AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is based off the hit soap One Life to Live, yet the "history" has been changed somewhat to suit the purposes of this story. 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 is AU and begins directly after Suede Pruitt is injured at the Tabernacle of Joy. This is my version of how the chain of events after Suide fell and hit his head SHOULD HAVE unfolded.

~*~Tabernacle of Joy Revisted~*~

Suede Pruitt lay dying. As his blood soaked the floor, Todd's desperation grew. They'd be here for him soon, and they'd lock him up again. He'd lose his freedom, and his chance with Marty all over again. He had to act fast. He had to get away.

"You killed him!" Marty screamed as tears rushed from her eyes.

"No!" Todd cried out. "It was an accident. We were fighting and he fell. He hit his head! I- I didn't mean it."

With the gun in his hand, Todd was shaking. He didn't know what to do... or where to go. He just knew he had to get out of here and fast... before they came for him. And he was taking Marty with him. There was no way he was leaving her here.

"Come on, Marty... We gotta go," Todd said as he glanced over nervously toward the door.

She was kneeling by Suede's body as her tears fell on his still form. She looked up at Todd and glared at him through her tears. "There's no way I am going with you," she said in a painful whimper.

"Yes, you are," Todd insisted. "Now come on."

He walked closer and reached out for her. He fisted his fingers in the material of her long red coat and hauled her up in his arms. She fought him and cried out, but he wasn't taking 'no' for an answer. "Please, Todd," she sobbed. "Suede needs me."

"He doesn't need anybody anymore; he's dead," he told her as their gazes locked.

Silent tears ran down her face when she realized Todd was right. Suede was dead. The man she loved was gone, and she felt as though little remained of her already ravaged life. She was nearly pliant as Todd started tugging her toward the door. Her legs were wobbly, and Todd feared she was going to collapse.

"Come on, Marty," he growled. "Do you need me to carry you out of here?"

"Suede," she murmured in an aching sob.

Todd hissed in frustration and jerked her up in his arms. He carried her down the staircase and out the backdoor. Unfortunately, the police already had the place surrounded. Todd saw dozens of cop cars as bright lights stung at his eyes.

"Todd Manning, come out with your hands up!" came the loud voice of Hank Gannon.

Todd did the only thing he could in the situation. He pressed the barrel of the gun against Marty's cheek and stated in a cold voice, "Let me go or I'll shoot her!"

Marty let out a terrified scream as Todd held onto her so tightly. She knew Todd was desperate; he'd already killed Suede. She trembled in his arms, thinking she may next.

"Surrender, Todd! We have you surrounded!" Hank called out.

"Back off or she gets it!" Todd responded as he once again thrusted the gun against Marty's pale cheek. "I'm giving the orders now! Get the fuck away!"

"I want that car! And I want it now!" Todd commanded as he waved the gun around, pointing it in the direction of a nearby police cruiser.

"We gotta do it, Hank," Powell pleaded as he stood at Hank's side. "He's gonna kill Marty if we don't do what he wants!"

"You have TEN seconds!" Todd bellowed. "I mean business!"

Marty screamed as Todd nearly dropped her to the ground in his reckless fury. He clutched onto her slight form in his desperation, still waving the gun around despite the gasps of the crowd. The flashing red and blue lights from the police vehicles caught in Marty's dark-blue eyes, making them look glassy and haunted.

Todd started counting loudly, hoping that the police would relent and allow his escape. He was running out of options, but the last thing he wanted was to be separated from Marty. After spending agonizing months in prison without her, he had absolutely no intention of setting her free.

Hank continued to negotiate, but Todd wasn't listening. "Do you think I am stupid?" Todd exclaimed. "You give me the car... or the girl gets it! What's it gonna be?"

Marty let out a painful gasp, because at that moment she was sure he meant it. Her minutes on this earth were numbered. She was going to die of a bullet wound in Todd Manning's arms.

"Please Todd-," she murmured, clinging to his jacket as he gripped the gun.

"Shut up, Marty," he grumbled as he clutched her even tighter against him.

"Alright, Todd. If you want the car, you got it.. but you gotta set Marty free!" Hank ordered.

"No, I'm taking the car. And Marty, too," Todd insisted. "Let me go now! Or I swear, I'll shoot her... right here and right now!"

Hank tried once again to bargain with Todd, but it was impossible. Todd started screaming at the top of his lungs, "Gimme the car! I want it NOW!"

Powell started begging pathetically for Todd to take him as a hostage instead of Marty, but Todd only laughed at the ludicrous thought. "No way!" Todd responded.

"Give me your word, Manning! If I give you this car, the girl doesn't get hurt!" Hank insisted.

"Whatever! Just gimme the car... NOW!" screamed Todd.

"Alright!" Hank responded. "You may be able to drive out of here now... but I am warning you- you're making a big mistake! You're not going to get out of this mess alive!"

A half-smile came to Todd's face when he realized he was getting the car. He carried Marty cautiously toward the vehicle. He set her on her feet and commanded her to climb inside.

"I guess I'll have to take my chances," quipped Todd as he slid into the passenger's side of the front seat next to Marty.

She was crying and trembling as she sat behind the wheel of the police car. She wasn't even struggling to escape as she looked pale and traumatized. "Start the car! Do it!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. With shaking fingers, she did as Todd commanded. Minutes later, they were speeding out of the parking lot and careening toward the outskirts of Llanview.

"Where are we going?" she asked in the pitiful sob.

"As far away from Llanview as we can fuckin get," was Todd's retort. "Just keep your foot on the gas pedal, Marty... and don't let up till I tell you to!"

Marty did exactly as Todd commanded as tears rushed from her sad eyes, nearly blinding her vision. Images of Suede falling and hitting his head against the column replayed over and over again in her mind. *Todd killed the man I love,* she continued to lament.

With a pounding heart, Todd glanced over at Marty as she drove. Her tears and quiet sobs haunted him. He had to set things right with her... but how? A part of him longed to take her into his embrace and gently soothe her. Maybe if he held her long enough, some of her pain would dissolve into him. He was already hurting so much, but she never recognized the scars which lay upon his soul. At this point, in her eyes he was nothing but a cold-hearted, raping monster. He had to do something drastic to keep her from leaving him so he could make her see the truth... but what? As they drove away into the night, he finally realized just what he had to do. He'd take Marty to a place far from here where the police would never find them. If everything went as planned, she'd be stranded with him all winter long. And hopefully when spring came, Marty would have forgiven him...