"I'm having a real hard time absorbing everything we've talked about here. I've always known that Todd had emotional problems, but this . . . I . . . I don't how he managed not to have a complete breakdown long before this," Bo admitted. He kept shaking his head from side to side.

Sam appreciated how painful it was to hear about all of this. "Todd is strong, Bo. He always was and he's a survivor. You know, we found out he has an extremely high IQ . . . a hundred and seventy. That probably helped him to create this safe environment to survive in." Sam paused, giving Bo a few moments. Then he looked Bo directly in the eye. "Bo, that's why we came to you. We need you to help Todd continue to survive."

"I'll do whatever I can to help," Bo offered, without hesitation.

"You heard Todd say that Peter put his fingers around the base of the bat?" Téa stated. Bo nodded yes and started to see where this was going.

"Bo," Sam began, "if they exhume Michelle's body they will find the bat, with Todd's fingerprints all over it."

"Well, it looks like Peter found a way to torture that boy even from the grave," Bo declared with a disgusted look on his face.

"Then you do believe what Todd said under hypnosis? You believe that it was Peter who killed Michelle?" Tea asked nervously.

"I absolutely believe it. I know Todd and from what little I knew of Peter . . . oh man! Do I believe it."

"All right then, do you think the Chicago police will believe it?" Sam pressed.

"Sam, I can't answer that. It all depends on how much faith they place in . . . what do you call that . . . recovered memories?"

"Yeah," Sam answered and then stated, "Susannah believes it to be accurate and I can testify that the words Pete spoke on the tape were the exact words I heard him say that night. It all fits Bo. Think of all the things Todd has done. So many of them are almost an exact recreation of things Peter did to him."

"I take it you haven't contacted the Chicago police yet?" Bo asked.

"No, we wanted to come to you first. We were hoping you could pave the way and make sure they know that you believe Todd is innocent. Bo, under no circumstances can Todd be questioned. Susannah has been adamant about that. Todd is way too fragile, emotionally and physically, for that," Sam stated firmly.

Bo thought for a minute and then spoke, "I can't promise you anything about the Chicago police. I can promise you that I will not question Todd. I trust Susannah's judgment and if she says no, then it's no. Sam I have to tell you, the guys in Chicago may be a problem especially if they think Todd did the murder. Have you contacted the girl's parents yet?"

Téa sighed, "No, we haven't been able to locate them. We have a PI working on the case.

"They must have been going crazy all these years, never knowing what became of their kid. Now, to find this out! I'll tell ya, I don't envy them or whoever has to tell them," Bo acknowledged and then asked, "Do you want me to contact Chicago for you? You know they're gonna wanna know why you waited all these weeks to contact them?"

"We know. We're hoping they will understand once they look at Todd's medical records and see how sick he's been," Téa explained there reasons for holding back.

"They probably will, but nothing is guaranteed," Bo responded. "I'll be leaving for Chicago day after tomorrow. I want to be there in person to make sure Todd gets treated fairly. I want to be there if they find and exhume the body." Téa informed Bo.

Bo thought for a moment and then offered, "If you like, I can come with you? I don't know how much good my being there can do, but if it will help in any way you can count me in."

Both Sam and Téa were surprised and touched by Bo's offer. Sam knew he was right about Bo. He was a fair and decent man.

"Bo, thank you. Yes, I would very much like to have you there with me. Given your history with Todd, your word may carry a lot of weigh," Téa gratefully accepted his offer.

"I'm pretty sure the Chicago police will want to talk to Susannah," Bo informed them.

"Susannah realizes that and is prepared to tell them anything they need to know, they would have to come to Llanview, or do it on the phone. Susannah cannot leave Todd now." Sam stated emphatically.

"I'm sure something can be arranged," Bo said as he checked out his calendar. "Let me clear my schedule. You said day after tomorrow?" Bo was nodding his head and he mumbled to himself. "Okay, I can do that."

"Bo," Sam began, "I don't want to cause any trouble between the two of you . . . here's the thing. I think it would be best if Nora was kept in the dark about this, at least for a while. She hates Todd, with good reason I know, but she will never be objective about him. She has given Susannah the cold shoulder ever since she's been in town."

Bo did not take offense at all. In fact, he agreed. "We're in luck there. Nora is going out of town for a few days to do some work for a client. I'll have to tell her I'm in Chicago, but maybe I can get around telling her why. I'm not gonna lie to her though. I think if Nora knew everything Todd has been through she might be a little more compassionate towards him," Bo sounded hopeful, but doubtful.

"I'm sorry Bo, I don't think so. Once Nora hates someone they pretty much stay hated," Sam remembered. Bo could not really deny what Sam said.

Téa and Sam thanked Bo once again. Bo said he would call Téa tomorrow and make definite arrangements for their trip. After they left, Bo walked over to the window in his office. He just stared out of it, not really seeing anything. He hit his fist against the wall and swore, "Damn it Manning! How could you do that to your kid? You miserable bastard!" He then walked back to his desk and started to make arrangements to clear his workload for a few days.

Téa and Sam headed for the hospital. Téa wanted to see Todd on his birthday. She had gotten toys for the children and a heavy bathrobe for Todd, to keep him warm. Tom was out when they got there. He was feeling a little better than Timmy had the day before. The medication had been discontinued before the next one was started. Tom still did not feel really well. He ate some of the pizza that was brought to him for breakfast before he complained of nausea and could not finish it. Todd's body had dropped another three pounds. Susannah knew if this didn't improve in a few more days she would have to order the feeding tube put back in.

Tom had gone to the playroom. However after just fifteen minutes he told them he was very tired and asked if he could watch TV in his room. He wanted to climb into his bed. This was very unlike him and they were all concerned.

Viki had gone to the bakery and picked up enough cupcakes to feed "the entire hospital." Tom was sleeping when she came back. Terry was with him.

"He hasn't even stirred since you've been gone," she told Viki. Sam and Téa returned and they and Viki went to Susannah's office to fill her in on their meeting with Bo.

"Did he agree not to question Todd?" No one missed the urgency in Susannah's tone.

"Yes, but he knows Todd and he was devastated by what he read in Evans report and what he heard on the tape. He cannot promise how the Chicago police will react," Sam explained.

"Bo will be coming to Chicago with me," Téa announced, surprising Viki and Susannah.

"Well, that's certainly above and beyond the call of duty," Susannah voice was filled with admiration for her brother-in-law.

"He knew Peter and of course he always knew that Todd had severe emotional problems. Nonetheless, Bo never dreamed that Peter or anyone would do that to his child," Sam remarked.

"Does Bo believe that it was Peter who killed Michelle?" Viki asked.

"Yes, he asked if Susannah believed the memory to be accurate and he said Susannah's opinion was good enough for him," Sam replied.

"I hope it's good enough for the Chicago police," Susannah commented. Her brow was creased with worry.

Viki stood up and declared, "I would like to not think about this for a while. Today is Todd's birthday and I want the rest of it to be as pleasant as possible. I, for one, am so incredibly grateful that we are able to have Todd here for another birthday. A few weeks ago we almost lost him. I think the very fact that he's here is a miracle and I really want this day to be a happy one."

Sam stood up and put his arm around Viki's shoulder and said, "Let's go see our kid and give him a great birthday."

They all headed back to Todd's room. Tom had woken up and was sitting on the floor playing with a Game Boy. His face brightened when he saw them all come into his room. He loved Téa. He had a huge crush on her. He felt guilty because he had always "lied" to her when he pretended to be Todd. He was happy that now he could be himself.

Sam and Viki walked over to where Tom sat. Sam kneeled down and put his arm around Tom's shoulders and asked, "How are you doing Boomer? Do you feel a little better?"

Tom nodded. He stood up and walked over to the book Blair bought and said, "I like the new book, look," he turned to a page he had marked, "This one looks like the bird Todd used to have. He then turned to Susannah and sadly said, "Todd had a bird named Moose but he flew away."

"Todd really loved Moose a lot, didn't he?" Téa acknowledged. She walked over to Tom and rested her hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah, like he loved Randy."

"Who was Randy?" Téa asked.

Tom walked away from Tea and stood against the wall, facing it. Tea knew she had just asked the wrong question.

"Hey Boomer," Sam stroked the back of Tom's head, "I'll bet if you look in some of the bags we brought in with us, you'll find some presents for you."

"Presents! Really!" Tom sounded happy and surprised. He looked in the bags and found the packages with his name on them. There were some Pokemon Game Boy cartridges from Sam and Viki. Téa had gotten him a remote controlled car, much like the one's he loved to play with in the playroom. Susannah bought him a talking watch. She knew he didn't know how to tell time and she also knew that bothered him. Not only because it made him feels stupid but because of the trouble he had keeping time and dates straight. She thought this might help.

Tom was really excited over the presents. Then he began to become confused. "How come I got all these presents?" Is it Christmas again?"

"Tom do you know today is January second?" Susannah asked.

Tom apparently had no idea. He slowly started to put the presents back in their boxes and the boxes back in the bags. They all stood quietly and watched as he did this. When he was finished he went to one of the corners of the room and sat cross-legged on the floor in front of it, his back to all of them.

Susannah approached him. She knelt down and put her hand on his back. "Tom, can you tell me why you put the presents away and went to sit in the corner?"

"I have to wait for dad to punish me."

Susannah exchanged looks with Sam, Viki and Tea. She spoke softly to Tom again. "Why is your dad going to punish you?"

Suddenly "Tom" banged his head into the wall, hard.

Susannah quickly put one hand on his forehead and the other on the back of his head. He tried again, but Susannah's hands kept him from hurting himself. "Tom! You need to stop this. You know hurting yourself is not acceptable behavior," Susannah reminded him in a gentle but firm voice.

"I TOLD YOU! MY NAME IS THOMAS!" he shouted and tried to hit his head into the wall again.

Susannah put her arms around him and turned him around. She held him by his shoulders as she spoke to him. "I can see you're very angry. Can you tell me why?"

"IT'S NOT FAIR!"

"What's not fair, honey?" Thomas seemed to calm down a little. "It's not my birthday. Why do I have to be punished?"

"Who's birthday is it?"

"Todd's, just Todd's. He never should have been born. Now we all have to get punished. It's not fair!"

"Does Todd's dad punish him every year, on his birthday?"

Thomas nodded. "Us too. He thinks we're Todd. I hate him!"

"Todd?" Susannah asked for clarity.

"No, daddy. Mama is happy it's Todd's birthday. She don't want daddy to punish us. She once asked him not to and daddy punished her real bad. He broke her nose and she had to go to the doctor and it hurt. I won't let daddy hurt mama when I'm big. On Todd's birthday we have to sit in the corner and wait for daddy to come home. Daddy will make us play the cigarette and lighter game. It's his favorite."

"How do you play the cigarette and lighter game?" Susannah asked, fearing she already knew the answer.

"First, you have to hold your hand over the flame and if you can't hold it there till the time runs around on daddy's watch you have to get burned with the cigarette," Thomas spoke calmly, as if he were describing a normal children's game.

"I don't always stick around for the lighter game," Thomas volunteered. Susannah was about to ask him who does stick around for it when Thomas giggled and confessed, "I fool daddy."

"How do you fool daddy?" Susannah pressed.

"Cause he can't hurt me. It don't hurt when he does it to me. I can hold my hand on the flame forever. Daddy has to close the lighter before I take my hand away," Thomas said, proudly. He then started to panic and tried to get away from Susannah's firm hold. "NO! I DON'T WANT TO GO THERE. I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE DAAAARK! I HATE YOU!" He screamed.

Susannah desperately did not want to have to put him in restraints or sedated him. She wanted him or whoever came out to get some pleasure out of their birthday. She hugged Thomas to her tightly.

"Shhhh, honey listen to me. No one is trying to put you in the storage shed. You're not in the dark. Daddy is not here. It's okay to be angry. It's okay to hate Daddy. You won't be punished. It's not your birthday. You can have a present today because it's not your birthday."

That seemed to calm him. Susannah relaxed her grip on him, slightly. Thomas looked around. "It's not dark? The big rats don't live here?"

Susannah kept one arm around him and smiled at him. "No honey, they don't. It's clean and safe and light here."

"I can really have a present and not get punished?"

"You sure can pal," Sam assured him.

"Cause it's Todd's birthday, not mine, right?"

"That's right honey," Susannah confirmed. She lifted his hair off his face.

"Todd's the one who was bad to be born. It's okay that I got born, right?"

"Thomas, we're very happy that you were born," Viki stated.

Susannah helped Thomas up. He went to the bags and asked once more, "It's really okay for me to have a present?"

"There are several in there with your name on them," Sam informed him.

"Thomas do you like cupcakes?" Viki asked. He nodded.

"What flavor do you like?" she asked. "Orange," Thomas responded.

Knowing he would say that if he were out, Viki had the bakery make some of the cupcakes with orange icing.

"Well, there just happens to be some cupcakes in here with orange icing. Would you like one?"

Viki handed Thomas a cupcake. He thanked her politely. While he was eating it, Sam went to get some milk. When Thomas finished, he surprised Viki by throwing his arms around her and saying, "It tasted just like the one's mama makes."

"Would you like another one?" Viki asked, hopefully, and was thrilled when Thomas said yes.

Thomas noticed Téa sitting quietly in one of the chairs. He walked over to her and said, "Todd loves you a lot. He thinks you're real pretty and smart. He wanted to kiss you, but that's a secret."

Thomas said this like a younger brother telling tales on an older one. Téa was taken by surprise by Thomas' statement and wasn't sure how to respond.

"Honey, why was it a secret? Didn't Todd want Téa to know he wanted to kiss her?" Susannah asked.

Thomas shook his head and smiled slightly and answered, "Todd doesn't want to hurt Téa. I told you he loves her."

"Why would kissing Téa hurt her?" Susannah pushed.

"Because if Todd loves her, she'll get hurt and she'll go way. Can I go play with my presents now?"

"Sure honey, go ahead," Susannah told him. She knew that it was important to get Thomas to participate in Todd's therapy.

Thomas had been playing with the battery operated train that Sam had gotten for him when he started to feel tired and went to put it in the toy box. He noticed Timmy's stuffed dog in there and picked it up. They all noticed that he was holding it and just staring at it.

What they couldn't know was that Thomas was feeling himself fading away as the dog blurred before his eyes. As he grasped the toy tightly, they heard Todd's voice cry out, "What is this! Where am I!"

Todd dropped the toy and thrust his hands forward, feeling for anything familiar. Sam rushed to him. He took Todd's outstretched hands and said, "It's okay, pal. I'm right here. You're safe. You're in your hospital room."

Todd held on to Sam's hands with both of his. He looked so confused it broke Téa's heart. This was the first time she had seen Todd since he asked her to leave his room so long ago. Téa thought it best if she said nothing.

"Todd," Susannah spoke softly and calmly, "I want you to sit down. Everything's all right."

"Where's Viki! Where's Viki!" Todd cried out.

"I'm right here, sweetheart," Viki called out from across the room.

Todd started to walk in her direction. Sam held his hands and guided him. Todd's foot brushed against Téa's as she sat silently in one of the chairs. Todd pulled one of his hands away from Sam's grasp and reached out.

"Viki?" He asked. He félt Tea's hair touch his hand. Todd pulled his hand back. "Who's there?"

Téa didn't know what to do. She looked in Susannah's direction. Susannah nodded yes. "It's me, Todd. It's Tea."

"Téa?"

The sound of disbelief and shock in Todd's voice was unmistakable. His breathing became erratic.

"Delgado! What are you doing here? WHY ARE YOU HERE!" Todd shouted.

Becoming upset, Téa blurted out, "I wanted to see you on your birthday."

Todd started to tremble. He tried to pull away from Sam but Sam held on tightly.

"It's the summer! Sam, isn't it summer? Why is it so cold? I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE! MAKE HER GO AWAY! MAKE HER GO AWAY!" Todd shrieked.

Téa just froze on the spot. "Let's get him over to the bed," Susannah instructed. Susannah held off calling Frank in from his post right outside the door.

Sam took Todd's free arm. "Todd, it's okay. I want you to relax," Sam soothed.

"I don't want it to be my birthday. It's summer. It's summer!" Todd insisted.

"Okay, Todd, just relax," Susannah said softly. She pushed Todd down to a seated position on the bed.

"VIKI! VIKI! She's never coming back. She's never coming back," Todd whispered, to himself. He started to rock himself.

"Sweetheart I'm right here. I won't leave you," Viki promised.

"Yes you will! You'll go away forever. It's so dark. I'm afraid."

"No, no baby," Viki promised again. She hugged Todd to her and continued to assure him. "No sweetheart, I'll never leave you. I'm staying right here. I won't ever leave you."

"Viki, I'm so cold," Todd whimpered. "Why don't you take your shoes off and get under the covers," Viki suggested. Todd did as she told him to. When he was settled in, Viki kissed him on the cheek and asked, "Is that better?"

"It's not, real is it?"

Viki had no idea what he meant. "Is what not real, baby?" "That Delgado was here. I don't want Delgado here."

Viki looked at Téa, who had continued to sit silently. Viki could see the devastated look on Téa's face. Téa quietly picked up her coat and walked out.

Viki and Susannah stayed with Todd and continued to calm him. Sam went after Téa.

"Téa, you know he was just so shocked at your being here. He's so confused. You can see he's not even sure where he is or when it is. He keeps thinking it's summer. Don't take what he said personally."

"Sam I could see how confused he was. I can also see how my being there upset him. He was panicking."

"Téa, don't you understand? Todd is ashamed to have you see him like this. That's why he doesn't want you around. He has felt that way from the beginning of all this." Sam could see that Tea was still very upset. "Téa, don't leave. Wait and talk to Susannah, she can probably explain things better than I."

"Sam, what more is there to say. Todd does not want me around. It's all right. I do understand. I realize that it is just Todd and not the alters who feel that way. I realize that. Look, I have a lot of things to do to prepare for Chicago. I don't know how long Bo and I will be there and I need to pack and take care of some business. Tell Viki and Susannah I said good-bye."

They both turned towards Todd's room when they heard him calling out for Sam. "I gotta go," Sam said, wishing he had been able to wipe that hurt look from Tea's eyes. Tea walked to the double doors and waited impatiently to be let out.

"I thought you went away," Todd told Sam when he came back into the room and took Todd's hand.

It seemed, no matter how much they reassured Todd, he would not believe that they weren't abandoning him.

"Nooo, I'm right here. I would never leave you," Sam swore, kissing the top of Todd's head. "I was just in the hallway."

"Sam, I didn't do it."

"Didn't do what, Boomer?"

"I didn't set the Dumpster on fire. Don't let them call my dad," Todd begged as he reached out for Sam's hand.

Susannah remembered one of Todd's teachers mentioning that he set a Dumpster behind the school on fire.

"I didn't do it Sam. They say I did, but I didn't. They're always blaming me for things I didn't do. Don't let them call my dad. Sam please!"

"Hey, it's okay. They called me. Remember Boomer? You asked them to call me and they did. Your dad will never find out. I promise."

"I didn't do it. I swear, Sam, I didn't do it."

"Okay pal, I know you didn't. It's all right," Sam hugged Todd and patted his back.

"Todd, I want you to try and get some sleep now, okay," Susannah instructed.

"No, I want to stay with Sam and Viki," Todd protested, tightening his grip on Sam.

Pushing him gently back toward the pillow Sam said, "We'll be right here with you, Boomer. We're not leaving."

Viki saw Todd still looked unsure. She took his hand. "We're both right here sweetheart. We're not going anywhere. It's safe for you to sleep."

Todd started to relax. Finally he closed his eyes and drifted off.

Susannah went back to her office. She was wondering if this was going to be another long night. Given his physical condition she did not want to increase Todd's medication.

Viki and Sam stayed with Todd. Téa was halfway home before she realized she'd forgotten her purse. She remembered that she had put it on the floor between the two shopping bags she had brought in with her. She knew that neither Sam nor Viki could leave Todd so she headed back to the hospital.

Sam was going over some of the papers from his briefcase and Viki some work from the Banner. Susannah remembered something she wanted to ask Sam about his meeting with Bo and she headed back to Todd's room.

Susannah, Viki and Sam were talking quietly when Sam glanced in Todd's direction. He motioned to Susannah and Viki to look in Todd's direction as well. "Todd" was sleeping on his stomach, sucking his thumb.

"Dear Lord, not again," Viki declared as she looked down at her brother.

"He must have switched in his sleep," Susannah confirmed shaking her head.

"Todd, Todd, what are we going to do with you?" Susannah asked in frustration as she stroked his head.

Téa peeked into the room. Seeing that "Todd" was asleep she stepped inside and whispered. "I forgot my purse."

Téa looked towards the bed. She stepped closer. She was transfixed by the sight of Todd, sleeping peacefully, on his stomach and sucking his thumb.

"Is this the Baby?" She asked.

"Probably, he switched in his sleep, so we're not sure. So far the Baby is the only one who allows himself to sleep in that position or who sucks his thumb," Susannah answered.

Téa bent down and kissed Todd's cheek. "Don't be afraid. I'm going to Chicago. I won't let them hurt you," she whispered to him. She then silently got her purse and left.

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