Chapter 10 – Devastation
Toby stopped his truck. He leaped out for a better view at the devastating scene swallowing him whole. It was hard to believe that these very streets once accommodated rows of elegant suburban homes. Bricks and walls he helped a crew of hard-hat men slave to construct just last year. Bricks and walls that once housed cupcake-baking moms, cupcake-stealing children, and newspaper-reading dads who retired to their la-z-boys after tiresome afternoons raking the leaves the trees shed. And now, the neighborhood and its surrounding neighborhoods had been abandoned—except for those bricks and walls that were now rubble and fragments littering those once well-kept, manicured lawns.
Not only were massive branches strewed all over the place, but hundreds of trees and its entirety had been uprooted. Blocking roads, puncturing roofs, and crushing cars completely. Several power lines were down; many poles snapped in half.
The lingering aroma of rainfall was mixed with the burning smells of exposed power lines and decaying animal carcasses floating in the water, consumed with maggots and flies.
Toby shivered from the cold water when his feet submerged into the muddy waters flooding the streets. Nonetheless, he continued his expedition. As he neared the partially crushed minivan, the cries intensified.
"I'm coming," he declared. He was treading as fast as he could, but it was becoming more and more difficult as the water level increased in altitude on his body. Still, he marched on.
Toby jumped atop the hood of the vehicle. Moving swiftly, he snatched the collection of debris from the shattered windshield. Dead leaves and tree limbs. He stopped abruptly when he noticed the poisonous reptile wrapped around the branch still lying on the windshield. During major floods, you can always find an abundance of snakes in trees; they were in need of escaping the water to survive just like humans. Peering inside the vehicle, Toby saw a little boy strapped in a booster seat in the back of the van, wailing incessantly. The snake was wiggling towards entering the vehicle. Toby couldn't let that happen. He swallowed his fear and grabbed the branch. The snake snapped its slimy little head back, launching at Toby. He tossed the branch into oblivion before it could attack him.
When the little boy's eyes set on his hero, he pointed towards the driver's seat. "Please… please help my mommy," the five-year-old winced.
Toby's eyes followed the boy's index finger. In the driver's seat of the van was an unconscious woman. Toby climbed in through the broken windshield, fragments of the glass grazing his arms as he entered, but he didn't care. His concerns were solely focused on the woman with a dark red waterfall oozing from a nasty laceration near her hairline.
"Ma'am? Ma'am, can you hear me?" he inquired as he placed two fingers on her neck to check for a pulse.
"I… can't… can't move," she whispered.
Toby looked down. The tree that collapsed on the van had impaled the metal that was crushing her legs, immobilizing her. Utilizing his strength to its full capacity, Toby pushed triumphantly on the dismantled dashboard resting in her lap. When she was permitted enough space to wiggle herself free, she quickly climbed into the back and embraced her weeping son.
"Oh my goodness. Thank you, sir, thank you so much. I've been trapped for days," her weak voice professed.
Toby advised, "Turn your heads the other way for a second."
Once the mother and son obeyed, Toby kicked the passenger door repeatedly. The plastic interior crushed upon the forceful contact, sending pieces flying everywhere. That's why he told the storm victims to look away, to avoid shards getting into their eyes. Toby kicked the door again. Finally, the door flew off the hinges and sunk in the dirty waters. His abs and muscles were not just for show. Toby was the first out the vehicle. He gestured for them to follow. The woman unbuckled her son and climbed into the passenger seat.
When the boy's eyes landed on the water level, he clung onto his mother tightly. Toby could see how tired and weak and dehydrated she was. There was no way she possessed the strength to carry him.
"My truck is right over there. We don't have far to walk. I'll carry him," Toby volunteered.
Toby extended his arms. The boy latched onto him like a baby monkey embracing his mother. Arms knitted tightly around his neck and his feet secured around his torso, the boy kept his eyes on his mother as she walked side by side with Toby.
Toby opened his truck door for her. "I'll take you to the hospital," he stated.
She quickly climbed into the cab of the Chevrolet. Toby deposited her son into her awaiting arms. He grabbed some items from the bed of his truck before hopping into the driver's seat. He handed two bottles of purified water and two muffins to her. He knew many New Yorkers were without power, food, and clean water. That's why he loaded up on cartons of muffins before making the trip upstate. Muffins weren't exactly healthy, but they were nonperishable and fulfilling.
"Are you from a rescue squad?" the woman questioned.
"No ma'am."
"With the Red Cross?"
"Nope."
"National Guard?"
"Nawl. I'm a carpenter."
The woman had been gazing strangely at Toby nonstop throughout the entire drive. When his vehicle came to a stop under the neon sign that read Emergency Room, her jaw dropped.
Toby started to regret his kindness when she reached out and poked him.
"I'm sorry," she said, "I was just trying to make sure you're real."
"Huh?"
"You're a carpenter; you're not a part of a rescue squad or anything, yet you just saved my life and my son's life. You fed us and gave us water. You could have easily kidnapped or robbed us. But you," she choked up on her words as her tears flooded her eyes. "You are a good person. You just went out of your way for total strangers. Your license plate says you're from Pennsylvania. What are you doing here?"
"I volunteered for my job; they needed someone to come and get estimates on your subdivision's damages. The person who hired us to build your homes last year is looking to hire us again to rebuild your neighborhood. I knew how devastating and bad Hurricane Sandy hit. So, I stocked up on all the muffins and bottles of water I could afford, because I knew there was a chance of me running into someone stranded. I wanted to equip myself with the essentials to help out."
"You've truly succeeded in helping out. I will forever be indebted to your gratitude. Thank you. I can't thank you enough…" she sobbed.
The little boy looked up at Toby with his hopeful forest green eyes. He motioned for Toby to come close. When he did, his small arms enveloped Toby's neck. He whispered in his ear, "When I grow up, I wanna be just like you, mister."
…
Toby wiped away the tears that cascaded down his cheeks as the memories of his two-week New York adventure flashed through his mind. The horrific imagery of Hurricane Sandy's aftermath made Toby remember to be thankful that God's hand shielded Rosewood from Sandy's rage. Other than several inches of rain and a little wind, Rosewood was barely touched. The rain just sped up the cold front, reminding the East Coast that winter was just one month away.
As the familiar You're now entering the city of Rosewood Population of 7,989 sign reflected off of his windshield, Toby shot a quick glance at his special spot that overlooked his hometown.
Toby smiled significantly as he neared his destination in downtown Rosewood. He couldn't wait to enter the five-story building where he knew the beautiful brunette would be consumed under mountains of paperwork. As nervous as he was, he was destined to stick to his plan—grab her tenderly and consume her with an avalanche of kisses.
"If there is someone special in your life, don't wait until it's too late to let them know how special they are."
The voice of the first New York woman that Toby rescued rang in his head. Before heading back to Rosewood after two weeks of Keeganing—some silly term he learned from a pair of teenage girls he saved—Toby paid a visit to the mother and son he took to the hospital. The woman was crying, because after two weeks of not knowing where her husband was, she got that dreadful call that he didn't survive. He was driving during the storm over a narrow bridge. The rainfall was heavy, causing the dam to overflow and collapse. The speed of the rushing waters and boulder-sized concrete fragments consumed the bridge, causing it to weaken under the pressure, permitting the river to guzzle his Toyota into its watery grave.
With Rosewood P.D. breathing down his ass since the unearthing of Alison's body this past Labor Day, Toby had been scared to do anything. But that trip upstate remind him of something his late mother frequently preached, time is the most valuable thing a man can spend, so don't waste it; just spend it wisely.
He knew what he had to do.
The chemistry had been present since that first day he met Spencer. Although they spent the briefest of time together the weekend before his sudden departure, their bond seemed like they had known each other their whole lives. He could see it in her eyes—she felt the connection, too. And now, it was time to do something about it.
Toby popped a handful of tic-tacs into his oral cavity as the elevator ascended to the top floor of Hastings and Smith's Law Firm. Staring at the only person on the elevator, he checked his appearance using the reflection in the shiny metal doors. He adjusted the collar of his opened button shirt that sat atop his black graphic t shirt. He hand patted his dark jeans to lessen the wrinkles for a more presentable look. Talking to the pair of sapphire eyes staring back at him, he told himself, "The worst thing that could happen is she'll slap you."
As the doors separated, Toby discarded that possibility. He remembered that look in her beautiful chestnut eyes—a look of burning desire and longing compassion. She felt the same way he did. He knew it; he felt it. She knew it; she felt it.
"Good afternoon," Toby politely said to gain the attention of the girl typing a mile a minute on her desktop. "I'm here to see Ms. Spencer Hastings. My name is Toby C-"
"Cavanaugh?" the secretary interceded. "Are you Mr. Toby Cavanaugh?!"
Toby apprehensively nodded, unsure of how she knew and why she seemed joyful.
Exhaling profusely, she grinned, "Thank goodness! I'm Tracey; I'm Ms. Hastings's secretary. You're like two weeks late, but I'm sure she still wants to see you. Right this way, Mr. Cavanaugh. Quickly please."
A goofy smile erupted on his face. All his skepticism vanished. She wanted to see him just as bad as he wanted to see her. Her secretary practically shoved him into her office, not that he was complaining.
And finally, the moment occurred. The moment when chocolate and turquoise clashed. Lifting her lengthy lashes to grant him a look into her beautiful auburn eyes, Toby's legs started to resemble the unstable structure of Jell-O and his heartbeat hammered against his chest like an African drum.
"So I guess you heard," she snapped.
She rolled her eyes and placed her focus back on her paperwork. Toby's heart stopped. He was suddenly numbed by her coldness.
"Heard what?" he questioned.
"About this," she stated and tossed a bright red sheet of paper his way.
Catching the document before it floated to the floor, Toby's eyes quickly scanned the bold text. Once he realized what it was, he gasped.
"Warrant for my arrest?!" he shrieked.
Noticing his stunned tone, Spencer realized he hadn't heard. "New evidence in the DiLaurentis murder is mounting up against you. If you don't surrender by 5 p.m. today, that warrant will be validated, and they're going to add eluding arrest as another conviction to your record."
"B-b-but.." Toby stuttered.
"I thought you already did that," Spencer mumbled, in reference to him eluding arrest. "Listen, Mr. Cavanaugh…"
"Mr. Cavanaugh? You know you can call me Toby. Why are you suddenly formal with me?" he worried.
"Because I won't be representing you anymore," she proclaimed.
"Wh-what?! Spencer! Why not?" Toby could've sworn he left and came back to Rosewood of another dimensional.
"Because I am done with defending the bad guys!"
"Bad guys?! I didn't do anything! I told you that! I thought you believed me!"
Spencer scuffed. "Yeah, I did—stupid me. You had me fooled until you skipped town."
Toby's fingers encased Spencer's wrist, forcing her to stop moving and look at him. "Spencer, I didn't skip town. I was working in the field for Mr. Sweeney. I had to go to Manhattan for an estimate of the damages, so our accounting team can create a budget for materials needed to start rebuilding homes destroyed by the hurricane."
Spencer's eyes enlarged. "Th-that's where you've been?"
"Yeah. I was only scheduled for two days, but I ended up staying longer to help people."
Spencer's lips formed an O as she collapsed into her large leather seat. "I… I didn't know. I'm sorry, Toby."
Toby smiled. She called him by his first name. That made him feel so much better.
"I tried to call to reschedule our appointment, but the storm knocked a lot of phone towers down," he explained.
Spencer nodded, "Oh. I just thought... that you were running away from the law, especially when I went to your loft and everything was gone."
"I sold my loft before I hired you. You gotta have deep pockets in order to employ a Hastings," Toby chuckled. "I'm moving in with my sister for the time being."
Spencer palmed her forehead. "Oh gosh… I should've known you weren't that type to run."
"To be honest, Spencer, I have thought about it. But I'm not going to do it. I don't like to run from my problems. I gotta man up and deal with them."
"So… that means you're going to turn yourself in to the cops today?"
Toby's breath briefly caught in his throat. "Spencer," he cried and tucked her hand between his. "I honestly don't remember what happened the night Alison died. I wish I did, but I truly don't."
Spencer gulped as she struggled to eject the burning question from her vocal box. "Toby… do you think you're the one who k-" She decided to replace the verb. "Do you think you're the one who hurt her?"
"Spencer, I wouldn't hurt a fly—unless it was getting too close my chocolate strawberries, because I love those things," he said, getting a giggle out of Spencer. "But in all seriousness, I wouldn't hurt her. I never had a reason to. She was just the sister of one of my frat brothers. Sometimes she was at the house when Jason threw the parties, but I barely knew her. Our relationship could be summed up in two words: Hey. Bye."
Matching his uninterrupted gaze, Spencer stared into the windows of his soul. There were a lot of emotions swimming in his oceanic eyes, but deceitfulness didn't seem like it was present. Toby's eyes diverted to the clock mounted on the wall of her lavish office. He closed his eyes to withhold the waterfall prepared to pour. It was four thirty. He had half an hour to surrender.
"I… I guess I should get…" he gestured his head to the side, in the direction of the police station two blocks down the road from her building. Spencer watched helplessly as his walked zombified out of her office.
Spencer moved over to her large window that overlooked the parking lot. Seconds later, Toby came into her view. Tossing his arms back in frustration, he paced the dead-end alley for several seconds until he finally broke down. Sliding down the exposed brick, Toby collapsed between a dumpster and a collection of trash cans. Wrapping his arms around himself, he rocked back and forth in defeat. Even from her window five stories up, Spencer could see water droplets journeying down his ivory cheeks.
His tears, his pain, his heartache was contagious. Spencer hadn't realized her own tears until they tickled her face. There was no way Toby laid a finger on Alison. No way. Finally, she believed him.
Spencer had had enough. She looked over her shoulder at Toby's file on her desk—the one Detective Wilden tried to reclaim after he realized he left it with her, but Spencer refused. Racing over to it and flipping through the pages, Spencer vowed—it was time to unleash her true Hastings nature.
…
Author's Note:
So I've got some 'splaining to do, huh? Ok here's goes…
*I said one of our favorite Season 1 scenes will be featured—Toby crying in the alley. Isn't that the first time your heart melted for him? I said ONE of our favs, I didn't say THE FAVORITE. Sneaky little me. I know. But you guys will get your 1x19 (motel scene) really, really soon.
*Filled in the blank from last chapter yet? "Ohh, now I know why you've been constantly mentioning the weather since chapter one." I've been prepping for Hurricane Sandy, a real-life storm that hit the East Coast recently. Two reasons: (One) I work in insurance and I deal with the aftermath of catastrophes all the time. Hopefully, the imagery reminds those not affected by the storm to be very thankful for how fortunate you are. (Two) Yeah, Spencer and Toby are falling for each other, but before things can get serious, Spencer has to be able to trust Toby completely. By having him volunteer to help the storm victims, it shows his true character. This was the ultimate act Spencer needed to see. And now that she has, she can let her guard down and truly help him.
*Yes, Toby will eventually remember what happened that night.