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*~
Tears fell from Blair's eyes as she thought of the devastating diagnosis her daughter had just been given. Aplastic Anemia. The doctors had tried to explain to her what the diagnosis meant, but the gravity of her daughter's illness was all Blair could seem to comprehend. Her little girl was going to die. They had to find a donor and fast or Starr would die.
All family and friends had been tested, but with no luck. Larry had said that the best donor would be a sibling, but right now, Starr didn't have a sibling. Placing her hand on her rounded stomach, Blair knew what she must ask Patrick. He too stood in the hallway of Llanview Hospital, looking haggard from lack of sleep. They were all surviving on so little rest. Blair was dead on her feet.
"Patrick, if we don't find a match quickly, my little girl could die," Blair said as she went into his arms. "If I lose Starr, I lose my reason for living."
Holding Blair closely, Patrick caressed her hair. Pulling back from her a fraction, he gazed tenderly in her eyes. "You're not going to lose Starr," he said in a whisper.
"You don't know that..."
"Maybe Brendan could save his older sister," said Patrick as they both knew what had to be done.
Dr. Sands said a test could be preformed and hopefully Brendan would turn out to be a match for Starr. "Are you sure, Patrick?" Blair asked as she gazed into his amazing brown eyes.
"Yes, I'm sure," he said as he brushed his lips softly against hers.
~*Todd and Marty*~
Todd had been crazed with pain ever since he had heard the news. His daughter was gravely ill, and she may die. His first response was anger. It seethed through him, making him react violently. Unfortunately it was Marty who had received the impact of his fury. The doctors had been telling him unsettling information about his daughter's health, so he had taken all of his frustrations out on Marty.
Hurtful things had been said, and now Todd deeply regretted it. The anger was dissipating, and all that was left was tremendous pain. Marty wasn't responsible for his pain, and all she had done was support him since Starr had become ill. Todd knew he owed her a huge apology for lashing out at her so unjustly. He knew deep down that Marty wasn't responsible for any of his distress... yet even so, he had unleashed his anger upon the one person who had been there for him throughout this entire nightmare. Todd knew it was time he went to Marty and apologized.
"Marty, I need to talk to you," he said as he saw her leaving Larry's office.
"What is it now, Todd?" Marty asked as she attempted to brush passed him and escape whatever he might throw at her.
"Listen, Marty. This isn't easy... for me," he said hesitantly as it was extremely difficult for him to make an apology. It just wasn't in Todd Manning's nature to admit his fallacies.
Marty stopped in her tracks, her eyes going huge when she realized what Todd was about to do. "Marty, I'm sorry," he told her as he meant it with all his heart.
"I said some things I should not have said. I hurt you, and I didn't really mean it," he went on to say. "You've been wonderful through all of this; since the moment that Starr became sick, and I'm sorry I've been such an ass."
Marty was speechless for a moment as she stared at Todd. "Did Todd Manning just apologize?" she finally managed to get out.
Todd nodded, his expression contrite. "I've already hurt you enough, haven't I?" he breathed.
"Todd, I don't really blame you..." she said as she lightly placed her hand upon his arm. "You've been through so much lately. And all I want is for Starr to get better."
Todd knew she was sincere as tears shone in her beautiful dark-blue eyes. "Will she...? Get better?" Todd murmured.
"She will if I have anything to say about it," responded Marty.
~*Minutes Later*~
Patrick and Blair had just told Dr. Sands and Dr. Anderson that they agreed to have testing done upon their unborn son in hopes that Brendan would be a match for Starr. A long needle would be inserted into Blair's abdomen and blood would be drawn from Brendan's umbilical cord for testing. Blair was nervous, but also hopeful. Patrick knew this was the right thing to do, but his fears were great. Brendan wasn't due to be born for another six weeks, and the testing could possibly cause Blair to go into premature labor. Patrick hoped and prayed his son wouldn't be born too early.
"Come on, Blair. Let's go find Todd and let him know what we've decided," Patrick spoke as he wrapped his arm around Blair and led her through the hallways of hospital.
They came upon Todd and Marty standing outside Larry's office. "We need to talk to you, Todd," Blair said to her husband.
"What's this about?" Todd demanded as he shot Patrick an angry glare.
"Patrick and I have decided to have Brendan tested to see if he's a possible match to be Starr's bone marrow donor," Blair explained. "Dr. Anderson is going to do the procedure tomorrow morning. Hopefully Brendan will be a match."
Todd stood there, visibly surprised by this latest development. Marty's gaze was locked on Patrick and Blair who were leaning against one another, Patrick's arm wrapped around Blair for support. As each day passed, Blair and Patrick had seemed to grow that much closer. It was as though Patrick had forgotten that he and Marty had been unofficially dating one another. All of his attention was now absorbed with Blair and their unborn child.
"I hope we get some answers and the kid turns out to be a match," said Todd as he was incredibly hopeful despite his mixed feelings about Blair's pregnancy. He still couldn't look at her growing stomach without a wrenching pain deep inside. Her pregnancy was a huge reminder of what he saw as Blair's betrayal. Every time he laid eyes on Patrick Thornhart, all Todd could think about was how Blair had given herself to another man when he had been gravely injured in Ireland.
"Me, too. We all gotta hope and pray that this is the answer... and Starr will be survive this ordeal," responded Blair.
~*The Next Morning*~
Blair was in the operating room having the procedure to withdraw a small amount of blood from Brendan's umbilical cord. Unfortunately, it wasn't going well in the OR. Meanwhile, Patrick and Todd were arguing. Todd accused Patrick of caring about no one else but his unborn son. Many hateful words were exchanged just as Marty walked in during the middle of the confrontation. She was unsettled by what she had heard when she entered the room, but moreover, she was concerned about Blair. She informed Todd and Patrick that Blair had just had an extreme allergic reaction to the anesthetic she had been given during the procedure.
"Is Blair going to be alright?" Todd demanded.
"How is Brendan?" Patrick asked.
"Blair is in good hands. The doctors are doing all they can for her and the baby," Marty assured them.
"You two need to stop arguing immediately. This isn't helping anyone," she scolded.
"When can I see Blair? I need to know that our son is alright," Patrick spoke urgently.
Marty frowned, brushing her long blond curls back from her face. She knew she was second-best. Patrick's main concern was always Blair and the baby. "Hopefully you can see Blair soon," she responded as she watched Todd pacing with worry. With no doubt, they had all been through a lot since Starr had become ill. They were all ready for this nightmare to be over.