Also, 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.
*~Chapter Fourteen : Todd's Angel~*
Laying there half-dazed, Marty realized she didn't hear the baby's cry.
"The baby's not crying. Why isn't the baby crying?"
"Our baby is okay, Marty. I swear to you, it WILL BE okay," Todd insisted as he continued to work on the baby. He rubbed the tiny back, then patted it firmly. After a moment, the baby let out a tiny sputtering cough. Turning it over gently, Todd noticed that it's color was pinkening up. The child was breathing!
He wrapped the baby in a clean towel, then raised it to his shoulder. It was then that the baby began to cry. The cry was a bit weak, but it was a cry just the same. Tears of relief came to Todd's eyes. He had saved their child's life.
Taking the tiny bundle, he placed the infant in Marty's arms. "Our baby can't wait to meet you," he said softly, his voice choked up from emotion.
Waves of relief hit Marty as she held the little one, smiling softly. "Hey," she whispered to the tiny person in her arms.
"Thank you," she said to Todd, grateful beyond words for all that he'd done.
"You did all the hard work," Todd said with a little smile as he looked at the infant in Marty's arms and gently stroked the tiny cheek. Thank God the baby was breathing normally now and pinkening up.
"She's so tiny. I forgot to tell you, we have a little girl," Todd said as he gazed into Marty's blue eyes. All along, he had been thinking their child would be a son, but he couldn't have been happier with his adorable newborn daughter.
Marty couldn't stop the smile that overtook her face. "A baby girl," she said softly.
"She's so beautiful," she stated as she lay back on the pallet holding the baby in her arms.
"That's because she looks just like you," Todd said as he looked at Marty holding their child. "She has your eyes and your hair." He gently caressed the tiny head covered in soft blond fuzz.
"I'd say she's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen... and she's ours,"
said Todd proudly.
"Our daughter is the best thing I've ever done. The greatest and best part of me," he said very sadly.
Despite all his past misdeeds, Marty couldn't find it within herself to be mad at Todd at that moment. He had just saved their baby, and he had helped her give birth.
Even so, she was still just a bit wary of his intentions.
"I'm sure she has some of you in her, too."
"You think?" Todd said softly as he looked at the baby in Marty's embrace.
He really couldn't see much of himself in their little girl. She was adorable,
that's for sure, and he was so thankful he and Marty had this precious baby girl.
Knowing that the baby was going to be alright, Todd began cleaning Marty's lower body. After she was clean and he was assured her bleeding was minimal,
he covered her with a warm blanket. "Are you okay?" he asked Marty, wanting to hold her and touch her, but he didn't dare.
"I'm okay, I think. I'm just really sleepy."
"I want to just go to sleep for a little awhile," she admitted, but she knew she couldn't as she needed to care for the baby.
"Do you think you could sleep here, right beside the fire?" Todd asked her.
"I don't want you or our baby to get cold." Glancing out the nearby window, he saw that the rain was turning to sleet. Sleet in early November? What the hell? They were going to be stranded here in this remote little cabin for awhile. That worried Todd; how in the world would they survive?
"Yeah, I could. I'm going to feed the baby first, then I'll get some sleep," Marty responded, shifting slightly to sit up so she could carefully feed the newborn.
Standing up quickly, Todd went to the pantry, hoping to find some food stored upon the dusty shelves. He sighed in relief, finding cans of vegetables,
fruit, and soup. At least they would have something to eat. He could only pray that help would come soon.
It was a very tender moment when Marty opened her dress and began feeding their newborn daughter. While she fed the baby, Todd gathered more blankets and went to fetch fresh water from the pump. He then soaked the bloodstained towels from the birth in a tub of cold water and gathered more firewood. Soon he had the cabin presentable once again. When he returned to check on Marty and the baby, she was nearly asleep, holding their daughter. "Are you hungry?" he asked her with concern. "I could fix you some soup over the fire."
The baby had finished nursing and Marty was buttoning her dress. "No, I am just gonna go to sleep," she said as she lay her head down and closed her eyes.
As Marty slept peacefully holding their tiny daughter, Todd went into the kitchen and found a large wicker picnic basket in one of the cupboards. He cleaned it up and lined it with fresh towels. Soon he had a prepared make-shift 'bassinet' for the newborn. He picked the baby up gently from Marty's arms and laid her down in the tiny bed he had made. He made sure she was warm and snug, then went to go rest nearby, keeping a close watch on both Marty and the baby just incase either should need anything.
Meanwhile, back at Llanfair, Vicki was frantic. She was certain Todd had taken Marty. She went into the kitchen to question Tina. "Have you seen Todd?" Vicki demanded.
"No, not since I visited him in prison. What in the world is going on?"
asked Tina.
"Todd has abducted Marty. And she's due to have the baby at any time. We need to find her," Vicki said urgently.
"I honestly haven't heard from him, Vicki. I swear it," insisted Tina and this time she was telling the truth
CJ and Sarah were in the livingroom making a phone call. It had been Ali's last wish for them. He wanted CJ and Sarah to call the governor. CJ dialed the phone number, then waited for someone to answer.
"Hello, Governor's residence," said the Governor's wife.
"Hi, my name is CJ Roberts," said the little boy. "Is this the Governor's house?"
"Who is this? How did you get this number? Our phone number is private,"
the Govenor's wife stated as she wondered why a small child would be trying to place a call to the governor.
"My name is CJ Roberts. I'm 6 years old. I'm calling with my little sister, Sarah Roberts. She's four. We are calling for our friend Ali," CJ explained to the Governer's wife. "All we want is to help Ali's friend. His name is Todd Manning, and he's in prison. He's really not a bad man... and he needs to be let out. Okay? Can you tell the governer now, please?"
The governer's wife looked over at her husband. "Dear, you better take this one," she said, before handing him the phone. This little boy was such a sweetheart, and she was sure that her husband would want to hear what the child had to say.
"Tina, are you sure you haven't heard from Todd?" Vicki prompted.
"What? You don't trust me?" gasped Tina, sounding very hurt.
"Tina, I know how you are," said Vicki, rolling her eyes.
"Well, this time I am telling the truth," insisted Tina.
"But we need to find Marty right away. What if she goes into labor?" Vicki said worriedly.
"Todd cares about her. He loves her and that baby. He's not going to let anything happen to either of them," Tina said confidently.
"God, I hope you are right," spoke Vicki.
~*o*~
Marty had slept peacefully beside the fire for nearly two hours. But when she awakened abruptly, she began scanning the room frantically for her baby. She then saw the little one lying contentedly in the basket, and she immediately calmed. Her baby was here... and she was safe.
Todd stood up from the wooden chair where he had been situated next to the fire as soon as he saw Marty's eyes come open. "Marty?" he whispered, going to her side. "Are you alright? Is there anything I can get you? Some soup or something to drink?"
"Are you in any pain?" he asked with concern.
"Some water would be good if there is any," Marty said as she carefully sat up.
"Is our daughter okay?" she asked Todd. And at that moment, she was completely unaware that she had just referred to the baby as 'theirs.'
Todd went to the pump in the kitchen to fetch Marty a tin cup of cool,
refreshing water. He brought her the cup, gently placing it in her hand.
"Our daughter is perfect," he said, smiling at the little one as she slept in her make-shift bed. "She's been sleeping like a little angel ever since you fed her. She looks so peaceful, like an angel. She's OUR angel." He couldn't stop gazing at the sweet little girl, marvelling over the fact that the beautiful infant girl was in fact their own.
~*o*~
"Hello, Mr. Governer. My name is CJ Roberts, Sir. I'm calling with my little sister, Sarah. We really need your help," said the little boy.
Sarah nodded, thinking her big brother was doing a great job on the phone.
Ali would be so proud.
~*o*~~
Vicki threw her hands up in the air. "Tina, you are not helping at all!"
"What can I do? I am NOT Todd's keeper!" Tina snapped. "I have better things to do with my time than worry about Todd every waking moment! Maybe you should get a life, Sis, and stop worrying all the time about Marty!"
"Of course I'm worried. She's nearly 9 months pregnant... and missing!"
~*o*~
Marty accepted the tin cup as Todd extended it to her. "Thank you," she said as she took a small sip of the water and listened to Todd.
Hearing his words, Marty smiled. Their daughter really did look like an angel; she was so incredibly beautiful.
"What shall we name her?" Todd asked Marty. All along, he had been thinking they were going to have a boy, and he had tentatively had a little boy's name picked out for their child. Of course, he had wanted to run the name choice by Marty first, but he had been hopeful she would like his selection. Now that the baby was here, he couldn't use the boy's name he had been thinking of for their beautiful little daughter.
"When you were pregnant, I thought we would have a boy. I don't know why, I just kept thinking it was a boy. But when I saw our daughter, I was so happy.
We have a precious girl. But now we can't give her the name I had been thinking of using," Todd said a bit sadly. "Sam would sound a bit funny for a baby girl."
"Hmmm... well, maybe there is a female version of the name Sam or something close to it."
"I know your mother's name was Samantha," said Todd as he had discovered that during the trial. "But I was thinking more along the lines of Samara. Samara Angel Manning. Do you like that?"
He hoped Marty would agree to the name choice he had just come up with for their little daughter. He wouldn't get to see their baby girl grow up. After he turned himself in, he would be in jail at least 5 more years, perhaps longer, now that he had escaped from prison before his parole. Although he had broken out of prison and would have to pay the consequences, he wouldn't trade this time for anything. It had been such a precious moment when he had seen their baby girl being born. When she had been born into his hands, he had known then that he had been holding a miracle.
"Please, Mr. Governer, my friend Ali asked my sister and me to call you.
You see, Ali has this friend named Todd Manning and he's been locked up in Statesville Prison. Could you see about setting him free?" asked CJ as he spoke into the telephone. "He's really not a bad man... and only you could let him out."
"I will see what I can do, young CJ. But I am not making any promises,"
said the governer, impressed with this young boy who had called making the request. Someone must be really looking out for this Todd Manning character,
and the governer decided to make some phone calls and see exactly who Todd Manning may be and why he had been imprisoned in Statesville in the first place.
"Thank you, Sir," said CJ.
Just then, Vicki came into the room, seeing CJ on the phone with little Sarah at his side. "CJ, who are you talking to?" Vicki asked, knowing that the six year old wasn't allowed to make phone calls.
CJ hung up from his call, then turned to face his aunt. "That was the governer of the state of Pennsylvania," explained CJ. "Ali asked Sarah and me to call him."
"Who in the world is Ali?" Vicki questioned.
"Ali is our friend. He's a genie, like in those stories you tell us, Aunt Vicki. He's so nice. And he wanted three wishes," CJ explained.
"He wanted food to eat, so we brought him food," Sarah spoke up.
"And he also wanted a place to stay... so we showed him your garden shed," CJ replied.
"Whoa... wait a minute!" Vicki said, freaking out at the children's explanations. There had been a man staying out in her garden shed? Who in the world? *Todd! It has to be Todd!* Vicki thought.
"What else did he want?" Vicki then asked as she sank down on the loveseat,
feeling fatigued with worry over what she had just heard.
*~o~*
"It sounds pretty..." Marty said, her voice trailing off.
"Yes," she said after a moment as her face lit up in a smile. "I think that name is fitting. I like it."
"Samara Angel," she spoke, looking down at her infant daughter.
Todd smiled, so glad that she had agreed to name their daughter Samara. He couldn't have been happier than he was at that moment. He had a beautiful,
healthy daughter, and Marty was speaking to him without yelling. She had even smiled at him. His heart had turned over at her lovely smile. "Marty, can I ask you something?" he asked softly.
"Sure, what is it?"
"Why DID you use to drink so much?" asked Todd. That question had been running through his brain for a long time now. It was something she had mentioned on the pier that night they had met up before the trial; that he didn't know why she drank as much as she did. Now he really wanted to know. He wanted to know everything there was to know about Marty Saybrooke and what made her tick. They had a child together now. He didn't want there to be any secrets left between them, not anymore.
*~o~*
"Ali has this friend. His name is Todd Manning. He got put in Statesville Prison. But Ali said he's really not a bad man," CJ told Vicki. "So, Ali asked us to call the governor and ask to have Todd freed."
"My God," was all Vicki could gasp.
"Tina!" she then called out.
When Tina got to the room, Vicki had CJ and Sarah explain to their mother who Ali was and what exactly their intentions had been when they had called the governer. After Tina listened, she shrugged.
"So, I don't see what you are getting so upset about, Vicki..." Tina spoke.
"You're warped, just like Todd," Vicki said as she threw her hands up in the air. "Do I have any SANE family members?"
"Who's Todd?" Sarah and CJ asked at the same time.
After Tina had taken her children upstairs, Vicki placed a call to Bo,
telling him the latest developments concerning Todd. Cops in the surrounding area were still looking for any sign of Todd, Marty, or Marty's car. So far,
nothing had turned up. "Vicki, I promise you, we WILL find Marty," said Bo.
"Just stay close to the phone."
*~o~*
Marty looked reluctant, but then gave a big sigh. Finally, she began to speak. "My life was just a mess. My parents had died, and my aunt turned out to be this royal bitch so I just needed an escape. I needed something that didn't hurt; that couldn't hurt me."
"That's kind of how I felt too when my mother left. I never heard from her again, so it was just as though she had died. I missed her every day. But my dad was such an ass, just like your aunt. Everytime I cried for my mom, Peter Manning would hit me and tell me it was my fault she left us. So eventually, I just stopped crying. I held all my emotions inside; it was better than being smacked up aside the head all the time by my so-called father," said Todd as he reflected upon his childhood. "Then when I went to college, there was Zach, so eager for me to try drugs. At first I took them just to look cool and be in the in-crowd. But after awhile, it became my escape. I didn't have to hear the angry words of my father anymore, as long as I was high out of my goard on drugs."
"It appears you and I are more alike than we originally thought, doesn't it,
Marty? We both felt abandoned by our parents... and got messed up in the dark and tangled web of substance abuse," Todd said as he glanced away from the fire and then looked into Marty's eyes. "Thank God those days are over. And after what happened, I will never, EVER take drugs again. I hated the monster I became,
and I am so thankful Sam Rappaport helped me see why it was I had become so twisted. He was more than my attorney, Marty. He was my best friend... and a father-figure. I wish he had been my dad."
"I wish you had told me all of that before, Todd. I wanted to get to know you.
But it seems you weren't interested in getting to know me," Marty said softly.
"I think things would have been different if you had just opened up to me."
"I know. I wasn't thinking clearly then. All I could think about was my next joint; my next high, just like you were thinking about how you were going to get your next drink or possibly your next lay. We didn't talk... we just jumped right into bed," Todd said as he looked into her eyes. "Had I been able to talk to you, I would have told you that first night we made love that I wanted more than just sex with you. I wanted everything. I fell in love with you... and that was so freakin scary."
"I had never said those words to anyone. Everyone I loved, I had lost. I lost my mother. I lost my friend... my only friend, Michelle. I didn't want to lose you, too," explained Todd. "I buried my feelings for you, thinking that if I did not admit them to myself or to you, I wouldn't lose you."
"I was a fool... I know it now," he said softly as he held Marty's gaze. "I know you can never totally forgive me. But because we have a baby girl, I am hoping you could at least not hate me as much. I don't want her to grow up,
thinking her parents despise one another. I could never despise you. I am so freakin, totally in love with you, Marty..."
His words trailed off as he admitted his feelings, meaning every single word.
Not like it was going to matter. She could never love him back. Not now.
"You still owe prison-time right now, Todd. I can't make any promises," she spoke softly.
"Yeah, I owe a lot of prison time, you're right," Todd said dryly. "And now that I've escaped like I did, they are just gonna tack more on to what I already have. They aren't going to care that I wanted to be here for our baby's birth."
"Even if I spent the rest of my life in prison, it would never make up for what I did, how I hurt you. No matter what I do, I can't make up for that night. I could save your life, our baby's life a thousand times, and I would still be in the red to you, wouldn't I, Marty?" spoke Todd.
He then stood, going to the window to watch the sleet fall soundlessly onto the barren ground. Sometimes he really felt doomed. The only time he didn't feel hopeless was when he looked at that baby girl. And right now he couldn't look at Marty or the baby. He didn't want Marty to see his tears.
"Todd," Marty said quietly as he stood with his back to her at the window. "I never said I wasn't grateful to you because of what you did, but at the same time, it isn't all that cut and dry.
I can't promise to give you a chance or even to get along with you. It's far more complicated, and you should know that."
Todd sucked in his breath at her words. "I know exactly what you mean,
Marty... no need to explain. I know I deserve nothing but your hatred. I'm sorry I brought you here. I'm sorry I believed there could be anything more between us than what happened that terrible night of the Spring Fling," he said,
turning to look at her, not even caring if she saw his reddened eyes. "As soon as we are rescued, I'm turning myself in... and you won't have to see me or deal with me anymore. I will be totally out of your life, just as you want it to be."
Despite the anguish lingering in his tone, Todd wasn't raising his voice. He wasn't even angry. He just felt defeated. He wanted to be anywhere in the world, but in this cabin with Marty at that moment. He had waited so long in prison to see her and all those days in the garden shed, just longing for nothing more but to be in her presence. Yet now, hearing her words, Todd felt bereft. He suddenly wanted to go to the prison and BEG to be locked back up again. At least there, he didn't have to look into those eyes of hers and know she felt nothing for him, nothing but hatred.
No words were exchanged between them as they were both left alone in their own thoughts. Marty had gone quiet, and Todd realized she had fallen back asleep.
Silently, he checked on the baby, finding that she too peacefully slept. He shivered, moving closer to the fire, but then backed away. He would rather freeze to death than be near Marty right now. He went to the nearest of the two bedrooms and climbed into the bed. He covered himself with the blankets on the bed, trying to get warm. He was emotionally exhausted. It wasn't exactly easy delivering a baby, nor trying to share his feelings he had kept so deeply hidden nearly all his life. Finally, he too fell asleep.
Sometime later, Todd woke up in alarm. The cabin was icy cold and the fire had burned down to nearly nothing. He got up and threw more logs onto the fire, using the poker to get the embers to spark against the new wood. He then busied himself making a pan of soup atop the newly blazing fire. At least if he stayed busy, he might not have to think so much about his and Marty's complicated situation.
After the soup was done, he took the pan off the fire and carried it into the kitchen. He poured the soup into two wooden bowls. He put the bowls on a metal tray along with spoons and carried the tray over to the pallet where Marty lay sleeping. "Marty?" he said softly. "Want some soup?"
Marty's blue eyes came open as she looked at Todd. "Yes, please," she spoke as she sat up carefully. She had to admit, there were times when Todd absolutely infuriated her, but despite everything, there was still something about him. Deep in her soul, something about Todd still got to her.
"Careful, it's very hot," Todd said as he handed her the steaming bowl of soup. Quietly then, he sat next to Marty, beginning to eat his own bowl of soup. To him it was nearly tasteless, but at least it helped him get warm.
"I hope we are found soon. You and Samara need to be in the hospital, not some drafty, old cabin," said Todd as he finished his soup and set the bowl back ontp the tray. "Someone will see your car... it's just a matter of time."
He stood once again, going toward kitchen where he refilled Marty's cup with water. He returned with the water, then looked into the basket at the sleeping baby. He sat there quietly,
memorizing every single feature of the tiny child before him. After he went to prison, he wanted a mental picture of his child that would last him as long as possible.
"Is Samara okay?" she questioned. "I'm more worried about her than I am myself. I feel fine, but it's hard to tell how Samara feels."
Gently Todd reached his hand into the basket, touching the baby's soft little cheek.
"She's warm. And she's perfectly fine," he said softly. He hoped it was true. He hoped that something wasn't wrong. Something hidden. She looked healthy and full-term. Definitely the most beautiful baby he had ever laid eyes on.
At Todd's soft touch, the baby opened her dark blue-eyes, gazing at him a moment. She then let out a loud, piercing cry. The loudest cry Todd had ever heard from her. He reached into the basket and lifted her into his embrace.
"She's wet. Very very wet," he said, realizing the baby had soaked through the towel she had been wrapped in. "What in the world will we use for diapers?"
"I dunno," Marty said as her eyes swept the cabin. "Are there any sheets, pillowcases, or some other type of fabric we could use for a makeshift diaper?"
"Yeah, there are sheets in the closet. I forgot about that. I will go get some and rip them into diapers," said Todd. After carefully depositing the crying infant into Marty's arms, Todd went into the first bedroom and got a couple of sheets from the closet. He then sat down before the fire, ripping the sheets into squares to make several diapers for baby Samara. Soon he had a stack of makeshift diapers to suit the purpose.
"She's so tiny," he said softly as he reached for Samara once again. He lay her down beside Marty on the pallet, gently pulling the wet towel from her tiny,
wriggling body. She was turning bright red as she was crying so loudly.
"Shhhhhh..." Todd soothed the baby softly as he carefully placed one of the squares of sheet-material between her small legs then tied the bits of fabric at her hips to hold the diaper in place.
"Not the best diaper, but I believe it will work," Todd said to Marty. He rewrapped Samara in a clean towel, then held her in his arms, trying to calm her. Once the baby was warm and no longer wet, she began to quiet. In Todd's big muscular arms, the infant looked even smaller. She soon became silent,
looking up at him with those big blue eyes of hers so much like Marty's. Todd absolutely melted.
Marty smiled watching Todd with their daughter. "You looked like a pro doing that," she said.
"Almost as if you know what to do by instinct. I do believe our daughter likes you very much."
"Believe me, I am not a pro. I really am following my instinct. She's our daughter, so I just want to take care of her, so she remains warm and dry," Todd explained. "I want her to have the kind of Dad I didn't get to have. The kind of Dad I wished I could have had. I absolutely adore this little girl."
"It's going to be so hard to tell Samara goodbye when the time comes," Todd admitted sorrowfully. "And it's going to be hard to say those words to you,
too. I really missed you when I was locked away all those days. You were all I could think about."
"I can't imagine what it's going to be like," Marty replied honestly. "I know if our positions were reversed, it would kill me."
"I want Samara to know you, Todd. I don't want her to grow up without her father. It wouldn't be fair to her."
Gazing at Marty, Todd could barely believe what he was hearing. Finally he spoke. "Alright," Todd said softly. At least he had that; Marty's promise he could be a part of their little girl's life. At least when he got out of prison, he would get to spend some time with little Samara. "I do love her," he said as he looked down at the angel in his arms. His eyes widened, seeing her rooting around with her tiny mouth as though looking for a nipple. She was visibly becoming hungry.
"Uhhhh... I think she wants you now," Todd said as he gently placed the tiny girl into her mother's arms.
Marty laughed softly as she held Samara and undid the buttons of her dress so she could allow the baby to nurse. She was probably hungry again; poor little mite. She looked down at her beautiful baby, still in awe of the miracle in her arms.
Todd watched as Marty fed their infant daughter. She was so beautiful, holding their baby in her arms. It was a moment he thought he'd never get to share.
As Marty nursed their little girl, Todd said, "I still can't believe we made this beautiful baby girl together. Do you think it happened the first time or the second one?" It really didn't matter when it happened, but Todd just wanted to remember their time together, when they were carefree and crazy about each other. He wanted to stamp it in his memory, because it was the only thing he had remaining of happiness he had once shared with Marty.
"I'm not sure when she happened, but I think she decided we needed her," she said. "She's perfect."
Todd nodded in agreement. She was perfect. She was everything.
Everything good about him in a tiny little person. "There is something else I never got to say to you, Marty," Todd spoke. "I never got to say I'm sorry about the first time we made love."
"I wanted to stay. I wanted to hold you all night. I just couldn't."
"You scared the holy shit out of me," he admitted. "My feelings were so strong... they scared me. I tried just to make it about sex. I said mean things. I never meant a word of it."
"I'm sorry I hurt you."
"Todd, I wish you had told me before," she spoke softly. "I was so mad about that night. Furious. It was just so amazing with you... I wanted you to stay for awhile and hold me because I thought you had a good time like me."
"I had a great time, believe me. It was the best sex of my entire life. But when you looked at me, when you stared into my eyes afterward, I knew I was falling in love... and that scared the shit out of me. I had to get out of there as fast as possible. I went back to the dorm and did a bunch of drugs in an attempt to forget. It didn't work though, cause once the drugs wore off, I wanted you again... but not just for sex. I wanted you because..." Todd said,
his words trailing away.
"It just seemed to me we were 'meant' to be together. I wish I could go back now and make it all better now, but I can't. I wish I could go back... and hold you in my arms all night. I wish I could turn back time, and just tell you my feelings. What would you have said?"
"I would have said that I wanted to spend more time with you; that I wanted to get to know you. I felt something too that night," Marty admitted.
Todd felt a spark of hope within her words. At one time, they almost had it all, but it had crumbled through their hands. He knew he had destroyed the beautiful thing they once shared, but could he believe in second chances? Did he even deserve a second chance with Marty after all he had done? Looking down at the tiny girl in Marty's arms, Todd couldn't help but believe. This baby would bond them together for all eternity. He just needed to prove to Marty that he truly cared and he would do anything to make things right between them.
"Maybe the man upstairs was trying to tell us something when he gave us this baby, Marty. He was trying to tell us both to get our act together, we had each other and a baby on the way. Look at how everything has changed now. I gave up drugs... you gave up drinking," Todd spoke. "All we care about is this little girl, making sure she's healthy and happy. We need to somehow find a little happiness for ourselves, too. I know it's not going to be easy after all that's happened. I still cringe inside everyday, remembering..."
"I don't know how I will ever make it up to you. I honestly never expect you to forget the hurt I caused you. But maybe someday, you could forgive,"
Todd said softly. "And maybe someday, by the grace of God, I could forgive myself."
"Only time can tell. If it's meant to be, then it'll happen," Marty said softly. "Regardless though Samara has brought us together. She is a part of both of us, and for that, I am grateful."
Todd nodded in agreement, knowing she was absolutely right. "She's ours.
A gift. And I'm thankful I got to be here when she was born. I'll never forget that," he spoke. He then got up and added more wood to the fire,
wanting the cabin to stay cozy and warm. As much as he wanted them to be rescued and for Marty and baby to get care in the hospital, Todd was enjoying their time together and he didn't really want it to end. Once they were rescued, he was going right back to Statesville and his lonely jail cell.
There would be no more CJ and Sarah to entertain him, and no more sweet Samara in his arms...
*~o~*
Vicki had been waiting anxiously by the phone. It was the middle of the night when she got the call from Bo. "We found Marty's car. It was about 2 hours outside of Llanview on a deserted gravel road. I'm sending more police there now to investigate. Shall I swing by and pick you up? Marty might need you when we find her," Bo spoke.
"Yes, Bo... and thank you. I've been just worried sick," said Vicki. "Be careful though when you close in on Todd. I dont want him hurt. He's my brother."
*~o~*
"No doubt about it, Todd, she's the most precious gift ever," said Marty. Once Samara had finished feeding, Marty burped her, then rebuttoned her dress. She remained by the fire, cuddling her baby girl.
Todd went to the window, watching the sleet fall outside, coating the ground.
Night was falling, so he went to find some candles. He set the candles on the table nearby, lighting them. "Prison changes you, Marty," Todd said to her.
"I spent all my time in this tiny jail cell, with nothing to do but think. I thought about all the things I had done wrong in my life. Sometimes it feels like the walls are closing in."
"I was actually one of the lucky ones. You don't want to know about what goes on in there, if you are weak and can't fight back. So much violence.
Men locked up for years and never seeing a woman. All the guards are big,
burly men, cause no woman in her right mind would ever set foot in that place,"
explained Todd. "Powell's already out... but he wasn't lucky like I was...
they do unspeakable things in there..."
"Zach hasn't changed at all. He spent all of his time taunting me. If anything, prison has made him worse. He hates me... he hates you. He hates the world," said Todd. "I honestly don't know what's going to happen to Powell, I think he was losing his mind. Maybe he's going to end up in the psycho ward."
"That's terrible," Marty gasped softly. " I don't know how you've managed to stay sane in there."
"I just kept thinking about you and our baby. I kept thinking about the day I would get out of there... and hoping you would forgive me one day for the horrible things I had done. Ohhh and Tina came to visit me now and then. It was a welcome distraction," Todd told Marty. "And I got letters from Sam. He told me if I stayed on good behavior, I would get parole faster, so I was doing my best. But then I heard these guys talking about a jail break, so I took my chance at it. I knew it would give me more time in the slammer, but at that point I really didn't give a damn. When you didn't answer my letters, I just wanted to see you. And I was hoping I would be around for the baby's birth,
too... so I could see my child. I know they will probably add time to my sentence now, but to tell you the truth, I don't regret it. I got to see our daughter."
*~o~*
Riding in a policecar with Bo, Vicki saw Marty's car at the end of the gravel road, just as Bo had said. "That's definitely her car," Vicki stated.
"The local cops said it ran out of gas," Bo spoke.
"Where could Todd and Marty have gone? This weather is just horrible, and she could go into labor any moment..." worried Vicki.
"There's an old cabin at the end of this gravel road. College students sometimes go there for wild parties," Bo responded.
"Let's hope they made it to the cabin then," spoke Vicki as a three other police cars followed close behind.
*~o~*
"Samara needs you so please try to behave when they take you back. She shouldn't grow up wondering where her dad is."
"I'll do my best," Todd promised. "For you and Samara. But it won't be easy. Being in that little cell reminds me of getting locked in the closet by Peter Manning when I was just a little boy. He would beat me and lock me up in there for hours, withholding food until I would bend to his will. I was so scared, Marty. My mom was gone then... so she never came to save me."
As he spoke, Todd heard cars coming down the deserted gravel road. They had been found. At first Todd looked frantic, like he might grab the baby and run.
Sighing, he sat down next to Marty as though he was accepting his fate. "They are coming for us," he said in an almost-whisper. "This is the end." He reached out for Samara, wondering if Marty would let him hold their daughter one last time.
"I'm sorry, Todd," Marty spoke as she placed the baby in his arms to let him say goodbye to baby girl.
Todd held Samara tenderly, looking into her sleepy blue eyes. "I love you,
Samara. Be good for Mommy," he whispered, struggling not to cry. He managed to keep the tears from falling as he placed the tiny girl back into Marty's arms. Before she could protest or even say a word, Todd placed a quick kiss on Marty's forehead as well. "Never forget; I love you both," he said before standing up.
"Todd Manning, come out with your hands up! We have the place surrounded!"
Bo's voice called out.
"I gotta go," said Todd as he went for the door. He opened it and stepped outside, hands raised high in the air.