*****

San Francisco General Hospital

Téa was in her hospital room’s restroom changing into a pair of jeans and casual top. She had asked Todd to get her some decent clothes to wear. Todd had stepped out to buy her clothes begrudgingly - wanting to be with her. Todd was pacing her hospital room impatiently waiting for the doctor to sign her release papers. Téa stepped out into her hospital room all changed and refreshed. Todd stared at her intently and she melted into a small smile. Todd slowly walked across the room into her personal space.

“You look good Delgado…” he said leaning into her.

Her eyes sparkled at his attention.

Dr. Edwards walked in carrying a chart. Todd and Téa parted from each other.

“It’s good to see you’re doing better. I’ve got your release papers right here,” said Dr. Edwards.

“Good. Sign ‘em Doc so we can get out of here….” Said Todd impatiently.

Bo and Agent Ryan walked in as Dr. Edwards signed the release papers.

“ADA Delgado…we’ve admitted Jones to the hospital for his injuries to his leg…he’s requesting to see you…” said Agent Ryan.

Téa nodded her head ‘yes.’

Todd looked at her, raising an eyebrow.

“Téa…Rudney wanted me to give you a message. He wants you to meet him at the US Marshal’s building to give your statement. He’s also preparing paperwork for Jones’s pardon…” said Bo.

“Thanks, Bo…” replied Téa.

“All done. Just do yourself a favor and drink lots of water over the next few days…” said Dr. Edwards.

Téa turned to Todd, “I need to see Raymond first and then Mike.”

“Fine - whatever - but you come off the clock at five…” said Todd firmly.

“Agent Ryan, what room is Raymond in?” asked Téa.

“Room 411,” replied Ryan.

“Thanks,” said Téa.

They walked out together. Todd awkwardly walked beside her like a smitten schoolboy. She carried her head down, shyly. Todd couldn’t wait to get her alone.

“So, do you have a clean bill of health Delgado?” he asked softly.

She looked up into his eyes, “Yeah, I do Todd. Why?”

“Because…I want…to be alone with you…” he answered - his voice full of desire and his eyes blazing with fire.

She awkwardly smiled at him, “It’s been too long hasn’t it?”

“Yeah,” he simply said as they slowly walked down the hall. Téa noticed they were outside Raymond’s room and paused in front of the door.

“Wait! Delgado…about this Jones guy…” started Todd.

“What?” she asked.

“I’m glad he saved your life but it’s weird you know…” said Todd.

Hesitantly she reached up and lightly rubbed his cheek with her finger, “Todd, it was a weird, scary time - for all of us. And right now Raymond is terrified - my presence - eases his fears…”

“Delgado - Téa - honestly, I don’t know how to feel about that - because I know how you - effect - me….and I don’t want him thinking…” said Todd.

“He doesn’t, trust me…” Téa whispered. She turned and opened the door into Raymond’s room.

Raymond’s face lit up and he struggled to sit up straight, “Ms. Delgado - you came!”

Todd walked in behind her and Téa walked up to Raymond’s bed, “Raymond - of course I would. This is my husband - Todd Manning. Todd, Raymond Jones -the man responsible for saving my life.”

Todd rubbed his nose and awkwardly looked at Raymond. Raymond stared intensely at Todd.

“Hey Jones - Téa says - you were - ah, you watched out for her and well, ah, I just want to say thank you -for keeping her safe and bringing me back to me…” said Todd awkwardly.

Raymond’s lip trembled, “You’re ah…welcome Mr. Manning…”

“I just gotta ask you one thing though…” said Todd intensely.

Téa looked at Todd and lightly placed her hand on his arm turning into him -her face questioning.

“O.k.,” said Raymond.

“Why? Why did you save Téa’s life?” asked Todd.

Raymond took a breath and looked at Téa before turning to Todd, “Because…Ms. Delgado…was nice to me. She treated me like a person….she - Ms. Delgado - you - showed me that picture of you and your baby - and nobody had ever done - shown me - a simple act of kindness like that…”

“It’s o.k…Raymond…I understand,” said Téa softly.

Todd nodded his head.

Raymond turned to Téa, “Now what, Ms. Delgado?”

“I have to give a statement then I’ll meet with Mike this afternoon about your pardon…” said Téa.

“Ms. Delgado - I don’t want you to work too hard - you should be with your husband…” said Raymond.

Téa smiled at Raymond, “I will.”

There was an awkward silence.

“Ah Téa - we should go…” said Todd feeling uncomfortable.

“Mr. Manning!” said Raymond as Todd and Téa walked toward the door. They turned around.

“Yeah Jones?” asked Todd.

“Will you let me see Ms. Delgado again?” Raymond asked a touch of panic to his voice. Téa looked sympathetically from Raymond to Todd.

“Ah - yeah Jones - I just - don’t want you to hurt her…” said Todd awkwardly.

“I would never hurt Ms. Delgado - Never Mr. Manning!” replied Raymond firmly.

“I’ll be back Raymond. Take care,” said Téa smiling at him. Todd and Téa walked out.

*****

Late that afternoon
Overlooking SF Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge

Todd and Téa went to the government building where Téa gave her statement to the Marshals. After that Téa met up with Mike. While Téa and Mike worked on the pardon, Todd left her presence and arranged to stay in a hotel overlooking the bay. He also bought her another set of clothes, toiletries and eveningwear. When he returned, Mike and her had finished and they had made arrangements to go to Sacramento the following day for a special meeting with California’s governor, Gray Davis, concerning Raymond’s pardon. As Todd and Téa left the building, Téa noticed Mike’s ex-wife walk in with his two kids but she said nothing.

Todd stayed protectively by Téa’s side as they walked into the hotel. He needed to be with her. The brief separations he had endured to buy her clothes and find a hotel had been unendurable. And while he was looking forward to re-establishing their intimacy, he was nervous as well - it had been so long since he had intimately touched her.

They made their way to their hotel suite. It was the top loft with an extraordinary view of the bay. Todd opened the door and Téa awkwardly walked in first. Todd closed the door and walked up behind her. He followed her out to the balcony. She leaned up against the rail drinking in the view…the smells…and the growing twilight. Her hair danced off the light breeze in the air.

Todd stood behind her and placed his hands on her waist.

“Happy New Year Delgado…” he whispered.

“Same to you,” she replied.

It was silent for a bit.

“Todd,” she said, “Your hands - are shaking - trembling…”

“I know,” he said leaning into her back.

“What’s wrong Todd?” she asked.

“I’m scared Téa. It’s been…so long…too long…since we’ve been together and I’m thinking…” he said awkwardly placing his face near hers. She leaned into him.

“…thinking of…previous times we were together - and I was so anxious and impatient - holding your hands above your head - biting your lips…” he said.

She turned into him - finding his eyes, “Don’t tremble…I’m scared too…” she whispered.

He took his hand and placed it on her cheek, stroking her face with his fingers. And then decisively he leaned into her and kissed her - his lips firms - and he could feel an intense rush of adrenaline shoot through his body. His arms enveloped her as their kiss deepened.

“Téa…oh, Téa…” he whispered between his hurried kisses, “I was so scared…so scared…”

She increased the intensity of their kisses to reassure him that she was here - in his arms - and he didn’t have to be afraid…

Suddenly, he broke away- again - finding her eyes. Immediately her hand went to his lips…

“Todd, don’t be scared to kiss me - to touch me…” she whispered.

Intensely he replied, “I want you to wear something. It should be in the bathroom…”

She nodded her head and achingly parted from him - walking inside to comply with his request.

He anxiously rubbed his hands on his pants and walked inside to the bar and poured two glasses of champagne and turned on the music. Jazz music flooded the room. Téa walked out dressed in Todd’s nightie. With spaghetti straps, the dark blue nightie fell down to her mid-thigh revealing her shapely legs. Todd turned to face her - blood rushing through his own body - his physical impulses over taking him - finally giving into his desire to possess her. He ignored the champagne and confidently strode over to her, grabbing her by the waist and meeting her full, desirable lips with his own - causing her to take a step back to maintain her balance.

His hands ran up her sides as he savored the feel of her body in his arms - he could feel her hands struggle to unbutton his shirt as her lips caressed his own. He could feel the shirt slide off his shoulders revealing his naked chest to her. He could feel her aggressive fingers slide up and down his chest and he brought his nervous, shaking hand to her breast, pushing aside the silk, caressing, massaging her…

“Oh Todd…” she whispered between their desperate, teasing kisses, “I’ve missed you so…”

His lips tore away from hers and trailed down her neck, down her chest, to her breast. She moaned as jolt after jolt of electricity pulsed through her body as he licked, teased, and finally took her into his mouth.

“Need you Téa…” he whispered as one of his hands caressed her other breast. His other hand traveled down the silk of her nightie and he began to rub her inner thigh feeling her react - excited by the fact he could feel how wet she was - how hot she was for him. Impulsively, he tore away from her and picked her up in his arms, carrying her to the bed.

Her eyes followed his every movement as he undid his pants for her, sliding them off his slender, muscular body.

“Téa - tell me you need me…” he whispered standing over her.

“Oh, I need you…” she replied, her eyes full of fire. She slid off the bed and got on her knees before her sexy and desirable husband. She put her hands on his boxers and aggressively slid them off his legs, revealing him to her. And then, starting at his knees she began to lightly trail kisses up his legs, going higher, resting her hands on his firm butt. He moaned as she got dangerously close to his manhood and when she began to lick him he went out of his mind with desire taking his own hands and guiding her mouth to take him - firm, hard, and whole - into her mouth. He tasted so good, so delicious - and she could feel him become extraordinarily large. She moaned in delight - fueling his drive and passion even more.

He looked at her wildly and shoved her off of him. They awkwardly stumbled up and onto the bed, falling hard - totally consumed with each other. Todd got up on top of her - taking her hands in his…

“Don’t want…to hurt you Téa - can’t hold back…” he muttered as his lips aggressively caressed her neck.

“I know…I know…” she whispered.

Todd stroked her - her thigh, abs, electified by every stroke as his eyes locked with hers. He released her hands and shoved himself into her. She cried out and Todd began to pull out. She grabbed his waist and pulled him back - into her - allowing him to deeply seduce her. He was torn and his face was a mixture of confusion and desire.

“It’s o.k…it’s o.k…” she muttered, “…need you…”

He tore off of her, falling down, next to her, “Hurt you…I’ve hurt you…I saw your face…”

She immediately straddled him, rolling on top of him, “It’s ok Todd…it’s o.k… it’s been so long for us…it’s to be expected…I need you inside of me…connecting with me…filling me up…making me complete and you need that physical connection too…”

“You’re not hurt?” he asked confused but driven by the impulse to seduce her yet again…

“No…” she replied.

His lips trembled as her words sunk in and he lifted his head up - his mouth melting with hers - confirming to her that he did want to continue. His mouth melted into hers and once again she allowed him inside of her while kissing him. His face was so very red from his desire and passion and he exploded inside her as she teased his face with kisses, groaning in ecstasy. She fell beside him, gasping for breath - incomplete. To satisfy her, Todd brought his hand down her thigh and taking his fingers, began to play inside of her while sucking her breasts - enjoying the feel of her beside him. She moaned as his fingers released the orgasm inside of her but he continued to stroke and caress her body enjoying the way she felt underneath his hand - letting his eyes explain to her how much he needed her and her love…physically and emotionally. They fell asleep in an intimate embrace.