HAZY SHADE OF WINTER - PART ONE

The smoke kept flooding her lungs and clouding her vision…
"What have I done…Cough…"
"Get Doctor Wolek! Stat!"
Who is that coming toward me…? Through the fire…?
"She's still unconscious!"
"Nurse! What do we have?"
"Todd…?"
"Téa? Cough… I've got to get you out of here…cough, cough…The Cabana's on fire…"
"I'm not going anywhere cough, cough…with you!"
"Second degree burns on her arms and right leg…First degree burns on the right side of her face…"
"We need consent for treatment. Who's the nearest relative?"
"I heard the tape, cough..cough.. Todd…"
He was close to her…grabbing her arms…
"That was Pete! Cough, cough! Téa…it was Pete! I love you…"
"Who did I just make love to Todd? cough…cough… You or Pete?"
She was limp as he picked her up in his arms and struggled through the flames…
"Delgado now is not the time to be arguing…cough…cough…"
"Delgado…"
"She has a niece – Roseanne Delgado…"
"A Niece? Isn't there a closer relative?"
"Isn't her husband here?"
"Oh, Delgado…Téa…your face…"
"I love you, Téa…"
"I love you, Todd…"

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"Todd!" screamed Téa shooting up from the bed.
She felt a hand on hers…Viki Carpenter. Roseanne stood behind Viki. She recognized her surroundings – a hospital room – she was in a hospital bed – in hospital linens – hooked up to hospital monitors.
"It hurts…all over…" muttered Téa.
"You've got second degree burns on your arms and leg. You've also got a first degree on your face…" came Viki's soothing voice.
"Where is Todd?" muttered Téa.
"What do you remember, Téa?" asked Viki.
Téa made a face and looked at Viki and Roseanne. She took a deep breath.
"Please, Aunt Téa… it's important," said Roseanne softly.
"Todd and I…had just made love in the cabana…then I heard the tape – Todd freaked. He threw on his clothes and left. I was numb and then I lost it…
I started throwing things…a candle tipped over…a fire broke out…The last think I remember was seeing Todd coming through the flames telling me he loved me…" the tone of Téa's voice was flat.
"Téa, the DID is real…trust me," said Viki.
"Viki…you heard the tape?" said Téa with a touch of sarcasm to her voice.
"Téa, Todd came into the country club while the tape played over the loudspeaker…and he was switching back and forth from personalities and he couldn't stop," said Viki pausing for a breath, "Then a man ran in saying there was a fire in the cabana. Todd screamed your name and I went into the cabana after you. I watched as he brought you out and I saw him cry…uncontrollably…over your body…" continued Viki.
"Viki…don't…" said Téa weakly.
Viki continued, "Todd begged for help – he was so distraught as he held you in his arms…he kept muttering 'Delgado loves me…Delgado loves me'…."
"I can't hear this Viki," said Téa making a face. Viki's words rang in Téa 's ears.
"The therapist who helped me re-integrate is Nora's sister. She lives in Switzerland. Todd's on a plane there now. She's going to help him re-intergate," finished Viki.
"But the tape…" said Téa, her voice shaking.
"That was Pete on the tape, Téa, not Todd," said Viki firmly.
"Todd's NOT faking Viki? I want to believe…" muttered Téa.
The door opened. It was Sam Rappaport.
"Hey, Téa, how are you?" asked Sam walking over to her bed.
"Burnt," said Téa dryly.
"Hey look, did Viki tell you about Todd?" asked Sam.
"She did…" replied Téa.
"Well, hey, I relocated my practice here – to Llanview – you know that – ah, I could really use your talent in the firm…once they let you out of here…" offered Sam.
"I don't know Sam," replied Téa.
"Hey, I just want you to have something to look forward to…" said Sam, "I' ll be outside."
He left.
"There's not much, is there?" muttered Téa, "I have no job – no husband – I live in a hotel…"
"Hey!" said Roseanne speaking up, "We can fix that. The doctor says you've got to stay here a few days so…while you do…I'll find us a real place to live so when he does release you, you've got a home to go to."
Viki stood up and put her arm around Roseanne's shoulders, "You know, I'm impressed with Roseanne…She's really stepped up."
Téa took a deep breath, "Sure, Roseanne."
Viki smiled and then turned serious, "Téa, I don't know what will happen with you and Todd, but he's in a clinic right now – trying to get his head straight because he loves you and he wants to have a life with you. And while he picks up the pieces of his life – well, me, Sam, Carlotta, Roseanne – we'll be here to help you pick up the pieces of your life."
"Thanks, Viki," replied Téa.
"Now, I'll go wait outside. Give you some time alone with Roseanne…" said Viki walking towards the door. Viki opened the door and paused, turning around to face Téa, "Todd wrote you a letter and wanted me to give it to you."
Viki took out the letter from her purse and walked back to Téa, handing it to her.
"You're a member of my family now Téa. I love you…whatever you decide…" said Viki.
Téa took the letter, "Thank you Viki." Her voice shook.
Viki walked out.
Sam Rappaport paced the hospital halls. Viki approached him.
"Is she…?" asked Sam.
"She's upset, naturally of course…" said Viki.
Commimisor John Sykes walked up to Sam and Viki, "How is Miss Del – ah, Mrs. Manning?"
"She'll be fine," said Viki, "The doctor has said it will take a few weeks for the burns to heal."
"I need to talk to her now," commented Sykes.
"Now? Why? She needs to rest. She needs to heal," said Sam.
"I need a statement from her so I can put an APB…out on her husband…for starting the fire," said Sykes frankly.
"That's absurd! Todd Manning…her husband…saved her from that fire!" said Sam firmly.
"How big of him. Saving HIS wife from a fire he started," remarked Sykes, "And where is he now?"
"If you talk to Téa, she'll tell you she started the fire – on accident," added Viki.
"What?" muttered Sykes taking a step back.
"I suggest you go get the arson report from the fire department before you just start arresting people," suggested Sam.
"Maybe I will," said Sykes and he walked off towards Téa's room.
Sykes slowed his pace and came up to Téa's door. He paused and peaked inside the door's window…she looked so sad talking to her niece…he stumbled back until his back was against the wall. He stood there briefly before deciding to get that arson report. He walked off.
"Hey," said Roseanne, "Are you going to be all right?"
"Yeah. The burns sting…a little…" replied Téa.
"It's the painkillers…" said Roseanne trying to make her aunt smile.
Téa stared at the letter.
It was silent between them.
"Ah, I need to read this…alone, Roseanne," requested Téa.
"Sure. I'll go househunting," said Roseanne.
"Ah, Roseanne, were do you want to live? The high rent district or Angel square?" asked Téa.
"Delgados – in the high rent district?" asked Roseanne.
"I'm flexible," said Téa, "We can afford high rent now."
"I'll see what I can do," said Roseanne. She left.
Téa stared at the letter again for a long time before opening it.
Slowly, she read it.

"…Téa, I don't know what… I just stood over you…and the words kept ringing in my ears…I LOVE TODD – I WANT HIM – I LOVE HIM! And you were saying them… I would never hurt you…
Viki told me about this shrink in Europe… helped put her head together…so I 'm going there now – to put my head together… for us…for a future for us… Delgado…I don't know how long it will take…And if you want another divorce…whatever… I'll understand…
Don't leave me Téa… Don't write or call… I want to be a whole person for you… I don't want you to see Pete again…ever again… I want to be a man you can…love… Thank you…for marrying me again…for being MY… wife… I love you, Téa."

Tears escaped down her cheeks. What was she going to do? Was there a chance? For them? Or did it die in the ashes of the cabana? She tried to breathe. Her face hurt…and she was too numb…to make any decisions now.

TO BE CONTINUED