A/N: Okay, guys, here's another update! You have all been so great with the reviews and just reading the story in general! As of right now, 620 hits in all! I'm shocked! I had no idea OLTL stories were read this much, considering they get so few reviews! I'm VERY pleasantly surprised, so again, thank you so much for giving this a chance, and hopefully liking it. And to respond to specific reviews:
jarrfan: I love your compliment! That's all I try to do when I write fanfiction; make it realistic. So your telling me that means so much. It was like you read my mind, because I am always wondering if I am keeping everything in character.
arty60: Honestly, I have to somewhat agree, but I am usually much more humble than that. However, once this Todd story heats up, I feel it will match. :)
onesmartgoalie: Ah, interesting guess.
Now, about this chapter, as you will notice, it is all a flashback. This is flashing back to one week before the last chapter; which would be the day after Starr saw the mysterious man with the familiar face in the park. In terms of this chapter, I use the name the show has given this character, "TM." I know, I don't like it either, but the name may change...
Well, the song for this chapter is right here: Y O U T U B E .com/watch?v=GP8TAvQetyo
And I think that's it, so enjoy!
Chapter Four
"So Give Me Something to Believe"
(FLASHBACK: One Week Earlier)
Viki is doing some gardening on her patio. She has her shears in her gloved hand as she trims the hedges. She hears a noise come from behind her. She turns around and looks for the source of the sound, but shrugs it off when she does not notice anything. She is turning back towards the hedges when she, once again, hears the sound. It is a ruffling from the bushes, and although it is most likely a squirrel, she decides to check it out.
Viki- Hello? Is someone there?
She puts her shears down on the table, as she walks a few steps closer to the bushes and starts to push them aside to look around. As soon as she pushes only a small portion of the shrubbery away, she looks on in shock.
She is staring at a solemn-looking Todd…but he cannot be Todd. The man in front of her looks like the pre-surgery version of her brother; scar and all. Startled, she unconsciously takes a few steps back, putting a distance between them. He can sense her shock, and had expected it. He does not want to scare her, so he decides to stay put for the time being.
Meanwhile, Viki knows this cannot be possible. She must be imagining things, yet he is still there. He is no apparition, he is really standing in front of her. Her eyes well up in shock and confusion. She continues to try to force herself to believe that this is not happening, but she loses any chance of that when the man speaks, following the moment of shocked silence.
TM- Hey sis…Long time no see, huh?
Viki feels as if she has had the wind knocked out of her. She suddenly finds it difficult to speak, but does manage to get some words out after a few seconds.
Viki- Uh, (mumbling) yes. Yes, I suppose.
TM- …Good news; I'm not dead.
She looks him up and down. Every detail she can think of is exactly the same. He is identical to Todd.
Viki- But- but…how is this possible?
TM- I'm not exactly sure of that myself.
Viki- No, no, I mean you- you don't…you haven't looked like this in years. What is going on? Who are you?
TM- Look, I get that it has to be a shock, but you'd think you'd recognize your own brother when you see him.
Viki- I do. But my brother does not look like you…anymore.
TM- Now you're starting to freak ME out. What are you talking about Viki?
He finally takes a step toward her, and instinctively she takes another step back. He notices this and decides not to move any closer. Viki just stares at him, in utter shock at this current exchange. This man looks and acts EXACTLY like Todd…the Todd from about eight years ago, that is. She had no idea how to even comprehend this situation.
Viki- I- I think I need to sit down.
She does as she says, and sits on a patio chair as the man now comes a few steps closer, as well. She tries to avoid looking at him, half-hoping this is all some daydream that will come to an end soon. No such luck.
TM- This can't be that big of shock. I mean I HAVE come back from the dead on numerous other occasions. This just happens to be the longest period of time I've been gone for.
Viki-(harshly) My brother is NOT dead, nor has anyone thought he was.
TM- Wait a second. You-you mean to tell me people have been looking for me all this time? Wow…Usually it took breaking a law or two for anyone in this town to chase after me.
Viki does a subtle double-take at that comment. This resemblance was uncanny. He really does look like…like he could BE Todd. The personality is spot-on as well. He even has that same dark, crooked sense of humor. He even seems to believe that he IS Todd, but that cannot be…can it? Now she is unintentionally staring at him again. She only does this for a brief moment before looking off to the side, back into the house. She figures she has to explain to this man WHY his claims are simply implausible. She steps inside the house, leaving the man wondering what she is doing. He chooses not to follow her, as she quickly steps back outside, with a photo album in her hand. As she's walking, she begins to flip through it, as if looking for one specific picture.
TM- What are you doing?
He looks at her quizzically, but she does not even notice him speak up. The photo album contains pictures of her and her ex-husband Charlie's wedding. Finally, she stops when she finds what she is looking for. She pulls the picture out of the album, and shows it to him. Immediately, he notices a familiar face. She looked just a bit older than the last time he saw her, but she was still as beautiful as ever.
TM- Tea? You're showing me a picture of Tea? Why?
Viki- No-
Viki stops in her tracks for just a second, and quickly glances at him. How does he know Tea too? She blocks the thought from her mind as she turns back to the photo.
Viki- No, that's not why I'm showing you the picture. That's not it at all.
She begins pointing at the man in the picture, standing next to Tea.
Viki- THIS is Todd Manning. THIS is my brother.
He grabs the picture out of her hand, and looks at it more closely, with a questioning look on his face.
Viki- So, I don't know why you look like my brother used to or how you know me, or Tea, but all I know is, you CANNOT be Todd. It's impossible. THAT (pointing at the picture in his hand) is Todd…Now, please, I'd like it if you left now.
The man looks at Viki, at a loss for words. He turns his head around, almost as if to look back towards where he just came from, and then looks at Viki again.
TM- I'm sorry, did I just step into the twilight zone or something?
His signature smirk appears on his face.
TM- Are you messing with me? I mean, it's nice to know we haven't lost that sibling banter, but I just came back from the dead here, Viki. I think we can save the practical jokes for a little later; you know, when people no longer think I'm six feet under. It's been so long, some people might think it actually STUCK this time.
Viki- Look, I am not joking. That man in the picture is my brother. Eight years ago, he DID look like you, but after he was gone for a few months, he came back looking like the man you see right there. There was an incident that left him badly injured, and he had to have reconstructive surgery. It completely changed his face. He DOES look like a completely different man now. Maybe you should have done some more research before you came here making these ridiculous claims. (sterner) Now PLEASE, I would like you to leave now.
He just stares at her in disbelief. What had happened since he'd been gone? WHO is this idiot in the picture? Why does his own SISTER believe some stranger over him? Have people really thought this guy is the real Todd Manning for the past EIGHT YEARS? Do his own KIDS think this guy is their father?
TM- Are you kidding me? You find it hard to believe that your brother, (pointing to himself) ME, has just come back after cheating death yet again, but you buy that (points at the picture) this- this FRAUD is your BROTHER? With a completely different face and body?…(yelling) Have you been in OUTER SPACE this whole time? You just stood by and let some psycho take over my entire life? I swear, if MY KIDS think THIS (holding up the picture) is their father, I'm going to KILL him, WHOEVER the hell he is!
Viki- (yelling) STOP IT!
He is taken aback at hearing her raise her voice. He does as he is told, and backs down.
Viki- I've had just about enough of this performance. You are not going to convince me of something I KNOW is impossible! That man in the picture is Todd Manning! He IS! He knows everything that only the REAL Todd would know! He speaks the way he always has, he acts the way he always has, he makes the same STUPID mistakes he always has! THAT is the one and only Todd Manning, I'm sure of it. He has more than proven that!
TM- Really? So you had a DNA test done?
Viki- Well, of course someone did.
TM- Someone? Who is this "someone?"
Viki- (frustrated) I don't remember. I'm sorry, but it WAS eight years ago.
TM- I'm well aware of that, but push yourself. I'd like to know what genius had the test done! What (sarcastically) reliable source gave you this information?
Viki- Look, I told you, I do not remember.
TM- Then how are you so sure?
Viki- Because I KNOW! I KNOW he is my brother.
TM- And you (mocking) know I'm NOT?
Viki- That's exactly right…Now, I think you've worn out your welcome. I'm going to ask you again to PLEASE LEAVE.
TM- (confidently) No. No, not until I get the same chance you gave him.
Viki- What are you talking about?
TM- Give me a DNA test. When I match you, you'll be begging me to forgive you.
Viki- You're willing to take a DNA test?
TM- You know, I wasn't exactly "all there" the past eight years, but I thought my motor skills were in tact. (harsher) Did you not hear what I just said?
Viki- Oh, I heard loud and clear. I was just making sure that YOU were sure about that.
TM- I am, given that I already know what the results will be.
Viki-…Fine. We'll do a DNA test. If that proof will stop this nonsense, I am all for it. I'll be right back.
Viki walks inside the house and grabs a few things before she goes back outside. She walks back onto her patio, now holding a cotton swab wrapped in a tissue, and an empty plastic baggie. She tells him to rub the swab on the inside of his cheek and drop it in the bag. He does so, and she closes the bag.
Viki- Okay, so I will test this one against my own and then we will know.
TM- Yes, YOU will. I just wish it didn't take scientific proof for you to believe me when I say who I am… Can't you just look at me and see for yourself that it's me, Viki?
Viki looks at him now; REALLY looks at him. As she does, she softens. She DOES see something in his eyes. She can't quite describe it, but it is something she has seen before, just not in some time. It is almost a wounded look; an internal, endless torture. It is masked by sarcasm and a bit of arrogance, but it is still visible, even through the façade. She has to stop herself at the description, because the more she thinks of it, the more she unintentionally convinces herself that this really could be Todd. But that has to be impossible, doesn't it? No fake could keep up an act like this for eight years without getting caught! And Todd is such a complex person; even an Academy Award winning actor could not portray him realistically. How is she supposed to believe some stranger has gotten away with it for the better part of a decade? The worst part is that when she looks at him, she does still feel as if she's looking at her brother. Her answer will have to be a lie.
Viki- You might have a familiar face, but that is where the comparison stops. You are nothing like my brother.
TM- You're lying. You're starting to believe me, and that scares you.
Viki- I most certainly do not believe any of this.
TM- Keep telling yourself that…So when can you find out results for that? (pointing at the bag in her hand)
Viki- It shouldn't be more than a couple of days. I'll be sure to let you know when I find out what I already know.
TM- Yeah, sure.
Viki- How can I contact you?
TM- Uh, probably the nearest park bench would be your best bet.
Viki instantly sympathizes with this man, whoever he is. Even though he may not BE her brother, he DOES have his face, so she automatically feels for him.
Viki- What? You have nowhere to stay?
TM- No…Oh, don't feel sorry for me. I don't need your sympathy.
Viki- Maybe not, but you COULD use my charity. Let me at least find you somewhere to stay…just until we find out the results.
TM- I'm no charity case, okay? I can manage on my own.
Boy, is he stubborn! This scares Viki once again, because this is another very "Todd-like" quality. However, she really does want to help him for some reason, so she tries another approach to get him to accept her offer.
Viki- Okay fine…But, if you're going to stay at the park, there's a chance that others might see you. I don't want you to stir up anymore trouble than you already have if someone does happen to pass by. I'd be doing this town a favor if I found you some place to lay low for the next few days. It wouldn't be completely to help YOU.
He considers it. He really isn't ready for anyone else to see him yet. He isn't sure how he's going to deal with that yet. Finally, he decides to allow her to help.
TM-…Alright. I don't want to draw that much attention to myself…right now, I mean.
Viki- Good. Now, I can set you up at a hotel for the next few days, but after that and after this DNA test is done, so are we, and so is this free ride I'm giving you.
TM- Got it.
Viki- I'll make a reservation at a hotel just outside of town, and I'll call a cab to take you there. I'll make the reservation under my name…you seem to know it, so you shouldn't have any problem.
TM- I shouldn't…sis.
He looks up at her and smirks, knowing he's pushing her buttons. Viki frowns at him.
Viki- Don't call me that.
At that, Viki heads inside the house and makes a few calls. Within five minutes, a cab arrives and takes him to a hotel just about five miles outside of Llanview. Back at Llanfair, Viki begins to make arrangements for the DNA test, and for fear of it being tampered with, she plans for the lab work to be done at a Cherryvale hospital, rather than in Llanview. However, on the phone, she is told that DNA tests for siblings are sometimes inaccurate. Tests between a parent and child are much more accurate. Immediately, Viki thinks of Starr, Jack, and Danielle. She is closest with Starr, so figures she can somehow get a sample of something from her. The next day, she makes a quick stop at Dorian's, when she knows Starr is most likely still in a class. She realized earlier she would need some explanation for the visit, so she gathers some of Bree's old clothes that Jessica had actually planned on passing down to Hope. Jessica had boxed them up months ago, before Tess had reappeared, in hopes that her mother would be able to drop them off at some point. Viki had honestly forgotten about this favor she was supposed to do for her daughter, especially with all of the commotion with Jessica's infamous alter. She decides that this is the perfect reason to be making a visit. When Addie greets her at the door, she offers to bring the box upstairs to Hope and visit with her for a moment, before she has to leave. She does so, and as she walks out of Hope's room, she makes a quick detour, and luckily goes unnoticed. She slips into Starr's room, and looks for something she can grab. She notices a hair brush on her dresser and rushes over to it. She grabs a few hairs from it, and places them in an empty plastic baggie she brought in her purse. She, then, discreetly exits and drops by the Cherryvale Hospital's lab. She drops off all of the samples, as well as one of her own, and is told that she will have the results in three days. They are putting a rush on this, per her request. She is having his DNA tested against both hers and her niece's. They should have an accurate result from testing with both of them. She realizes how seriously she is taking this process, and realizes that a part of her does believe that there is some possible way this man could be Todd. She wouldn't have admitted that to him, but she finally is admitting it to herself. What she finds truly troubling, however, is that she is somewhat hopeful that he will be the real Todd Manning. Why is she rooting for a complete stranger, when she has thought her brother has been around for the past eight years? She is left perplexed at why she would even want this scenario to be true.
A/N: So please let me know what you guys thought! I really do love any comments I get. Let me know what you thought of the interction I wrote in this chapter. Realistic, or could I have done better? Be honest. Stay tuned for more. :)