*~Chapter Seven: Always~*
Sam ran into the house carrying baby Danny. After she lay her son down gently in his playpen, she picked up the pad of paper Todd had used to scrawl down the address that Marty had given him when they had spoke on the phone. "This should work," she said to Victor who had followed her inside. "I should have the address for Marty's location in just a second."
Very carefully, Sam ran the lead of a pencil sideways over the pad of paper. Her efforts revealed the address Todd had written upon the top sheet that he had taken with him. The indention was enough on the second sheet that Sam was able to make a visible impression. "Here's the address," Sam said as she handed it over to Victor. "But just so you know, I'm coming with you. I want to be there when you locate Todd."
"That's not a good idea," Victor warned. "I don't know what we'd be walking into... and Todd wouldn't want you getting hurt."
"You have your son to think about," he reminded as he glanced over where Danny lay in his playpen.
"Yes, but my son's biological father is a maniac who sent his insane mother over to take him away from me. He's holding Marty hostage and he's lured Todd into his lair. You're gonna need my help to take him out. Don't worry, I can take care of myself. I am a private investigator."
"Alright... if you want to go," Victor said somewhat reluctantly. "But we will need to find someone reliable to keep an eye on your son during our mission."
"We can leave him with my mother," Sam responded. "She won't let him out of her sight. Just let me grab his diaper bag and a few of his things, then I'll be ready to go."
"Hurry up," Victor insisted. "I don't think Todd and Marty will survive if we don't get there to help them."
Sam rushed around quickly, grabbing a few of Danny's neccessities for his diaperbag. They packed up baby Danny in Victor's black Mercedes and hurriedly left him with his grandmother. "Where are you going, Sam?" Alexis demanded of her daughter.
"Don't worry, Mom. I will be back as soon as I can," Sam promised. She kissed Danny one last time and said a quick farewell to Alexis and Molly. Minutes later, she and Victor were on their way to their destination.
They were headed down the highway when Victor asked, "What about that crazy woman in your garage?"
"Ohhh, she's out cold. I don't think she's coming to for awhile, but I will call my friend Dante from the police department to go over and arrest her," Sam replied as she reached for her cell phone. "That should take care of her, because I don't want to come home to find she's taken up residence in my house."
"I think she needs a padded cell," Victor responded.
*~o~*
Todd had just finished barricading the door with every piece of furniture he could get his hands on inside the shack when he heard Marty questioning him. He froze in his tracks when he heard her asking if he still loved her. Turning to look at her, Todd knew he had to tell her the absolute truth. He had put her through hell and so much torment in the past, and it was time to come totally clean with her, so they could both heal and move on. Marty deserved the truth - every single bit of it, so that's what he would give her.
"Marty," he said softly as he stared into her dark-blue eyes. "Yes, I still love you. I have ALWAYS loved you, but after everything that happened with us, I have never acted upon that love..."
"Besides, you always had Patrick, the love of your life."
"Patrick's dead, Todd."
"I know, but I am happily married now. I have Sam... and a beautiful little boy. And although you'll always be in my heart, I can't be with you."
Staring into her eyes, Todd could see the longing there. Despite the darkness from their past, a part of her still wanted him, too. The urge to kiss her, hold her, and soothe her was so strong. He took Marty into his arms, and very gently, he pressed his lips against hers.
He kissed her thoroughly, with so much tenderness and love, and after a few minutes, Marty pulled away from him, completely breathless. "What was that, Todd?" she asked him quietly.
"That was my kiss good-bye," he whispered as he held her in his arms.
"Todd, we might both die together here," Marty fretted.
"I won't let him hurt you, Marty. I'd die first," Todd promised.
In that moment, Franco burst through the door, thrusting all of the piled up furniture aside. He entered the shack, totting a dangerous weapon. Marty let out a scream as he aimed the gun at her and Todd. "You're both gonna die!" the madman exclaimed.
