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.
~*Patrick and Blair*~
Blair had been leaning wearily against Patrick's broad shoulder when Dr. Larry Wolek called out to her from the exam room. "Blair, you can come in and see Starr now," Dr. Wolek said.
Standing quickly, Blair was anxious to see her baby daughter, but at that moment she realized Todd was no where in sight. Scanning the hallway for Marty, Patrick noticed that she too had vanished. Getting to his feet, Patrick took Blair's hand in his. "Let's go in and see your little girl," he said.
"Where did Todd go?" Blair asked. "Doesn't he even care about his little girl at all?"
"Who knows where Todd went," said Patrick with a deep, annoyed sigh. Wrapping his arm around Blair, Patrick guided her into the exam room where Dr. Sands and Dr. Wolek were caring for Starr.
"How is my little girl?" Blair asked in a worried voice as she lay a comforting hand on Starr's back. The 22-month-old baby girl lay resting in a steel baby crib, exhausted from all the medical testing and the entire ordeal.
"I'm afraid the x-rays indicate pneumonia, Blair," Dr. Wolek explained. "We've started her on a strong antibotic to fight the infection. She needs to stay here in the hospital so we can monitor her and make sure she's responding well to the medication."
Tears came to Blair's eyes, seeing the IV hooked up to Starr. Her baby girl was pale and sick, but right now resting comfortably in the crib. "Is she going to be alright?" Blair asked with worry.
"We're doing all we can for her, Mrs. Manning," said Dr. Sands. "We are waiting on a few more tests to come back, because we have discovered Starr's white blood cell count is very low."
"What does that mean?" Blair asked in alarm. "What's wrong with my little girl?"
"We aren't sure yet, Blair... but as I said, we are going to do all we can for her," answered Larry.
"Ohhh myyy God," Blair cried out, looking at Patrick. Something was seriously wrong with her baby; and where the hell was Todd? How could he have just walked off like that, considering Starr was so sick?
Patrick wrapped his arms around Blair, holding her close and offering her his strength and support. Tenderly he brushed a kiss against the top of her head, inhaling her sweet scent. He looked down at little Starr, silently praying that Blair's baby girl would be alright. "Try to stay calm, Blair. I'm right here... and I'd never leave you," Patrick promised. Considering Blair was almost eight months pregnant, Patrick was concerned about Blair's fragile state. Would so much stress cause Blair to go into premature labor? Starr had been born over two months early, so Blair had been warned to relax and take it easy in her current pregnancy.
Blair took Starr's tiny hand in hers, gazing down lovingly at her sweet little girl. "I love you, Starr. Please get well," Blair said to her daughter. She leaned into Patrick, so glad for his presence. Whenever she needed him most, he had been there for her without fail. As he wrapped his arms around her, Blair felt the warmth and safety of his touch. "Thank you, Patrick," she said as together they kept watch over sick little Starr.
~*Todd and Marty*~
Marty headed down the hallway in search of Todd. The door which led to the chapel was slightly ajar, and she caught a glimpse of Todd as he sat within a pew. Not wanting to disturb him, she entered quietly as he recited aloud "The Lord's Prayer." Todd Manning was praying? Marty was surprised, but also in a deep state of awe. Todd was praying with all his heart as he truly wanted his daughter's health to be restored. There was no doubt he was giving the prayer his all.
Suddenly then he stopped short, just a few words away from having completed the prayer. His gaze moved to the cross upon the wall. "You know, I probably shouldn't even bother. You wouldn't listen to me anyway," he said, a hint of anger within his voice. "I just wanna know, why are you doing this to me; to Starr? She's just a baby. A sweet, innocent baby girl. She's never done anything wrong."
"It's me you want. Not her. Take me instead," Todd implored.
"I know I have done terrible things. I know I don't deserve to live. Leave Starr alone. Don't make me pay through her," Todd continued.
"Please don't make my daughter pay for my sins."
Todd finished speaking as he sat there quietly, looking down at his hands. They were folded as if in prayer as a dark scowl remained upon his face. "Todd?" Marty called out softly.
Todd stood up quickly, turning around to see Marty standing there at the rear of the chapel. "What are you doing here?" he demanded. "Were you listening to-?"
Marty nodded. "Yes, I heard everything... and you're wrong," she stated.
"What do you mean, I'm wrong?" he grumbled.
"Starr, isn't sick because of anything you did, Todd, I know it. And she didn't get sick because God wants to punish you either."
Todd didn't look convinced. Anger darkened his features, but more than that; he looked hurt. "It's justice, Marty. I did something terrible to you... and now something terrible is happening to me. My little girl is very sick."
"I love her so much. If anything happens to her, I don't think I can..." His voice breaking, Todd was unable to complete his sentence. He turned away as he didn't want Marty to see his tears.
"Todd, please, listen to me," Marty implored. "Yes, you hurt me, but that's in the past now. You've changed, and you're an amazing dad to Starr. You're so wonderful with her. That's why I stood up for you on the witness stand and told the judge you need to be with your little girl. She needs you right now. Starr needs her daddy. Please go to her, Todd."
Looking at Marty, seeing the tears shining in her dark-blue eyes, Todd knew she meant every word. "Alright," he said softly, almost reluctantly.
"Blair's in there with her now," Marty said as together she and Todd left the chapel. At the mention of Blair's name, Todd visably tensed. As much as he adored his little girl, he didn't relish seeing her mother. Marty stood outside as Todd went in to see his daughter.
~*Todd and Blair*~
When Todd walked into the room, Patrick quietly excused himself. "I'll just be out in the hallway, Blair, talking to Margaret," Patrick said, giving Blair one last comforting hug before walking out.
Todd shot Patrick an angry glare, glad that at least one of the two offending people in the room was leaving. As soon as Patrick had left, Blair let Todd have it. "Our daughter has pneumonia! She's a very sick little girl... and how could you just walk off like that?" Blair said harshly. "My God, Todd, don't you even care about our daughter at all?"
"Of course I care," Todd said defensively. "But I wasn't just gonna stand there and let you accuse me of making Starr sick."
"It's hard seeing her like this," Todd spoke as he looked down at Starr who was resting in the crib, attached to an IV. "I needed to get away for a little bit... to clear my head."
Looking down at her sick little girl, huge tears filled Blair's amber eyes. "Todd, I don't think I could bear it if anything happened to her..."
"The doctors are giving her medicine. She's going to be alright, Blair," Todd tried to reassure her, but something told him that Starr had a major battle ahead. Looking down at his precious little girl, Todd hoped Starr was strong enough to withstand whatever it was that was making her so very ill.
"What do you know, Todd?" Blair snapped at him. "You're not a doctor. And you're not even that great of a father. When Starr got sick, you just walked off and deserted her."
Todd gave her a wounded look, very close to losing his temper. "For Starr's sake, keep your bitchy comments to yourself, Blair. We are her parents. She needs us now, so let's just try to get along."
Blair retreated to the other side of the crib, gazing down at her baby girl. She wanted to lash out at Todd, blaming him for everything that had went wrong since he had gone to Ireland. Because he had took off to help Marty, Blair had given birth to a premature baby Starr all on her own. Always it came down to Todd's obsession for Marty. Now they were all paying the price. When Blair had thought Todd had died, she had moved on with Patrick. And when Todd had returned, finding his wife in another man's arms, their marriage had crumbled. All because of Marty. God, how Blair hated her.
~*Patrick and Marty*~
"What did the doctor say?" Marty asked when Patrick entered the hallway.
"Starr has pneumonia. And something else might be wrong; they are doing more tests. Something to do with her white blood cells," Patrick answered.
"Ohhh, no..." Marty gasped, going into Patrick's arms. She was so worried now and emotionally drained after her discussion with Todd. She really needed Patrick to hold her.
"Margaret, are you alright?" Patrick asked worriedly, moving back a fraction to look at her.
Marty let out a heavy sigh, pressing herself against Patrick's broad chest. In the strength of his embrace, she could almost tell herself that everything would be okay. When he held her, sometimes she could forget for a moment the longing within her own heart. "Just hold me, Patrick," Marty spoke softly.
Banding his arms around her tightly, Patrick drew Marty into his embrace.