Téa reluctantly opens her eyes...what she wouldn't give to stay in bed the whole day. She reaches over for Todd, but realizes he is not there. She is not really surprised, sleeping not being one of his favorite activities. She slowly smiles as she recalls last night. It had been incredible, totally different from the first time they had made love. It had been intensely physical...perfect for two people who had denied each other for so long.
Todd walks into the bedroom, already dressed in his characteristic black.
"Hey."
"Good morning."
He looks at her laying there, admiring her beauty. He sits down next to her on the bed.
"So...umm...are you okay?"
"Of course, Todd....why wouldn't I be?"
Todd looks away from her. "Well...umm last night...things got sort of...well...a little....rough."
"Did you hear me complaining?"
"No...it's just ....ummm...I didn't hurt you..did I?"
Téa sits up, covering herself with a blanket. "No, Todd....you didn't hurt me. Last night was...incredible."
Todd nods in agreement, but there is a hint of confusion on his face.
"Todd...do you regret last night?"
"No!....no...it's just...it was great ...but that's not what you want...you want that romance and tenderness stuff...you know...right?"
"Is that what you think? Todd...look I like romantic as much as the next girl...but last night...that was amazing...I just want to be with you," a thought occurs to her, "Did it scare you?"
Todd runs his hand through his hair. "No....I...I was afraid I scared you."
Téa moves closer, keeping herself covered. "You didn't....look Todd...what happened last night....that wasn't violence...it wasn't scary...it was just a different way to express our love..you know? And it's okay...more than okay...because WE BOTH wanted it," she reaches up and tenderly strokes his scarred cheek, "I love you and I trust you, okay?"
Todd doesn't seem entirely convinced, but nods. They hadn't done anything extreme , it was just that, to him, he felt himself losing control with her...and it had felt good...and although he really felt he, Todd, was in control, there is still part of him that is scared of hurting her. But...she had made sense. And when he thought about it, she had certainly had seemed as into it as he was. He was still relatively new to all this stuff...it had been such a long time...he just wants to make sure he doesn't screw things up.
Todd clears his throat. "Well, I've got therapy, then I'll meet you at the hospital, okay?"
"Okay."
He reaches up and gently smoothes her still tousled hair. "See ya later," he says, and walks out.
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The man in the black BMW speaks into his cell phone.
"Yeah, listen....the husband just left....don't worry, I'll stay on her...nothing new...after she came home last night, neither one of them left the house....wait...gotta go...I see her...."
He hangs up the phone and starts the car. He lets her pass...making sure to keep a safe distance...making sure she doesn't see him...
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Dr. Michaels looks at his stubborn patient. They had made some breakthroughs since Todd had come to him, but if Todd wasn't in the mood, he certainly didn't make it easy.
"How's it going, Todd?"
Todd is slouching in the chair across from Dr. Michaels. "Okay, I guess. I told you me and Delgado moved into the house...and I'm gonna talk to Blair about getting more time with Shorty."
"Good. Have you run into Téa's brother again?"
"No, but I probably will today...don't worry...I'm not gonna punch his lights out...no matter how much I want to."
There is a pause. Todd speaks, tentatively. "Hey Doc, so you said I'm in control of the alters now right?"
"I think so, yes, but you still have a lot of work to do."
"So, I can control them, in any situation?"
"Well, Todd, that remains to be seen...but you have come a long way. Why? Did something happen?"
Todd shifts in the chair. He's not all that comfortable talking about this stuff, but he had to know.
"It's just that...last night...with Delgado...you know we...we were fooling around and ...it was sort of different...you know...it was a little rough I guess."
"You didn't like that?"
"No, I'm not saying that...I mean it was great....but Delgado.."
"Did she tell you to stop?"
"No...I mean..she seemed pretty into it..."
"Okay...what's the problem?"
"I...could...it felt like I was losing control you know...I mean she didn't tell me to stop...but what if she had? And what if I didn't?"
"But she didn't tell you to stop Todd. And from what you say, what happened between you was mutual. Did you talk to Téa about this?"
"Yeah...she said basically the same thing."
"You don't believe her?"
"No, I do...I love her...I love being with her...I guess there is part of me that is still a little scared of hurting her...my track record is not so great where sex is concerned."
"Todd, you are dealing with your past...others actions towards you and your actions towards others. Using your words...just because you track record is "not so great", doesn't mean the future holds the same thing. You can change it...you already are with Téa. Just try and give yourself a break, try and trust yourself and Téa...I know it's not easy. It sounds like she trusts you...so try and trust that."
Todd sighs, "Trust isn't easy for me."
Dr. Michaels smiles, "Trust isn't easy for many people, but letting Téa in...telling her about your past...letting yourself have a physical relationship with her...one that you have wanted with her for a long time...it shows that you are really trying to trust her...and that's an important step."
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After his conversation with Téa and his therapist, Todd is feeling better. He had accepted what they said, it was okay for him to enjoy what happened with him and Téa...and each time they were together he was becoming more confident that he wouldn't hurt her. He grins as he walks through the elevator doors onto the floor where Jose's room was. Yeah, things were going okay with Delgado. Happy? Well, happiness was still somewhat of a foreign concept...he was afraid to feel happy...someone always managed to rip that happiness away from him...but with Téa and hopefully soon Starr...he felt better about things than he had in a long time.
Téa was in her brother's room, so Todd decides to go down to the cafeteria and get some coffee. He starts to head for the elevator, when something catches his eye. A man, sitting in a chair, reading a newspaper near the elevator. He doesn't know why...but Todd gets a strange feeling.
Come on Manning, it's a public place...he tells himself.
Still, he takes a long look at the guy, noticing the scar over his right eye. Suddenly the man looks up, and for a second their stares meet. The man gets up, and walks to the elevator, leaving the floor.
Weirdo, Todd thinks. He decides to wait for the next elevator...
To be continued...