This is the sequel to my story If I Kissed You.
~*~o~*~
Todd left the hospital cafeteria after devouring his delicious meal. He was missing Marty and their baby girl already, although he'd only been gone for about an hour. As he walked down the hallway toward Marty's hospital room on the maternity ward, a strange premonition assaulted him. He had a sudden thought that Marty needed him. It was almost as if he could hear her cries of distress. When he walked into her hospital room, a sensation of dread crept upon him. She wasn't in her hospital bed, and as he looked around the room, there wasn't a sign of her anywhere. He glanced in the adjoining bathroom, but it too was empty. "Marty?" he called out as he walked back over to her bed. That's when he saw the needle from her IV had been removed. The tubing hung to the floor and an alarm was sounding which would alert the hospital staff that it had been improperly disconnected. "What the hell?" Todd rasped when he grabbed the IV tubing and stared at it.
That's when a nurse walked in, looking frantic. She was concerned about the alarm going off on the IV pole. "Where the hell is my wife?" Todd demanded, glaring at the frightened nurse.
"I have no idea, Mr. Manning," said the scared young nurse.
"You better find out! Now!" Todd barked.
The nurse came back with Dr. Kyle Lewis who was carryng Marty's medical chart. "Where is she?" Todd demanded.
"I'm afraid I don't know," Dr. Lewis replied. "I didn't order any tests. She should be here in her room."
Todd glared at Dr. Lewis with fury. "You better fuckin call Hospital Security right now, before I tear every FLOOR of this place apart looking for her!" Todd shrieked.
Just then, another nurse entered, carrying baby Summer Rose. She glanced over toward Marty's bed, then settled her eyes onto Todd. "The baby got hungry, so I brought her to her mother-," said the young nurse.
"Her mother is missing," Todd fumed as he reached for his swaddled daughter. Once Summer was in his arms, Todd inhaled her baby-sweet scent. As he looked down into his daughter's adorable little face, he was consumed with worry for Marty. Where was she? Had someone kidnapped the woman he loved?
~*~o~*~
John and Blair had just returned home and were preparing to settle into bed when the telephone rang. "Who could that be at this time of night?" Blair said with a grumble.
"It's probably the station," said John as he went to answer the call. Sure enough, it was the Llanview Police Department.
Blair stood there as she heard John's end of the conversation. "Marty?" John gasped as a look of shock settled upon his face. "What the hell happened? Okay. I'm on my way to the hospital right now."
After John hung up from the call, he said hurriedly to Blair, "Marty's missing from the hospital, and Todd's raising holy hell. No one has a clue where she is. I gotta get over there."
"Wait! What about Tea? Is she alright? She's there in the hospital, too!" Blair said as she began freaking out.
"I don't know, Blair. But maybe you should head over to the hospital as well and check on Tea."
"Alright. I'll tell Starr to keep a close eye on Sam and Hope... and I'll be right there in a few minutes," Blair told him as she saw him rushing toward the door.
"Be careful, Blair. We don't know what sort of craziness we may be walking into at the hospital," John warned before he disappeared through the door.
~*~o~*~
"Come on, Victor. Talk to me. What sort of secrets do you have on Todd?" Marty prompted.
"You aren't going to like this, Marty..." Victor said cautiously. "He's not really Todd Manning. I am."
Marty just shook her head in disbelief as she stared into his eyes. "No, no... you're wrong. Your crazy mother just brainwashed you to THINK you are Todd Manning. You're Todd's identical twin, Victor Lord Junior. Irene confirmed that you are not the real Todd Manning."
"She lied. She's nothing but a psycho bitch. She wanted me to suffer. He's Victor... and I am Todd. You gotta believe me, Marty."
"I don't believe you. He's Todd. I know it in my heart. You're a great deal like him in many ways, but there could only be one Todd."
"And you could never love me as much as you love him," Victor added softly. She didn't miss the aching sorrow in his voice as he looked away as though staring at something in the distance.
"Victor, I did love you. I was VERY much in love with you. You know that. But you lied to me... and you kept me away from my son. Don't make the same mistake now. Don't lie to me. Don't keep me away from my baby girl... " Marty pleaded. "Please take me back."
"No," he said firmly. "You're staying with me. But you have a choice. Do you want to leave your daughter here with Todd? Or do you want me to get her for you? Whatever you want, Marty... I will do it for you. Just say the word."
"But you have to decide now... because we are leaving tonight," Victor stated. "I'm getting you the hell away from here before he can take you from me. What's it going to be, Marty? Does your daughter stay with Todd... or is she coming with you and me?"