Thomas Lord: Cloaked, Ch. 20

Todd was on the phone with one of his overseas sources, when Addie and Blair arrived back to the penthouse after taking the boys to school. He had gotten some news about Gregor and figured now was as good a time as any to talk to both his wife and mother-in-law.

Blair walked over and gave her husband a kiss, but noticed he was somewhat preoccupied. " Okay, what has you all bothered? Who was that on the phone?"

Todd had almost jumped out of his skin when Blair kissed him, he was so distracted by the latest news he had received. "I was on the phone with my contact in Germany. Blair, I think you, I, and your mother should have a talk. I think we need to get everything out into the open."

Addie had been about to go to her room to relax when she heard Todd's statement. She turned around and said, "So you're going to tell me what you were afraid to tell me before you left for Llanview."

"Yes Addie, you have a right to know everything Gregor Daimler has been up to since he left you all those years ago. Do you still want to know?"

Looking at Blair, Addie realized her daughter knew about Gregor. If her daughter could take the news about her father, then Addie knew she could too. "You go ahead and tell me everything, Todd."

Blair patted the seat next to her and her mother sat down. "Okay Todd what's the latest news about Gregor?" said Blair.

"Two things, Blair, I'm afraid Gregor might be one of Carlo's partners. I sent a picture of Gregor to the reporter who infiltrated Kipling's research facility. He called me a little while ago and informed me Gregor made frequent visits to Kipling's Home. That means Gregor knows Samuel Toddman is Todd Manning and that I just helped convict his two partners. On top of that, the word from my contact in Europe is that he's been moving large amounts of money around. There's something going down on the continent, some are speculating he's getting ready to jump ship from the corporation and his investors are some major players."

"What do you think it means Todd?"

"I think Gregor's running scared. He's trying to liquidate for a fast retreat so he can regroup without his investors being any the wiser. The Feds have just released the Odyssey.  I'm guessing that he's here, close by to that ship, because it's his avenue of escape.  If he thinks his Japanese partners might retaliate against him, because of Hesser's and Kipling's incarceration then he's going to protect himself by disappearing. I just don't think he'll leave without her."

"But you said he had no contact with her on the ward. Why do you think he would still take her with him?" Blair didn't like the idea of her half-sister still being in his grasp. There had to be a way to stop Gregor from getting her.

"He'll do it to show he's still in power, and as far as he's concerned she's his property, and he won't let her go." Todd got up and carefully walked to the window. The light seemed a little brighter today. Could the eye doctor have been right? Were his eyes healing? He needed his sight back, he wanted to see Gregor's face when he told him he could leave, but not with Kym.

" Todd, I don't understand. You're saying Gregor was a partner with the same man who hurt you and kept you apart from Blair all these years. Do you think he knew you were married to his daughter?" asked Addie. She was trying to wrap her head around the fact that the man she had known so long ago was now working with criminals and had actually known what had happened to Todd all those years ago. Did Gregor know about Blair? If he did, how had he stood by and watched the man she loved, get hurt? Of course, that presupposed he felt something for his daughter. Just because he might know about her, didn't mean he felt anything at all for her.

"Yes Addie, he knows about Blair but there's something you still don't know about him." Todd paused he didn't want to hurt Addie and what he had to say next was going to. "You remember that article of mine that you read. You told me those men who hurt the girls should be punished and I shouldn't punish myself for their sins. Addie, Gregor is one of the men who is in charge of that ring of men. He's made a lot of profit off the sale of young girls and children around the world."

Addie paled as she began to understand the true scope of Gregor's villainy, then she recalled the other part of the conversation Blair had just had with Todd. "Todd, you said he was trying to leave the country, but he wouldn't leave without her. Who is this person you're talking about? Do you have proof that he has something to do with this awful enterprise?"

"The answer to both your questions is the same. Her name is Kym and she worked for Gregor. Over the last couple of years, she's been housemother to a number of girls kidnapped and trained to be sexual slaves for men around the world. The thing is, she herself was one of his victims back when she wasn't much older than the girls she looked after now. When she was fully trained she was sold to her master, who was Gregor Daimler. He used her because he bought her and she was his property, then he told her the unthinkable. Gregor told her not only did she belong to him but she was his daughter." Todd stopped as he heard the gasp come from where Blair and Addie were sitting. He needed to stop. Just thinking about Gregor doing to Kym, the same as his father had done to Vicki all those years ago, made him sick.

Addie began to cry softly, she could no longer pretend that what Gregor had done to her had been anything other than rape. He had been the sane one and he had taken advantage of her innocence for his own pleasure. If he was so callous as to sexually use his own daughter to serve and please him, then there wasn't any love in the man for anyone but himself. Blair had been holding her and trying to comfort her and Addie knew why Todd had wanted to spare her. She looked up at her beautiful daughter and was very glad Gregor had not come for her. She smiled tremulously and said. "I'm alright Blair and thankful he didn't attempt to take you when you were young. I don't know what would have become of you or me if he had. How could he do that to his own daughter? Wait a minute. If this Kym is his daughter then that means she's your half-sister, Blair."

"I know Momma, Todd's been doing everything he can to get Kym out of Gregor's clutches since the night of the raid. Kym helped Todd with essential information that enabled the Feds and cops to make an organized raid and save all those girls and children. She had her hearing this morning and we're waiting to get word on the outcome."

"But won't Gregor attempt to get her if she's freed?" asked Addie

"He'll have to go through a couple of federal marshals and John McBain to get her. I don't think he'll make his move today. I think Gregor is trying to find out who Kym's so-called uncle is? That would be me and if Gregor thinks he can have Kym back he needs to think again." Just then the phone rang. Todd answered and listened. He spoke quietly to the person on the other end of the line then he hung up. "Kym is free. Now we keep her that way."

At the news of Kym's release, Blair began to worry about her. "Todd, if she's been released, wouldn't that just make it easier for Gregor to snatch her again."

"Blair as we speak, John should be getting her. I called Cassie after you left and asked her if she could help Kym. I was about to ask you to take me to Cassie's house, it's time all of you met."

"Why didn't you say so sooner. We could have already been there." Blair and Addie rose quickly and offering her arm to Todd, Blair led him from the penthouse while Addie locked up.

Inside the courtroom, just moments earlier, Kym had been told she was to be released. She turned to her lawyer and thanked him for his hard work and then she wondered where she was going to go next. As she looked toward the exit, she spotted Sid and his men but they didn't look like they were making their way to her, in fact, they looked like they were leaving. She felt uneasy about that. She had expected Gregor to have contacted her by now. Why was he allowing her so much freedom? Had he decided to let her go or was he using her for something? That was it, he was using her as bait. Gregor wanted Tom. She looked around and didn't see him anywhere in the courtroom and breathed a sigh of relief. Tom had said he wouldn't be there, but she would bet Sid and his men had hoped to find him there.

John had been watching the proceeding and had seen Sid and his men enter the courtroom. He had turned away from them so they wouldn't realize he was there, they had obviously been looking for someone other than Kym. Todd had been right, they were definitely fixated on finding him. They were so intent on locating Tom that they completely overlooked John. When the Judge had given Kym her walking papers, Sid had departed from the room pulling his phone from his pocket as he left. Ten to one he had called the boss. Sid had reentered the courtroom and spoken quickly to his pals and they had departed. John knew how these things worked. They were going to tail Kym to see if she might lead them to Tom. Well, he could certainly make their job harder.

John talked to one of the extra marshals in the room before approaching Kym. The marshal agreed to help provide a diversion by providing a couple more identical cars to match the one John borrowed from the agency that morning. Hopefully, they would be able to lose any tails Sid might put on Kym. John didn't want to let them get close to Todd, not at this moment. He walked over to her and saw the look of fear which was quickly replaced by recognition.

"You! Are you John McBain?"

"Yes, I 'm here to see you get someplace safe and out of the reach of your boss. If you're ready to go, we're going to leave through a different door." John led her toward the Judge's chamber and soon she was following him down some back stairs.

"You were there the night Tom was, you aided him after he took down Sid. Are you guys friends?" Kym asked. She was eager to find out anything she could about Tom.

"I'm not sure you could call us friends exactly, he and I don't usually mix in the same circles, but I do have a grudging respect for him. What he's done for you and the others has definitely raised my opinion of him a little more. For now, I'm here to make sure you get someplace where Gregor can't find you and to help keep him alive to see another day. He's been wracking up the enemies lately." they reached the garage level of the courthouse and John took a quick look outside and spotted the cars waiting for them. He and Kym entered the second car and they departed the garage.

"Can you tell me more about him? He isn't very talkative about himself. How long has he been blind?" Kym had entered the car and sat as close to the door as she could.  She needed to keep space between her and John or else her resolve might fail her. It was always a chore to control herself in the company of strong men, and John McBain gave off some great vibes, but he was there to protect her. She waited for an answer to her last question. She still was confused by the strange turn of events surrounding Tom's blindness. She hadn't really understood how he could see one minute and be blind the next, but obviously, he hadn't been able to see her the night before. She admired Tom all the more when she realized that he was still standing between her and Gregor and wasn't going to budge, blind or not.

John had gotten behind the wheel, contemplating how best to answer Kym's question. "Tom was blinded several months back and he's been taking entirely too many risks in spite of that fact. The man is a magnet for trouble and he's currently got a price on his head, but he refuses to live his life in the shadows. We've all tried to make him see reason, including his wife, but he won't listen. That's why I'm here, to make sure he continues to survive."

"I see." Kym had known the woman in the warehouse was someone close to Tom and now it appeared she was his wife. Kym felt a brief moment of jealousy but then it was overtaken by fear when she heard John say Tom had a target on his back. Why was he taking more risks for her? She was nothing to him. He should have just washed his hands of her once the trial was over, but Tom was determined to get her free of Gregor no matter what.
"Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you to the house of someone who can help get you into a new life, one where you'll be your own woman and not at Gregor's beck and call. Hang on we've developed a tail, I have to lose him." John began maneuvering through the traffic while keeping an eye on the rearview mirror. He turned down an alley and saw a delivery truck beginning to back up. Gunning it, John cleared the gap with barely a minute to spare and spun out onto the street with the tail lost. He then took a few more turns and found the street Cassie lived on. As he pulled into the driveway he watched a taxi exit. Todd was here.

Kym found herself looking at a beautiful residential home and wondered who John was bringing her to see. They walked to the front door which opened and a lovely woman greeted John and welcomed them in.

"You must be Kym, I'm so glad you made it here safe and sound. My name is Cassie. Let's go into the living room." Cassie wrapped an arm around the young woman's shoulder and realized just how slight she was. The girl was positively shaking. She was obviously worried about what was going to happen next.

Kym didn't know how to act around this woman. She seemed very nice but why was she worried if they would get there safe. Everything became clearer when they entered the living room. Three people were there, Tom and two women. One of the women was his wife, the woman who had been at the warehouse. The other woman was older but looked a bit like Tom's wife. She must have been his mother-in-law. Kym had expected to see Tom, but the two women were a surprise.

"Tom, why did you have John bring me here?"

"Before I answer that, I think introductions are in order. Kym, I never asked your surname? Perhaps you could tell me now."

"It's Daimler, like my father. That's what my mom put on my birth certificate. Little did I guess that I would end up with my father, after being taken when I was young. He allowed me to keep it after he bought me, it just cemented his hold over me." Kym could see the horror and the sympathy on the women's' faces. She never really felt comfortable around women because they could be cruel to someone like her. Yet these women weren't being judgemental they really seemed to feel sorry for her.

Todd heard something in her voice that reminded him of himself. It was a sort of bravado that she used to protect herself. He had used it a lot when he was younger. Then he had discovered his Alters and they had helped him overcome a lot of those knee-jerk reactions to other peoples' opinions. "Very well, Cassie, Blair, and Addie I would like to introduce you to Kym Daimler. Kym, I would like to introduce my wife Blair Daimler Toddman, her mother Addie Cramer and her cousin Cassie Carpenter. My name, by the way, is legally Samuel Toddman, but my real name is Todd Manning. Tom is my given name, but I rarely use it."

Kym looked at the ladies and smiled shyly and then she realized what she had heard. Tom had just introduced his wife as Blair Daimler Toddman. That meant her surname was Daimler. She turned to look at Tom, but he was unable to see her shock. His words, the night before, reverberated through her head," my family is everything to me." That was it. Tom was putting himself in Gregor's line of fire for his family. She was Blair's half-sister and therefore she came under his protection, she was family. "Tom you said I would meet my sister, how did you know?"

"I suspected it after you told me your story. You told me that your father mentioned having another daughter. I had been looking into Gregor because of his last name, to begin with, but after your story, things started falling into place and I received confirmation from Blair's mother recently that Gregor was indeed Blair's father. I didn't want you two to meet in the prison ward because I feared your father was having your visits watched. He knew your uncle was visiting, but I didn't want him to find out about Blair. I'm going to leave you to get acquainted with your family. John and I have an errand to run."

Blair looked up at him startled "Where are you going?" she started feeling those butterflies in her stomach. Todd was off to do something foolish and it looked like he had convinced John to go with him.

"It's nothing to worry about.  Blair, if all goes as planned, we'll be back for dinner. If not, you and Addie return to the penthouse and I'll see you there. Kym, Cassie and I have talked and she came up with an idea I believe you'll like. Hear her out, it will change your life. If things go the way I hope, you'll no longer have to worry about Gregor." With that, he took John's arm and they left.

Once they were in the car, Todd told John about Daimler's connection to Hesser and Kipling. Upon hearing the latest news, John wanted to take him back to Cassie's. "Are you crazy Manning, if he knows who you really are you're walking into the lion's den. I'm one man and you're blind you don't seriously think we can take them all on in those circumstances. You may be suicidal Todd, but I'm not. Let me get some more help before we undertake this."

" John, I'm not suicidal, but I need to see Daimler and the only way I see that happening is letting myself get caught. I know I can't defeat him, but I think I can bargain with him to back off and just disappear. I need to make him realize I'll keep his secret if he calls off his dogs and lets Kym go free."

John shook his head,"I hope you know what you're doing.  If this backfires, Blair will probably kill me."

Todd exited the car and took out his cane. He steeled himself for the next step going out to the docks blind as a bat. John was going to shadow him but not be with him. For some reason, today was different, was he making a mistake trusting in his intuition that Gregor would be curious enough to want to meet him before killing him. Well, he'd never know if he didn't go ahead and put the plan in motion. He began walking toward the dock area he had worked in with Bernie, at this time of day things were beginning to wind down and the dock traffic was easier for him to navigate. He suddenly heard his name being called.

"Yo Tom, where ya been, man?"

Todd recognized the voice as belonging to Joe, one Bernie's pals. "Hi, Joe. Had a bit of an accident, I'm looking for Bernie."

"Whoa man, ya mean that cane's for real. Wow, say sorry to hear that. But Bernie's not here, some lowlifes beat him up. He's off for a while, shame too, things are tight for his wife and kid with no money right now. The guys and me, we put a hat around got enough to get them some supplies at least. Hey, it's quittin' time, why don't you come with us guys and have a drink. Gotta hear what happened to you. What do ya say?"

"Sure Joe, why not. Can't talk to Bernie obviously."

"Boy, you sure got that right."

The guys gathered around him and herded him to the bar. John watched from afar and noticed Sid's group following at a distance. Todd had been right, they could have killed him already, but instead, they were just following. They were waiting for the right moment to snatch him.

Todd sat at the bar and the boys bought him a drink. He told his story of having to appear in court as a witness and how during the trial there had been a disturbance and during the chaos, someone had clocked him. When he had woken up he had been blind. The Doctors couldn't tell him if the blindness was permanent or not. The guys had been fascinated that one of their own was a witness in a trial. When they heard someone hit him they asked if someone had been trying to shut him up and Todd had nodded in the affirmative.

"Say." said Joe, "I remember seeing some strangers down at the docks looking for you, do you think they could have been working for the guy you were testifying against?"

"I don't know Joe? Did you happen to see them talking to Bernie? He  was the last guy I worked with, maybe they're the ones who hurt him." Todd wondered if all this conjecture was just for the benefit of the guys, or if Sid and his pals were close by listening.

"Gee Tom, you could be right. Those guys were some rough-looking characters, if they took down Bernie, just to get to you, there's no tellin' what they'll do if they know your back here at the docks. You should hightail it on out of here. In your shape, man, you're dead meat."

Sid had been listening and watching. It appeared the guy was blind again and it rankled that he had been taken down by a blind man. Just who was this Tom guy? The boss had gotten real quiet when he had mentioned it had been like fighting two different men. It was as if those words had told the boss something. Then the boss had ordered them to bring him in. They had struck out at court finding this so-called uncle for the Boss and had headed back to the docks to look some more for Tom.

He and his pals had been heading off the Docks when they had heard the name 'Tom' called out. Sid remembered seeing the guy for the first time since that night. His anger had almost gotten the better of him when he had noticed Tom was playing blind again. But he had watched the guy's uncertainty when the dockworkers had moved around him. Even here at the bar Tom's movements in picking up his beer and the awkwardness with which he reached for the bottle said the guy really was blind. Sid wasn't sure what to believe anymore. He would have liked to have taken Tom out once he left the bar, but instead, it looked like they were going to be taking him to the boss.

Todd finished his drink if Sid and company were here they had decided to not attempt to take him in public. They wanted no witnesses obviously. "Joe, you said Bernie was out of commission for a while. Where is he? Do you know?"

"Yeah man, they got him in Savannah General."

"Thanks, Joe, I guess I'll go see if he can have visitors. Thanks for the beer and the heads up on those guys.  Maybe I'll see you guys later."  The guys got a laugh out of his parting line and Todd made his way to the exit. As he stepped out the door, he felt the gun in his ribcage. "Well, I wondered when you would make your play Sid."

"Shut up. If I had my way, you would be dead already. But I've got orders. You should have stayed away from the docks "Tom", you messed with the wrong people and you're gonna pay. Now move." Sid shoved his gun hard into Todd's back.

" If you give me an idea which direction you want me to go it would be helpful." Todd knew he was fanning the flames of Sid's anger, but there was really nothing he could do about it. He was blind and Sid would have to work with it. Todd felt two people grab his arms and they started hauling him along. Obviously, Sid had decided it was the lesser of two evils to just go with the flow and treat him as a blind man. Even if he didn't really believe it was true. The downhill grade told Todd they were headed back down the docks.

Sid led the way up the gangplank with Todd following, his hands on the rails to guide him and a man behind, holding a gun against his ribs. When they reach the stateroom level the two men took over his guidance again. Todd could tell by the sound, they were now on carpeting of some type. The Odyssey was definitely not a cargo ship. The insides of this deck were more like a cruise ship. He was pulled to a stop and Todd heard Sid knock on a door.

"Come in. This better be good ...Sid, you surprise me, I thought for sure you would have roughed him up a little bit. Please come in Mr. Toddman, or should I say, Manning. That will be all Sid, I don't think Mr. Manning is in any shape to do me any harm. You wait outside with your men." Gregor waited until his men had left before continuing. "I must say I never thought you were the man who stirred up all this trouble. You've had my colleagues traipsing all over Europe looking for you and then you magically appeared in Llanview the day of the trial. That was definitely a trick I didn't expect. The Todd Manning I heard so much about was never very helpful when it came to police matters. I'm guessing your Alter Samuel was responsible for this recent change. It was really quite clever of you to let us think Samuel was an alias, we never knew he was a personality till the trial. We kept waiting for you to get your memory back, but he was a puzzle we didn't solve.

"Yes well, Samuel didn't really appreciate the state your partners left us in. He felt it was his duty to make sure Hesser and Kipling got what was coming to them. I wholeheartedly agreed, as for this little venture. I just fell into this by accident, but couldn't seem to let it go unnoticed. You see, I really hate it when kids are hurt or mistreated. Once I found out what was really going on, there was no way any of those kids were going to be shipped out to all of your sadistic friends. Sorry, I put a crimp in your enterprise. NOT "

"You're really quite droll aren't you Mr. Manning but you see, you think you got the upper hand on me. You were so sure your friend Mr. McBain was able to elude my tail that it never occurred to you that I didn't need a tail, all the government vehicles had transmitters. I must say, Mr Manning, you do have yourself quite a little harem."

"Todd! Let go of me you Monster." Blair was struggling to break Sid's hold. "Todd, they broke in shortly after you and John left. they brought all of us here."

Todd was frantic, Gregor had all four women there was no telling what he would do next. "Leave them out of this Gregor, this is between you and me."

"Ahh but you see, Mr. Manning I don't just deal in children and young girls. Your beautiful wife Blair, and her sister Kym and even lovely Ms. Carpenter will all fetch a very sizable profit for me. As for my dear Addie, I'm sure one of my partners will know of someplace where she can be put to use. Unfortunately, due to your current state you'll be unable to see them one last time. Sid, take them below."

Blair broke free of the hold on her and ran to Todd. "Todd, don't worry about us, you need to get out of here he means to kill you. I love you always remember that." she clung to him until hands pulled her roughly away.

He had held onto her for as long as he could. Then something inside him broke, he felt the cold spread through him, all his active senses told him where Gregor was standing. He knew the man was probably smirking at him, gloating over the fact that he had won. Sid had made one mistake he had left Todd with a weapon. With one twirl of his body, he brought himself within striking distance and drove his cane into Gregor. He didn't know if he had killed him or not but he knew he had given himself time to get to the door. Todd had just cleared the door and was making his way to the gangplank when he heard John's shout.

"Manning, get down!"

Shots were fired and Todd felt one bullet and then, a second, rip through his body, as he was falling, all he said was "Blair!"

***

Everything was black, his body felt so heavy. It didn't matter, nothing mattered. Blair had been taken from him, he started to cry.

"Todd, It's me, Blair. Wake up, Todd. Starr, I think he's coming around, go get Dr. Larry." Blair reached over trying to wake her husband. Her tears were streaming down her face. "Todd you need to come back to me. You've been asleep long enough. We're all so worried about you. Please open your eyes."

Todd heard her voice, but it sounded so far away. He was deluding himself, Gregor had taken her. Still, she seemed to be calling him. He needed to hear her voice. He struggled to open his eyes, light filtered in, then the vision changed and he could make out shapes and colors. Someone was bending over him, he knew that fragrance but how? She had been taken. How was she here? He tried to talk but the sound came out more of a croak. Someone put a straw in his mouth and he drank quickly, the water taking away the dryness. He tried to talk again, he needed to know if it was his imagination."Blair?"

Blair flung her arms around him hugging him. He was awake, then she began kissing him and laughing. She had thought he would never wake up, the Doctors had about given up hope.

"Blair let me check him out," Larry said to her gently. He began checking Todd's vitals and then he checked his eyes, there had been no significant improvement with them. "Todd this is Dr. Wolek, I'm sure you're feeling a little disoriented for now but that's not surprising. Do you know where you are?"

Todd was confused. What was Dr. Wolek doing in Savannah? "I don't understand, Blair did you bring Dr. Wolek to Savannah? How did you get free from Gregor?"

Blair looked over at Larry, "What's going on?"

Larry turned back to Todd. "Todd, we're in Landview, what made you think we're in Savannah?"

"That's where I was shot. Blair how did you get free, the last thing I remember was Gregor telling them to take you, Kym, Addie and Cassie below. I broke free and was trying to get to you when John yelled and the bullets hit me." What was going on? No one was telling him anything and now they had both gone silent. "Someone say something."

Blair spoke, "Todd I don't know who Gregor is. You've been in a coma since Christian shot you a couple of months ago. You managed to get a shot off and injured him. When John got there, you had been shot in the head and Christian had been knocked unconscious by your bullet which creased his skull. Your shot caused his aim to change and the bullet went through your skull at such an angle that it only damaged a small portion of your brain but it caused a subdural hematoma that sent you into a coma. Todd are you alright?"

It didn't seem possible. Everything that he had lived from the moment he had been shot by Christian had all taken place in his brain. It had been so real. "What about Hesser's trial and Jake being shot."

"Todd you need to calm down, the mind does strange things and there are many things about the mind that we, as doctors, don't understand. Hesser is still at large and Jake is alive and well. Whatever you've experienced was the way your mind was helping you heal. While your body and brain were mending your mind was letting you live a life until it was time to reawaken. I sure it seems real to you even now, but it didn't happen. Right now you need to just rest naturally. Your family has been here nonstop. I'll give them a chance to talk to you but then you need to sleep." Larry patted his shoulder and left him with Blair.

"My God Blair, it was all so real." Todd reached up to feel her face, "but I'm so glad it wasn't. In that reality, I had just lost you and I thought it was forever. There was nothing there for me to live for." he couldn't help himself, his tears flowed once again and Blair pulled him into her arms and cried with him because she understood exactly what he had been feeling.

Several hours later, a small celebration was taking place in his room. For now, he was on the mend and Christian had been removed from the equation. John and Bo still hadn't located Hesser's hideout but Todd knew where Hesser was and he would give them the information soon. He just didn't want to think about Hesser right then. The revenge that had been lingering in his heart seemed to have taken a holiday and Todd only wanted time to spend with his family. His dream still lingered and Todd was sure there was some pertinent information in his dream but he would talk to Ray about it at another time. The kids had brought in a horror film and they had ordered in pizza. With Hope in his lap and Sam beside him, Todd closed his eyes and listened to his family as they screamed and giggled their way through the movie. When it was over Addie and Starr took the boys and Hope back to Dragon Heart and Blair climbed into bed and rested her head on his shoulder, especially loving it when his arm wrapped around her tightly. "I thought you might never hold me like this again."

"Blair, I thought I had lost you too. I love you, always remember that." He drifted off to sleep holding her close.

Thomas Lord: Cloaked, Ch. 19

John dropped Blair and Todd off at their hotel and went to check out any info on the mercenaries. Blair and Todd were swamped by hugs as they entered the penthouse.

"Mom, Dad, we're so glad you're safe. Mom, Aunt Vicki told us about the escape attempt, are you doing alright?" Starr asked barely letting them get their bags down.

"Starr, I'm fine and your father is too. How has everything been going here? Jack and Sam, are you settling into school?" Blair was talking and dispensing hugs at the same time. " Just to let you know, we're hopeful this stay won't be as long as we feared, to begin with. A couple of months at the most. Then we might be able to go home."

"Dad, does that mean the threat is over?" Starr looked at her dad, as she hugged him and she realized he wasn't really looking at her like he had when they left. "Dad, what happened?"

Todd knew what Starr was asking but didn't know quite how to answer it. "It's a convoluted story, Starr, if you'll let your mother and I get settled, we'll tell the whole tale." By the time they were finished unpacking, Addie had lunch set out and everyone sat down to eat. Addie had wisely ordered sandwiches and soon all were munching happily. After lunch, they all moved to the sitting room and Blair told the story of the escape attempt. Sam and Jack looked at Todd in awe. He had singlehandedly captured the two men and saved their mom.

Then Jack asked the question that Starr had brought up earlier. "How come you're not using the ring to see right now?"

"I can't," said Todd. "The doctor wants me to give my system a rest and we're not sure the ring will even work any longer. We've never been able to figure out why it helped me see, but it's possible it worked because there were still pieces of the implant still inside me. With this last surgery, the doctor might have removed the piece of implant that was enabling me to see in the first place. We just don't know, either way, he doesn't want me to attempt to use the ring right now. Since your mom agrees with him, I have to go along with it for now."

Jack looked over at his mom. "But if it will help him to see, why won't you let him wear it."

"Because Jack, it was hurting him more than helping him. Something was making your father sick and the ring might have been the cause. I'd rather have him blind and alive, then sighted and dead." Blair knew it was a shock for them to hear, but she wanted them to know the truth. Hope and Sam were too young to really understand what she was talking about but Jack and Starr weren't.

Jack looked at his mom and over at his dad who was frowning. "Mom's telling the truth, isn't she."

Todd wasn't happy that Blair had told them about the ring, but he answered Jack. "It's possible there was a problem with the ring. Like I said, for now, no ring."

"Then you're really blind?" asked Jack

"Maybe, there has been a little improvement since I initially woke up after surgery. I'm hopeful with time something might improve. I'm alive and I was blind before I found out the implants would help me see. I'm just back to square one you might say. My biggest regret right now is that I'm unable to see any of you." Todd felt a little hand slip into his and then Hope was climbing onto his lap.

"It ok dragon. We help you," said Hope snuggling up close to her dragon.

Todd hugged his granddaughter, she always had a way of making him feel special. "Thank you, Princess Shorty, I'd love any help you can give me." With that matter cleared up, the discussion changed to something less dramatic. The rest of the afternoon was spent finding out about the schools and how they were settling in. Todd was deep in a discussion with Jack and Sam concerning an intricate video game when the phone rang. Blair picked it up and after a brief discussion walked over to Todd.

"Amos is on the phone. Why don't you take it in the bedroom and you can lay down and take it easy while you do it." Todd nodded and Blair led him to their room. The minute he laid down, fatigue hit him, but he couldn't give into it and picked up the phone to talk to his boss. "Amos what have you got for me."

"Tom, I'm glad you're back. My sources, down at the docks, tell me three men have been scouring the docks trying to find anyone who might have seen you down there. A dockworker named Bernie was beaten pretty badly. They found out a dockworker named Tom had worked with him for a few days before the raids went down and when he couldn't give them any more than a first name, they took their anger out on him."

Todd's hand tightened on the phone."Amos, how bad was it."

"He's going to live, but he'll be unable to work for a while. He dummied up when the cops tried to get a description of the guys who beat him. My guess is, they threatened his life or his family if he said anything to the cops. These guys want you bad."

"I hear you, Amos. I'm not going to the docks anytime soon. Do you know if Bernie is still at the hospital?"

"Not sure Tom, but the beating took place just a day ago, so probably. I've got another reason for this call. Word has reached here that the master criminal Carlo Hesser and Dr. Kipling were found guilty but are now facing new charges of murder. How about an exclusive interview with you and your wife? I hear things got tense, something about an escape attempt and a hostage situation."

Todd had to smile at that, Amos was always a newspaper man first. "I'm afraid the situation is still rather sensitive, Amos. I won't draw attention to our whereabouts so the answer will have to be no."

"Well, you can't blame a man for trying. What are you going to do about these men looking for you?"

"I'm going to have to stay clear of the Dock, which hampers my investigation a little bit. Have the Feds released the ship yet?"

"Yeah, heard they're going to have to let it leave tomorrow."

"Damn, that's a link I didn't want to be broken just yet. I'm working on this lead I have, tying this whole thing to someone pretty high up in the Daimler Corporation. If I succeed, you'll have my final story. In the meantime, any information as to the recent whereabouts of those three men will be extremely helpful. I've got a friend who's down here to help me, with luck those three won't be hurting any more people on the docks. Thanks for the update. I'll keep in touch." Todd put the phone down.

He wasn't happy to hear about Bernie, and he remembered from talking with the guy, he had a family to support. Todd called the hospital and found out Bernie was still there, next he called his bank and withdrew an amount that would give Bernie some healing time. Todd then had that messengered over to Bernie anonymously with a message of thanks. Hanging up the phone he stretched out on the bed and gave in to the fatigue.

Blair checked on him later and found him sleeping somewhat fitfully. Hope followed her in and climbed up on the bed and snuggled close to her grandfather. Blair watched as Todd's arm wrapped around her small form and he quieted and began sleeping peacefully. Hope too nodded off in her dragon's arms. Blair smiled and left them to sleep.

Todd awoke because he was being tickled. She was giggling softly and trying to get his attention. Todd couldn't see her, but her little laugh was pure joy to listen too. "Someone is disturbing my sleep" growled her dragon and Hope laughed all the harder as his hand reached out and started tickling her. Soon he was bouncing her on the bed, listening to her laugh, his heart lighter than it had been in days.

The next thing Todd knew someone else had jumped on the bed and began laughing and bouncing up and down. It was Sam. Todd wrestled the little boy to the bed and growled. "Who's this, who interrupts my playtime." Sam squealed and laughed even harder as Todd began to tickle him the way he had Hope. Todd soon had both of them hiccuping from laughter and he figured he should give them a break, but he no sooner let up on them, when they piled on him pushing him down on the bed crawling and sitting on him.

Blair and Starr heard Todd yelling uncle and laughing. Since he rarely did either they rushed to see what had happened and found Sam and Hope lying across his upper body holding onto the bedspread to keep from being bucked off by Todd. They could see the children needed help so they each anchored down a leg.

When he felt his legs grabbed, it caught him by surprise, then he heard Blair and Starr join in the laughter. "Hey, no fair. It's four against one."

"Oh Kids, the big bad dragon is trapped. What's he going to do now?" said Blair laughing.

Todd stopped struggling and Blair looked at her husband. She looked across at Starr and said "Oh oh. Look out!"

Because he had gotten so quiet. The kids had let go of the bedspread and suddenly Todd sat up causing Sam and Hope to roll off his chest. He quickly grabbed them in a bear hug, growling ferociously. All of them were laughing as Blair and Starr let go of his feet and tried to free Sam and Hope from his arms. Together Starr and Blair started tickling him, causing him to release the children and raised his arms in surrender.

"Okay, I give up." Todd was trying to catch his breath.

Hope wrapped her arms around his neck and said. "I love you."

"I love you too," he said holding her tightly. He held her just a little longer and then let Starr take her. He went to get out of bed and immediately sat back down. Even though he couldn't see it hadn't stopped the feeling of spinning that had just occurred. He waited for the sensation to stop, knowing it had probably happened because he had hyperventilated, he had been laughing so hard.

Blair rushed to him, "Todd what's the matter."

"It's nothing I just got a little dizzy, from laughing so long. Guess I wasn't taking in enough air." He again tried to stand and this time everything remained stable. "See, I'm fine. Blair where did you put the new cane."

Blair breathed a sigh of relief, "It's on the nightstand to your right Todd."

He reached over and unfolded the cane and headed for the door of the bedroom. "I need to make a trip down to the hospital. Sorry I have to cut our fun short kids, but this is something dragon has to do," he couldn't help but smile when he heard Sam grumble as he walked back down the hall. Starr carried a protesting Hope out of the room, but she settled down when her mom said something about a snack. Todd started to leave the room only to find it blocked by Blair.

"You're not going anywhere without me." she was determined to not let him out of her sight, not with three mercenaries gunning for him.

"Blair, I don't want you messed up in this any more than you already are. I don't know if those guys saw you the night of the raid or not. If Daimler and his pals are monitoring Kym's visitors, then they know about me, and I can live with that, but you need to stay off their radar."

"Alright if you won't let me go, then you should take John. Besides you need to find him a place to stay while he's down here. He's down here to help you, we owe him that."

Todd could hear the determination in her voice and knew better than to argue with her besides he did want to talk to John about Bernie and Daimler's mercenaries. "Okay Blair, call him and get him here, we'll get him a room here too, so he and I can figure our next move." Todd turned around and went to the desk that had his computer set up on it. He sat down and brought up the audio police band, at least he could monitor what was going on around the city.

John showed up about a half an hour later and after John tried to talk Todd out of his visit to the hospital, to no avail, they departed. They arrived at the hospital, and John led Todd in and up to the prison ward. Todd went to the counter to alert them he was there to see Kym. They rang the door for him to entered and then the guard stopped them when John came through with him. John showed his badge and after a little discussion, they told John where Kym's room was. No one said anything to Todd about his blindness, but he was sure they were all curious. As they approached the room John saw another policeman ahead.

"Todd, why all the security around Kym's room?" asked John.

"My bad, I forgot to tell you, someone tried to kill Kym the night before we left for Llanview. I've been unable to even check on her status since that night. John, she's pretty sensitive right now. I'll go in alone."

They reached the policeman and while John showed his badge again, Todd opened the door and carefully stepped in. He stood by the door trying to decide if he should just attempt to find the bed or get some help from Kym. Deciding the latter, he said. "Kym, how are you doing." He was caught by surprised when Kym suddenly hugged him. "That bad Huh?" she was sobbing softly into his shoulder. "Alright tell Uncle Tom everything," he gently pulled her free. If only he could see her, he had no way of knowing if she really was okay.

Kym looked up at Tom, she had been so happy to see him. She had been in and out of it for a while after someone had poisoned her, and it had bothered her when he hadn't come to visit. She had thought that maybe Tom had also been targeted. Especially when her lawyer said Tom was unavailable.  "Thank God you're okay, but why are you using your cane today? You don't have to pretend to be blind around me."

Todd walked over to the bed using his cane and found the chair next to it. "Well you see, I never pretended to be blind Kym, I am. I guess you could say there were days when I could see certain things and appear sighted but in reality, I've been blind for months. Recent events have just taken away those few sighted days."

"You mean you really can't see. So when you played that game in the crates to get Frank and company to go to you, so I could get Lily out, you really were blind."

"Yes. I know you're wondering how I took down Sid, and all I can say was that was one of those times when I regained my sight for a short period, and it enabled me to see Sid. It's hard to understand and I'm still hopeful those periods of sight will return but for now, I'm back to being the guy you met on the dock that day. Kym, have you had any more visitors that have scared or hurt you?"

"No, the police have been doing double duty and the only visitor I've had since you were here, has been the lawyer you sent me. I go to court tomorrow and he believes I might be able to get out with just time served. If he's right, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I've never been on my own. Father always told me what to do and where to go."

Todd could understand her fear and he needed to figure out a good place that Kym could go, where Gregor would leave her alone. "Kym has Gregor contacted you or sent anyone?"

"No, but I'm not surprised. Father would expect me to keep my mouth shut and take my punishment. Then when the time is right he'll come for me. Tom, I don't want to go with him anymore. What am I going to do?"

"I'm working on it, Kym. We'll get you free of the charges first. When they take you to your hearing, don't talk to anyone, but your lawyer. Sid and his bunch are out on bail and looking for me. They might try and get to you because I helped you in the warehouse. I think I know someone who might help you after you're released." The more he thought about it the more he wondered if Cassie might be willing to help Blair's half-sister. She had her hands into a lot of social programs and if she knew she was helping a family member, maybe Kym could be hidden away from Daimler that way, and get a whole new start. "You mentioned possibly having a sister out there somewhere. I think it's more than a possibility, I believe it's a reality. Don't ask me any questions about her right now but you will meet her sooner than you think, first, we need to get you free of your father."

Kym couldn't believe her ears. Tom couldn't be right, did she really have a sister out there. He said she would meet her, but how could he know that?  Then her thought went to Sid and his pals. She knew how dangerous they were and it worried her that Tom was handicapped by his loss of sight. They were already angry and if they found him she knew they would kill him. "Tom you should stop worrying about me. If Sid and his men are after you, you should leave town and stay gone. Those men are killers. You embarrassed them and they won't stop until they get you for that."

Todd was silent as he heard the fear in her voice, but he knew exactly what type of men Sid and his bunch were. He had brought John down because he knew how dangerous they could be. He also knew they weren't fools. He had caught them unaware the first time and this time he was going to need luck on his side to stop them from getting their revenge. He was also hoping they would somehow lead him to their boss. It was Daimler he really wanted to meet. "Kym I know you're worried because I'm blind, but you've already seen I'm not totally helpless. I know what I'm doing and I do have a little plan in place, I just have to get it all to come together. I don't want you to worry about anything but getting out of here. Because they're looking for me, I won't be at your hearing. But someone will be there in my place. His name is John McBain and if you get your release he'll bring you to me. If you get any word from your father, tell John or get word to me through your lawyer. I need to go now, I'm glad you're better than when I saw you last. I promised to get you free of your situation and I intend to keep that promise." He turned back towards the door, but Kym stopped him.

"Tom, thank you for everything you've done. But I want you to stop whatever you have planned.  I fear you're going after Father and that will lead you to your death. Stop now and let it go, I'm not worth it."

Todd touched her cheek. "Kym, my family is worth everything to me," and with that stunning statement, he left.

John and he had discussed the mercenary problem all the way back to the hotel. They both agreed that sitting and waiting until Sid and his crew found him, was not going to be to their advantage, so they were trying to figure out the best strategy for luring them out into the open. Todd decided that going to the docks might be exactly what they needed to draw them out. John wasn't happy because there were too many places to get ambushed at the docks. They settled on drawing them out to a bar the dockworkers frequented. It was more public and Todd knew that some of the men who worked with both him and Bernie were likely to be there. He figured the guys would back him up if they knew Sid and bunch had been the ones to beat up Bernie.

When they arrived at the hotel, Todd told John he had a room there for as long as he was in town. John had merely looked at him and shook his head but didn't say much more. John led Todd to his room and left to settle in for the night. John was going to make sure he was at court for Kym's hearing the next day, and if she was released he'd bring her to the hotel.

Across town at the docks, Sid walked up the gangplank to the ship and made his way to his boss's stateroom. Knocking, he waited. "Come in." he entered and looked at his boss, waiting to be acknowledged. The walk up the gangplank had been painful, his injured knee was still radiating pain, although more manageable, then when it had first been damaged. It seriously hampered him at the moment. He owed Tom or whatever his name was, but that would wait until he did what his Boss wanted.


"Sit down Sid." Gregor looked at his lead mercenary, Sid's jaw clenched as he took a chair. Gregor frowned. The man had been one of the best around, but some stranger had caught him unawares the night of the raid, Sid had been sloppy and he was paying for it. Gregor had little sympathy for him but he was still a good leader and he would work around the pain. "Tomorrow is Kym's hearing. According to my sources, the prosecution has already decided to be lenient with her and let her off if the judge agrees. I want to know if her uncle is there watching."

"Do you want us to bring her back."

"Kym's usefulness is at an end. I want the uncle. Have you found your Lone Ranger, the one who orchestrated the whole affair? I must admit to being disappointed in you. The guy must have really put one over on you to get the drop on you that way."

"Boss, I swear the man we caught said he didn't know us and was blind. We beat him up anyway in case he was the guy we had seen in Wilmington. I thought maybe they were twins. I never expected the blind man to take me down. It was weird. Boss, blind one minute and sighted the next. The guy almost chopped my head off and he would have enjoyed it. It was like talking to two different men."

Gregor's head whipped up at those words. "Two different men you say, and you're sure this man couldn't be the reporter who wrote the articles."

"No way Boss, no reporter would have known the moves this man knew. This man's either been in the service or prison, my guess prison at one time or another. He fights dirty."

Gregor had heard everything he needed to hear. There was one man who had been a thorn in his side for over a couple of months and who had just managed to incarcerate two of his partners. Sid's Lone Ranger had to be his son-in-law Todd Manning. Damn, the man was a menace. It made perfect sense after Sid said the man was like two different men. Gregor's colleague had informed him that Samuel Toddman wasn't just an alias but, in fact, a separate personality, which meant that Sid had met two of Todd's personalities. This put an entirely different spin on the problem. Todd had already proven himself a worthy adversary, and now he had his hand in Gregor's cookie jar. It was time the two of them met. "Sid, I want you to put all your effort into finding this man. When you find him, you're not to kill him just bring him to me. Do you understand?  Do not kill him." With that, Gregor dismissed Sid. He could have just ordered Manning dead, but the man deserved better than to be shot like a dog. How this all ended would be up to Manning.

Thomas Lord: Cloaked, Ch. 18

Todd, Blair, and John arrived at the courthouse and were sequestered in a room along with the other witnesses for the prosecution. Tea arrived and was also brought to the same room. A short time later they were escorted by several policemen to the courtroom where two closed-circuit TV had been set up. The jurors were brought in and they all took their places. Nora was present and a new defense attorney and Ivan Kipling sat a the defense table. On the TV, another attorney was seen standing by the bedside of Carlo Hesser who was sitting up in the bed his neck bandaged with a laptop on his lap. Carlo looked exceedingly unhappy. The Judge arrived and the court was called into session by a different bailiff.

The Judge turned to the jurors. "Through a series of separate events, one of the defendants was injured in such a way that he will be responding by the written word. All of you can view it on the closed-circuit TV directly in front of you. As is my prerogative, although the defense asked for a mistrial, I see no reason to accommodate them. This trial will continue, is that clear to all parties. It is now time for the defense to present its case. Are you ready to proceed?"

"Your honor this is inexcusable. My client was injured and should be given adequate time to recover."

"Your client was injured trying to escape. The doctors have informed me, he is well enough to proceed, just unable to talk. I see no reason not to continue as we have given him the means to communicate. Now I ask again is the defense ready to proceed."

The defense attorneys nodded.

"Then call your first witness." said the Judge.

The defense called a number of research facility employees to the stand that all said Dr. Kipling was a great man and that Mr. Hesser was just a benefactor of the facility, then when he could see they weren't making any headway disputing Samuel's Testimony, Kipling was called to the stand.
"Dr. Kipling, you contend that the morning of your arrest, the police coerced a confession from you. Would you please explain how you think they did it?"

"It's really quite simple they merely had the ambulance attendants give me something in my IV that made me say things that were entirely untrue."

"I see so you say the confession you made is not the truth but something the police told you to say and because you were drugged you said it."

"Exactly."

"Your Honor, I have no more questions for this witness. It was obviously some sort of illegal maneuver by the police that caused my client to wrongfully incriminate himself. I move the confession of Dr. Kipling is ruled inadmissible due to tampering."

"Does the prosecution have any objection to that ruling."

"Indeed I have Your Honor, Dr. Kipling, can you tell me how your good hand was injured." asked Nora

"My so-called partner did it to me."

"Could that so-called partner possibly be Carlo Hesser."

"That idiot, first he has his goons injure me then he can't keep his mouth shut when the police show up at my lab."

"I see, but you can keep your mouth shut unless you've been given a drug. Am I correct on that one? You told the police everything you had done because they gave you something to make you talk. There are no drugs or EMTs here now. Perhaps you would like to tell us the real truth. Would you agree to that, Dr. Kipling? Detective McBain is here, perhaps you would like to enlighten him to what really happened the morning you were arrested."

"Certainly I'd be more than happy to tell the truth. "

"Detective McBain would you please stand. There he is, Dr. Kipling. Please tell him and us the real truth."

As John McBain got to his feet and looked at Ivan all eyes were on Ivan Kipling except Todd's. He closed his eyes going back to the morning Pete had tortured Kipling and Hesser, leaving them with one final command. No matter what, when they saw John McBain, they had to tell the truth, every sordid detail of their project and all of the people they had experimented on. This was something they had to do and nothing could stop them from telling their story. Even as he sat there he listened as the programming took effect and Dr. Kipling started once again rattling off the list of crimes he had committed for profit.

Dr. Kipling completed his list by giving the names of two of their subjects, Christian Vega, and Todd Manning. When he was finished he looked with pride over at Nora and stated, "So as you can see there is no reason for you to believe that awful confession, every word in it is lies."

Everyone sat in stunned silence. Dr. Kipling had just told everyone in that room what he had done all those years ago and yet he seemed totally unaware he had done it. If they hadn't all known he was perfectly sane, they would have figured he cracked but Dr. Kipling really believed he had managed to tell a tale that would dispute the confession. Nora turned to the stenographer and said. " Would you please read everything. Kipling just told us."

Kipling turned pale as a ghost when the stenographer began reading back the list of his crimes, he didn't know how or why but he had just again told all about the project and this time under oath.

Nora stopped the stenographer and turned to the Judge, "I have no further questions for Dr. Kipling."

The Judge looked at the defense attorney and said. "Request denied."

The Judge looked at Ivan Kipling and over to the Defense."Do you have any more questions for this witness."

The attorney looked at his client, Ivan had sealed his fate."No, Your Honor."

"The witness is excused." Ivan gathered himself and walked back to his seat. His day was over and he knew prison was in front of him. Why had he spilled his guts like that? He had to make sense of things in his own mind, and as he went over everything, he realized the truth. Somehow or other he had been programmed to tell the truth whenever Detective McBain was in the room. His mind started going back to that night and he began seeing things he hadn't seen before. Two Orderlies and machines and a black hand pulling a lever. Ivan jerked as pain seared through the back of his head and he saw an implant coming towards him. Someone had used his own creation on him and he would never know who. He looked at his artificial hand and again saw it moving the lever. It shook and he had images of it coming towards him with a life of its own. Ivan moved his hand under the table afraid to even look at it any longer and sat stoically waiting for his day to end.

The second defense attorney after conversing with Carlo called his next witness. "We call Todd Manning to the Stand."

Todd's head came up at his name. He had thought his part in this was over, but obviously, Carlo had other thoughts. He stood and John led him to the stand.

"Your Honor let it be understood this is a hostile witness," the defense attorney looked down at Carlo who typed something, after a moment he the attorney looked at the camera and asked. "Mr. Manning, a couple of days ago you sat in this courtroom and told a very moving story about the implants and their effect on you. My clients have both told me a quite interesting story of how you single-handedly stopped their escape attempt.  Can you explain how a Blind man could accomplish that? Please remember you're under oath."

"I don't know how it happened, all I know is that the moment I heard my wife scream, my vision returned and I was able to see. I assure this court I was not lying when I said I was blinded by the implants."

"Come now Mr. Manning isn't it more likely the blindness is just an act to gain sympathy and the truth is you can, in fact, see. Furthermore, if you would lie to the court about your blindness how do we know you haven't lied to us about the rest of your story."

Todd felt a sense of relief wash over him and for once was grateful for the darkness surrounding him. The blindness had never been a lie and it was a definite certainty right now. "I'm blind that's all I can tell you. I'm not lying about it or the torture these men put me through. I see nothing but darkness around me." Todd was aware all eyes were on him and he reached forward to stand, gripping the rail in front of him. "Perhaps you could tell me a way I might prove to you I'm not lying."

"Excellent, We were hoping you would give us a chance. Your Honor, There is an eye doctor standing outside waiting for your permission to come and test Mr. Manning's sight."

The judge had heard of the rescue and capture of Hesser and Kipling from the DA and he too was beginning to wonder how a blind man had carried it off. "Counsels approach." Nora and the attorney present in the room went to the bench. "Nora do you have an explanation for Manning sudden vision the other day"

"No Your Honor, but I have been told by several of his Doctors that the blindness is not faked. Your Honor, you should know Mr. Manning underwent further surgery two night ago removing more pieces of implants. His vision has not improved."

"Since you can not give me an adequate reason for his sight during the escape, I'm forced to allow the defense their chance to prove Mr. Manning a fraud. Counselor for the Defense if any harm comes to this witness during this test. I'll personally pull the lever on your clients. you may proceed." The judge watched the attorneys return to their seats and instructed the Bailiff to let the Doctor into the courtroom.

"Detective McBain you have my permission to protect your charge at all costs. Mr. Manning, if you do not wish to take this test, this court will understand, but you will be putting your testimony in jeopardy."

"I understand Your Honor. If I need to take this test to prove to all of you I'm blind then let's get to it." Todd knew he was taking a tremendous risk and he had to trust that the doctor who was going to be testing him was a real doctor.

The defense attorney introduced their Doctor, a reputable Eye surgeon from the Eye Hospital of Philadelphia. He asked Todd to come to him off the stand. and they waved John back when he would have offered his arm.

Todd felt the rail and knew he was just paces away from the steps down from the witness box. He knew from memory what the room looked like so he knew where the jury sat but he hadn't had time to learn the room in steps so he gingerly made his way out of the witness box and down to the level ground. The doctor spoke off to his left so Todd proceeded carefully to the point he believed the doctor was standing.

Everyone had been watching him and when he stopped walking everyone wondered why he had stopped. The doctor watched with interest as the man came off the stand. He had seen a lot of blind men maneuver without canes and one thing he had seen in the man on the witness stand was uncertainty. If he was faking blindness he was doing a good job. "Mr. Manning, I'm impressed."

At the doctor's voice, Todd turned his head, "I'm much better at moving around when I have a cane. Unfortunately, mine was broken this morning. So you have me at a disadvantage." the defense attorney and the doctor switched places but all Todd could hear was movement. Well, if they wanted to confuse him they were doing it right.

"Mr. Manning would you please take a seat over here." The doctor had a table and chair set up and some equipment. He had watched sharply to see Todd's reaction to his voice and Todd's surprise at the change in direction was real. He waited to see what Todd would do now.

Todd realized the doctor had moved on him again but he had no idea where "here" was, other than it must be close to the doctor. He could try and find the table but he had no idea the distance to it or anything. "Doctor if you would be so kind as to make a little noise I'll attempt to join you."

The doctor was surprised, he figured Manning would try and come find the table making a show of bumping into it so that he could prove he was blind. That was what most fakers did, instead, Manning was using a technique taught to the newly blind to find their way around their environment. The doctor picked up a pencil and began tapping on the table. He watched as Todd stood for a moment, then began his slow walk towards the table, stopping about a foot away from bumping it, and reaching out with his hand to find it.

"Excuse me Doctor, on which side of the table is the seat you wish me to take." Todd felt relief he hadn't bumped into the table, all of that training in Seattle was coming back to him. He might be blind but he wasn't going to look like a fool.

Carlo had been watching the TV and was getting anxious. Manning really appeared blind, and yet he knew without a doubt, Manning had been looking at him when he had held Blair. How was it possible? If his lawyers were unable to bring doubt about Manning's testimony to light, then it was all over.

Back in the courtroom, Todd had worked his way to the chair and the doctor began his examination. Normally he would have dilated the eyes but a look at Manning's eyes told him that would not be necessary. Todd's pupils were wide open and when he turned on his light, there was no movement. One look with the equipment he had been allowed to bring told him everything he needed to know. Manning wasn't faking his blindness. There was serious inflammation of the optic nerve in both eyes and no response to light stimuli. "I'm sorry, " he said as he pulled back from the examination. "You may go back to the witness stand."
Todd stood up and turned in the direction of the witness stand starting to count the steps he had memorized on his way from the stand to the table. Suddenly from out of nowhere, a chair slid into his path.

John yelled, "Todd, Look out!" but it was too late. The courtroom watched as Todd walked into the chair and got tangled, falling, his head glancing off the rail of the witness box. The sound of the blow was audible before the cries of outrage from Nora and the Judge.

John reached Todd first and saw the impact had dazed him. "Easy man." John looked out into the room. "We need a doctor." All John could think of was the fact that Manning had just had brain surgery and Michael had warned Todd he needed to be careful. John looked as the Eye Doctor was starting an examination and he wasn't sure if the man could be trusted. "No offense Doc but I think someone else should probably be doing that."

The Doctor looked at John "I'm a surgeon". He was feeling for the impact site when he found the surgery site. "This man's had recent surgery, how long ago?"

John looked at the surgeon."Two nights ago."

"This man shouldn't have even been here. Mr. Manning, do you know where you are?"

Todd could hear what was going on around him and wished they would all stop yelling. "Shhh, yes I'm on the floor in the courtroom, but could you keep it down, my head is killing me" he started to get up but the doctor pushed him back down.

"Stay there." the doctor ordered. He stood up and looked at the judge and jury. "Your Honor, before this man took his fall, I was ready to give my findings as to the truth of his blindness. I can tell you without a doubt Mr. Manning is blind and has not been faking his condition. I hope you find whoever slid that chair. They could have killed this man. If you have no further need for my services then I would like to see this man back to the hospital."

The judge stared hard at the defense attorney "Do you have any further questions for Mr. Manning or the Doctor"

The defense attorney looked at his partner on the TV screen and then said. "No, Your Honor"

" Mr. Manning you are free to go. This court will take a fifteen-minute recess, I will speak to counsel in my chambers. Mr. Hesser, you and your Attorney will be informed of our discussion shortly"

John and the Doctor helped Todd up from the floor after ascertaining he could sit up without an increase in pain. Blair came rushing into the courtroom as soon as she heard what had occurred. "Todd are you alright?"

"I'm fine Blair, it was just a little fall, I tapped my head and have a headache. I'm okay."

"Mr. Manning, for someone who just had surgery a couple of nights ago that little tap could have been fatal. You need to go back to the hospital and get checked out thoroughly. I wish to go with you and talk to your doctors with your permission of course."

"Sure Doc, John let's get me back there. If I'm finished with my part in this trial then I have   someplace else I need to be." Todd felt John grab his arm and allowed John to take some of his weight as his head began pounding louder. By the time he was deposited in the car his head was splitting and he leaned it down on Blair's shoulder resting it. She kept trying to get him to talk, but he was just loving the feel of her shoulder and the smell of her hair. It was just too much effort to talk.

Todd woke from his dream feeling the touch of her hand on his face. "MMM, " he smiled. She smelled like peaches and cream.

"Todd, how are you feeling?" Blair stroked his cheek then moved the hair off his forehead.

"Just peachy," he reached for her hand and kissed her palm. "You taste good enough to eat." God he missed being able to see her. He slowly opened his eyes, but everything was gray. Wait a minute, the last time his eyes had been opened there had been nothing but blackness, now everything was gray. What was going on? "Blair, are the lights on?"

"Yes Todd, it's night. You've been out for several hours. The jolt to your head, so soon after surgery, caused a small problem and you passed out. While you were out, the Surgeon from the courtroom had a long chat with Michael. They took you down for another MRI and we're waiting for the results now."

"Blair, do me a favor, turn off the lights for a minute." She did and Todd was again in total darkness. "Okay turn them on," At first there was still the darkness then it was like a slow light coming up on a dimmer, and his vision turned gray. "Something's changed. Blair, I can see some light."

"Todd are you sure? Is it like before, can you make out shapes and colors?"

"No, it's all a uniform gray but maybe that's a step in the right direction. Did you say I was out for a couple of hours, what happened?"

"Don't you remember what happened at the courthouse?" Blair looked at Todd. He really didn't seem to remember his spill.

Todd was trying to remember the courthouse but his last memory was sitting talking to the specialist Carlo's attorney had called as a witness. "Okay not funny, what happened in the courtroom, and how did I get here?"

"According to John, you were on your way back to the witness stand when a chair was pushed into your path causing you to fall. You hit your head on the rail.  The judge called a recess and I found the doctor and John helping you to your feet. We got you into the car and we're bringing you here when you passed out. You don't remember any of that?"

"I just remember this dream I had of you and smelling peaches and cream. So I'm guessing the memory loss is because of the blow."

"You're right Mr. Manning, the blow you sustained caused some more swelling in your brain which is likely the cause of your memory loss." said the eye surgeon.

"I know that voice, you're the doctor from the courtroom. I imagine that the judge couldn't have been too happy with you, for leaving without finishing your testimony," said Todd

"Actually I did finish my testimony. I told the court the truth, but I have to confess I am puzzled how you rescued your wife. When the defense hired me they told me about a man who was claiming to be blind but that he had driven a van, and attacked two men. I was intrigued so I took the case, I wanted to see this charlatan and try and figure out why he would pretend to be blind when he wasn't. Imagine my surprise when the man turned out to be telling the truth." The doctor walked up to Todd, "If I may I'd like to take a second look since you're awake."

"Go for it Doc, I still can't see you."

"Don't worry I believe you," he looked into Todd's eyes and saw some reaction from the pupil and the lens. "Good. Mr. Manning, you say you still can't see me but tell me, is there a difference in your sight from earlier today?"
]_

"Yes, earlier everything was black, now it's all gray. "

"That's actually some good news Mr. Manning. There is a chance you might regain your vision back. I've been talking to Dr. McBain and reviewing all the tests, cat scans, and surgery vids. It is my opinion the damage sustained in the earlier surgeries is already showing signs of healing, and the recent surgery did only minimal damage. If you can refrain from any more severe blows to your head and give your brain the proper time to heal, it's possible you'll regain a large portion of your sight back. Of course, I can't guarantee it, but I just saw some signs of response to my light even if you didn't detect it and that's a very good thing. Your memory will probably return also."

The doctor nodded to Blair and pulled a card out of his wallet. " Dr. McBain gave me some idea of how you were able to see for the short time you helped your wife. Here's my card. I would really like to talk to you at a later date. Hopefully, we'll see eye to eye if that happens. For now, you should rest. The judge said you had completed your testimony so you can relax for a while." After pressing his card into Todd's hand, he departed. Todd listened as he walked away, his thoughts still on the doctor's words about his sight coming back.

Michael came back with the MRI results and told them pretty much what the eye surgeon had. Todd's brain had taken the blow and he was suffering from a mild concussion and would have to be monitored for the rest of the night. John came in and told them both Nora and the defense attorneys had given their final summations and the jury had retired to review the case. Even as he was talking to them a call came in on his phone saying the jury was back. Todd and Blair waited as John took the verdict over his phone. Todd heard John close his phone. "John don't keep me in suspense. What did they come back with."

John walked over to Todd, he put his hand on Todd's shoulder. "It guilty on all counts. Nora also told me additional charges of murder, kidnapping, and unlawful escape had been filed. Carlo and Kipling will be sentenced but still face trial for the additional charges. Blair, you might have to testify, but for now, they're going down for what they did to you Todd, and the others. A couple guards are on duty tonight and I'll be back in the morning, We want to get you out of town before Hesser's partners regroup."

Blair took Todd's hand. "You did it, they're going down for this, Todd. You brought them down now maybe you can get back the rest of your life."

Todd held her hand, thinking back to that day when Samuel opened the door and saw Blair. He was back because of that but was it over yet. With Hesser, one just never knew.

John arrived early and picked up Todd and Blair whisking them out of the hospital. They made a quick stop at the Commissioner's home to talk with Bo and Nora.

Todd had been thinking about it all night, much to Blair's dismay. She was upset because he was supposed to rest, but his mind had been on Savannah and Blair's half-sister Kym. He knew in his current condition he was going to be more hobbled than before, and he decided to see if he could enlist some help until he was fully back on his feet. When John said they had to stop and see Nora and Bo before leaving town, it had been like fate had dropped the solution into his lap.

"Bo, I need to ask a big favor. I'm in the middle of this story and I've been helping some people, but now one of them might be in danger. I was hoping you might be able to do without your Chief of Detectives for a short time. A couple things have happened since the surgery, one of them is that the blindness is an issue for me, and I'm unable to use my special aid. You know the one I'm talking about. I've got to return to our temporary home and resolve the story and make sure my friend is okay. We still aren't sure if the partners are going to back off of me, so I really could use an extra pair of eyes down there."

Bo knew where they were headed, and all about the story Todd was working on. John had filled him in on all the details when he had gotten back from his trip down south. Bo had been in contact with the Feds when they had called checking on McBain, right before the raids had gone down in Wilmington and Savannah. He knew just how deep Todd had gotten into the story. In fact, Bo had several talks with Vicki after hearing about Todd's involvement. It had been a whole new side to Todd that Bo hadn't seen before. Todd had continued to surprise him since returning from Paris.

"I can certainly grant my Chief of Detectives some leave time, but whether he wants to go with you, will be up to him." Bo looked at John, he knew John had been having a tough time lately since Natalie had decided to move in with Brody. There were still some unresolved issues there, it might do John some good to put some space between them right now. Plus it gave Bo a chance to protect Todd and his family until they knew the threat was over. "What do you say, John?"

John and Todd had talked about Sid and his mercenaries on the loose, looking for the Tom who had thwarted them in the warehouse. He agreed with Todd, that Kym might be in danger from them. John also knew Michael had told Todd to stay away from the implants, so Todd was truly blind with no visual aids at the moment. He knew Todd was going back to Savannah blind or not, because of the traffickers. He also knew Todd wouldn't stand a chance against them in his current condition. "Heck Bo, I could use a little time off and Hesser and Kipling are not going to be a problem for a while. But we don't know about their partners. So yeah, if I can have the leave, I think I'll take a trip down south."

"All right then, John, I'll put the official paperwork in with the city. You should go now. The Buchanan Jet is waiting at the Pine Valley airport to take you where you need to go. Todd, Nora will let John know if either you or Blair will be needed at the second trial. Right, Honey?"

Nora nodded and then realized Todd couldn't see her. That was such a weird feeling because seeing Todd blind, had brought back memories of her blindness and the night at the lake cabin. It had been so many years ago when he had terrorized her, but this Todd had changed in so many different ways from the cruel young man back then. When she had listened to his story of the experiments performed on him, she had known that he knew what terror was. She couldn't look at him and see the young man any longer. Now as she looked at him, she only recalled the man in the courtroom determined to tell his story even though he was in agony. A man who had put his life on the line to make sure justice was served. She also recalled her horror when Todd fell in the courtroom, his head hitting the rail, and she remembered Marty telling her about Suede's death. At that moment, she had wondered if the fates might have chosen to take out Todd the same way. When he had survived it was as if his life had realigned.

It was time for her to let the past go. The man who had terrorized her all those years ago was long gone. "Todd, if at all possible, I'm hoping neither of you will have to testify, I believe you've done enough already. Your testimony made the difference with that jury. You can be proud of that. Maybe soon, you and your family can come home safely."

Thomas Lord: Cloaked, Ch. 17

The marshal had been a good shot and the assassin was still alive. Brody went with the doctors to keep an eye on him. Michael left Todd in Larry's hands while he went and made arrangements to gather his surgical team.

John and the marshal met Bo at the ER door and John took them out to the assassin's rental, where a long-range rifle and scope were found in the trunk. Bo collected the evidence and sent it back to the lab to check and see if the rifle was the same gun used in killing Jake Boudreau. Then Bo went and checked on Todd and Blair, Larry was just finishing putting a bandage on Todd's upper arm. "Todd you might like to know we think this could be the man who shot Jake. If he is, we hope he'll talk and bargain, giving us a few more names. Interpol intercepted another group of men that had been following the decoys around Europe. Carlo's partners have to be getting concerned about the manpower they're losing, as they continue to try and get you. They should realize Hesser and Kipling have a lot more witnesses against them now than just you. Quite a few people witnessed the shooting this afternoon. I hope the capture of this man puts a stop to the attempts on your life."

Todd slipped his shirt back on. "You and me both, Bo. Did you hear any more from Nora, on the Judge's rulings, concerning the trial going forward?"

"The trial had been postponed indefinitely until a new lawyer can be retained for Hesser and Kipling. Nora is also filing new charges, of first-degree murder, kidnapping, assault, unlawful escape, and other minor infractions. Everything is on hold until Hesser recovers. I talked to his surgeon. Hesser's going to live, but he has lost the use of his voice, for now, seems his vocal cords were damaged." Bo gave Todd a look that said a lot of things unmentioned between them. "I hear you're going ahead with the surgery. I'll inform Nora. Good luck Manning. We're keeping the protection on you until we know for certain this is over."

After Bo departed, Larry made arrangements for Todd's admittance to the hospital. He then promised to call Vicki and alert her to the latest happenings.

The press was all over the place from both the Banner and the Sun trying to determine who had been shot at. John and the police were able to keep them in the dark, saying it was an unbalanced man who had attacked an employee of the hospital and then attempted to shoot an officer in the hope of being killed himself. The man had been successfully taken down and no one had been killed. When asked about the attempted escape of Carlo Hesser and Ivan Kipling; the press was given the story that the attempt was aborted, and Hesser and Kipling were back in custody, although the death of their attorney was a regrettable loss. Vicki waited until the reporters headed out to write their stories before going to the side entrance of the hospital and making her way to Larry's office.

Todd looked up when Larry's door opened. She stood there looking great, and when she smiled it filled his heart. It always amazed him how close they were. "Hi, Sis."

She saw him and noticed the torn shirt and the lines around his eyes and could only think how relieved she was that he was alive. "Todd, Thank God, you're okay. You had us all so worried."

Todd knew he owed her an apology, but all he could do was grin at her a little ruefully. He wanted to come back with one of his one-liners but couldn't. Instead, he walked to his sister and gave her a gentle kiss on her cheek.

Vicki looked into his eyes and saw some residual pain behind them and knew he was once again putting on a brave front. Her eyes fell to his shoulder and started to reach for it when he grabbed her hand.

"It's nothing Vicki, just a scratch."

"Larry called and said Michael was going back in. Why?"

"You know me, I just can't seem to get enough of him." this time he grinned full out.

Vicki couldn't help but give a little laugh. He was incorrigible. She turned to Blair and although smiling she asked. "He won't tell me,  Is it the implant?"

Blair nodded, "He's experiencing more problems."

"Hey, I'm right here. Really, it's going to be alright."

The surgery was scheduled to take place that evening and Blair and Todd caught Vicki up on the events of the day. Todd came clean about the effects of the piece of the implant still inside him and the necessity for the surgery. He told his sister about Hesser's actions, which had almost resulted in him killing Carlo.

As he recited the story, Vicki watched the feelings of fear, hatred, and horror play across her brother's expressive face. She had felt those same feelings long ago when she had attacked her father. Her instincts told her that Todd had disappeared because he thought his monster had reawakened, and he had felt the need to take his monster away before he hurt the ones he loved. Luckily for Todd, Blair's love for him was his saving grace.

"Todd, when are you going to believe that you'll never be like Father or Peter Manning. You have more love in your little finger than the two of them combined," the nurse came in to get Todd ready for surgery. Vicki walked over to Todd and looked down at him on the bed. "I'm quite proud of my little brother these days, Amos has been sending me your articles. They're excellent and I've requested permission to reprint them in the Banner. You be strong, I know you have many more such articles in you." she squeezed his hand and stood out of the way as they wheeled him from the room. As Blair got ready to follow him, Vicki said, "Get him home to us Blair. He needs you most of all." Blair smiled and followed Todd. Larry took Vicki to the observation room where they sat and watched Michael begin his work.

Over an hour into surgery and Michael was becoming concerned. They had gone to the site the CAT scan had indicated the remainder of the implant was supposed to be, but it wasn't there. Todd's vitals were beginning to deteriorate the longer they worked inside his head. There had to be some way to bring it to the surface without causing injury to Todd. Then it hit Michael. Maybe it would come to the surface if the other implant was close." He turned to where Blair was standing in the room. "Blair, you have Todd's ring. Right?" Blair nodded. "Good. Bring it here. It might help us locate the missing piece. " She handed the ring to the nurse, who swab it with a sterilizing cloth and handed it to Michael.

Michael attached the ring to a pair of delicate pincers, and held the ring as close to the brain as he could get it; then he maneuvered his camera inside Todd's skull, to scan the brain, shedding a minute light on the crevasses, in the area of the brain, where the implant might be hiding.
As he looked, a tiny electrical spark leapt from the ring to an area just to the left of Michael's light. Michael carefully moved the light to that spot and watched another spark leap from the ring. The second spark caused Todd's body to spasm. Michael and his team watched fascinated, as not just one, but several foreign objects, half the size of a bb, seemed to find their way to the surface. He carefully inserted a vacuum tube and captured the objects.

Michael thought they had all been found when another electrical spark occurred in the area where the second implant had affected Todd's eyesight. Michael, keeping a watch on Todd's vitals, inserted a thin but magnetic probe into Todd's brain at the site. He began to carefully draw it back into the tube and watched as it cleared the brain. At its tip was an octagonally shaped ball bigger than the miniature bee bees but obviously part of something else. As Michael removed the ball he paused to go look at both the octagonal item and the even tinier balls under a microscope. The octagonal item showed an edge that appeared to indicate it had broken off from something bigger, but what was all the more intriguing, was that it held a number of the little balls. Further magnification informed Michael that he was looking at a state-of-the-art nanobot, designed to receive and transmit information. They were truly amazing pieces of engineering on such a minute scale.

Michael passed the ring carefully over Todd's skull but no further items came up and the ring had ceased to spark. Michael set the ring down on the tray with the items he had removed and went about his business closing up Todd's head. Todd's stats started to climb and Michael breathed a sigh of relief. He nodded to Blair that she could come and stand by Todd as he finished up. "I think we got everything this time Blair. His stats are improving, now we wait and see the outcome of this surgery. We won't know if any more problems will occur because of the surgery until he wakes up."

Blair took Todd's hand into hers and squeezed it, "It's all over Todd, you rest now." the nurse brought her a chair. Blair went to sit down and looked over at the ring and shuddered. The pieces Michael had removed from Todd's brain had gravitated to the ring and covered it. Michael, could you please remove those things from Todd's ring." she said in revulsion.

Michael glanced over to see what was bothering Blair and found it equally disturbing. He picked up the offending tray and took it to the side where he carefully removed the balls and the broken implant. Those he put into another specimen bottle and returned the ring to Blair, who gingerly put it away. Putting his hand on her shoulder he said. "We're going to take him to recovery. You and Vicki can stay with him there." She got up and followed her husband out. Michael took a last look around and pocketed the jar with the remaining implant parts. He prayed that was the last time he would see Todd in his operating room.

Todd came awake slowly. His eyelids felt so heavy, but he forced himself to open them. It didn't do much good, everything was dark. He closed them and prayed the darkness was because no lights were on, but he had a sinking feeling that wasn't the case. There was a movement to his right and he opened his eyes again, still darkness. "Who's there?"

"Todd, good you're awake, how do you feel?" Blair asked.

"I feel like someone's been poking around in my head. Blair, I can't see you, not even a little bit, do you have the ring?" Todd didn't want to panic, but the total darkness was alarming.

"Todd, Michael said that you might not have any vision for a couple of days, your brain needs time to heal from all the poking around, there was some swelling. He found the piece of the implant that broke off and discovered that it was filled with minute nanobots, some of which had fallen from the container and migrated to several areas in your brain. The retrieving of those took some doing, but Michael is pretty sure everything is now out." Blair took his hand, "Todd, you'll just need to let things heal naturally. I have your ring, but Michael wants you to heal first. He's not sure it's going to work any longer and he doesn't want to hamper your recovery. I want you to wait before trying to use the ring again."

It wouldn't do to get upset, at least not yet and he had to admit to himself the vision problem was something he could handle. It had just been a bit of a shock to wake up in total darkness after he had gotten used to some light and shadows. "What time is it Blair?"

"It's mid-morning Todd, the surgery was just last night. Vicki stayed until you came out of recovery. She said she'll be back. Bo stopped by. The forensics came back on the rifle found in the assassin's car. It's the same gun that killed Jake."

Todd absorbed the news with a grain of salt, he wasn't ready to let down his guard as far as Hesser's partners went, and he needed to get back to Savannah to find out if Kym was still okay. He had never intended to still be in Llanview, especially in the hospital. Thinking about Savannah reminded him of Vicki's words, just before he was taken into surgery. He remembered the warmth that filled him at her words. She was proud of him, it was amazing. He had to admit he really felt he was making a difference with his articles, but that just made him want to get back to the kids. "Blair have you talked to the kids and explained why we haven't returned."

"I talked to Starr, everyone is fine and there have been no sightings of any strangers in town. Momma got the boys off to school for their first day. I simply let them know the trial was delayed because I didn't want to scare them about the surgery." Blair reached up to move his hair off his forehead taking a moment to caress his cheek before leaning in to taste his lips.

Todd reached around her waist and pulled her closer taking his time kissing her back. He couldn't see her, but she smelled like sunshine and flowers, her hair tumbled over his face and it was fragrant with the scent of a mountain meadow. Todd released her when he heard footsteps entering the room, it was a man from the sound of it. He waited for some hint or words that would tell him who the latest visitor was.

Blair smiled at the man entering. Michael had proven to be a good friend and an excellent doctor. Michael reached the side of Todd's bed and looked at his patient. "Todd, How are you doing, any significant pain?"

"Just a dull throb which wouldn't be so bad, but it's awfully dark in here. I don't suppose you could turn on a light or two. Surely the hospital can afford a light bulb." Todd turned his head to "look" at Michael.

Michael had to smile at the man's bravado. Todd was a unique man and his strength of will was incredible. "You know I'll speak to the janitor about it. In the meantime, hold your hands out for me," he watched as Todd stretched out his hands. "Now make a fist and release," he noticed only a slight tremor in Todd's hands and the fingers responded without delay. His motor skills appeared to be working correctly. Michael nodded at Blair. "It looks like the problems you were experiencing yesterday are diminishing, but Blair informed me of the other day when you had chills and dizziness. I'm concerned about those symptoms so I asking you to refrain from using the implants for a couple of days, I have a theory and I want to see if it comes to fruition. Please bear with me."

Todd didn't know what to make of Michael's request, "I'll do it if you can give me a reason Michael."

"Very well Todd, your symptoms are indicative of certain withdrawal symptoms. I'm afraid your body was getting high from the implants. I want to make sure you are free of that."

"You've got to be kidding me right? That would mean I was addicted to the implants. How is that even possible when they were only being worn externally."

"The electrical energy produced by the implants in your brain was probably causing excessive amounts of endorphins to be released into your system and your body was on a high all the time. When you stopped using the ring and watch, and removed them from proximity to the parts still in your brain, your body crashed and you felt ill. I just want to make sure the effects are no longer going to be a problem."

Todd wasn't sure he liked the idea he had become addicted to anything. He hoped Michael was wrong, but only time would tell.

Blair and Todd were taking a walk around the room when Vicki arrived with Tea and Dani. Dani didn't say anything, she just stood there watching her real father maneuver around the room. She hadn't seen him since the night he collapsed and was brought to the hospital, the night following their one and only meeting. Everything had gone haywire after that encounter. The man she thought was her father had turned out to be another man entirely, and just when things were getting squared away with Jake, someone killed him.

It had been a rough two weeks getting over his death and trying to help her mom cope with Jake's loss. Dani took a good look at her father. According to her Aunt Vicki, he had just had his third operation to remove implants similar to the ones Jake had removed. Unfortunately, Todd had been blinded by his implants but he was making the best of it, it looked like.

Vicki spoke, "Well it looks like you're recovering pretty quickly." They all watched as Todd turned toward the sound of Vicki's voice.

He grinned "What, this? Naw, I'm just practicing my fencing moves." to emphasize, he used his cane like a sword and whipped it around in the air. "Hi, Sis, what's new?" Vicki moved into the room followed by Tea and Dani. "Who did you bring with you?" Todd heard the sound of extra footsteps.

"It's me, Todd, and Dani." Tea answered.

Todd didn't know what to say, He hadn't had a chance to talk to Tea in the courthouse. He had known for quite a while that Tea had been deeply in love with Jake so he was sorry for her. Dani, too, had experienced yet another loss and needed to adjust to the fact that she still had a real father just waiting for her to give him a chance. "Tea, I'm sorry about Jake. He didn't deserve any of this."

Tea walked forward and hugged Todd. She had watched him in the trial and had found out just how traumatic everything he and Jake had been through. She remembered how terrified for Samuel she had been when he had relived his story for the defense attorney and almost killed himself to tell it. Hesser and Kipling had tried to escape because they saw the writing on the wall after Todd's and Samuel's testimony. Because of Todd, they had been unsuccessful and were now facing murder charges too. "Thank you, Todd, it means a lot to me that you said that. I glad you survived what those men did to you. Blair's lucky to have you back and you need to get to know Dani."

Todd was never really comfortable with hugs unless it was Blair's but Tea had needed the bit of comfort and he cared for her in his way. He hoped Tea's last words meant that maybe Dani was going to give him a chance after all. Then he felt a gentle touch on his arm.

"Todd, I just wanted to say, I'm sorry for the way things got left the last time we met, and I would like a chance to get to know you after all the dust settles. Mom says you're leaving again for a short time, but I hope when you return we can get that chance."

Todd grabbed her hand as she started to pull away and said."Daniella, more than anything I want to get to know you. I'll only stay away until we're sure no more hired help will be gunning for me. You and your mom are pretty safe since the killers believe they got Todd Manning. Even if word gets to them about my real identity, I don't think they'll bother you. Blair and I will keep the rest of the family safe until we get an all-clear from the Feds and John. When the threat has been defused we'll be home." he would have given anything for a hug from her but she wasn't quite ready for that so he let go of her hand. "You two should hang in there, this will be over and maybe all our lives will be able to return to some type of normalcy."

Tea chuckled, "For us maybe, but that word will never be in your future, Todd."

He grinned but at the same time felt some sorrow because Delgado knew him well and normalcy and Todd Manning did not go hand in hand.

Vicki came back into the conversation. "Tea and Dani could you give me a moment with Todd." Tea and Dani walked over to talk to Blair while Todd turned his attention to his sister.

"What's up, Vicki?"

"Todd I got a call from Amos Caulfield. He said I should let Thomas Lord know that several of the men taken to jail the night of the raid have been freed. He also said his source in the precinct overheard those same men vowing to find the man that put them in jail in the first place. Todd, do you know that man? Is he an informant of yours?"

"I guess you could say that Vicki, I don't want to go into it, but thank you for giving me the information. Damn it, of all the times to be totally blind." Todd cursed his fate. He knew exactly who had just gotten freed from jail. They were after him, but they might try and go through Kym to find him. He was helpless to give her aid right now. If they hurt her trying to find him... He didn't even want to think about it. CRACK!

All eyes turned to Todd as they watched him drop the two pieces of his cane to the ground. Todd stared straight ahead, everyone in the room knew he was livid. They just didn't know the cause. Blair moved first. "Todd? she walked and put a hand on his arm. "What is it?" She looked at Vicki "What happened?"

"I brought him some news from Amos Caulfield. I guess it's worse news than I thought. Todd, I know I upset you, but there is nothing you can do about it right now. I'm sorry."

"Todd talk to me. What got you so upset?"

"Blair, I'm afraid for Kym. I think she's in danger now more than ever." Todd turned and reached for the bed that was close by. "I shouldn't be here. We were supposed to be back there by now, she needs protection," he pounded his fist down on the mattress in frustration.

"Todd, I'll call John maybe he can help. In the meantime Michael said you shouldn't get excited, you need to find a way to calm down."

Dani had a sudden idea, a way she could help that might calm Todd down. "Todd I know you're upset about something, I'm kind of thirsty, maybe you could walk with me and tell me about Starr when she was little. I'll tell you a little about me too."

Todd had whipped around at Dani's voice. Damn, he had forgotten she was there. Then her words sunk in. He actually brightened up, she wasn't scared of him and she wanted to talk. Blair was right, there was nothing he could do that minute for Kym, but he could spend some time with his daughter. "Are you serious Dani?"

"Yeah, if you would like to, that is."

"Let's go. Help me get my mind off my troubles." Todd held out his hand and Dani saw the approval of her mom, Aunt Vicki, and Blair. She gave him her elbow and they exited the room.

Todd held onto Dani's arm and as soon as they cleared the room he said, "Dani, I know this is a little awkward for you. We don't really have to talk if you don't want to. I appreciate that you were just trying to change my mood and I'll admit you did a good job of that. I can tell you have a lot of your mother in you. She always was good at reading me."

Dani looked at her father, it felt weird to be walking with him like they were old friends, when, in fact, they were strangers. She knew all about his sordid past and she knew what had happened to him the eight years he had been gone. Starr had given her the full story and she admitted to herself it would be fair to give him a chance. But how do you get started? He was right about her mom, he had known her for some time and at one time they had loved one another. If they hadn't, she wouldn't be standing here walking him down a hallway. "It's okay Todd, I figure if we never spend any time together, then we're never going to get to know one another. You were pretty angry in there. Do you want to talk about it?"

"I'm sorry about my anger, I'd just heard something that has me very worried about a friend and I'm not in any position to help right now. It's not your problem. I need to think about something else. Tell me about the things you did when you were little. I want to try and picture you in my mind."

Dani found herself blushing and she was grateful he couldn't see her face. "I was a normal kid I guess, Ross my dad..." she paused she hadn't thought about Ross again until they found out Jake wasn't her father.

"It's okay Dani I know Ross raised you. So he was your dad during all that time. I never cared for the guy, but that was just me. I did know he would look out for your mom when I left the island to come home to Blair. Your mom didn't tell me about you. I can't say it would have made a difference or not at that time, all I could think about was getting home to Starr and Jack. Now all I can do is apologize for not being there when you were born. My kids mean the world to me and you're my daughter. That means you have a place in my heart right alongside Starr and Jack. Hey, I've got to get to know Jack, just as much as you, and it's been a struggle for us too. I know you came to love Jake when you thought he was me, so I know you're feeling his loss and Ross'. For now, just think of me as someone who would like to get to know you from the beginning, and there's no pressure for this to be any more than that. How about just telling me how you grew up?"

They had reached the vending area, and Todd reached into his pocket for some cash, handing it to Dani to get something. After getting something for both of them, Dani led him into the sunroom and they sat down to continue the conversation. "When I first found out my dad was a rapist, I wanted to puke. Then I met Starr and she had an entirely different view of you. She only knew a father who loved her and did things with her, as she was growing up. That was Ross for me. I had no idea he wasn't my dad. He was there when I hurt myself tumbling off a surfboard for the first time. He would tell me these outrageous stories of when he was a bodyguard and when his father took him out and taught him survival training. Then when I got older he taught me how to conquer my fear of heights by teaching me to cliff dive. He was amazing to me. "

"Yeah, he was a regular Robinson Crusoe when we were on that island together. That's why I knew your mom would be okay. I'm glad he was good for you. If you don't mind me asking, what happened between your mom and Ross? "

"I don't think I'm the one who can answer that. I just know Mom and Ross split, and Mom put me in a boarding school to keep me away from him. Then I found out about you. Although at that time, Jake was you. I hated you, Mom wanted to get back together with you, and all I saw, was the man who raped someone, trying to get back with my mom. I couldn't believe she wanted you over Ross." Dani had been watching his face and she knew it bothered him when she talked about hating him. She didn't really want to hurt him. "Then Mom got really sick and we were told she was dying of cancer. After her death, I had no one, but Jake to lean on, although Blair and Starr helped me a lot. I found myself leaning on Jake and being glad I still had him. Then we found out Mom was alive. Jake and my mom loved each other very much. I loved Jake too, he was good to me and loved me. I don't hate you any longer for your past, but I don't know you. So I guess we'll have to just take this one day at a time and see where it goes."

Todd had been taking it all in. He had heard the love for Ross in her voice immediately and a part of him was jealous. He knew he didn't have a right to feel that way, and he wondered if he had stayed on the island how things might have been different. The problem with that thought, there were no do-overs. He had made his decision to come home to his family and Tea had understood. Of course, like always he messed it up, but none of that was Tea's fault. He still hadn't caught up on the whole Tea had died story, but eventually, he'd get it from Blair. He had found it intriguing that Blair and Tea were friends when they used to be such enemies. He still had issues with Jake, but they would never be played out. The man was dead and as much as Todd hated it, Jake had held a place in the hearts of all of Todd's family, and he would just have to get past it. "Dani, I'm glad you don't hate me for my past any longer. I wish I could forgive myself so easily. I've made a whole lot of mistakes and I'm really trying hard to not make them again."

"I think you're very brave to take on someone like Mr. Hesser and his partners. Jake said they were terrible men and I know he was having a tough time coping with the things he did under the influence of those guys. If he had survived he would have testified against them too. Mom said they got the guy that killed Jake. If he's been captured, why can't you come home right now?"

"Dani it's not necessarily safe yet. The men who work with Carlo are dangerous and they wouldn't just send one man. I have to go on the theory that there might still be another person or persons out there gunning for Samuel Toddman. It is important that I don't make you, your mother, or my sister and two nieces potential targets, so I have to leave again. But I'm sure there will come a time when they'll stop hunting and that's when we'll come home. You need to think sooner than later. I think Mr. Hesser might have burnt his bridges with his partners when he murdered his lawyer in front of so many witnesses. I'm hoping the partners will sever ties with Hesser and cut their losses before they get caught too." Todd finished his drink and turned toward his daughter. "Dani, I have to go back to where I've been this last month. I left something unfinished there, that has to be tied up. It concerns that friend I told you about earlier. She helped me and I owe her."

"I understand I'm glad you're helping someone, Starr told me about that side of you. I think I like it. Todd, I'm sorry about your sight. I was kind of hoping for a picture like the one you made of Jack. And I think it would be interesting to meet Tom. Mom said he's very sweet. Well, there's still plenty of time."

"I agree, Dani, the guys would like to get to know you too. There will come a good time for that, I'm sure. I believe we've been out in the open long enough. You need to take me back to my room." Todd realized he had been careless, what if Hesser still had people in the hospital, he might have just added Dani as a potential target to get to him.

"Relax Todd, you and Dani have been under guard since you left the room. No one but my people saw you enter here and no one will see you leave either," said John coming up beside Todd. " Dani, to be on the safe side, my officer will see you back to your mom. I've got you, Todd, we've been called to the courthouse. The judge decided to call a special session. Hesser's new lawyers are trying to call for a mistrial and the judge isn't having it. Here comes Blair, we need to go."

Before Todd could say anything, he heard Dani's goodbye and felt John's elbow in front of him. "I guess we're off then. Blair?" he asked.

"I'm right here Todd, " and she took his free hand.