Viki had always known her brother needed psychiatric help. She also knew that Todd would never agree to that, so she had always tried to do the best she could to help him find peace and happiness. Unfortunately, Viki realized she had failed dismally and the fact that Todd had always been his worst enemy didn't help. She had seen that Todd had become worse in the past couple of weeks, ever since her own son Kevin had made it his life's work to persecute Todd. Viki loved Kevin dearly, but was feeling intense anger with him for his part in what she could only think of as, "My brother completely falling apart".

Suddenly, the door to the cabana flew open and Todd ran out, screaming for someone to shoot him. It seemed to Viki and Tea that he was running away from something in the cabana. Tea and Viki tried to get to Todd, but the police kept them back.

Tea started to scream, "Todd! Todd, just surrender. Please! Don't make them shoot you!"

Viki shouted to Todd, "Todd, it will be all right, I swear! I won't let them hurt you!"

Todd wasn't hearing them.

He wasn't hearing Sam as he said, "Put your hands up, Boomer. They're not kidding around. They will shoot you!"

Just as suddenly as Todd's shouts had pierced the night air, there was now silence. Todd was just standing there not saying a word and just staring off into space. Todd had done something he had done many times before in his life when he was in pain or couldn't take his life anymore. He went away, inside his own mind.

Bo Buchanan had known Todd for many years. He had first become aware of Todd Manning when Todd had been accused of raping Marty Saybrooke. He and Todd had been on this ride together many times before and Bo felt he knew Todd as well as anyone can know Todd Manning. He believed he knew Todd's "tricks" as well as anyone. He wondered what Manning was up to now.

Bo got right into Todd's face and said, "Come on Manning. Don't play games with me."

Sam, who had been standing beside Todd all this time, took one look at his friend and realized Todd was not playing a game. He realized Todd was in trouble.

A police officer handcuffed Todd's hands behind his back as Bo read him his rights. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand?" Todd gave no response. "Come on Manning, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Still no response.

By now, Viki and Tea had worked their way up to where Todd stood. As they got close to him, they could hear Sam arguing with Bo. "Just look at him, Bo, can't you see there's something wrong with him. He needs a doctor!"

Viki and Tea unconsciously grabbed each others hands when they got close enough to Todd to see his face. It was blank, no expression. His eyes were glazed over and just staring, not actually seeing anything.

"Bo, you can't do this," Viki begged.

"He doesn't understand his rights," Tea yelled.

Bo said, "Fine. We'll take him to the station and get him a doctor, but he is not getting away from us this time."

The capture of Todd Manning had caused quite a stir down at headquarters and the press was waiting as Todd was led through the crowd into Bo's office.

"No comment," said Sam Rappaport, as he walked with Todd.

The officers sat Todd down in a chair along side of Bo's desk. Bo looked at Todd, who had not shown any response since he stopped shouting "shoot me" outside the cabana and started to wonder if there really was something wrong with him this time.

Sam stood next to Todd with his hand protectively on Todd's shoulder and spoke softly to the young man. "Todd, come on pal, try to hear me."

Bo, in a voice much louder than Sam's, said, "MANNING! TODD! I'm talking to you."

To the surprise of both men, Todd said, "What?" like someone who had just been woken up from a deep sleep. Todd looked around as if he was trying to get his bearings and then he slightly lowered his head and said, "You got nothing on me Buchanan. All I did was catch a killer."

After being read his rights, again, Todd was booked and led to a cell. Sam, who was still worried sick over Todd, asked to be allowed into the cell to talk to his client and was given permission.

Sam noticed that Todd was calm as he was placed in the jail cell, Too calm, Sam thought. Sam sat on the bunk in the cell and Todd sat on the floor, his back leaning against it.

Todd looked up at Sam and asked, "Okay, when are you gonna get me out of here?"

"I don't know if I can Boomer. You have some pretty serious charges against you," Sam replied.

"Look! I'm not gonna stay in jail. If you won't get me out, I'll get myself out!" Todd's voice was filled with fury.

Sam noticed Todd was looking him straight in the eye, with that defiant and cold look that he had seen in Todd's eyes on occasion.

"Don't do anything crazy, pal, I'm going to do my damnedest to get you out of here, I promise."

Suddenly, Todd jumped up and grabbed Sam by the collar of his shirt and said, "You'd better!"

Just as suddenly, Todd, a look of surprise on his face, released his grip. He looked around for just a second, and then said, "I'm sorry Sam, did I hurt you?"

Todd then sat on the bunk next to Sam and asked, "I'm in really big trouble aren't I?"

Sam said, "Yeah, I'm afraid so, Boomer. I need to be able to give this town a reason why you act the way you do. Please pal! Talk to me. Tell me what happened the night you tried to kill your father."

Todd's heart started to race at the mention of that night. He felt his brow break out in a cold sweat. He knew Sam was trying to help him but he wished Sam would just shut up.

"I told you a hundred times, Sam, nothing happened. Nothing happened! Leave me alone about that night. I don't want to talk about that night!" Todd begged looking away from Sam.

"Todd, you tried to kill your father. Something did happen, now what was it? You can tell me. You can trust me. Kids don't just try and kill their parents for no reason. What did he do to you? Tell me!"

Todd knew Sam would not let it go, that he would keep at him. Todd's head started to hurt, and with each second the pain grew in intensity. Sam was still talking, but Todd could not make out what he was saying. He could see Sam's mouth forming the words but Sam seemed to be far away. It was as if Todd were looking at him from the end of a long tunnel. Todd had felt this sensation before and it terrified him. He knew he was about to "go away" and he tried with all his might to maintain control.

"Boomer, Boomer are you all right? Todd talk to me."

Sam realized something was happening to Todd. He grabbed Todd by the shoulders and called out his name two more times. Todd looked at Sam, his hazel eyes almost black with fear. He looked at Sam as if he didn't know him.

All at once Todd pulled away from Sam's grasp, and started backing against the wall and in a childlike voice begged, "Please, don't hurt me. I'll be good. I promise! Please don't hurt me."

As Sam approached him, Todd slid down the wall and pulled his knees up to his chest and buried his head in them.

"Todd, Todd, it's Sam. I would never hurt you. I love you," Sam said to the now trembling figure crouched on the floor. Sam, almost trembling himself, slowly approached Todd. He knelt down to where Todd sat and gently put his hand on Todd's head. "It's okay, Boomer, it's okay. I won't hurt you. I won't ever let anyone hurt you ever again."

Todd picked his head up and looked at Sam. Todd's cheeks were stained with tears. His eyes were wide, innocent and pleading.

"You're not my daddy," Todd said, and then looked around and took in his surroundings. "Where is this place? I don't live here. I'm scared. I want my mommy. I want my mommy!" The strange voice said, and then "Todd" started crying again and buried his face in his knees once more.

"GUARD! GUARD!" Sam yelled. He knew he had to get help for Todd and get it fast.

"What's the matter, Mr. Rappaport?" The guard inquired.

"My client needs to get to the hospital right away. I want you to get Commissioner Buchanan down here now!" The guard looked at the figure huddled against the wall and ran to get Bo.

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COPYRIGHT 1998 R/S

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