This story takes place after Todd has returned from Ireland. Blair is pregnant with Brendan and currently living with Dorian. Todd and Blair are separated and going through a custody battle as Blair wants to take Starr away from her father. Marty is siding with Todd because she believes he is a good father, and Patrick has been there for Blair who is carrying his child. Patrick and Marty are dating but are not officially a couple. The situation becomes more complex when suddenly Starr becomes very ill.
~*Todd and Marty*~
Marty entered the hospital followed by Todd who was carrying an extremely fussy baby Starr. Marty found an empty exam room where she could examine the baby. "Marty, what's wrong with Starr?" Todd asked as he gently set the 22-month-old baby girl down on the exam table. Starr was crying unhappily as Todd stayed at her side. Marty glanced at Todd as she grabbed a stethoscope and her other medical equipment.
"I'm not sure yet, Todd. But maybe I'll know more after I take look at her," Marty replied, seeing how worried Todd looked as he gently caressed Starr's hair to soothe her.
As Todd kept an arm around Starr, Marty began to examine the little girl. Starr whimpered as Marty listened to her lung sounds and shone a light in each of her ears. "No ear infection," Marty announced. "But I don't like the way her lungs sound. I think we need to call Dr. Sands and Dr. Wolek in here to take a look at her."
"What? You're a doctor. I don't want anyone else to care for Starr but you," protested Todd.
"Todd, be reasonable. Your little girl is very sick. She has a high fever and her lungs are not free and clear. We need to start testing now," Marty insisted. Knowing she was right, Todd relented.
Soon, both Dr. Sands and Dr. Larry Wolek had entered the room. As the other two doctors examined Starr and began running the tests, Marty said to Todd, "You need to call Blair. Starr's very sick, and her mother needs to be here."
"Blair? No, she's going to blame this on me," Todd said with a scowl.
"Todd, you did nothing wrong. Starr was sick, and you got her medical attention right away. Blair has no reason to blame you," Marty told him.
"I don't want to talk to Blair," Todd grumbled.
"I'll call her then," Marty offered. Since Todd made no move to stop her, Marty quickly gave a call to Blair. Meanwhile, Todd was standing at Starr's side as a nurse came in to take blood.
"Do you really have to stick her with needles and make her cry?" Todd demanded, not taking it well when the medical staff had to restrain his little girl and withdraw two vials of blood for testing.
Once again, Marty came to the rescue when she saw how agitated Todd had become. "Todd, let's go out in the hallway a moment," she coaxed, leading him right outside the exam room. She had to get him prepared for what was to come next.
"They are taking Starr in for an x-ray next so her lungs can be checked," Marty explained. "And they will send the blood to the lab to check for any sign of infection. Until then, try to remain calm. I talked to Dorian, and she said Patrick and Blair are heading over right away."
"Patrick?" Todd grumbled. "Why the hell is he coming here?"
Marty shrugged considering last she had knew Patrick had been at Antonio's party. "Marty, I just want Starr to be okay," Todd said as he looked forlorn and vulnerable due to the distress he felt concerning his daughter.
"Hopefully this is nothing serious, and Starr will be able to go home again tonight," Marty tried to reassure him. Glancing over at the exam room where they were prepping his daughter for an x-ray, Todd wasn't convinced. He'd never seen Starr this sick before. Something told him he wouldn't be taking his little girl home anytime soon.
~*Patrick and Blair*~
Patrick and Blair were on their way to the hospital in Patrick's car. "Ohhh my God, what has Todd done to my little girl?" Blair cried out. "Todd took Starr for one night... and now she's in the hospital!"
"Try not to worry, Blair. Margaret's there. Your little girl is in good hands," Patrick said to her as he did everything in his power to comfort her.
"Margaret? I hate Marty, and I don't want her touching my little girl!" Blair cried out, nearly going hysterical.
"Please Blair, you need to calm down," Patrick said soothingly. "Not just for Starr, but for Brendan..."
Blair placed her hand on her rounded stomach and gently caressed the mound that was she and Patrick's unborn son. "Alright, Patrick. I'll try to stay calm... but when I see Todd, I don't know how I can keep myself from giving him hell. Because of him, my little girl is in the hospital."
"I know you're upset, Blair, but try not to make scene. You don't want to upset Starr."
Listening to Patrick, Blair attempted to calm down. Moments later, they arrived at the hospital, and Patrick parked the car. Holding Blair's hand in his, they walked into the hospital together.
~*Llanview Hospital*~
As Patrick and Blair walked down the hallway, they came face to face with Todd and Marty. "Where is she? Where's Starr?" Blair cried out.
"They just took her down to radiology for an x-ray-," Marty began to explain.
Before Marty could say anything further, Blair approached Todd and smacked him sharply across the chest. "This is your all fault, Todd!" she accused. "What did you do to MY little girl?"
Blair was screaming, and Patrick had to practically pry her off Todd. "Blair, calm down," Patrick warned.
"What did you do, Todd? What did you do?" Blair was sobbing.
Wordlessly Todd just stood there, glaring at both Patrick and Blair. "Isn't anyone going to tell me what's wrong with my daughter?" Blair demanded.
Marty sighed deeply, annoyed with Blair's outburst. "Blair, Todd did nothing wrong. Starr wasn't feeling well, so he brought her to me so I could take a look at her. She has a fever, so we brought her here to the hospital. Dr. Sands and Dr. Wolek are doing tests right now. We should know more soon," said Marty.
"Starr was fine until Todd took off with her on that unsupervised visit. She was just fine!" Blair exclaimed. "I want to see my little girl!"
Turning away, Todd went to lean up against a wall. His worry for Starr continued to increase as he listened to Blair wail. He couldn't look at her in her pregnant state, knowing she carried Patrick's child. He could barely stand the sight of her as images of the two of them fucking on the living room floor kept bombarding his mind.
"Blair, let's go sit down..." Patrick suggested, taking her hand and leading her over to a nearby bench in the hallway. As Patrick spoke to her gently, Blair eventually began to calm down. Marty just stood there, not knowing what to say or do. Patrick was totally absorbed in Blair. Although Marty and Patrick were an unofficial couple, there was no denying his strong bond to Blair considering Blair was pregnant with his child.
Despite her discomfort with the situation, Marty was deeply concerned for Todd. "Todd," she spoke softly, brushing her fingers ever-so-lightly against his shoulder. Todd recoiled as if she had burned him.
"You heard Blair. This is my fault, Marty. Everything I touch turns to dust," he said as he turned to look at her with a sorrowful expression. "My own daughter is better off without me." With those words, Todd walked away, leaving Marty to stand there feeling helpless. She wanted to call him back, but she was unable to find her voice.