PREVIOUSLY

“How badly do you want Manning out of your hair?” asked Fiona.
“Pretty damn bad!” exclaimed Asa.
“All right,” said Fiona, “Consider it done.”
“What’s going on in that head of your Fiona?” asked Asa, “Don’t be tampering with anymore brakes. I don’t want anyone hurt.”
“You don’t need to know what I’m going to do. Just know it will be done and I’ll do it tomorrow,” said Fiona standing up.
Asa grinned, “Damn you Fiona.”

****************************************************************************************************

July 2001
Morning…

Téa Delgado Manning walked into the living room buttoning the sleeves of her casual top. Todd Manning smiled at her as he put on his suit’s jacket.
“I just let Judith and Jackie in,” said Todd.
“I saw them in the twin’s bedroom,” remarked Téa, “Changing diapers.”
“Was that a hint Delgado?” asked Todd.
The doorbell rang. Todd opened the door.
Blair and Starr walked in.
“Daddy!” exclaimed Starr.
“Shorty!” exclaimed Todd bending down. They exchanged hugs.
Trevor came barreling into the living room, narrowingly missing slamming into the living room couch.
“Starr!” exclaimed Trevor.
“Little Tee!” exclaimed Starr.
Trevor went running over to Starr and they exchanged hugs. Todd stood up.
“T.D., I don’t want you running around in the house,” scolded Téa lightly.
“Yes, Mommy,” replied Trevor.
“Téa – it’s good of you to have Starr over on such short notice,” said Blair crossing her arms.
“No problem Blair,” replied Téa, “I hope your nanny gets well soon.”
“Starr, give your mommy a quick kiss goodbye before I have to go to work,” said Blair squatting down and extending her arms out. Starr gave Blair a kiss and a hug.
“When I get home tonight we’ll go visit Grandma Addie all right?” whispered Blair into her daughter’s ear.
Starr smiled, “I miss Grandma Addie.”
Again, Blair kissed her daughter’s cheek and then stood up.
“I gotta go down to the station. Thanks Todd. Téa,” said Blair.
“Hey, you know T.D. likes to play with Starr,” said Todd smiling.
“Yeah,” said Blair. She waved at Starr and Starr waved back, “Oh, by the way, Del called last night. He’ll be in town tomorrow. I’m picking him up at the airport.”
“Well, just remember to bring him by to visit,” said Téa smiling.
Blair left.
Todd walked over to Téa and they shared a brief kiss.
Todd smiled, “So is this checkup going to certify you 100%?”
“No, Todd,” said Téa, “It’s only been a week or so.”
“Tee, do you have to go to the hospital?” asked Starr.
“Yes, Sweetpea,” replied Téa smiling at her stepdaughter, “I have a checkup.”
“Mommy, can Starr and me go to the hospital with you?” asked Trevor.
“Oh, I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” replied Téa.
“You always come with me to the hospital when I have a checkup,” said Trevor looking up at his mother with his deep, expressive, soulful eyes.
His father’s eyes.
“You should take them with you Téa,” said Todd, “It will be like an adventure to them.”
“Please Mommy??” pleaded Trevor.
“Please Tee??” pleaded Starr.
“Well, o.k.,” said Téa.
“O.k. I gotta go,” said Todd. He bent down and gave Trevor and Starr a hug and a kiss. He stood up and exchanged a lingering kiss with Téa.
“How many more weeks Delgado?” whispered Todd.
“Three to Five,” replied Téa.
Todd smiled at them as he walked out.
Téa told Judith and Jackie that she was taking Trevor and Starr to the hospital with her for her checkup and that she would be home soon.

Llanview General

Téa walked down the halls of the hospital with Starr and Trevor walking in front of her.
“Tee, what did the doctor say about your checkup?” asked Starr looking up at her stepmother.
“He says I’m getting stronger but that I still need to take it easy,”
replied Téa. Téa looked up, “Trevor!”
Trevor, not paying attention to where he was going, ran right into Bo Buchanan. Beside Bo was his wife, Nora, who was holding there their son, Brady, in her arms. Brady was only a few months older than Trevor.
Trevor looked up at Bo, “Sorry Mr. Buchanan. Hi, Miss Buchanan. Hi, Brady.”
“Hi Brady,” said Starr.
“Hi Starr. Hi Trevor,” said Brady smiling at them.
“Hey, no problem,” said Bo smiling at the boy, “How are you doing Téa?”
“Yeah… I suppose congratulations are in order. I hear you have two new little ones – Taylor and Tyler, right?” asked Nora.
“Yeah, Taylor and Tyler. Tyler has my eyes,” said Téa thinking of her recently born twins.
“Mommy?” came Trevor voice.
“Ah, yeah… Dr. Clayton says as long as I take it easy, I’ll be my old self soon,” replied Téa trying to answer Bo’s question. Trevor took his mother’s hand.
“So, what brings you two here?” asked Téa.
“This little guy had a checkup today too. We’re just finishing up,” replied Nora.
Téa glanced at her watch, “Well, we have to get going. Take care.”
Trevor and Starr waved good bye to Brady. He returned their wave.
“Take care Téa,” replied Bo.
Téa and the kids walked off.
“You know, Manning maybe a…ah…you know…mean-spirited,” said Bo looking at Nora, “But his kids seem pretty nice.”
“Yeah. It’s because of Téa,” said Nora. Bo and Nora came across Dr. Wolek in the hallway and stopped to talk to him for a minute.

Téa walked out into the parking lot with the kids. As they approached her car, they met Fiona Braxton.
Téa crossed her arms as she stood next to her car. Starr and Trevor stood next to her.
“What are you doing here Fiona?” asked Téa with a touch of sarcasm in her voice.
“I had a checkup today,” said Fiona crossing her arms.
Téa frowned, “So, everybody has a checkup today.”
“Téa, how’s your family? How’s Todd? He doesn’t have any heredity defects in his genes…like you do?” goaded Fiona.
“What does she mean Tee?” asked Starr.
“Not in front of the kids, Fiona,” said Téa.
Fiona got in Téa’s face and whispered, “Don’t worry. I’ll get back at Todd…at his family…like he got back at mine…”
“Stop it Fiona. Not in front of the kids. Your father committed suicide.
Todd had nothing to do with that!" whispered Téa.
“Mommy…” started Trevor.
“Oh no. Todd just took my father’s reason for living away. Todd took his paper. Well, I’m going to take away Todd’s reason to live,” said Fiona whispering her reply.
“I will not play this game in front of the kids,” said Téa reaching for the handle on the car’s door.
Fiona put her hand over Téa’s, “You aren’t going anywhere.”
“And you’re going to stop me?” questioned Téa.
Fiona moved her power suit’s jacket to reveal a 9mm beretta in a shoulder holster, “I learned how to use it when I spent six months in Sarajevo covering the war.”
Téa opened the car door and Fiona grabbed her arm pushing her away. Again, Téa reached for the door and Fiona struck back hitting Téa with a closed fist.
“Mommy!”
“Tee!”
Téa and Fiona struggled. Starr put her arms around Trevor in an attempt to keep him safe.
Téa’s nail scrapped Fiona on the cheek drawing first blood. Fiona lost all her cool and struck Téa in the eye with a closed fist. Téa fell to the ground – her head slamming into the pavement. Téa fell unconscious.
“Great,” muttered Fiona.
Trevor broke Starr’s embrace and clutched his mother’s body.
“Mommy! Wake up!” exclaimed Trevor.
“Tee!” cried Starr. Starr rolled Téa over onto her side. There was blood trickling down Téa’s face onto the pavement from a cut on her brow.
Fiona bent down and picked Trevor up by his waist, carrying him to her car.
He kicked and struggled to no avail. Starr ran after them kicking Fiona’s legs.
“Let me go!” screamed Trevor, “You’re bad! You hurt my mommy!”
“Let him go!” echoed Starr.
“Stop kicking me!” commanded Fiona as she opened her car’s door and threw Trevor inside. Then, Fiona grabbed Starr by her shirt’s collar and shoved Starr inside the car, slamming the door. Starr tried to open the door but couldn’t. She didn’t understand. The lock was up…
With the car’s doors shut, Fiona took out some paper and pen and wrote a note. She walked over to Téa’s unconscious body and put the note in her pant’s pocket. Fiona then went back to her car, got in, and put the key in the ignition.
Starr struggled with the car door.
“Child locks, kid,” said Fiona starting the car and driving off.
“Where are you taking us?” demanded Starr.

“I’ll figure it out,” muttered Fiona frowning.

Bo, Nora, and Brady walked into the hospital parking lot.
“Bo, who is that lying on the ground next to that car?” asked Nora. Bo trotted over to the body. Nora followed with Brady in her arms. Bo rolled the body over.
“It’s Téa…” muttered Bo. He observed blood trickling down her face onto the pavement and her shirt. It was starting to coagulate. He flinched at the sight of her black eye. It was almost swollen shut. She stirred.
“Todd…” she muttered.
“No, it’s Bo, Téa,” said Bo picking her up in his arms.
“Bo, where are the kids? Where’s Starr and Trevor?” asked Nora looking around.
“Todd…help me…” mumbled Téa.
“She thinks I’m Todd. She might have a concussion. She seems confused and disorientated. I’m taking her into the emergency room. Call Manning and get him down here. My cell phone is in my jacket pocket,” said Bo.
Nora reached into his coat’s jacket with her free hand and pulled out his cell phone.
“Téa’s home phone number is in the address book. Call and see if one of the nannies took the kids home,” instructed Bo.
“Stop her…Bo…” mumbled Téa.
Nora nodded her head and Bo trotted off for the emergency room. Nora dialed the Sun’s number.
“Todd? It’s Nora…”
pause.
“Look, there’s been an…incident…”
Pause.
“Bo and I just found Téa lying on the ground of the hospital parking lot. She’s got a black eye… Bo thinks she has a concussion…”
Pause.
“Todd? Todd?” said Nora looking at Brady, “Guess he hung up.”
Brady nodded his head. Nora walked at a fast pace toward the hospital.
She found Téa’s home phone number and dialed it.
“Hi, Judith? Nora Buchanan.”
Pause.
“Did you by chance pick up Starr and Trevor from Téa while they were at the hospital?”
Pause.
“No. No reason. Thanks. Bye,”
Nora walked into the emergency room. Bo was in emergency room two with Téa. Dr. Wolek was examing her.
“The kids?” asked Bo looking at Nora.
“Stop her…Bo…Todd…” muttered Téa. Dr. Wolek opened her good eye and looked at it with a bright light.
Nora shook her head, no.
“I think someone took the kids…a woman…from what Téa mumbles,” guessed Bo, “I’m going to put out an APB on Starr and Trevor. Maybe I should call Blair too.”
“Yeah…call Blair…if the kids are missing – kidnapped – she can get their information out on the airwaves…” said Nora handing Bo the cell phone. Bo made a phone call to Blair first and then to the station. The minutes ticked by.
Dr. Wolek looked up, “Yeah…she’s got a concussion… but I think it’s a mild one. It’s a good sign she’s conscious. Look, I’ve got a bandage on the cut here on her brow but it’s going to need stitches…”
“Need…need Todd…” muttered Téa looking at Dr. Wolek with her glassy eyes.
“Téa, who did this to you? Who was the woman?” asked Bo taking her hand. “Fiona…” muttered Téa.
“Fiona? Fiona Braxton?” asked Bo.
“Yeah…” answered Téa.
“Téa? It’s Doctor Wolek. You need stitches above your eye…four, maybe five…”
“O.k…” muttered Téa trying hard to focus on what was going on around her. Just then Todd flung the doors to the emergency room open. Dr. Wolek began to suture the wound. Todd ran over to Téa’s side and took her hand. His mouth trembled at the sight of Téa’s swollen black eye.
“What happened?” muttered Todd, tears welling up in his eyes at the sight of his beautiful wife’s disfigurement.
“Todd… you’re here…” muttered Téa trying to squeeze his hand.
“I’m not sure Manning. Téa said Fiona Braxton did this,” said Bo, “The mother of your other child…”
Todd pulled away from Téa and grabbed Bo by his jacket’s lapel, “I AM NOT THE FATHER OF BRAXTON’S BASTARD!” Todd practically spit in Bo’s face.
“Get off me Manning,” muttered Bo.
“Bo… Todd’s not…the father…” muttered Téa.
“Don’t move Téa. This is tricky stuff,” instructed Dr. Wolek.
Todd backed off from Bo.
“Todd… do you have…the kids…” mumbled Téa.
Todd’s mouth fell. He paused. Then he looked back at Bo.
“The kids were with Téa…” he practically whispered. He could feel the butterflies in his stomach.
“I thought that was the case,” said Bo, “I think Braxton…has kidnapped…Starr and Trevor.”
Todd picked up a nearby tray and flung it across the room. Dr. Wolek carefully attended Téa’s brow ignoring Todd’s behavior. Bo got in Todd’s face.
“Calm down Manning. I’ve got an APB out on your kids. Now what kind of car does Fiona drive? I’ll put an APB on her and her car now,” said Bo firmly. “I don’t know. Call Kelly Cramer. She would know,” said Todd.
Bo picked up his cell phone and made a phone call.
Todd opened the doors of the emergency room to walk out.
“Todd… [I need you…”] muttered Téa, “Don’t go…”
Todd stopped dead in his tracks. How many times had he said those words to her? And she was there for him. And now – now the one time she had said them to him – and all he wanted to do was walk out of the room and go looking for his kids…
“Todd, your wife needs you,” said Nora softly – it was enough to pull him in. Todd slowly turned around and found Téa’s eyes – Téa’s glassy eyes – as Dr. Wolek finished up the sutures. Even when she got pistol whipped by the Irish terrorist, he’d never seen her eyes so out of focus…
“Téa…oh Téa… I want it…to be me…on that bed…” muttered Todd once again racing to his wife’s side, taking her hand.
“Todd, Téa,” said Bo calmly, “I’ve got an APB out on Fiona – her car – and your kids – Starr and Trevor. They will be found.”
“Bo, Fiona’s a nutcase. And she’s got my daughter and my son…my hemophilic son…” said Todd making a face.
“I know…” started Bo.
“No…you don’t know…you better pray to God…or whoever…your cops find her first. Because I swore that…woman…would never hurt my wife again… or hurt my family…” Todd paused, his voice shaking…his mouth quivering, “…And Téa…is hurt again…and my kids are missing…”
Bo didn’t know what to say. He figured he’d probably feel the same way. Todd gently stroked Téa’s hand. She had five stitches and a bandage over her eye now. He looked at his wife with love, fear, anger, and concern…
“I don’t know what to say, Téa…” started Todd, his voice continuing to shake.
“You don’t…have to…say…anything…just stay…with me…” she replied.
“I’ll find your kids, Manning. I will,” said Bo full of conviction.

TO BE CONTINUED

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Copyright by DimWitt. Orginally published on "Violet's TnT FanFiction Website", April 1999. Copyright owner provides the information on this server to anyone, but retains copyright on all text. This means that you may not: distribute the text to others without the EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION of the copyright owner. You may: print copies of the information for your own personal use, store the files on your own computer for your personal use only, reference hypertext documents on this server from your own documents. Todd Manning, Téa Delgado Manning, Starr Manning, Blair Cramer, Dr. Larry Wolek, Bo Buchanan, and Nora Buchanan were created and owned by "One Life To Live" and ABC Daytime. Trevor Manning, and Fiona Braxton were created and owned by DimWitt and Island Girl. Brady Buchanan was created and owned by DimWitt. ==========================================================================================================