Through the Darkness, Chapter Twenty Two

CHAPTER 22

August, 2013

Blair figured she’d get the kids up and moved into the Llanfair carriage house later in the morning.  With the exception of Sam, they’d all gotten to bed kind of late and she wanted them to sleep in on what she figured would be another long day.  But as it turned out, Jack and Starr hadn’t slept a wink the night before but were up with the rest of the family.  Jack had turned in early, but sleep was elusive.  Starr kept going back over files and reports all night.  It was only when the rest of the house was stirring that the Mannings joined in.

Blair had to admit that she enjoyed the stunned look Tina gave her when the redhead came down for breakfast.  Détente or no, she could still see Tina’s annoyance with her presence in the family and it made her smile.  But Tina held her tongue, which actually made her like her nemesis sister-in-law better than her own aunt at the moment.

As Blair was finishing her second cup of coffee the phone rang.  Tina jumped up immediately and answered it.  “Hold on,” she said, turning to her sister.  “Viki, it’s a very nervous sounding man wanting to talk to you.”

Viki took the phone.  “Victoria Lord…yes…what?” she exclaimed.  “When?  What’s his condition?  Yes, yes.  Please, let me talk to him.”  Blair’s gaze grew hopeful, especially when she heard Viki say, “Victor…Victor let the doctor’s help Todd.  We’ll be up as soon as we can.  Yes, we’ll bring Tea along.  Victor please…Please, my brothers have been through an ordeal.  You can until we arrive?  Yes, please help him as much as you can.  We’ll see you soon.”  Then she ended the call.  “Todd and Victor are in a hospital in Buffalo, New York,” she said, stunned.

“When did they get there?  How did they get there?”  Blair asked.

“Victor wouldn’t say, but he’s not allowing the doctors do anything without him present,” Viki answered.

“What happened?” Blair asked, fear creeping into her voice.

“He was shot when they made their escape,” she said as the phone rang again.  “Bo, yes we just got the call.  I don’t know, but Victor’s either being overly cautious or highly paranoid.  He wants Tea to come as well.  Okay, well see you all then.”  She turned back to the family.  “Bo got a call from the hospital as well.  He going to pick up Tea and meet us at the airport.  We’ll take the Buchanan jet up.”

“I’m coming with you,” Blair said getting up from the table.

“And so am I,” Starr added.

“Me to,” Jack up in.

Viki nodded to all of them.  “Tina, stay here.  If we find out anything, we’ll let you know.”

“And keep an eye on Sam,” Blair said over her shoulder.

They all arrived at the airport as Tea and Bo pulled up.  The other woman looked to be near tears.  “Is it true?” she asked.

Blair nodded, saying, “Viki spoke to Victor herself.  But he seems to have a gun on the doctors.  He won’t let them treat Todd.”

“Treat Todd?” Tea asked. 

“Viki only got a little bit, but Todd…Todd was shot,” Blair said.  “And Victor’s not letting the doctors near him for some reason.”

Tea grabbed Blair in hug.  Then they made their way onto the plane.  Once they were airborne, Tea said, “I got in touch with Dani.  When they’re done, she and Matthew will meet us there.”

It was a rather quick flight and the Buffalo police met them at the airport.  As they hurried the family to the hospital, Bo said to them, “I’ll be honest, I don’t like the sound of Victor’s mental state, so I don’t want us rushing in there.”

They got to the hospital and Blair forgot all about what Bo had just said.  “I’m Blair Manning, my brother-in-law called…”

“Blair?” she heard her name being yelled.

“Todd?”  She ran towards the sound and saw Victor standing beside Todd’s bed.  “Todd!”  She didn’t think anything of the situation and ran to her husband.  Following her was Tea, yelling for Victor.  When he heard his wife’s voice, he handed the gun over and ran to her.

But Blair wasn’t worried about them.  “What happened?” she asked through her tears.

“We escaped and I got shot,” Todd said.  She could tell he was in pain but he was smiling broadly.  Then, when he heard the two shouts of ‘Dad’ it only grew.

Blair looked up and saw Starr and Jack standing there.  She got up and away before Starr launched herself at her father.  “Oh, Dad!” she cried.

“Hey, Shorty,” he whispered.  “Shhh, it’s alright.”

Jack walked over and Todd shifted Starr to one side as Jack slide onto the other.  Blair was shocked to see her son, in tears, in his father’s arms. 

“We were so worried.  That video…” Jack said.

“Hey, I’m alright,” Todd told them.

It was then that the doctor came over.  “I’m guessing you’re his family?”

“Yes, I’m…I’m his wife,” Blair said proudly.

“Mr. Manning needs to get into surgery to remove the bullet.  It’s lodged in his knee and it could have become infected since we were not allowed to remove it because of his brother,” the doctor said.

“Well, my doctor is here.  Anyone got a melon baller available?”  Todd asked.

The doctor gave Blair a confused look, but Blair waved it off.  “Yes, please, take him to surgery.”  With a kiss from Starr and a meaningful look from Jack, Blair moved over to the bed and gave Todd a passionate kiss that made him happy he was lying down for.  They moved into the waiting room and came upon Victor, Tea, Bo and Viki. 

“How is Todd?” his twin asked.

“I think he’ll be fine,” Blair answered.  “They took him into surgery just now.”

Victor nodded and turned to Bo.  “I’m ready to be taken into custody now,” he said.

Bo looked him over carefully.  “We can wait until Todd’s out of surgery.  Right now, I’m more interested in how the two of you got here in the first place.”  He pulled out a chair and Victor sat down.  Bo took his handcuffs and attached him to the chair.  “It’s just a precaution.”

Before he began, Tea spoke up.  “He should be mirandized first,” the lawyer in her said.

“This can be off the record for now.  It has nothing to do with the charges he’s facing,” Bo answered.  Tea was about to make a retort, but held her tongue and nodded her agreement.

Victor took an hour to explain the last few days.  Starting from when he had been joined by his brother, he detailed their escape, including Todd’s shooting.  He looked to Blair.  “He wanted me to leave him to get out.  But, I was too scared of facing you if I did that.”

Blair appreciated the thought.  “Thank you so much.”

As Victor finished his story, the doors opened and Dani and Matthew ran in.  “Victor!” she cried and ran to embrace him.  “Mom called and told me…I didn’t believe her…are you alright?”

“Yeah, I think so.  We’re just, we’re just waiting for word on your father,” he answered.

“What happened to Todd?  Mom just told us to come here.”

“He was shot while they were escaping.  The doctors don’t think it’s too serious, but he’s in surgery now,” Viki informed her. 

It was another half-hour before the doctor returned to tell them the surgery was a success.  “He’s being moved to recovery, so you should be able to see him shortly.”

Bo looked to Victor.  “I have to take you into custody now.”  Victor nodded, as Bo said to Matthew, “Can we go back with you, or are you going to stay here?

Matthew looked to Dani, who said, “I think I’ll stay here.  You go back with your father.”

“You sure?” Matthew asked.      

“He’s my father,” Dani replied.  Blair caught the look that passed between her and Victor, but he nodded at that.

“Okay, Tea, do you want to come back with us?” Bo asked.

“Yes, I think it’s for the best,” Tea answered.

“Hold on, I got that file you wanted,” Dani said, reaching into her bag and pulling it out.  “What’s up with it anyway?”

“We found out that Clint Buchanan was being drugged and Dad…Dad was acting way crazier than normal when we were up in Port Charles last year,” Starr said.  “Larry Wolek wants to compare Dad’s labs against Clint’s, see if he was being slipped the same drug.”

“We’ll see that Larry get the records,” Bo answered as he led Victor away

A nurse returned and told the Todd could have visitors.  Viki looked to Blair.  “You go ahead, we’ll wait.  I know you need to see him the most.”

Blair followed the nurse into the room and Blair saw Todd laying in the bed with his eyes closed.  It broke her heart to see him even like this.  But when she crossed over to him and touched her fingers to his scar, his eyes opened and he smiled at her.  “I thought for a minute there I was dreaming.”

“So did I,” she replied as a tear fell down her cheek.  She bent down to kiss him.  Viki and the kids are going to want to see you,” she told him.  “Except Sam, they’re all here, Starr, Jack and Dani.”

“Dani came?” Todd asked a bit surprised.

“She was actually in Port Charles.  We were following up a lead, about the note you got when you were still up here,” Blair explained.  “And she also got your hospital records from when you were in General Hospital.”

“Why would you need my hospital records?” Todd asked.

“It’s a long story and I’ll tell you in a little bit.  But you should really get some rest,” she said.  She kissed him again, vowing to never stop.  When she pulled back, she asked him, “Right now, I am so happy I have you back.  I never want to lose you again.    Is this what that means?  Does this mean it’s all over?”

Todd took her hand and kissed it then gave her a melancholy look.  “No.  And unfortunately, I think it’s about to get much worse.”