She closed her eyes, lost in his tender kisses - in his embrace. She felt his body tremble - something or someone had scared him.
“Todd,” she whispered, her eyes finding his.
And then, suddenly, Todd picked her up and carried her back to her bed, gently placing her on it, laying down beside her, stroking her forehead softly. He had come to her once again - this time disregarding his fears, pleading for forgiveness and intimately touching her first…
“I had a…nightmare,” he whispered, his voice shaking.
“It scared you,” said Téa. His presence on her bed was overwhelming to her.
“It’s the same one - we’re in the shed - I strike you - and you don’t wake up. You never wake up. And Pete’s saying…” he stopped.
“Pete’s saying what?” asked Téa trying to pull him back into the moment.
“Pete didn’t say anything this time. I didn’t hear his voice in my head.”
“That’s good Todd,” said Téa inching closer to him.
“I haven’t heard Pete or Rodd in quite a while,” said Todd. He began to trace the outline of her face with his finger enjoying her soft skin all too much.
“Are you better Todd?” she whispered, her hand trailing down to his neck.
“I don’t know. I had to see you. I had to know you were all right,” he said. He could feel his fear abating.
“I’m fine,” said Téa brushing her lips against his lips.
“Téa - I’m confused…” he began.
“What’s so confusing about this?” she whispered, her hand still softly rubbing his neck.
“An hour ago - I was violent towards you and now here we are - on your bed - you’re touching me - I’m letting you - I’m touching you back…Are you daring me to make love to you?” he asked not pulling away from her.
“Stop tormenting yourself Todd. We’ve discussed the shed… I know you weren’t faking the DID…I know how you’ve been hurt before - and Todd, I promise you here and now I’ll never call you a monster or a rapist again - I promise Todd. I’ll never hurt you again…” she said in a hauntingly seductive tone of voice.
“Promises? I promised I would never hurt a woman again and I hurt you both with words and deeds,” said Todd lost in her eyes, “I could hurt you again…”
“I don’t think you could,” replied Téa, lost in HIS eyes.
“Why not Delgado?” he asked.
“Todd, search your heart. Love and anger are two very passionate emotions and you feel them both - intensely - but I know you know the difference - you’ve shown me that both with your words and your deeds since I’ve found you in Providence,” she answered him. She paused before continuing, “I think you’re daring me to make love to you right now.”
“What makes you think that?” he asked.
“It’s one o’clock in the morning. And you came to me Todd - you need to be with me - you know I’m hurting over José - you want to comfort me - you needed to reassure yourself I was all right…” she replied snuggling into his body, kissing his lips. She felt his hand on her thigh through her silk nightie. She felt his passion on her lips.
“Téa - you know why I’m like this right - you know what brought on the DID?” asked Todd trying hard not lose himself in this moment.
She pulled away from his lips - searching his eyes - could he handle this - before - talk of his father would bring out Pete…
“I know - about your father…” she said gently.
“I’m scared Téa…” whispered Todd.
“Of what? Talking to me about this? Talking about our love - our feelings?” she questioned. She took her thumb and traced his collarbone over the fabric of his shirt.
“I’m scared of losing you - if I talk about this with you…” he said imitating her gesture.
Téa paused, “I’ll be in your fairytale forever.”
“What I have to talk about with you is no fairytale Delgado,” said Todd firmly.
“No. You’re right. It’s not. But, our future is what we make it…” she replied, again, brushing her lips against his.
“Let’s make our future tonight,” said Todd suddenly becoming aggressive - pulling her into him, pressing his lips into hers. He could feel the curves of her body against him through the silk, he could feel her hands in his hair and her mouth - if he wanted her, she wouldn’t deny him…he could have her now. Every bit of her, and just as quickly as he had pulled her into him, he pushed her away.
“Todd - what’s wrong?” she asked breathlessly.
“There’s no voice in my head. Just mine,” he stammered.
“That’s a good thing, right?” asked Téa, reaching for him. He grabbed her hands.
“Téa - if I’m whole - there will always be a part of me that will be - angry - violent - can you live with that?” he asked his voice shaking, “Because I’m willing to share that with you…”
“Todd, there will also be a part of you that will be tender and loving - kind - and gentle. And I get the impression that part of you is stronger than your anger - your violence - and I can live with that,” explained Téa.
Her words were music to his ears…
Slowly, he sat up on her bed. She sat up beside him.
“What are you thinking?” she whispered.
“I need to talk to the shrink. I can’t make love to you Téa until I know they’re gone. I don’t want the fear of hearing another voice in my head when we make love. The only two people in the room are going to you and me…” explained Todd. Her eyes told him she understood.
“I want to make love to you. In Providence, I would imagine us - loving each other - I…” he drowned off, “I want to be sure it’s just me in my head.”
“I do, I understand, I do,” said Téa, “Stay here tonight, with me. Hold me tight in your arms. Let me fall asleep snuggled warm and close to your body,” she said.
Todd closed his eyes briefly and then turned around to face her. He kissed her lips, took her into his arms, and allowed her to fall asleep next to his body.

The Client Interview Room,
The Llanview Police Station,
The next day…

Téa clung to her brother in a warm embrace. Slowly, they parted.
“It’s good to see you Mija,” said José smiling at her, “It’s good to be out of that cell.”
“You always had a way about attracting trouble to you,” said Téa.
“So do you. Is this Todd good for you?” asked José.
“Is your life as a petty criminal good for you?” shot back Téa.
“You are such a pain in the ass,” smirked José, “My rap sheet isn’t that long.”
Téa frowned at him, “Sam will be here soon. He’s got discovery motions to work on for Friday.”
José nodded his head, “Some woman named Blair Cramer came to see me last night.”
Téa’s face dropped, “What did she say?”
Just then Sam walked in, “Hi,” he muttered and threw his briefcase on the table.
“What’s up Sam?” asked José.
“Do you know who Paulo Hesser is?” asked Sam putting his hand in his pockets.
“No,” said José. Téa stood next to her brother and put her arm around his waist.
“Does the name Carlo Hesser mean anything to you?” asked Sam licking his lips.
José nodded his head no.
Téa recognized that name.
“Carlo used to be a big time Llanview criminal. Paulo is related to him,” replied Sam, “You’re just a small fish in a big ocean…”
There was a knock on the door. A uniformed cop opened the door, “Ah, Mr. Rappaport, Ms. Delgado, there’s an FBI agent here to see you.”
José and Téa exchanged glances.
“Why doesn’t Del just come in?” asked José.
“I don’t know,” said Téa leaving José’s side. She turned to Sam.
“We’ll be back,” said Sam addressing José. José nodded his head. As Téa and Sam walked out, Téa noticed a small yin/yang tattoo on the uniformed policeman’s wrist. She raised an eyebrow. She was down at the police station a lot and she couldn’t recall ever seeing him before. She set aside her nagging doubt and followed Sam into the busy police desk area. Sykes was sitting a desk giving orders.
Sam and Téa walked up to Sykes. Téa didn’t see Del anywhere.
“Hey Sykes,” said Sam, “Where’s that FBI agent who wants to talk to us?”
Sykes looked up from his desk.
“What FBI agent?”
Téa frowned, “We were told my brother, Delmonico was here and wanted to see us.” She crossed her arms.
“He called ten minutes ago, and said traffic was bad and that he was going to be late,” explained Sykes.
Sam and Téa looked at each other.
“José!” exclaimed Téa.
Sam and Téa bolted for the client interview room. Sykes got up and followed them. Sam threw open the door. José lay on the floor with a knife in his side, blood on the floor. He was barely conscious. Téa ran to his side.
“My God! José - who? What?” asked Téa franticly.
Sykes stuck his head out the door, “Annie! Call for an ambulance!”
“It was the cop, wasn’t it?” asked Sam.
“That was no cop,” said Téa. She took José’s hand in hers.
“No…” whispered José, “He works…works for…Miguel Con…” José fell unconscious. Bo rushed in.
“My God!” muttered Bo.
“Do something!” yelled Téa - tears flowing down her cheeks - her voice cracking.
“Téa - the EMS - they’re coming…” said Sykes.
Bo knelt down next to Téa, “We’ll get him to the hospital in time.” He took José’s pulse and checked his breathing. José’s breathing was shallow and his pulse was fast and erratic.
“José…please fight…” whispered Téa as she clutched her brother’s hand, “Please fight for your life!”

Llanview General…

Téa paced in the emergency room. Dr. Wolek was in with José, working hard to save his life. A police guard stood outside José’s room. Bo and Sykes were at the police station trying to identify the cop that had done this.
Sam approached Téa, “I’ve notified the judge of the incident.”
“Good,” said Téa.
“Téa, who is Miguel?” asked Sam.
“I don’t know,” replied Téa.
“He’s probably who was behind this,” said Sam.
Todd came bolting into the ER. He paused before Téa, her face damp with tears. And then almost simultaneously, they embraced each other.
“I came as soon as I heard,” said Todd holding her tight.
“Where were you?” asked Téa.
“With Dr. Rosen…” muttered Todd, “How’s your brother?”
“I don’t know…” replied Téa holding onto Todd for dear life.
Todd gently kissed her forehead, “It’ll be all right…”
He felt a tap on his shoulder and he turned around…
Wham! A fist hit his face and he fell to the ground. He clutched his mouth as blood ran down his chin form his cracked lip. Téa dropped to his side, clutching his arm. They looked up - into Del’s cold eyes…
“It will be all right now that I’m here,” said Del, “And I want you to leave my sister alone. Now get up so I can hit you again.”
Todd’s face was full of rage.
Téa had seen that rage before - on Pete’s face….