eye on him and he knew this man was tangled up in the mystery surrounding Todd and Tomas. "You can have the apartment upstairs, but you probably ought to keep a low profile.  Don't worry about helping out down here for right now. When I'm certain you haven't brought trouble here, then you can help out. You and Louie tell the cook what you want to eat. I have to get back to work. By the way, do you have a name?"

The stranger looked at him and said, "Just call me TM."

Scenario for TM's Return to Llanview. # One

Blair exited the Manning building.  As she headed to her car, she looked toward the building that housed Todd's old Penthouse. She looked up and was surprised to see a light in the window of the Penthouse. Something wasn't right. The Penthouse was supposed to be closed up. Blair looked at her watch it.  It was getting late, she should be heading home but she couldn't get over the feeling that something was about to happen. Thinking she might have been mistaken, she glanced up as she neared the building. There was definitely light coming from the penthouse. She decided to check it out. Blair nodded at the doorman and made her way to the Penthouse elevator. She was filled with trepidation as the elevator came to a stop.

Blair stepped out into the hall and headed for the door. Music is emanating from within. She recognized the song . It was one of her favorites. Todd used to play it all the time. She found herself humming "My One and Only Love" as she reached for the door. Strange, it was unlocked. Blair turned the knob and entered quietly.  The light she saw was coming from several candles around the room. It was surreal she thought, the effect of the candles and the music, yet everything in the room was covered. Just as she started for the stairs a voice from behind her spoke.

"Hello."

Blair spun around, she saw a man in the shadows. He looked so familiar even though she couldn't see his face. He moved forward and the candlelight caught his features. "My God, it can't be.  Are you real?" Blair was stunned, he looked the same but different.

"Are you alright?" he said. Then in answer to her second question he looked down at himself and said " I think I am." He looked up "You look familiar.  Do we know each other?  I came here looking for my daughter but I guess she's gone. It's been such a long time." he walked past her to the window and stared out. "I didn't mean to be away so long."

Blair's heart was racing as he passed her to go to the window, she almost reached out. He sounds like Todd but he's acting so strange and he can't be Todd, Todd's at home with Tea. As he was talking she heard the longing in his voice for his daughter. "What's her name, your daughter?" she asked.

"Starr" he replied. " I can't find her or her mother? I really thought they would be here. I'm trying to remember where else I could look for them but nothing is coming to mind. I hope they don't mind me staying here. I thought if I stayed they might come home."

Blair's heart was breaking. His daughter's name was Starr and he was searching for her and her mother. My God what happened to him. "Todd" she whispered.

He turned around. "Yes? I'm sorry I didn't ask your name." He looked at her waiting for a reply.

"Blair, my name is Blair." she said.

Todd stared at her for a moment. Then he closed his eyes, he whispered to himself "I have a daughter, her name is Starr, her mother's name is...Blair!." He opened his eyes and suddenly his face lit up " It's you, you're really here. My Blair." he moved to her. "You are so beautiful in this light." he took her into his arms and gently kissed her.