PREVIOUSLY

"I'd rather Tea stay out of it," Todd asserts. "Her doctors say that she has to keep her stress level down. And dealing with Blair is nothing but stress for her."

"Give me a few days, Mr. Manning. I need to think about what you've said and review the case some more."

"Thank you, Judge. I'll be waiting to hear from you," Todd says as he walks out of the judge's chambers. He gets down the hall before collapsing against a wall, letting out a sigh of relief. He's still not sure he's doing the right thing, but hopefully it'll all work out. It has to.

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

"I think one more day and you'll be able to get out of here, Mrs. Manning." Tea's doctor cheerfully gives her the news, but it's not what she wants to hear.

"Why can't I leave today, Doctor? I'm feeling so much better. And I promise I'll get plenty of rest," she pleads. But to no avail.

"Not today. I need to run a couple more tests. Besides, you have a visitor. I'd hate for them to come all this way for nothing," the doctor says with a little smile, trying to cheer up his sulky patient. When he sees his efforts are futile, he checks the baby monitor once more before leaving.

Tea rolls over on her side and closes her eyes. The past day has seemed like a nightmare. All she wants to do is go home and forget everything that happened. She wants to forget Blair. She wants to forget the fight. She just wants to concentrate on getting better and keeping the baby safe. She hears to door opening and rolls back over to greet her guest.

"What are you doing here?" she snaps at her unexpected visitor. She is surprised to see that it's Blair.

"Tea, you have every reason to be angry, but I'm not here to hurt you," Blair tries to explain.

"This time maybe. But why should I believe you? Just because you come in here with a phony smile and some flowers? Thanks, but no thanks. I'm not going to risk it. I'm not going to let you come in here and finish me off."

"I really am sorry, Tea. I heard about the baby. You've got to believe that I would never harm a child."

Tea stares down at the bed refusing to meet Blair's glance. Her hands move to her stomach and they start rubbing it in a circular motion.

"I know," she says quietly. "I know that you wouldn't purposely hurt my child. But you intentionally went after me and, in the process, seriously affected my baby. I'm not going to let you do that anymore. Now, thank you for stopping by and apologizing, but I'd appreciate it if you left now."

"Tea, I need you to know that I . . ."

"Blair, this isn't about you!" Tea starts to rub her stomach faster as she becomes more and more agitated. "Everything in this world isn't about you. Right now, I can't worry about hurting your feelings. I'm trying to protect my child. Now please leave!"

"You heard the lady, Blair," Todd surprises them both with his seemingly magical appearance into the room. Neither of the women noticed when he came in. He walks until he's in her face. "Get out. She wants you to leave." He stares at her with an icy glare that sends a shiver up her spine.

"Fine! I'm going. I just came to apologize. I wanted to be the bigger person. But I guess that's not possible, now is it, Tea?" She says with a chuckle. "You've got me beat in that department. You, my dear, are the bigger person. And you'll be getting bigger everyday. Don't worry. I'm sure Todd will stick by you, even when you get so huge you can't even see your feet." She throws her head back and starts laughing hysterically when she notices tears in Tea's eyes.

"That's it! If you won't leave," Todd grabs Blair's arms hard enough to leave a mark and drags her towards the door. "then I'm throwing you out!" He opens to door and shoves her out, right into Max's waiting arms.

"Perfect timing, Holden. Get her out of here and keep her away from my wife if you want her pretty little face to stay pretty!" He slams the door in their faces and then bangs his fists against it. He hears Tea flinch in the bed behind him and he instantly regrets the move.

"Sorry about that, Tea," he says after a few moments he took to try to compose himself.

"It's okay, Todd. You were angry. Blair brings out the worst in both of us," she says, wiping the tears from her face.

"No, I mean about leaving you here alone. I promised you that I wouldn't let Blair hurt you anymore and I let you down." He walks over to her and sits in the chair next to the bed.

"Todd. Look at me," she says, reaching up her hand to the side of his face and turning it towards her own. "I'm fine. You came and you rescued me. You were here when I needed you, and that's what's important." She yawns and starts to blink her eyes sleepily.

"You're tired. You should try to rest," he says with some concern. "I should go."

"No! Please stay here. I don't think I could get any rest if you didn't." She looks relieved to see him nod his head. She smiles and then closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep.

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

"I can't believe he threw me out like that," Blair hisses. She hits the elevator call button several times angrily. "I was trying to be nice and apologize to Tea and that's the thanks I get." She stares at the back of his head when it's obvious she doesn't have his attention. "Max!" He jumps when he hears his name. "What are you so interested in over there?"

"Tea's chart. The doctor left it with the nurse. But, she's down the hall checking on a patient. I figured I'd entertain myself while I waited for you," he says with a mischievous grin. The smile soon fades as he sees the nurse coming back towards them. He throws the chart back on the desk quickly and runs over to the elevator with Blair, just as the doors are opening. They hurry inside and wait nervously for the doors to close while the nurse eyes them suspiciously.

"That was close," Blair says when the doors finally close and they begin their descent. "So, what was in the chart?"

"Pretty much the standard stuff. Nothing really out of the ordinary," he says. "She's about 4 months along. Everything was going along smoothly until she had that little run in with you last night. There was something kind of strange, though. She was referred from a doctor in New York."

"That's not so odd," Blair reasons. "She did move here from New York."

"Yeah, but that was awhile ago. I'm sure she has a doctor here by now. But you don't need to think much about that right now. There's something else we have to deal with."

"What?"

"I was at the courthouse today picking up the application for our marriage license. I saw Todd there. In the family court division. I don't know what he's up to, but it's probably not good for you."

"He can't just do that, can he Max? He can't just go and talk to the judge any time he wants. What if he told the judge about what I did last night? Max, I'm dead!"

"Relax. He can't do that. You have to be present for any meetings related to the case. And the judge can't take his word for what happened last night. Until they go to the cops and get the 'confrontation' documented, there's nothing he can tell the judge."

"Max, what am I going to do?"

"Nothing much for now. Just wait. And you need to stay out of Tea's face. The last thing you need are any more violent incidents they can use against you. But what we can do in the meanwhile is find out about this doctor in New York. Something doesn't seem quite right to me."

TO BE CONTINUED...