“My poor Todd,” was all she thought.

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Bo Buchanan listened intently as Sam Rappaport explained the situation to him.

"Sam, if you had told this to me just a few hours ago, I would have said bull, but I have to admit after seeing Todd tonight, I just don.t know what to believe. My brain tells me, with everything Manning has pulled over the years, that this is just one more stunt. But my gut tells me that what I saw tonight was real."

"Then you'll release him? Now, into his sister's custody?" Sam asked.

"I can't do that, but what I will do is try to get his hearing moved up to tomorrow morning and recommend that he be released to therapy and not jail. Now I know this is not gonna sit well with Hank, but I think I can convince him."

Sam, felt relief flood his body. He was devastated by what he had witnessed tonight, but at least some good had come of it. Bo got to see first hand that Todd needed help and not punishment.

"Oh Sam, that's wonderful news,"Viki said when Sam told her. "Do you really think Hank and the judge will go for it?"

Sam shook his head yes and said, "I think after I explain what we saw to the judge and with Bo on our side, yes, I think the judge will release Todd."

Tea was the one who thought of the one obstacle they had to overcome."Now all we have to do is tell Todd," Tea said in a worried voice. "He has no idea what's wrong with him, does he? No idea that he becomes someone else? Does he even know that he loses time?" Tea asked.

He is probably aware of that but I doubt if he knows what happens during the time he loses," Viki answered, "What I can tell you is that to come back after an alter has been out, and to not know where you've been or what you've done, is very frightening, and to keep this to yourself your entire life is a burden no one should ever have to know."

So what happens now?" Sam asked, "Do we go down and confront Todd with what we've seen?"

"No! Oh heavens no!" Viki said, "Todd should be told about the alters by his therapist. I don't think he could handle that knowledge now, not like this.. ."

"Well, Viki," Sam said, with a touch of frustration in his voice, "Todd will be at his hearing tomorrow and he will hear what is being said in the courtroom. He needs to be prepared."

Then Tea spoke up. "Can't you or Bo get the judge to hear you in closed chambers? I mean if you or Bo explain the situation, that Todd is unaware of his condition and that hearing about it in an open court would be too traumatic for him, I am sure the judge would consent."

Sam was grateful to Bo once again. After hearing what Sam had to say, Bo made a few phone calls, and then he assured Sam that having Todd's hearing in closed chambers would not be a problem. Sam would be able to talk to the judge without Todd even being present, if it was all right with Todd.

Viki, Tea and Sam went back downstairs to see Todd and give him the good news. Todd, his mind and body worn out from all it had been through in the last few days, fell asleep almost as soon as he laid down. At first he slept peacefully but then as REM sleep took over, he started having a nightmare.

This was the reason Todd fought sleep at all costs. He had been plagued with nightmares his entire life. He usually had no recollection of what the nightmares were about but he would be left terrified by them. Sometimes he would wake up and not be able to breathe or he would have the sensation that his whole body was in pain, horrible pain.

The nightmare Todd was having right now was not one of the typical ones he usually had, but terrifying nonetheless. It began with Todd being back at Asa's lodge and Georgie was still alive. Bo was there and he was arguing with Georgie. Todd could not hear their words but he saw they were fighting. Todd wanted to help but couldn't. As hard as he tried to speak or move, nothing would work; not his legs, his arms or his voice. It was as if he had been bound and gagged.

Suddenly, they were no longer at Asa's lodge, but back in the house Todd grew up in, in Chicago. Georgie was not fighting with Bo anymore. She was pulling away from him and trying to get out the front door. Her clothes were ripped and she seemed terrified. Bo was blocking her path. But then it wasn't Bo, and the girl wasn't Georgie anymore. They had both become faceless figures.

The girl figure had reached the locked door and was trying to get it open when all at once the male figure reached for something. Todd could not see what. Then he heard a loud thud, no, more like a loud cracking sound. It echoed loudly in his ears, louder than thunder. It seemed to fill his brain with it's sound. All at once the entire room turned red and Todd fought to release himself from his invisible chains. All he wanted to do was get away, to run, as the male figure approached him Todd's heart started to beat so fast and so hard he thought it would explode.

Sam, Viki, and Tea had just reentered Todd's cell. They noticed he was sleeping fitfully when he suddenly started thrashing about and screaming. "No! No! Let go of me, get away from me. NO!"

Sam rushed over to his still sleeping friend and shook him awake. "Todd. Todd, it's okay, Boomer. It's just a dream. Wake up, you're okay, everything's gonna be all right."

Todd woke with a start, his heart pounding. He was covered with sweat. He was in a panic, but he didn't know why. He looked around for a minute, then he remembered where he was. He noticed Sam standing over him and Viki and Tea off to the side. He noticed they all had these very concerned looks on their faces. Viki spoke first.

"Todd, are you all right now?"

Not trusting his ability to speak, Todd nodded yes.

Tea asked, "Do you want to talk about your dream?"

He shook his head no. He honestly didn't remember the dream, only the feeling he was left with when he was woken up.

Tea walked over to him and wiped the sweat from his brow with her hand. "Can I get you something?"

Todd shook his head no. He wished they would all just leave and at the same time he did not want to be left alone. Finally Sam spoke.

"Todd, I have some good news for you. We got Bo to arrange for your hearing tomorrow and to speak to the judge on your behalf and ask that you go to therapy instead of jail. It's gonna be all right, Pal."

Sam had expected an, if not happy, at least positive reaction from Todd, but instead Todd jumped up and started shouting, "Therapy! I'm not going to therapy. I don't care what they do, I am not going to therapy, and you can't make me, Sam. Don't even think about trying to make me. I've been in therapy and I hate it. I will rot in this jail cell before I pour my soul out to some shrink! Forget it, no way!"

Viki, Tea and Sam could not believe what they just heard. Todd, would rather stay in jail than see a therapist?"

"Todd..." Sam began. "No!" Todd said, emphatically.

Viki approached Sam and said, "Let me speak with my brother alone for a few minutes."

Hearing this Todd said, "You're wasting your time, Viki. I'.m not gonna change my mind."

Feeling helpless, Sam and Tea left the cell and walked down the hallway.

"Sam," Tea said, as tears started down her cheeks, "What are we going to do if Todd won't consent to therapy? What do we do, leave him in jail?"

Sam thought for a moment and then said, "Tea, you might not like what I'm about to say but, as Todd's wife, you might be able to force him to get help."

Sam could see the shocked look on Tea's face. "Sam, what are you suggesting? That I have Todd committed?"

"Sam shook his head and said, "I don't know. All I know is that man needs help and he needs it now. Let's hope Viki can get through to him."

Viki looked at her brother and thought to herself how it broke her heart to see the pain he was in. She knew in all likelihood he had been in pain his entire life. Viki also realized that whatever Todd's subconscious was protecting him from was so horrible that he would rather stay in jail than face it.

"Todd, sit down for a minute, please. I'm not going to try and force you to do anything you don't want to do. I just want to talk to you."

"Look Viki," Todd said, "I know you're the poster girl for therapy but you're not gonna change my mind. I am not going into therapy."

"Todd, I know you're frightened, I know..."

Todd cut Viki off before she could finish her sentence. "I'm not frightened. I'm not scared of anything. I just hate all that therapy garbage. I hate being asked 'how I feel' and 'how I feel about what I feel'. I just don't want that."

"Would you rather stay in jail, because that is your only alternative. Todd, Bo will talk to the judge about releasing you to therapy. That's the deal," Viki said, trying to reason with her brother.

"I am not crazy." Viki noticed Todd said that as if he was trying to convince himself as well as her. "Todd, no one thinks you're crazy. But I.ll tell you one thing: for anyone to give up the opportunity to stay out of jail, when all they have to do is see a therapist is not only crazy but stupid," Viki said, trying a different tactic, "And what about Starr?"

At the mention of Starr, Todd's face softened and turned sad.

"Do you want Starr to have to come visit you in here or in Statesville?."

"Would it be better to have her visit me in a loony bin?" Todd asked, but Viki noticed it was not said with the sarcasm that would normally be in Todd's voice when making such a statement.

"Todd,". Viki said gently, "That won't happen. Can't you just give this a chance, if not for yourself then for us, for me, and Sam and Tea, and most of all for Starr? Don't let her have to know her daddy is in jail."

Todd sat down. Viki felt slightly encouraged that she was getting through to him.

"It's the only way, huh?. Todd asked, looking sadly at Viki. "I'm afraid so,". Viki answered.

Thinking it over, Todd knew he had no choice, so he said, "Okay, okay, I'll do it. What happens now?

TO BE CONTINUED

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