Healing

Chapter 1 by Kari Lepper

Todd was waiting for Asa. As he sat at a table at the country club mulling over his drink, he thought of what he would say to the Buchanan patriarch. He wanted to convince him to drop the charges against Will, so Jessica could come home and be with her mother.

As he sat there thinking, Asa walked in. "What the hell are you doing here?" Asa asked him. Todd replied "Waiting for you."

Asa sneered at Todd and asked "Just what do you want to see me about?'' Todd looked him in the eyes and said "I think you know."

"I couldn't imagine" was Asa's reply.

"Look, Idon't want to play games with you old man" Todd said when he came to his feet. "Viki needs her daughter, and you need to let her come home."

"Who's stopping her?" Asa asked. Todd got right up in Asa's face and answered "I know who's stopping her and I'm telling you to end it."

"You know nothing." Asa tried to walk away, but Todd grabbed his arm and pulled him around. "I know everything. You may be a mean, conniving son of a bitch but you've got nothing on me." Todd seethed.

Asa yanked his arm away and walked out. Todd sat back down and thought for a while about what his next move would be. Asa at least knew that Todd was on to him, and for now that was enough.

Todd gulped down his drink and got up from the table. He shoved his chair back under the table and spun around to leave. He slammed into a small, pretty girl.

"Watch where you're going," Todd said and then left the country club.

The girl was still trying to catch her breath after that encounter. She felt a jolt of electricity when he bumped into her, and something about him frightened her.

Kati had come to town looking for a job at The Banner. She had finished journalism school a few years earlier but had been moving from place to place, trying to find somewhere to call home. She had been watching the exchange between Todd and Asa with mild curiosity.

When Todd bumped into her, she couldn't explain the feeling that came over her. He frightened her, yes, but there was something else. Something she had never felt before.

Now, sitting in her car, she couldn't shake the feeling.

Meanwhile, Asa was wondering just how much Todd did know. And how long he had been back in town.

As he sat in his office wondering, Max walked in. "Pa, something has to be done about Blair and Skye. They're going to end up killing each other."

"Hell son, let 'em do it. Solves two problems right there."

"I love her Pa."

"Which one?"

Max hesitated and then quietly said "I don't know."

Todd stared out the window of his penthouse watching the fireworks. Roseanne wasn't home and had no idea he was there. He didn't care; he still thought of the place as his.

Tomorrow he would visit Viki again. He was uncomfortable around her because he didn't know how to comfort her. But he did know having Jessica home would help. And he vowed that somehow, he would do that for his "sis".

Jessica, Will, and Christian were watching fireworks as well. Jess felt weird watching them with both young men on either side of her. She knew she would have to choose between them soon, and she had no idea how she would do it.

Kati was in the middle of a big crowd watching the fireworks display. Fireworks had always seemed romantic to her. Yet in the midst of all these strangers, she had never felt more alone.

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Chapter 2

The following morning, Todd went to see Viki. He didn't tell her about his meeting with Asa. It would only worry her. He did tell her that he was going to catch up with Jessie and the band and asked Viki if she wanted to give her a message.

"Tell her I'm fine and not to worry. And tell her I love her."

The band was setting up to play that night. Jess was rehearsing a new song. Christian couldn't keep his eyes off her. He loved her so much but had screwed up royally by marrying Roseanne. He hoped one day Jess would forgive him.

Will saw the way Christian was looking at Jess. "I don't have a chance," he thought.

Todd caught up with the three of them after their last set of the evening. He gave Jessica Viki's message.

"I should be with her now," Jess said.

"I'm working on it," Todd replied. He gave Jess some cash and found out where they were headed next. He promised Jessica he would look after Viki.

Kati sat in her car in the perking lot of The Banner. She was trying to work up the nerve to go inside and apply for a job. Finally, she took a deep breath and got out of her car.

Once she was inside, she went to the front desk and asked who she needed to see to apply. She was directed to Kevin Buchanan.

Kevin watched the girl approach. He guessed she was probably about twenty five. She was small, with brownish blond hair falling below her shoulders. She looked very shy and unsure of herself.

"Are you Mr. Buchanan?" she asked him.

"Yes I am. Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for a job."

"Do you have a resume?"

Kati reached into her portfolio and handed him a file of papers. Kevin took them and smiled at her. He noticed she had beautiful blue eyes. She tried to smile back at him but she was very nervous.

"I'll look these over as soon as I get a chance. Is there a number where I can reach you?" Kevin was very interested in this girl, and not just as a possible employee.

Kati handed him a piece of paper with her name and number on it. "I'm staying at a hotel in town," she told him. The way he kept smiling at her made her feel very self- conscious.

"I'll be in touch," Kevin promised.

After she left, Kevin looked over her resume. She had worked in many well known newspapers, but never stayed at any job for very long. "I wonder why that is?" Kevin thought to himself.

It had been a couple of days since Kati had applied for the job. She had pretty much resigned herself to the fact she wasn't going to get it. She was preparing her portfolio to go apply at The Sun when the phone in her hotel room rang. She answered on the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Is this Kati Daniels?" a male voice asked.

"This is Kevin Buchanan. I'm sorry I haven't called sooner, but I hadn't had time to go over your resume. Would you be able to meet me for an interview?"

"Uh, sure." Kati said.

"How about you meet me at the country club. I'll buy you dinner."

"Okay." She wondered if this was an interview or a date.

"Is seven o'clock alright?" Kevin asked.

" That would be fine."

"Great! I'll see you then."

Kati felt a little uneasy about having dinner with Mr. Buchanan, but she really wanted this job. She went through the closet trying to decide what she would wear. She wanted to appear very businesslike to discourage him from thinking of it as a date. He was handsome, but she wasn't attracted to him.

Todd paid a visit to Sam. He needed Sam's help to make sure he didn't go to prison once Bo knew he was back in town.

When he got to Sam's door, he heard a heated discussion going on inside. Lindsay was shining about something. Todd put his ear to the door and listened.

"I need you to let Matthew have a blood test! Until I fix things, Bo will never take me back. You know if Nora was alive, she'd want the paternity test done."

"Lindsay, I'm done talking about this! Now get out!" Sam yelled.

Lindsay headed for the door. Todd jumped behind some bushes. He thought maybe if he followed Lindsay and reported back to Sam what she was up to, Sam might be willing to help him out of his legal troubles.

Colin was looking over Nora's records. He wondered how much longer he could keep her there; she was getting stronger every day. There was a knock at the door. He opened it to find Lindsay standing there. She burst into the house.

"Come in," Colin said sarcastically.

When the door closed, Todd moved up to it and listened.

"You have to keep Nora here a little while longer," he heard Lindsay say. Todd's mind began to race. He walked around the house looking for a way in. He found an open window around back. He made sure no one was looking and then he climbed in. He could hear Linsay and Colin still talking in the front room. He found some stairs leading to the second story and quietly made his way upstairs.

He began looking in each bedroom. In the second one, he found Nora sleeping. With a sly grin on his face, he quietly left the house.