XIX

It took Officer Canton a couple of hours to gather a team together, but pretty soon, a lawyer was given to Latoya and negotiations were discussed. All that could be offered to Latoya was a shortened sentence. Latoya did not like the fact that she was still going to be put behind bars for a maximum of eighteen to twenty years, but according to the law, her crimes had to be punished accordingly. Anyhow, twenty years sounded better than a life sentence. After Latoya agreed to the terms, Officer Canton laid out his plans to get Sydney to confess to being the brains behind the operation. Latoya was to call Syd, meet up somewhere private, and get Syd to repeat the whole plan. Latoya would be bugged the whole time, and the team of officers would be able to hear every word of the conversation.

Latoya was taken to a remote location where she would talk with Syd. It was a small abandoned home far from the city lights of L.A. After a device was put underneath Latoya's clothing and the phone line was tapped, Latoya was given the go-ahead. She picked up the phone slowly and dialed Syd's number.

"Hello?" Syd answered.

"Syd, It's Latoya." Latoya replied, trying to sound as normal as possible.

"I've been waiting to hear from you." Syd said. "So, tell me, what'd you do with Whitney?" She asked eagerly.

"I got rid of her just like you said." Latoya replied.

"Great, you did everything I told you to." Syd said in a pleased tone.

Latoya glanced up and saw Chad motioning her to keep going. "Syd," Latoya began. "Do you think we could meet up some place in secret? I'm at a public phone and I don't want nobody overhearing what I'm tellin' ya."

"Sure." Syd agreed. "Tell me the place and I'll be there."

Latoya gave Syd the directions to the location and hung up. "Good job," Chad said exhaling slowly.

"Yeah, whatever," Latoya said as she sat down on the couch.

Whitney frowned and whispered, "What's her problem?" in Chad's ear.

"I don't know." Chad mumbled softly as he placed her arm around Whitney's waist. Whitney leaned into Chad and laid her head upon his shoulders. "I wonder if there's been any change in Theresa's condition." Whitney sighed sadly.

"We'll stop by the hospital as soon as this is all over with." Chad promised.

"My best friend is laying in the hospital on the brink of death because of Syd." Whitney replied feeling as if her emotions were on the border of anger and sorrow.

"I know, baby." Chad said softly as he kissed Whitney on the forehead. "We'll make sure Syd doesn't get away with anything."

"You're damn right." Whitney replied.

~*~



Pilar's breathing became uneven when the driver informed her that they had arrived at the L.A. hospital. Pilar shakily go out of the vehicle and slowly made her way to the entrance. The automatic hospital doors ominously loomed before her. An eerie feeling of coldness washed over Pilar. She felt as though Death was present. Pilar prayed that it would not take her daughter. Little Ethan was no longer in a happy mood. Instead he looked around fearfully at his surroundings. "You feel it too," Pilar whispered to her grandson. Little Ethan clutched at his grandmother's neck as they proceeded slowly through the hospital. Pilar's footsteps echoed down the hallway.

After getting a few directions from various hospital personnel, Pilar found the ICU unit. She went directly to the nurse's desk and asked where her daughter's room was. The nurse's look of pity made Pilar feel uneasy. She felt as though her legs would give underneath her. Upon getting Theresa's room number, Pilar walked down the hallway. Little Ethan let out a small giggle which took Pilar by surprise. She found that her grandson no longer clutched to her fearfully. Instead, he turned from Pilar and was reaching his arms out to Fox who was headed towards them. Pilar gasped when she saw Fox's appearance. He looked pale and sullen from sleep deprivation. His clothes were slightly wrinkled while his hair was a tangled mess. There was something about his eyes that kept Pilar on edge.

Little Ethan eagerly held his arms out to Fox. Fox reached out instinctively as Pilar handed her grandson over. Little Ethan placed his hands on Fox's face and played with the corner's of Fox's mouth. It appeared as if Little Ethan was trying to get Fox to smile.

"He seems happy to see you." Pilar noted quietly.

"I'm really glad to see him." Fox said. "And you." He added.

Pilar squeezed Fox's arm comfortingly. "Were you here all night?"

Fox looked away. "Yeah. I didn't want to leave Theresa's side."

"Thank you." Pilar said gratefully. "Thank you for not leaving my daughter alone."

"You don't have to thank me for anything." Fox replied. Pilar looked down as tears escaped her eyelids.

"Pilar." Fox said softly as he placed his hand on her shoulder. Pilar quickly wiped at her eyes. "I'm sorry." She said. "This is so hard. My family's gone through so much. Why is it that we have so much pain? So much tragedy?" Pilar covered her face with her hands. Little Ethan looked worriedly at his grandmother. Fox put his arm comfortingly around Pilar's shoulders. "Shh," Fox said. "Please don't cry, Pilar." Fox pleaded. "I won't be able to control my own emotions." He admitted.

"I'm sorry." Pilar apologized again as she took a deep breath.

"Look, how about we talk in the waiting room for awhile before you see Theresa. Besides, Ethan is in there right now, and he asked for a few minutes with her. You and I can talk until he's through." Fox suggested.

"Okay," Pilar said feebly. Fox and Pilar made their way towards the waiting room. They both looked at each other and felt a new batch of tears forming. Pilar bent her head and wept while Fox wept with her.

~*~

She's still clinging to hope that she will return to the ones she loves. That hope keeps her from slipping forever into the unknown. She tries to concentrate on the faces of the one's she loves the most, but her concentration is limited to a few fleeting seconds. She hears a voice calling out to her. It is a voice she does not wish to hear.

"Theresa," it says to her. "Theresa, it's me, Ethan."

"Fox where are you?" She thinks disappointedly to herself. "I want you by my side. Where have you gone?" She tries to remember the sound of Fox's voice, but it is only Ethan's voice that is audible to her at the moment."

"I'm sorry," Ethan says. "I said some really awful things to you last night."

She is angry now. She wishes that she could command her body to slap him hard across the face, but alas, her hand remains limp at her side.

"I was a fool," Ethan says to her miserably. "It was selfish of me to place all the blame on you. I was angry, confused, and~" His voice trails off. "I just~" She hears his voice break. She feels an ounce of sympathy towards him, but she cannot help but wish for him to go away. She still harbors anger towards him.

"I just want you to wake up, Theresa." He says through his tears. "Please come back to us." He requests.

"I'm trying" She thinks desperately.

~*~



"How long will it take her to get out here?" Chad questioned.

"As long as it took us, I suppose." One of the men replied.

"We should move into the bedroom." Officer Canton said. "Get the camera's and monitors set up." He ordered. The team rushed around hurriedly to set up the equipment. Chad and Whitney tried their best to help while Latoya watched from the couch.

"Aren't you going to help?" Chad asked curiously.

"Why would I want to spend my last few hours of freedom lugging around sh*t? I ain't doin' nothin'. I'm goin' to keep my ass on this couch."

"Fine," Chad replied as he walked off.

Just as the last camera was adjusted, the sound of a car door being slammed shut announced Syd's arrival. The team of officers as well as Chad and Whitney ran quickly into the bedroom and shut the door. They tried to remain as quiet as possible. All their eyes were glued eagerly to the screen.

Syd rapped lightly on the door as she glanced around suspiciously. Latoya answered and ushered Syd in. "How did you find this place?" Syd asked.

"Heard 'bout it from some of my crew. They used to do deals back in here 'fore they were caught."

"Oh." Syd replied as she eyed the couch. "Is that dirty?" She asked warily.

Latoya rolled her eyes. "If you don't like it, then don't sit down." She snapped.

Syd frowned. "Ugh. Anyhow," Syd replied. "Tell me everything."

"I did what you told me," Latoya replied simply.

"Okay, so you got rid of Whitney like I asked, but I want to know the gory details. Did you kill her?"

"You wanted me to kill her?" Latoya asked.

"I wanted you to get rid of her so that I could swoop in and get Chad." Syd replied.

Whitney felt the urge to run to the next room and pound Syd to the floor. Chad placed his hands on her shoulders. "She's falling for it." Chad whispered.

"Yeah, that's right, but that wasn't your entire plan, was it?" Latoya asked.

"Wait a minute," Syd said suspiciously. "Why are you asking all these questions?"

"Oh-uh- I just forgot what the second phase of your plan was." Latoya said, hoping that Syd would buy the excuse.

"Oh." Syd replied. "I was goin' to get revenge on Fox by getting Theresa to break up with him. You should've seen the look on Theresa's face when I told her that her boyfriend was in love with her best friend. I think she bought it too."

"Oh." Latoya replied. "You know how to make them good plans, don't you?"

"Yeah," Syd said proudly. "I am a genius aren't I? First, I get you to get rid of that b*tch Whitney. I'm positive Theresa's broken it up with Fox. Whitney will be out of my life, and I'll have had my revenge on Fox. I'm glad you decided to help me, Latoya. I don't know if I could've executed the plan as well as you do. Now tell me, what did you do to Whitney? She's dead isn't she?"

The Officers pulled out their guns and made their way quietly into the room. Because Syd's back was turned away from them, everyone was able to sneak into the room unnoticed. They all aimed their gun at Syd.

"She's not dead," Officer Canton replied.

"What the~" Syd began.

"Sydney Valentine," Officer Canton said loudly. "You are under arrest. Put your hands behind your head!" Canton ordered.

Sydney turned and tried to rush out the door. Two officers blocked the exit. They pointed their guns menacingly at Syd.

"Hands behind your head, now!" Canton ordered. "Don't make me have to put resisting arrest along with your other chargers you've managed to build up."

Syd complied with the officer and placed her hands behind her head. Officer Canton handcuffed Syd and repeated her rights. Syd glared at Latoya.

"You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law…"

"You got that right." Chad smirked.

~*~



"I think you should know something," Fox said quietly as he and Pilar sat in the waiting room of the Intensive Care Unit.

"What is it, Fox?" Pilar asked wearily.

"I am deeply in love with your daughter." Fox confessed. "I can't lose her," Fox replied tearfully. "I know you don't want to lose her either."

Pilar reached over and squeezed Fox's hand. "How long have you loved my daughter?" She asked quietly.

"I think I've always loved her ever since we spent so much time together in Harmony. It just took me awhile to realize my feelings for her."

"I see." Pilar said as she contemplated his words.

"I know you probably think I'm not the best man to be with your daughter," Fox's voice trailed off.

"Does Theresa love you?" Pilar inquired.

"I think she does." Fox replied.

"You think? You are not sure?" Pilar asked warily.

"No," Fox replied. "I know she loves me." Fox says. "I feel it when I'm with her."

"Then if she loves you, there must be something that she sees in you. I know that you do not have the best reputation, but if Theresa can give you a chance, then so can I."

Fox sighed gratefully. "Those words are music to my ears."

Pilar wiped her eyes. Fox fell silent as he thought to himself. "You know what else would be music to my ears?" He asked softly.

"What would that be?" Pilar asked even though she felt she already knew the answer.

"Theresa's voice." Fox replied as his voice trembled. "I wish I could just hear her say 'I love you' again."

"You will." Pilar said. "Now, let us go see her."

~*~



She feels alone. She hates the isolation that surrounds her. "I need to wake up." She tell herself, but her body refuses to cooperate.

~*~



"You think you're ready for this?" Fox asked as he held Little Ethan tightly.

Pilar inhaled slowly. "I don't think you can be ever ready to see your child close to dying."

Fox opened the door slowly as Pilar walked in. The room was dimly lit with a few lines of sunlight from the hospital window. Pilar reached for her rosary and clutched it in her hands as she walked towards the hospital bed. She gasped in anguish when her eyes fell upon the comatose state of her daughter. Tears blurred Pilar's vision. "Oh mi hija" Pilar cried.

She hears a familiar tone call out to her "Oh mi hija!"It says. "Mama," She desperately calls. "I hear you!"

Pilar stared at her daughter's sleeping figure while Fox stayed behind. Little Ethan fussed in his arms. "Shh," Fox says as he tries to soothe the child. Little Ethan looked for his grandmother in the faintly lit room. He reached out into the semi-darkness. Fox walked towards the bed. Little Ethan gazed curiously at motionless figure that lay in the hospital bed. Little Ethan looked at his grandmother's tear-streaked face. A questioning look arose in his eyes as he looked at Fox. Fox's teary gaze was fixated on the unconscious Theresa.

Little Ethan looked confused. Fox bent down closer. A look of recognition crossed Little Ethan's face. "Mm-aa?" He says in a questioning tone as he reached out his chubby hand to touch the figure before him. Fox's tears flowed freely after hearing Little Ethan speak to his mother. "Let her hear you," Fox said through his tears. "Let your mama know you're here."

Little Ethan shouted, "Mm-aa!" and giggled. He appeared to have thought that his mother was simply sleeping. Theresa remained motionless. "Mm-aa!" Little Ethan tried again as he gently patted her. Theresa still did not respond. Little Ethan frowned. Little Ethan's mind could not clearly comprehend the situation. He wondered why his mother would not respond. "You hear him Theresa?" Fox asked.

"Yes!" She cries desperately. I hear you all! I hear you!"

"Mm-aa!" Little Ethan tried again as he glanced worriedly at his mother. He seemed to sense that his mother was hurt.

"I hear you baby!" She cries. "I'm here! Mommy's here!"[/i]

Little Ethan's lower lip trembled. "Oh, Little Ethan," Fox said sadly. Little Ethan let out a piercing wail that sent pangs of sadness to Fox's heart. He felt for the young boy who could not understand what was wrong with his mother.

Her heart breaks as she hears her son's cries. She hates that she is unable to comfort him.

Little Ethan wailed his frustration while clinging to Fox's neck. "Theresa, you have to come back to us. Your mother, Little Ethan, me, Whitney, Chad, everybody's waiting for you to come back. Please Theresa." Fox begged. "Don't you see that we need you here?"

"I'm trying" She calls. "I'm trying!" She repeats, but sadly, no one can hear her.