(We've had a huge amount of response from many readers and that makes us happy. Sorry for the delay in posted more -- but because of popular demand, here is some more to the story. This is a lot shorter than our last posting...you may blame me for that. I had really and truly accidentally posted that much...and after a few good replies, I just left it. So think of this as a teaser. LOL!)
*
Liz woke up the next morning with a crick in her neck. She stretched and groaned, blinking to clear her vision. She hated taking sleeping pills, but they had done the trick. She frowned slightly, wondering if she had dreamt seeing Hollie and vaguely remembering the odd dream she had about Todd. Strange. Nothing like drug induced comas to make your mind go a little loopy.
Getting up, she dragged her tired butt into the bathroom and showered again, then carefully went through the motions of getting ready. She had spent too many sloppy days and was tired of looking slumpy. So, Liz took her time after showering and lotioning to put on her makeup. She then blow dried her hair straight, letting the glossy locks frame her face and fall past her shoulders.
Looking reasonably human again and put together, Liz slipped on a simple black skirt that fell short of her knees and a red tank along with some decorative sandals that showed off her pedicure. She wanted to see Todd and wondered what the girls were up to. Grabbing a granola bar, she flipped open her phone and sent the girls a couple of text messages, hoping to hear what everyone was up to before she decided what she was going to be up to.
***
Todd woke up early himself, when his nurse came to give him his next dose of medicine and to change his dressings.
'Well, sleepyhead" she said cheerfully, that 14 hours of sleep probably did you a world of good."
"Good lord, was I asleep that long?"
"Yep," she confirmed, " but don't worry, that's common with the medication you've been on. So, which one is the cheer captain and who's on the bleachers?"
Todd looked perplexed. "Huh?"
"You sang in your sleep all night according to the other nurses, and you kept repeating that line. Either something was on your mind, or you're a huge Taylor Swift fan."
"Oh, she was on the TV before I went to sleep I guess. Do you know what's for breakfast this morning?"
'Turkey sausage and oatmeal I think."
Todd winced. "Thank the lord the girls brought cereal," he thought. Apparently Ben had been by and left a note. He wouldn't be up yet, so Todd decided to call later. Liz would probably be up by now, though. Todd dialed her cell, but got voice mail. "Figures," he thought, as he left a message. "Hey Liz.. Hope you're having a good day. I should be getting out tomorrow I think, but feel free to come by later. AND BRING FOOD."
At some point, probably after he was off the drugs for the most part, there needed to be a conversation with Liz about this whole paradigm shift (where did that come from? I'm starting to talk like Liz) to their relationship. He wasn't looking forward to that, mainly since he didn't even know how he felt about it. Suddenly, he thought of someone he could talk to and dialed his phone.
"X-Mart. We never close," Allen's voice answered.
"Hey Allen. It's Todd. How's it going?"
"Going Ok. You ok?"
'Yeah, I'm getting there. I just wanted to say again how much I appreciate all you did the other night. You were a lifesaver - literally."
"No problem. Glad to help."
Todd smiled, wondering if he could think of a question to make Allen say more than 5 words. "Hey, I was wondering. What did you mean when you told the girls that the computer wouldn't work without power?"
"Computers need electricity."
"I know that Allen. I mean what did a computer have to do with what was going on?"
"Those dudes were filming the girls on a computer," Allen answered.
'Nine words," Todd thought. "Even Allen must have thought that was serious shit." Todd grew angry at the further intended violation of the women he cared about. "Those assholes. Thanks again, man. How did you know about that?"
"Heard them talking about it through the walls. Pissed me off. I have sisters."
'Well thanks again. I owe you big time. See you when I get out. Later Allen."
"Later Todd."
The turkey sausage arrived as Todd hung up. The girls had seemed OK yesterday. He hoped things had gone easily at the police station. Taking a cautious bite of the pseudo-meat, Todd sighed and flipped on the TV again.
***
No one responded to her texts, which was mildly frustrating, but Liz couldn't blame them. They were probably all still snoozing, off to practice or working. Slipping her phone into her purse, she made her way to the coffee shop, hoping to grab a word with her boss before visiting Todd who was probably starving.
Duke was one of the most reasonable men she had ever met. He was always calm and collected, always fair to his employees and everyone respected him. Liz was surprised to see his face turn an odd shade of red when she told him exactly what was going on and why she needed a few days, not only for herself to help Todd. "Jesus, Liz. I can't believe it! What assholes!"
She sat there staring a moment and nodded, "Yeah, but we were lucky. In the end, Todd was the one that got the worst of it. He's in the hospital for a few days. They beat him up pretty good."
Duke shook his head, "Men like that shouldn't be allowed to go free. You take your time, Liz. You've been a great worker. Take a few days, grab some breakfast for your friend and just keep me posted."
She smiled and thanked him, even more surprised when he gave her a big bear hug and sent her on her way. Shaking her head and bemused by it all, she skirted past her co workers who all wished her well and grabbed a box of pastries and some coffee and headed out to visit Todd.
***
Hollie was really tired, but feeling good. The first part of the plan seemed to have gone OK, and even though she had gotten home late and had to lift weights at 6:30a.m., she had done well on her chemistry quiz. Pulling out her phone to call Mary and Todd, she noticed a couple of texts from Liz.
Glad she's back from la-la land. Wonder if she remembers anything from last night,
she thought. Hollie fired off a quick response saying that she'd call later and they could plan their "date." Then she called Todd who picked up in mid hum. Was that Taylor Swift?
"Hey Hollie. Sup?" he asked
"Same old same old, baby, but after the past couple of days, that's not so bad. How are you feeling?"
"Better. Still a little loopy, but I'm well rested. Not well fed though. Can't wait to get out of here."
"That's good hun. I'll try to come by and see you this afternoon, OK?"
"Sounds good. I should be done with the tests they have scheduled by two or so. Fair warning, though, I tend to crash after they give me my afternoon meds. Ben was here yesterday, and I didn't even know it."
Hollie smiled at this news. That would help things tremendously if it happened again. "OK. If you're asleep, I'll ravage you later."
'I'm not in ravaging shape," Todd laughed. "Hopefully soon enough, though. Hey, Liz is here with food. I'll see you soon."
***
Liz's stomach quivered with nerves as she popped into Todd's room and smiled, listening to him end a phone conversation. He gazed at the box she held eagerly, his eyes shifting from her face to the box and back again. "Whatcha got?"
She grinned, feeling herself relax a little. "Gee...you look half starved. What have they done to you!?" She teased, holding the box just out of reach. "I could work this to my advantage, you know? But...I'm not that mean. Duke at the coffee shop told me to feed you, so here you go. I got a little of everything."
She set the box down carefully and gently on his lap and sat back in one of the uncomfortable hospital seats and watched him dig through his goodies. "So what else is going on? Going to be out Tuesday for sure? Do you need anything from home for tonight?"
"Unless I hear differently from this afternoon's tests or I have a relapse, I'll be out of here. Thank God. You up to playing nursemaid for a bit?" Todd asked. "We have some uniforms for that at Pervland."
Liz blushed and was about to respond when Todd's phone sounded again. "It's Ben," he said. "I missed him when he was here yesterday. Do you mind waiting?"
"Nah. He was actually here when I came by yesterday. Go ahead,", Liz replied.
Todd answered the phone. "Yo loser. What's going on?"
"Nothin' bro. How they hangin'? Or have they fallen off yet? That'll save those women who have the misfortune of wanting you for some reason."
Todd looked over briefly at Liz. "Yes, Ben. Liz is here right now. She said y'all had a passionate tryst in my room while I was unconscious yesterday."
While Liz threw a bagel at Todd. Ben broke up laughing. "SHHHHH. Mary can't find out, but it's too late now dude. Propose to her if you want, but now Liz is ruined for all other men."
"Ben says hi." Todd said to Liz, ignoring Ben's efforts to get him in trouble. "How's Mary?"
"She's working on some secret school project. I don't really understand it, so I'm staying out of her way. I have to work today, but I'll try to swing by later. Otherwise, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Cool. Thanks man."
With Ben off the phone, Todd dug into his food again, cheeks bulging. "I was thinking maybe I'll run by the video store, grab some movies, some junk food and force you to stay in bed."
"Yeah, that'll be hard to do." He joked, "Just buy plenty of frozen peas. I'll be happy with that."
She grinned, despite feeling bad for him. "I'm sorry hun. I'll put that on my list. I guess I have a few things to do after all. I'll also grab you a clean set of clothes."
"Loose shorts, nothing tight."
She pretended to take notes and giggled. "OK. I'll get what you need. Speaking of which, looks like a nurse is headed in here, so I'm going to jet. Sure the girls and Ben will visit later."
He nodded, smiling up at her. Bending over him, she placed a little kiss on his forehead. "Be a good boy for the ladies."
"Always." He winked and she waved, leaving him in the capable hands of the staff.
***
Around lunchtime, Hollie stopped by Mary and Ben's place. Earlier, she had gone through Todd's yearbooks and marked the pages where he and Liz showed up. She had also gone through the box of pictures from Liz's closet, selected some that showed her friends, mostly together but a few separately. Everything that seemed to form a 'this is your life Liz and Todd" was piled in a box and taken over to Mary, who then dutifully scanned and cropped them to a usable fashion.
