Also, I'd like to note that I do not own ABC's One Life to Live or the characters and I will NOT be receiving any payment whatsoever for writing this story. It is intended for entertainment purposes only.
This story takes place during the time Blair is carrying Patrick's baby, but BEFORE Starr had developed Aplastic Anemia. AU and NC-17
~*o*~
"Todd, there's been an accident. You better come with me."
Marty's voice kept echoing in Todd's head as he followed her through the halls of Llanview hospital until they came into a deserted waiting room to meet Dr. Sands, Blair's OB-GYN.
"What's is this? What's going on here?" Todd demanded, but no one was answering him. Marty and Dr. Sands seemed frozen in place with looks of worry and anguish upon both of their faces.
Finally Marty spoke. She trembled as she pushed the words passed her lips. "Todd, Patrick and Blair were driving on Route 9 tonight, out in the storm, and Patrick's car hydroplaned," Marty said softly. "Patrick lost control of the car, swerved off the road, and hit a tree. I arrived on the scene of the accident only minutes after it happened. Blair and Patrick were hurt. And I'm afraid it is bad."
Marty choked on her words as tears threatened to spill. "I don't think Blair's going to make it," Marty went on to say.
"What? No!" Todd gasped, looking away from Marty's tear-filled eyes to turn his gaze onto Dr. Sands, hoping for some kind of reassurance that his wife would survive this horrific and unexpected tragedy.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Manning. Your wife has internal injuries. She's in surgery now as we speak," Dr. Sands said to him gently. "The doctors are doing everything they possibly can to save her. But she wasn't wearing a seatbelt."
"Doctor, I need to see my wife!" Todd demanded.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Manning. It's not possible for you to see her now. She's in surgery. But as soon as we know anything, I'll let you know right away," promised Dr. Sands before she hurried out of the room.
As soon as Dr. Sands walked out, Todd placed his attention onto Marty. "Well, what about Poetry Boy?" Todd sneered. "How's your Irish boyfriend doing... after he crashed into a tree and injured MY wife?"
Marty shook her head, looking down as pain tore through her soul. "Patrick... uhhhh Patrick... he's dead, Todd," Marty said sorrowfully. "He died on impact. The man I love... is dead."
Todd just stood there, rage seething through every pore of his body. He wanted to wring Patrick's neck for having this accident, for endangering Blair's life. "Well, that saves me from having to kill him then," Todd grumbled.
"First he gets MY wife pregnant, then he takes off with her on a dark and stormy night and has to go driving into some TREE!" Todd bellowed.
"Stop it, Todd," Marty hissed. "This isn't going to help, Blair. She needs you now."
"What the HELL was Blair doing with Patrick tonight? She's supposed to be home with Starr!" Todd asked with an angry frown.
"Patrick and I had an argument," Marty said softly. "About Blair... and the baby..."
Marty sat down wearily, sharply drawing in her breath. "I told him he cared more about the baby than he did about me... about us..." she explained. "He stormed out, and I guess he went over to see Blair. After he was gone, I got to thinking about what I said. I know he was very hurt... How could I have been so selfish? I wasn't sure where he had gone, but I decided I had to go looking for him. I needed to talk to him, tell him how sorry I was for the awful things I said. But it was too late..."
"I came upon the accident. I saw him crushed behind the wheel. I never got to tell him I'm sorry..."
"I don't know why Blair was with him or where they were going. I only know that they never made it to their destination," Marty said sadly. "I'm sorry, Todd. Don't blame Patrick. If there is anyone to blame for this accident, it would be me."
Todd sunk down in a chair across from her, taking in every detail of what she had said and attempting to digest it. "Let me get this straight; you argued with your boy-toy and he rushed out... He then went over and picked up my wife, but the two of them ended up in a car crash; a crash that killed him and caused Blair major internal injuries..." Todd said as it all began sinking in. Marty looked at him, trembling as her tears continued to silently flow.
"My God, Marty!" Todd exclaimed. "He must have wanted that baby gone SO MUCH that he had to crash into a tree just to prove his undying love for you!"
"Stop it, Todd," Marty hissed. "How dare you say that?"
"Patrick LOVED that baby. He and Blair had a name picked out for him. They were naming him Brendan," Marty said as she was brushing the hot tears from her cheeks. "Patrick couldn't wait to be a daddy."
"It was an ACCIDENT, Todd. It was nobody's fault. You have to try to calm down now. You need to be there for Blair. And for Starr."
"What if she dies? What then? I can't lose Blair, the mother of my child. Starr's just a baby..."
"Just try to be patient; I know it isn't easy. The doctors are doing all they can for her. You just gotta have faith."
At that moment, Dr. Sands came back into the room, calling out for Todd urgently. "Mr. Manning, I need you to come with me right away."
Glancing at Marty, Todd stood up, following the doctor out of the room. After he left, Marty broke down. She placed her face into her hands and sobbed like a lost and frightened child. Patrick was gone. Up until now she had just been in shock, needing to get to Todd and break the news to him about Blair, but now that Todd knew of the tragedy, Marty completely lost it. The man she loved was dead. Her heart felt as though it had just been torn from her chest.
"Marty, what is it? What's wrong?" a soft voice asked.
Marty looked up to see Vicki walk into the room, a worried expression upon her face. "Ohhh Vicki, there's been an accident. Patrick is dead!" Marty blurted out.
"What?" Vicki gasped. "Patrick's dead?"
"Yes... and Blair was with him in the car... and she was injured..."
"Todd's not taking the news too well. Dr. Sands just came to get him. I don't think Blair is going to survive this, Vicki. And it's ... it's all my fault," Marty stated.
"Your fault? Honey, it can't be your fault..." Vicki said soothingly, sitting down next to Marty and wrapping an arm around her. "I'm so sorry about Patrick, Marty, but nothing you did caused this accident."
"We had an argument... and he ran out..." Marty explained, as tears rushed down her face. "I was having a hard time dealing with the baby. All the time he's been spending with Blair. All the preparations they've been making. I made it all about me..."
"So he left... and somehow ended up in the car with Blair, and on Route 9 they crashed. Now Patrick's dead; he's gone, and Blair's in surgery."
"If Blair doesn't make it, this is just going to kill Todd," Marty sobbed as Vicki held her close.
"Whatever happens, Marty, we'll all face it... together," Vicki said soothingly as she hugged her heartbroken friend. Placing her head on Vicki's comforting shoulder, Marty cried.
~*o*~
"Mr. Manning, I'm sorry to have to give you this devastating news, but your wife has died," stated Dr. Sands just as soon as she had gotten him alone.
"No... no... Not Blair!" Todd cried out. "There has to be some kind of mistake. She can't be dead."
"I'm afraid her injuries were too severe. We did all we could to save her... but there was just too much internal damage."
Todd turned away, his shoulders sagging with pain as he tried to contain his shock and sorrow. He could barely breathe as all he wanted was to scream and run. His first instinct was to crash his hand through a window or exert his fury onto the closest available object by tossing it up against a wall. None of those things did he do. Like a man broken by the deepest of despair, he just stood there and cried.
"Did she suffer?" he asked softly.
"No," Dr. Sands answered. "She didn't even regain consciousness. She went peacefully."
Todd knew he should find some comfort in that, but there was little. His wife was dead. Starr's mother was never coming home. In one dark and tragic moment, he had become the single parent of a 22 month old little girl.
"Thank you, Doctor," Todd said softly, just wanting to be alone in his grief and hoping the doctor would go.
"Mr. Manning, there's something you need to know..." Dr. Sands went on to say. "The baby... your little boy; he's alive."