Truth and Lies

Kristen surveyed the bedroom with satisfaction. Everything had been installed in the DiMera Mansion with what she considered was minimum fuss and bother. It had been mostly clothes and personal effects that had been moved but she had taken a liking to several pieces of furniture and had insisted that they would be shifted as well. John hadn't been very keen but as usual, he had given in, knowing it was the easiest way to keep Kristen happy, and quiet.

It had taken most of the morning to get everything into the house and arranged just as she wanted it. In fact, she had made sure it had taken that long on purpose. Every minute John was helping her move, was a minute that he wasn't with, or thinking about Marlena. She smiled, thinking about his insistence that she not be allowed to carry any of the boxes, considering her 'delicate' state. She was so glad that she had pulled off the second pregnancy , it was proving to be very useful. And no-one was any the wiser. Her smile fell as she remembered Eugene's warning. How the hell does he know about the mirror? The only people that knew about that were Peter and herself. And she knew she hadn't spilled it to anyone else. She pursed her mouth as she made a mental note to talk to Peter about it. When she could find him.

Thinking about her visitor the previous day, she eyed the chest of drawers in the corner and scowled. Whatever he had done to the drawer, it seemed pretty permanent. She hadn't been able to open it after he had gone, or this morning, when she had tried while John was out of the room. John didn't seem to have any problems with it, and he had packed the rest of the clothes.

She walked over to it and pulled on the handle. It stuck fast and she cursed under her breath, knowing no amount of pulling was going to budge it.
"What are you doing Kristen?" John's voice made Kristen jump and she whirled around, wildly looking for an excuse. One that would make a feasible reason for opening John's drawer. Her eyes settled on his sweater which was laying on the chair. In one movement, she picked it up.
"I was just going to put away your sweater honey." She hoped her smile was convincing. "The drawer seems to be stuck."
"You don't need to put it away." He looked at her strangely. "I've been wearing it. I was just coming up to put it on again." He wasn't entirely sure that he believed Kristen, given what was hidden in the drawer. And he wasn't about to open it for her so she could find it. "Will you be all right here? I've got to go and pick up Brady."
"Why don't I come with you honey?" She ran her fingers down his cheek. "We haven't spent much time together in the last few days. We could pick up Brady and go for a family outing. After all, he's got to get used to having a step-mom sooner or later."
"It's probably not such a good idea." He caught her hand in his. "I'm going to have a word to Eugene and it's probably better if you aren't there."
"I could wait in the car." Kristen's tone was practically begging. She had to keep him away from Marlena. Especially with that Bradford character hanging around. God knows what might happen.
"I won't be long baby. I'll bring Brady back and we can all go out for dinner somewhere." John said firmly. "There's no use you hanging around in the car. I'd feel better if you were safe back here."

Kristen nodded slowly. It was obvious John was not going to give in over this. Maybe she *would* just stay here. And work on that damned drawer. She had to get her hands on the picture of *Doc*. And when she did, there wouldn't be any of it left to put back in the drawer.
"Okay honey. Just don't be long, will you?" She planted a kiss on his lips, which he returned somewhat reluctantly.
"Okay." He nodded and squeezed her hand. "You have a rest. You've been very busy this morning." He patted her stomach. "We wouldn't want anything to happen." Again. He shook off the unspoken word and left the room, his sweater in his hand.

Kristen watched him go, the frown returning to her face. She had felt him pull back a little when she had kissed him, and it worried her. She had to come up with a plan to win him once and for all, and she had to do it fast. However, there was something else she had to do first. She turned back to the drawers and wondered what she could use for a lever.

******

Marlena watched Brady chase Belle up the stairs in for the fourth time in less than an hour. She took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes, trying to will her concentration back. She had been trying to do some paperwork that she had brought home from the hospital, but every time she looked at the paper, the words merged into one another and her mind wandered again. There had been no sign of Q when she had awakened, despite the early hour of the morning. She wondered where he had gone and hoped he wasn't causing too much havoc, wherever it was.

And then there was Sami. Marlena tossed the notepad back on the sofa and pulled her knees up to her chest. She didn't know what to do about Sami. She was the most likely candidate for the missing journal, but Marlena had no idea what she planned to do with it. She thought about just going around and asking her daughter but nixed it almost immediately. Accusations weren't going to get her anywhere with that tenuous relationship. She would just have to wait for Sami to come to her.

And she didn't even want to *think* about John and that particular mess. She didn't really have time to, as Belle's squeals at the top of the stairs caught her attention.
"Belle. Brady." She called the children's names. "Are you two behaving yourselves?" Belle's elfin face appeared at the top of the staircase, peering through the banister.
"Bady lock himself in the bedroom wif Sarah." She said solemnly, referring to her favourite doll. "He no pay fair."
"Brady." Marlena called. When there was no movement she repeated his name a little louder. She was just about to rouse herself from the sofa when he appeared next to Belle looking sullen. "Brady, give Sarah back to Belle please." He looked like he was about to argue, but changed his mind and handed the doll back to Belle. "Belle, what do you say?" she prompted.
"Fankyou Bady." Belle smiled, the animosity forgotten.
"Good. Now can you two children please play nicely. Momma is trying to work." Instead of nodding as she expected them too, the children broke into peals of giggles. She rolled her eyes and turned to look behind her, getting used to Q's unusual entrances. He was leaning against the wall, his eyes sparkling as he laughed with the children.

"Okay kids, can you go and play in your room please. I need to talk to Eugene." The children obeyed as she turned back to her house-guest.
"Good afternoon Dr. Evans." Q greeted her with a flourish and a bow. "I trust you had a nice quiet morning to reflect on our conversation last night." Marlena couldn't help but smile at his persistence as she replied. "I told you Mr. Bradford. There's nothing to reflect on. So you may as well give it up now. John and I are just good friends, and nothing anyone does or says is going to change that fact."
"You sound very certain of that fact." He raised his eyebrows.
"I *am* very certain." She lifted her pen to her mouth in contemplation. "Where have you been anyway, that I might have such a *quiet* morning." She flicked her eyes to the top of the staircase, where the children had quietly crept back. She didn't have to say anything as they guiltily scrambled back to the bedroom.
"I have been out seeing 'the sights'. Or such as you could call it in Salem. You know, I'd forgotten how small this town really is." He shook his head. "You wouldn't believe the people I ran into."
"Oh, I probably would." She stood and stretched. "There's something about Salem that seems to draw people back." She walked over to him and put her arm around his waist as she looked out of the window. "Eventually."

******

Sami sat at the table, the journal open in front of her. She had hardly slept last night, as first she had read the journal from cover to cover and then tossed and turned as she tried to forget what was in it. Next to the journal, Sami had placed a photo of her mother and father and she and Eric as children. It had been taken the Christmas after John and Marlena had broken the news that John wasn't their father after all. Their father was 'Mr Patrick', and after seven years he had attempted to resume being their father, as though he had never been away.

Sami could still remember the confusion she had felt as she called a strange man Daddy and turned away from the only father she had ever known. She had been angry at John for what she had thought was his deception. It wasn't until later that she had come to understand that he hadn't been able to help it any more than they had. But by then it was too late. John wasn't part of their family any more and she didn't know how to communicate with him. And then there had been that fateful night of the Titan party, when her illusions about her mother had been shattered and she had discovered that everyone was human. Even her parents.

Another item sat on the table. It was a silver hairbrush that John had given her that first Christmas. The Christmas her mom and dad had reclaimed their family. After everything that had happened, he had given her the brush and mirror set, telling her that he had changed his mind about it. He had decided that she was old enough and responsible enough to look after them. After New Years, she had put them away, because she hadn't wanted to hurt her father's feelings. It was ironic really, she mused. Because not two months into the new year, he had disappeared for two months. Leaving them alone again. And not for the last time.

Sami rubbed her eyes angrily as she got up and walked away from the table. Carrie and Austin had taken Will for the day, for which she was grateful. She didn't know if she could have coped, the way she was feeling. She sat down on the threadbare couch and switched on the television, hoping to find some respite from her jumbled thoughts. It didn't work for long as she found herself drifting back to the journal and wondering what to do with it. She turned the television off again and buried her head in her hands, trying to work out her options. She concluded there really were only two. And depending on which one of those she chose, lives could be changed irrevocably.

*****

Carrie lay on the rug, watching the clouds float serenely across the blue sky. A chortle from Will caught her attention and she looked across to where Austin was laying on his back, playing with Will, who was sitting on his stomach.
"Hey there little man." She smiled at the happy child. He smiled back, flapping his arms and she rolled over onto her stomach, next to her husband. "Honey, I've been thinking."
"Uh-oh," that's dangerous!" he teased.
"Hah-ha!" She whacked his arm. "I'm serious."
"Okay. If you're serious then. I might be persuaded to listen." He puckered his lips and she leaned over and kissed him. When she broke it off he looked at her soulfully "I could do with a little more persuasion."
"Too much persuasion and you won't have enough time to listen to what I have to say." Carrie shook her head. "I'm thinking that maybe we should move. Even buy our own house." Austin moved to speak, but Carrie laid her finger on his lips, quieting him. "I just think that Will needs more than a grungy apartment. Even if it's only when he's with us, I think he deserves better than that." Austin nodded.
"You're right. I just wish that Sami wouldn't insist on staying in that awful place." He frowned as he put Will down on the rug between them. Carrie brushed a lock of hair off his forehead.
"I'm hoping that Marlena might persuade her to go and live in the penthouse for a while. I thought I might have a word to her tomorrow." She moved a piece of grass from Will's hand as it travelled the short distance to his mouth. "So what do you think about the idea of a house?"
Austin took her into his arms. "I think, Mrs. Reed, that it's a wonderful idea. When do you want to start looking?" "As soon as possible." She beamed excitedly, lifting Will above her head so that he laughed.

The shadowy figure watched on silently from the undergrowth. A happy family was such a rare commodity in Salem these days. And soon it would be rarer still.

******

John checked his watch as the lift slowly made it's way up to the penthouse. It seemed to be taking forever. Finally the lift reached the top and the door slid easily open. He was confronted with the sight of Marlena and Q, standing in front of the window, their arms around each other. Marlena's head was resting comfortably on Q's shoulder and they were looking out over the town. John took a deep breath as he felt an uncontrollable surge of jealousy.

Marlena turned, hearing a noise behind her. Her heart thumped as she saw John at the door, his expression portraying his misery.
"Don't let me interrupt." His voice was low and held an undercurrent of anger. "I've just come to pick up Brady." Marlena extricated herself and moved quickly to John's side.
"You weren't interrupting anything. Eugene and I were just talking about the old days." Her statement was spoken in an equally quiet voice.
"Yeah, whatever." John was dismissive of her explanation. He didn't have any claim on Marlena, but it didn't change the way he was feeling. He was hurting and just wanted to get Brady and leave. But first there was something he had to say. He turned to Q.

"Bradford. I believe you paid my fiancee a visit yesterday. I don't know what you're up to." His face was stony, belying the anger he felt towards this almost-stranger. "And to be quite honest I don't trust you one bit. You upset Kristen and in future I want you to stay away from her." He narrowed his eyes. "And if you hurt anyone I care about," his eyes betrayed him by straying to the woman beside him, "I'll make sure you pay for it."

"John!" Marlena was both hurt and embarrassed by what he had said to her friend.
"It's alright Marlena." It only took Q a few strides to cross the room. "He's right. I did pay Kristen a visit."
"I don't understand." Marlena shook her head, looking from Q to John.
"He threatened her." John informed Marlena, all the while, keeping his eyes locked to Q's.
"Is that what she told you." Q's mouth twisted into an sardonic grin. "My, my. That young lady is certainly *selective* with her version of the truth."
"You-" John lunged for Q but came up with handfuls of air. Marlena grabbed hold of him as he looked around for the other man.
"John. Fighting isn't going to solve anything." She attempted to calm him down.
"Now *she's* right." They both turned to see Q sitting on the stairs, with a grim face. "You see John, your *girlfriend* omitted some details of my visit. Not that that's anything unusual for her. I think there's a lot of things she's neglected to tell you. But that's another story." He stood. "I'm much more interested in what some other people are neglecting to tell you." He looked at Marlena with an unfathomable expression on his face. "And to that end, " he raised his hand, "I think the two of you have some things to discuss." He snapped his fingers. "In private," he added needlessly to the empty room.

* * * *

John staggered slightly as his reality shifted and dissolved around him and then coalesced into a new actuality. Marlena held onto him until he found his bearings. They hadn't shifted very far. In fact only one level. They eyed Marlena's bedroom disbelieveingly. Outside it was dark, even though the clock still read 3.30pm. There were several candles dotted around the room and an exquisite bunch of roses on the dressing table. To complete the atmosphere, a stereo played quietly in the corner.

"What is going on here Doc?" John's look was questioning. Marlena shrugged, just as confused.
"I don't know John." She tried the door, but it was stuck fast.
"Is this Bradford's idea of a joke?" John's anger returned. Marlena closed her eyes, trying to think.
"I don't think a joke is quite what he had in mind. I think he's trying to help." John didn't have time to question her before her next move. "Eugene? Where are you? I know you can hear me. Let us out of here." There was no answer and though she tried again, the result was the same. Sighing, she sat down on the bed. "I guess we'll just have to wait until he gets bored and lets us out."

"And meanwhile, he's doing what?" John wasn't going to be easily placated. "He's out terrorizing Kristen, the children?"
"Look John, I don't know what Kristen told you, but I doubt very much that Eugene threatened to harm her."
"He said he didn't care if she lost the baby!" John's voice was raised and Marlena's eyes flashed feeling his anger directed towards her.
"Well, to tell you the truth John, he probably doesn't!" She regretted it as soon as it was out of her mouth. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
"What makes you so sure that he won't hurt anyone? You don't know him any more. He's not Eugene. He's a different person. You can't trust him." John brought his fist down on the dressing table, making the items on it jump. Marlena looked at him her eyes wide, reflecting his own ire.
"I *do* know him and I *do* trust him." She stood and walked over to John. "And you have *no* right to question my judgment like that."
"No right?!" His laugh was strained. "You have my child in the same house as a man that's threatening my-" He cut off as the volume of the stereo suddenly increased. "What the hell?"

The music swelled out of the speakers and he looked at Marlena. She moved to the stereo but couldn't turn it off. The duet began quietly but insistently and neither of them moved as the words filled the room.

Without you, standing by my side,
Love and fortune,
passes me by

And you were my guiding light
It seemed so easy
When we said good-bye

How different would the world be now
If only we had worked it out somehow
What kind of fools are you and I
There would be stars up in the sky
If you were with me now


And I know that I may go astray,
But what's to say,
That we can't change our minds

My love burns stronger each day
If I'm sure of one thing
One love at a time

How could we throw our love away
When we had so much more than words - can say
The darkest clouds would fade away
To bring the light into my day
If you were with me now

Marlena tore her eyes from John's and sat on the bed as her face flushed and her legs threatened to give way beneath her. John swallowed hard and looked out of the window as the song continued, even louder.

If loving you is right
Then turn back the hands of time
(I'll do anything to make you mine)

There's nothing that I wouldn't do
(I could make you feel my love for you)

If you were with me now

If you were with me now

The melody faded away as suddenly as it had begun. Marlena sat silently, not daring to move. Her heart ached in her chest and she felt as if she couldn't breathe. She wanted to open a window, but John was there and she couldn't bear to let him see her cry. So she stood with her eyes downcast and headed for the door, praying that it would be open.

She had barely made three steps when a gentle hand tugged at her arm. She stopped and closed her eyes tightly, silently begging him to let her go. He didn't and reaching his arm around her, he turned her around, holding on to her tightly clenched fists. She was so afraid of what she'd find in his face that it took a moment before she could open her eyes. In that moment, her world changed as she felt his soft and loving lips brush gently across hers.

(NB: This chapter is edited for NC-17 content. If you wish to read the unedited chapter, please click here.)

Marlena trembled and instinctively took a step backwards. Her eyes snapped open to see John follow her. Registering the shock on her face, John released her hands and opened his mouth to speak. Seeing something he couldn't quite define in her eyes, he stopped short, looking at her fists.

"I feel like I should apologize Doc." He shook his head, choosing his words slowly and deliberately. "But I find I don't want to." He blew out a short breath and let a small sense of realization touch his lips. "I have wanted to do that for *so* long -" he stopped again, mis-reading the pain that flashed across her face. "Oh God, I'm sorry, I'm being selfish." His chest hurt as he saw the tears that she was trying to hold back. "I was thinking about what I wanted and that's not fair to you. I know you don't feel that way for me anymore."

"Don't -" Marlena blurted the word out. He looked at her questioningly as she gained some semblance of composure. She took a deep breath and continued, answering his unspoken query. "Don't apologize." She took a step toward him, looking him squarely in the eye. "I wanted it as much as you."
"You did?" John was trembling now too, as he looked and saw the evidence of what she told him in her eyes. Never breaking his gaze, he tentatively reached out to touch her cheek, as if he were checking that she was real, and not just a figment of his imagination.

As skin touched skin, he breathed, drawing in her scent and he let out a sound that was a strange half laugh and half sob. Marlena closed her eyes, as if trying to imprint the feeling of his touch in her memory forever. He traced the contour of her cheekbone and ran his fingers down the softness of her cheek. Reaching her jaw-line, he gently pulled her to him and brushed his lips against hers again. Marlena let out a gasp, feeling as though a jolt of electricity had just run through her. Moving closer to John, her lips searched until they captured his again. This time their kiss was more than just a soft touch.

After what seemed like minutes, they pulled apart, both feeling a little off-balance. Marlena, now running purely on instinct, took John's hand in hers.
"You're wrong you know," she whispered softly in his ear. John's skin seemed to burn at the mere suggestion of her touch.
"Wrong about what?" he breathed, not daring to move, lest he break this spell that they were both under. She pulled back so she could see his eyes and she laid her hand on his cheek.
"I love you John Black."

She felt his body stiffen in surprise as he heard the words he thought he would never hear from her again. His jaw fell slightly before he recovered and she smiled, knowing her face conveyed the truth as well as any words could. Still she continued. "I always have. Oh God, I've never *stopped* loving you."
John reached out to brush away a tear that was clinging tenaciously to her lash. "You haven't?" His confusion was evident as he screwed up his face in an effort to understand what she was saying. "You love me? Why didn't you tell me?" Marlena wanted to take him into her arms and smooth all of the pain out of the face she loved so. Instead, she faced him and took on his pain as she explained.

"Because I thought that *you* didn't love *me* anymore. And then it became impossible to tell you -" He smothered the rest of her sentance with a kiss that left her breathless. He slipped an arm around her waist and brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"*Never* doubt how I feel about you again Marlena Evans," he said, as he traced the outline of her mouth with his index finger. Catching the tip of it, she kissed it and then flashed him a brilliant smile that sent his heart soaring.
"Oh, I won't." She reached up and slid her hand around to the nape of his neck. With a gentle pull, she leaned forward into an exquisite kiss which left her whole body tingling and wanting to go back for more.

John felt her body mold to his as he pressed it close. His tongue searched out hers and tried to capture it in a dance of pure passion. Breaking the kiss, Marlena tilted her head back, exposing her creamy white skin to John's advancing lips. A sigh slipped from her as he found the hollow at the base of her throat. Still exploring her sweet flesh with his mouth, his hand rediscovered the cherished curves of her body, making her squirm under his touch.

Suddenly, and without warning, Marlena pushed him away. Her rational side had broken through the instinctual and before she went any further, that she had to know. She took in the confusion and pain he displayed at her retreat and spoke with a hint of anxiety.
"I have to ask John. What about Kristen?"

John froze for a moment, realizing with a shock, that he hadn't even had a passing thought about his fiancee in the last ten minutes. One touch and all thoughts of Kristen had been banished from his mind. He studied Marlena's face for a clue as to what she thought he was going to say. He could only discern worry and he resolved to be honest.

\"To tell you the truth Doc, I hadn't even thought about Kristen." He saw her face fall, and he continued quickly, to allay her fears. "And I think that says it all. I thought I loved Kristen, but you," he shook his head, a smile forming, "being here with you makes me realize the truth. I'm just honouring a commitment I made because I felt I didn't have any choice." He reached for her hand, but she pulled it out of his reach.
"You had a choice John. There's always a choice." She sat heavily on the bed. "You found out in Paris that Kristen lied to you about the baby but you *chose* to stay with her." Her look begged for an explanation. Any explanation. John attempted to give one to her.
"She was upset Doc. She'd lost her mother and child, both in a matter of days. She was distraught and I felt responsible for that. If it hadn't been for me, she wouldn't have been there in the first place. So when she wanted to come back to Salem.." he trailed off, knowing how lame it sounded.

He looked at her for a moment and then sat on the bed next to her.
"I was wrong Marlena. I lied about my feelings. To you, to Kristen, even to myself. But now," he shook his head, "I couldn't go back to Kristen even if I wanted to. I love you. But even if you won't have me, I'd rather be alone than live with someone that I didn't love."
"But she's carrying your child." Marlena said hoarsely.
"Yes she is. And to be honest Doc, up until now, that fact has tied me to her, more than any other. But that's no basis for a marriage." He forced a smile. "I'll support my child, but I can't marry it's mother." He took her hand, relieved that this time she did not withdraw. "Not when I'm in love with you."

She examined his face carefully, needing to know that he believed what he was saying.
"Doc, I mean it. If you don't want me, after everything that I've done, I'll understand. If you need me to prove myself to you, I will. Any way you want." He shook his head and she saw his sincerity clearly. "Just don't ask me to stay with Kristen, Doc. Not for the baby, not for," he paused, "anything." She smiled and squeezed his hand, thinking how much she loved this man. No matter what either of them had done, she knew she could never maintain her anger at him for very long. "Sweetheart, that's one thing I'll never ask you to do." His expression lightened and he returned the pressure of her hand.
"I don't know why I ever thought I *could* do it."

Before Marlena could reply, the music from the corner increased, almost as if on cue. This time, however, John merely laughed.
"How does he do that? It's almost as if -" he cut his comment short, realizing what he was just about to say. "Oh man. I don't even want to *think* that." Marlena laughed light-heartedly and then put her finger to John's lips as the lyrics began to glide through the speakers.

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy that you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream that you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through it all

John noticed Marlena shiver slightly, even thought the room was perfectly warm. In one movement he was pulling her into his arms, wanting to soothe away all the pain she had been suffering for such a long time.

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best that there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cos you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

Marlena relaxed into the blissful feeling of the strong arms that surrounded her. John brushed her hair off her shoulder and ran his finger down her neck and across her collar-bone.

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch
the sky
I lost my faith you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved
by you

John's fingers moved downward, tracing a familiar path down and over the curve of her breasts, as he watched the sensations play across her face. She felt his hand searing a path along the sort curve of her hip and down to her thigh and she quivered with the delicious responses that it brought.

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best that there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cos you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

John's eyes roved over Marlena's face, reacquainting himself with every detail. His fingers followed in their wake, reawakening memories he had dared not live for a long time. Marlena returned his gaze, losing herself in his loving eyes.

You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because
of you

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best that there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cos you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

The music died into a whisper once again, but this time neither of them noticed it, as they sat bewitched in this dream they found themselves in.

(NB: This chapter is edited for NC-17 content. If you wish to read the unedited chapter, please click here.)

Marlena stared unseeingly at the window and the dark sky beyond. Beneath her, John's heart beat steadily and calmingly. His arms fit snugly around her and his steady breaths whispered past her ear. Moving her head slightly, she looked at the clock. The bright glow of the numerals told her that barely two hours had passed since they had first been locked in the bedroom. Silently she surveyed the rest of the room. Her lips curved into a wry smile as she noted the clothes, which seemed to have gravitated to the four corners, as far away from the bed as they could possible get.. The scent of the roses drifted lazily across the room, and the candles burned as brightly as they had two hours ago.

Taking a deep breath, Marlena stretched and then rolled onto her stomach, pulling the sheet with her.
"Hey!" John pulled the sheet back over himself. "Where'd you think you're going with that sheet?"
"I thought I might check the door again." Marlena smiled at him sweetly as she propped herself up with one arm.
"Do you *have* to?" John moved closer to her and ran his palm across the soft flesh of her stomach. "I could think of much more *exciting* things to do." Marlena closed her eyes as his exploration sent tremors through her again.

Abruptly she pulled away from him and slipped out of the bed. Scanning the floor, she picked up his T-shirt and pulled it over her head. Pulling her long blonde hair free, she picked her way across to the door. John couldn't peel his eyes away from her as she tried the door and found it still locked. Her face was suffused with that glow he recognized so well. The flush that touched her cheeks and lips was a dead give-away of their recent love-making. His eyes travelled further down, over the curve of her breasts and down to where the T-shirt stopped abruptly, just below the soft curve of her behind. His gaze continued it's sweep down her long shapely legs.

"It's still locked." Marlena said pointedly. "Now if you've finished getting your eyeful, maybe we can figure what to do about getting out of here." John grinned.
"And what an eyeful it was!" Marlena narrowed her eyes and walked over to where he lay in the bed, the sheet draped strategically over his lower torso. She bit back a smile.
"If you've finished, maybe we could get back to the matter in hand?" John leaned forward and whipping his hands around her, pulled her onto the bed.
"Which matter would you like in hand?" he whispered softly in her ear. "This matter?" His hand dove under the T-shirt . "Or perhaps *this* matter?" Marlena gasped as his hand found it's way between her soft thighs.
"Oh God John!" She batted his hand away. "Stop it. I'm, trying to be serious."
"So am I." John's finger on her lips and the earnestness of his eyes made her falter and she almost lost her resolve. But steeling her determination, she moved away from him.

"I'm worried about the children. I want to make sure they're okay." The mention of the children caught John's attention and he looked thoughtful.
"Have you heard them at all?" he asked.
"No, but then," She paused, her eyes glinting in the candlelight, "I haven't really been paying much attention to..."
"..Outside influences?" John finished for her. "No, I haven't either." He leant his head on one side and chewed on his lip for a moment.. "It's hard to tell what's going on outside this room." He took a deep breath. "Brady! Belle!" he called loudly. There was no answer.

"Perhaps we could try ringing someone to get us out of here." Marlena suggested as she moved into a kneeling position. John nodded and twisted his body around to pick up the receiver. After a moment he put it back down with a frown.
"Dead?"
John nodded. "He really thought of everything, didn't he."
"Well, I guess we just have to trust that he is looking after the children." Marlena's calm facade belied the tension she was feeling.
"Well," John paused and then took Marlena's hand in his. "You trust him. And I guess that's good enough for me." Marlena smiled thankfully at him, his confidence easing her worries. She was still for a moment as her thoughts played. Then her face broke into the impish grin that was so reminiscent of Belle.
"You were talking," she pulled the sheet back with a flourish, "about taking matters in hand. How do you feel about *this* matter?" She was rewarded by a moan from John.

Q entered the Brady pub, a child's hand in each of his. Caroline came towards them with an expression somewhere between concern and relief on her face.
"Eugene dear." She greeted him.
"Granma!" Belle and Brady squealed simultaneously. Tearing themselves from Q's hands, they threw themselves at the Brady matriarch Kneeling down, she gathered them into her arms.
"Well now. Hello you two." Caroline squeezed them. "Why don't you go and see Granpa. He's in the kitchen." Belle and Brady ran off, disrupting the patrons with whoops and shouts.

Caroline watched them reach the door and then turned to Q.
"Marlena asked me to bring them over." He said by way of an explanation.
"Oh." Caroline nodded her head, not quite believing Q, but not finding any reason to disbelieve him. "Why? Is she going out.?"
"Let's just say, she's...otherwise engaged." Q chose his words carefully. Caroline was thoughtful for a moment.
"I thought John was going to pick up Brady from Marlena's today. "
"He was." Q paused. "He's busy too." He smiled and held out his hand. " It's nice to see you again Mrs. Brady." She extended her hand and shook his.
"You too." She said slowly.
"Well, I have to run." He wore what he liked to think of as his most cheery smile. "I have some business to take care of." He turned around

"Wait." Caroline said quickly. He turned back and looked at her expectantly. "Do you know when they'll be in to pick up the children?"
"I wouldn't know." Q shook his head. "Whenever they've done what they have to do I guess. But I wouldn't expect to see them before the morning." He winked and tipped an imaginary hat.
"Caroline!" Caroline turned around as she heard Shawn's voice. Turning back to say good-bye to Q, she discovered he was already gone.

Exhausted, Marlena rolled off John and on to the tangled mess of sheets that lay on the bed. John lay unmoving, staring at the ceiling. After a few minutes, he rolled onto his side to look at her.
"Thank you Marlena." His voice was soft and sensual.
"For what?"
"For reminding me again of what we share. I must have been *blind* not to realize..." his voice faded as he ran his finger down the side of her cheek. Marlena wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer to her.
"That I loved you?" He nodded as tears blurred his vision. "Well, just make sure I don't have to remind you again," she said gently. He shook his head and reaching up, softly kissed her.
"You won't." Relaxing, he rested his head on the soft pillow of her breasts while she ran her fingers through his hair, smoothing it into place around his face.

Marlena stared at the roses, trying to collect her thoughts. The evening had been so wonderful, she didn't want to spoil it for John by recounting Kristen's various plots and schemes over the previous few months. That could wait until the morning. Or later. Still, the topic of Kristen could not be allowed to rest entirely. Not until they'd decided what to do.

"John?" She ventured, breaking the peaceful silence that had settled over the room.
"Mmm-hmm?"
I hate to have to ask this, but what do you plan to do about Kristen?" John let out a small groan.
"Let's not ruin a perfect evening by talking about her." he entreated.
"I'd rather not either," Marlena granted, "but we have to discuss this. Kristen lost her last baby. She could just as easily lose this one. And this certainly has the potential to cause just that." John sighed.
"I know. I just don't know how we can avoid it."
"I think that any way you tell her is going to be risky. Of course, there's always the other option," she said slowly, running her finger leisurely down his arm.
"What option would that be?" John asked, making his own exploration of the delectable curve between her waist and hip.
"The one where you don't tell her."

John tore himself away to look at her face.
"No way Doc." He shook his head vehemently. "I won't do that. I've lived a lie for far to long. I refuse to live it any longer." Marlena brushed his hair from his forehead.
"I didn't mean-"
"I know exactly what you meant Doc, and I'm not doing it." He took her hand in his
"I love you Marlena Evans and I want the world to know it. I'll tell Kristen tomorrow that I'm leaving. I'll be as gentle as I can but she has to know the truth. If something happens-" he paused, "well, I'll have to take that chance."

Marlena smiled and studied his hazel eyes.
"Are you sure John? I know how much you love this child and what it means to you."
"Yes I do love this child. And I love the child I have with you. Belle and Brady deserve to have and be part of a family. And we can give it to them. We don't have to wait. And after tomorrow," he pulled her closer, "we won't have to." He was taken by surprise as Marlena kissed him passionately. She eventually broke away and looked at him with a delighted smile.
"And we can finally be a proper family."

Q picked up the jar of moisturiser that sat on the shelf. He read the label carefully and then looked in the mirror. Shaking his head he set the pot down and ran his eye over the other items in the cupboard. The heavy foundation was almost finished and a new full bottle sat next to it. A bottle of new looking cleanser sat untouched on the lower shelf. Q picked up a ratty old lipstick and opened it. He made a face at the vivid colour. He threw it down on the counter and opened the drawer It was crammed full of various boxes and Q picked one out. Turning it over, he found that it was an unused pregnancy predictor kit. He tossed it back in the drawer and smiled as he looked at the watch he had taken to wearing. Things were going quite nicely.

Hearing the doorknob click, he leant on the counter and arranged himself, pasting a big grin on his face. Kristen walked in, not seeing him as she looked over her shoulder towards the chest of drawers.

"Ms DiMera." At the sound of his voice. Kristen jumped and he saw the colour drain from her face.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed angrily.
"Kristen, Kristen." Q shook his head. "What kind of a greeting is that for a guest?"
"You're no guest of mine." Kristen narrowed her eyes. She decided that she wasn't going to let him get the better of her this time. He was not going to upset her. "What the hell do you want with me anyway? Why don't you go and bug someone else?"
"I've already told you what I want Kristen. I want you to tell John the truth about," he paused and smirked, "*everything*. Nothing less will do."
"And I've told you. I'm not telling John *anything*." She pushed past Q, trying not to let him see the fear that was growing in the pit of her stomach. He had made it into the house, *into her bathroom*, without anyone seeing. He hadn't tripped any alarms and Kristen had no doubt he could get out just as easily and quickly. He obviously was capable of much more than that and that made him very dangerous to her. She had to work out her options and quickly.

She grabbed a bottle from the cabinet and stalked out into the bedroom. Q followed her and watched as she shook out a couple of pills from the bottle and downed them with a mouthful from a glass of water. He smiled as he regarded her. She was so transparent. She looked like a possum, caught in the headlights of the oncoming truck that was about to flatten her. The wheels were turning in her head, but there was no engine. He suspected that she was probably going to try to bluff her way out of this corner she found herself in. He shook his head. She was such a pale shadow of Stefano.

Catching sight of him in the mirror, she turned around.
"Are you still here?" she snapped.
"Well, it would appear so." Q replied. "Unless of course I am a figment of your imagination. Which is quite likely, considering the over-action of it recently. He looked her up and down with disdain. "I mean, you can't seriously think that John will want to stay with you when he finds out what a pitiful excuse for a human being you really are."
"John loves me and I'm having his baby." Kristen said angrily as she slammed the glass back down on the chest. of drawers.
"John doesn't love *you*." Q sneered. "He may love the woman he thinks you are, although I seriously doubt it. But you? You're a scheming conniving witch. How in all the universe could he possible love you? And your baby, well, once he finds out how you, to all intents and purposes, raped him to conceive your spawn...."
"I did *not* rape him!" Kristen's exclamation was sharp.
"Oh no? You hypnotized him to sleep with you. He had no way of refusing you and now he can't even remember your 'nights of passion'," he said sarcastically. "You know what's pathetic about you Kristen? You excel in these underhanded and devious methods of getting your way, yet you can't even admit who and what you are." His sneer grew as he looked at her with scorn. "I've met Denebian Slime Creatures with more guts than you."

"How dare you talk to me like that!" Kristen was so angry she was shaking. "Get out of my house now!" Q merely smiled contemptuously. Kristen flicked her hair out of the way and picked up the phone. She had dialled 911 before she realized the line was dead. "I told you Krispie. You'll never win against me." Before Kristen knew it, the receiver was out of her hand and back in the cradle. "You may as well give up now. Tell John the truth and I'll go. I'll leave and you'll never hear from me again. Refuse to tell John the truth and well, " he looked at his watch with a devilish grin, "you may regret it sooner than you think."

******

John lay contemplating the ceiling as he waited for Marlena to return from the bathroom. He rubbed his nose, feeling the hayfever threatening more seriously than ever and turned to the bedside table to find some tissues. On top of the book that Marlena was currently reading, lay a photograph he had not seen for years.

It was of he and Marlena and the young twins. They each had a child on their lap and he had his arm around his wife's shoulders. They all looked as if they'd just heard a great joke and John's heart ached for all the time he had lost. All that time when he should have held Marlena in his arms and never let her go. All that time when he should have protected her from all the hurt and pain that she had suffered. He sighed and blinked back the tears that suddenly blurred his vision.

"I found them. They were hidden in the back of the drawer." John looked up to see Marlena coming out of the bathroom. She wore a light peach coloured satin robe that tied around the front and ended somewhere mid-thigh. It always amused him to think that on most other women it would probably reach their knees. In her right hand she held a glass filled with water and her left hand was curled up around a couple of little white tablets. "Here you are honey." Reaching John, she tipped her hand and let the tablets fall into his palm. "These should make you feel better." She handed him the glass and watched as he obediently swallowed the pills.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she took the picture out of his hands.
"It's been years since I saw that picture." John said softly.
"I had to put most of them away when Roman returned." Her reply was quiet and contemplative. "He couldn't deal with seeing them because they just reminded him of how much he'd lost in those seven years." She looked up at John, her face strained. "He just couldn't seem to grasp the fact that when he came back, you lost more than he ever did."
"I may have done." His voice was barely above a whisper now. "But I did have those years. And despite whatever else Stefano has done, I have no-one else but him to thank for that. Unwittingly he gave me the best thing that ever happened to me." Marlena grasped his hand in hers.
"I'm just so sorry it came at such a price."
"For both of us Doc. For both of us." Leaning over, he pulled her into his arms and planted a kiss on top of her head.

She snuggled up to him and they contemplated the picture together.
"How do you think Sami will take this?" John ventured after a few minutes.
"I really don't know," Marlena admitted. "I thought our relationship was beginning to thaw. Sami seemed, different, more grown up. But then," she shrugged, "I don't think she knows how to get past her anger. I wish she'd let me help her John."
"Marlena honey, I think you've bent over backwards where Sami is concerned. I think we both have. We can't keep beating ourselves up over it forever." He played with the end of the peach coloured sash. "We could go on feeling guilty for the rest of our lives, but that's not going to help anyone. Least of all Sami."
"I know." Marlena nodded her head, her heart heavy. "But she's my daughter John. I love her so much. And it hurts me to know that I am part of the reason she has suffered so much pain."
"I know sweetheart. I feel the same way." John cuddled her close to him. "But I do know one wee girl who will be thrilled about this," he said with a smile.

Marlena inhaled deeply, filling her senses with him. The glorious sight of him, the sweet taste of him, the wondrous scent, the sound of his breathing and the incredible feeling of his body next to hers. A sudden urge to feel his rough skin on hers found her stripping off her robe and flinging it off the bed. Pressing herself up against him, she sought out his mouth with hers and made a play for his tongue. John broke off the kiss and looked at her in amazement.
"What?" she asked innocently.
"You are *insatiable* Marlena Evans!" John exclaimed.
"Is that a problem?" Marlena tried to suppress a smile. "You've never complained before."
"Well, no.." John attempted a backtrack.
"Because I'll understand if it is a problem." Marlena's face was the picture of sweetness. She was enjoying this immensely. "I mean I know you are getting on...and you might not be quite as energetic as.." her sentence was interrupted by a high pitched squeal as John pounced on her.

"Not as energetic as what, Doc?" Marlena was unable to get out a reply between the giggles as John found her most ticklish spots. "Lost for words huh?" he laughed.
"Oh, oh. stop John...." Marlena tried unsuccessfully to push his hands away. "Please!" she squeezed out before she surrendered into another fit of giggles.
"I'll show you who's energetic." John carried out his threat immediately as he hoisted her over her shoulder in a fireman's lift.
"John!" Marlena shouted. "Put me down!"
"Uh-uh Doc." John laughed, highly pleased with himself. "You have to be nice to me first." He slapped her exposed buttocks lightly.

'Is that right?" Marlena's voice floated up from behind him as he contemplated the two of them in the mirror.
"That's right Doc." John didn't have time to react as an imprint of Marlena's teeth became imbedded in his buttock. "OW!" his exclamation was swiftly followed by a curse and he dropped her on the bed. "What did you do that for?"
"It was just too tempting to resist." Marlena said with a wicked grin.
"Oh yeah?" John chewed on the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling.
"Mmm-hmm." Marlena nodded, knowing that something was on it's way, but not sure what. She found out as a gush of water came flying out of the glass that had been on the night stand. Her attempt to duck was unsuccessful as the water caught her squarely in the face.
"Why you..." She shook her head wiping the water out of her eyes.
"Sorry sweetheart. My hand slipped." John's smile couldn't have been much broader as he told the blatant lie.

"Slipped huh?" A smile slid across her face as her hand firmly gripped the pillow beneath her.
"Yeah, that's right." John couldn't see what she was about to do, but he was ready for anything when he saw the smile on her face. Almost anything.

He doubled over as the feather pillow caught him fair and square in the middle of his stomach. Before he could move, she took another swipe, which caught him right on the side of his head. Reaching his arm out, he fended off the next blow and wrested the pillow out of Marlena's grasp.
"You're asking for trouble lady!" John held the corners of one end of the pillow in his hands and advanced towards the bed. Slipping off the other side, Marlena grabbed another pillow.
"Catch me if you can!" she teased.
"Now you're really asking for it!" John leapt onto the bed and ran over it, bouncing as he went. Laughing, Marlena raced around the end of the bed, assuring that she was still on the opposite side. John looked at her for a moment, and then, without warning, he darted around the end of the bed after he. Marlena madly scrambled across the bed, but he followed her. With a shriek, she dashed into the bathroom.
"Oh no you don't!" John was after her in a flash and the corner of his pillow prevented her closing the door. The sound of her breathless laughter from the other side of the door made him want her even more.
"I'm coming to get you!" He warned, his own voice full of laughter as he pushed on the door. There was a squeal from the other side and pressure against his pushes.

Suddenly the tension on the door went slack and it flew open. Out of the corner of his eye, John saw Marlena nip out of the bathroom as he struggled vainly to regain his balance. When he looked up from his sprawled position on the floor, he saw her standing over him, pillow in hand.
"Why don't you just give up John?" Her face was flushed and her eyes danced.
"Never!" John grabbed his pillow and whacked her across the legs.
"Hey! That was below the belt!" Marlena yelled as she pelted him with blows from the pillow. John did his best to return her shots as he attempted to scramble upright. As he did, he slowly began to gain the advantage in the pillow battle and made headway into the bedroom. Before long, he had Marlena bailed up against the bed. Smiling as she tried to catch her breath, she dropped her pillow and held her hands up in the air.
"Okay, I give in." She paused to gulp down a lungful of air. "You win."
"I do?" John moved in closer, his lust for her evident. "So what's my prize?"

*****

Carrie looked out at the heavy dark sky. The clouds had rolled in on dusk and the weather now looked ominous. Will slept peacefully in the crib in the next room and Austin was clearing away the last of the dinner dishes. She picked up a book but found she couldn't concentrate, she was so unsettled.

She switched on the television and flicked through the channels until she found a re-run of the X-files. Scully was alone in her bathroom. At least Scully thought she was alone. Some mutant guy was trying to squeeze in through a vent. Carrie shivered and turned off the set. Rubbing her arms she made her way into the kitchen where Austin had finished up with the dishes and was just putting on the jug for a cup of tea.
"Are you okay Carrie?" he asked concernedly.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She nodded her head.
"Are you sure honey? You look awfully pale." He put his arm around her and pulled her close.
"I really don't know Austin. I just have this strange feeling something is going to happen. It's the weirdest thing. I just can't put my finger on it."
"You're probably right." Austin agreed. "After all, it's not like there's ever nothing happening with your family, is it?" he said, trying to lighten her mood. It worked and she laughed.
"That's true."

Any further conversation was cut short by the shrill of the telephone. Austin picked up the receiver.
"Hello?" Carrie watched him as she listened to the one-sided conversation.
"Yes we did. Uh-huh. Okay. Yes, that's fine. What was that? Three-oh-five." He scribbled something on a scrap of paper. "Sure. Yep, we'll see you then. Thank-you. G'bye." He put down the phone and turned to Carrie. "That was the real-estate agent," he informed her. "They've got a place for us to look at."

After their discussion at the park, they had stopped by the real-estate agents to have a look at what was available. With both of them earning decent salaries from Titan, they found that they could afford something more than a modest bungalow and they wanted to start looking as soon as possible.

"Already?" Carrie poured the boiling water into the tea-pot. "Where abouts?"
"Sycamore Street." Austin stopped abruptly as Carrie dropped the carton of milk that she had just got out of the fridge.
"Damn!" Carrie picked up the carton and stepped out of the way as Austin mopped up the milk with a sponge. He stood up and looked at her as he tossed the sponge in the sink.
"What was that about?" he asked.
"Sycamore Street is where our old family home is." Carrie explained.
"Oh, of course." Austin looked at the paper that he had written the address on. "Three-oh-five. Do you know where that is?"
"It's pretty close to it." Carrie turned her back on Austin and poured the milk into the cups, hoping that Austin hadn't seen how shaken she had really been. "For a moment there I thought Dad might finally have put the house on the market."
"Do you really think he would?" Austin watched Carrie carefully as she poured out the tea. He was worried about how jumpy she was and wondered if there might be something in what she had said earlier. "I mean, all his family is here. Don't you think he might want to come back some day?" He accepted the cup Carrie handed him and noted the way she wrapped her hands round her own as if seeking warmth from the cup that she could not generate herself.

He followed her into the living room and sat next to her on the sofa.
"If he was going to come back you would have thought he would have done it by now. I mean, look at all the things he's missed." She frowned. "There was Alan's trial. Marlena was *possessed* and he didn't bother coming back. We had a wedding. He has a grandson he's never seen..." She shrugged her shoulders. "You know, I don't know why I even bother *calling* him Dad any more. He's never been there for me. Ever since he came back, he's made things worse not better." Austin put his arms around her as the tears started to fall but she pushed him away. "No Austin, it's alright." She wiped her eyes. "I won't let him hurt me any more. From now on, John's the one who's my Dad. Just like Marlena is my Mom." She managed a watery smile. "If only they'd get it and themselves together." Austin smiled and wiped her cheek.
"You still wanna go see that house tomorrow?"
"Sure thing." She nodded vigorously. "The sooner we get our own place, the sooner we can start practicing to be Mom and Dad ourselves."
"Why do we have to wait?" Austin pushed Carrie back onto the couch.

John watched Marlena as she slowly lay back on the bed, both of them oblivious to the rain falling heavily outside.
"You want your prize?" Marlena said, her voice laden with desire. "Come and get it." John resisted the urge to take her straight away and instead sat on the bed next to her. Leaning over her, he placed his left hand on the bed to support himself and looked at her through heavy lidded eyes. He ran the fingers of his right hand through her tousled hair, lifting it and watching it fall back to the bed. Then, slowly, he traced the outline of her lips, hot and red from the exertion.

Marlena took his finger in her mouth and holding it lightly with her teeth, began to explore the tip with her tongue. When her scrutiny became too insistent for John, he withdrew his finger with a smile. Laying the palm of his right hand against her neckline he began to explore her body with long smooth strokes. First one arm, then the other. Then her stomach. There was almost a ritualistic feel about his touch on her skin and Marlena closed her eyes, concentrating on nothing else but the feeling of his hand as it travelled over her curves.

His voyage finally brought him back to her neck and she threw her head back as his fingers wandered over her throat. He replaced them with his lips and moved his body to cover hers. The rhythm of their love was slow and sweet, an anthem to their past and their future. As they rose to their mutual peak, Marlena's quiet cries mingled with John's.

******

Kristen eyed Q warily. She had left the bedroom only to find him downstairs in the living room when she got there. That was when she really started to fear him. If he could appear and disappear at will, God knew what else he could do. Even Stefano hadn't been able to do that. She cursed Stefano for the umpteenth time. Now, when she needed his help most, he wasn't there for her. She had been upset when her mother had died in the strange tunnels of underground Paris but she was beginning to realise that Stefano had been more of a loss than her mother ever was.

She eyed the brandy decanter longingly, desperate for a stiff drink, yet knowing Bradford would rat on her to John if she so much as sniffed the stopper. Her assumption was borne out as Q looked at her and then at the brandy. He snapped his fingers and a brandy appeared magically in her hand.
"You seemed to want one so badly," he said maliciously. For a moment she was almost tempted as she looked at his stony face but she took hold of herself and poured the brandy into the nearest pot plant.
"Don't even bother," she said wearily, "I wouldn't do anything to hurt my child."
"And if John left you? Would you care about your child so much then?" Q settled himself in an overstuffed armchair and awaited her answer.
"Of course I would." Kristen didn't miss a beat. "But John isn't going to leave me. So it's a moot point really." She put on her sweetest smile. "Now if you'd like to be on your way Mr Bradford. You can go back to Marlena and tell her that her latest little plot to get John back hasn't worked. They never do." Q shook his head.
"You just don't get it do you Krissy. Marlena doesn't even know I'm here. Marlena is otherwise occupied at the moment.. I doubt she could care less where I am."

Something about his smile made Kristen's stomach churn and she reached for the bell to call Ileanna. Glaring at him she rang it and waited. When Ileanna was not forthcoming, she rang it again. Still the housekeeper did not appear and Kristen called the woman's name. Q sighed.
"Give it up Kristen. Never one to take a subtle hint are you?" He waved his hand vaguely in the doorway. "I gave your staff the night off."
"You did *what*?" Kristen slammed her hand down on the sideboard in frustration. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
"Q," he said simply. "Look Kristen. Make it easy on yourself. I don't like having to torture you like this. Well, actually I do," he smiled wickedly, "but it can't be much fun for you. Tell John. That's all I'm asking. Surely it can't be that difficult."
"Look, I don't know who, or *what* you are. I don't really care," she lied. "But I think you picked the wrong woman to intimidate. I'm not giving into your pathetic threats and your ranting won't change my mind. If you leave now, I won't call the police about this little incident."

To her surprise Q threw his head back and let out a long throaty laugh. "Oh, you're priceless Kristen! You're so deluded I almost admire you. Almost. Do you have *any* idea what I could do to you if I really wanted to make you miserable? I could take you to the Cardassians. I'm sure they could find inventive ways of using you. Or how about the Borg? Assimilation would at least improve your I.Q." He pushed himself out of the chair and circled Kristen like she was carrion and his next meal. "I would tell you not to underestimate me, but I'm not even sure you would know what estimation *was*."
"If you can't think of anything clever to say, don't say anything at all." Kristen snapped, thoroughly frightened by what was coming from this strange man.
"I must admit," Q said icily, "it's very hard to produce intelligent rebuttal to a half-wit."
"If you don't like it, go back to your precious Marlena." Kristen said coldly. "I'm sure that she can fulfil that need, if not any others. Although, I'm sure if you asked her nicely, she'd take care of *all* of them for you. That is, if she still remembers *how* to," she finished nastily. Q quietly looked at his watch.

******

Marlena lay sleepily in Johns arms willing her eyes to remain open. She didn't want to waste a moment of this glorious night by sleeping. The stereo hummed quietly in the corner and she smiled as she caught the words.

I can still hear the song of your laughter
I can still taste the sorrow of your tears
We said goodbye but our hearts did not hear
Now my love, there's nothing left to fear.
With all my heart put me through
It leads me back to you.

She sighed and nestled her head back under John's chin, relishing the roughness of his hair against her face. That single movement, the feeling of him, the smell of him brought back so many memories that she suddenly found it hard to breath. The tang she could taste, she suddenly realized, came from her own tears. John gently peeled himself away when he felt the wet droplets on his chest.
"Hey." He wiped away the moisture with his thumb. "No crying allowed. It's in the rule-book." She sniffed as she laughed.
"I know, I'm sorry."
"Wanna talk about it?" His question was quiet and non-insistent.
"There's nothing to talk about really." Marlena ran her finger along his jawline. "It's just that - I've waited for this moment for so long..."
"You're disappointed?" John voice was suddenly tremulous, like this magic carpet he had found might suddenly be pulled from under him.
"Oh, I could never be disappointed!" Marlena exclaimed. "John, how could you even think that? I think this is probably the most wonderful night of my life"
"Oh." John's relief was evident. "You too huh?"
"Oh, yes." Her face became serious. "I just wish that we could have had this night much sooner."
"That we hadn't wasted so much time?" John knew she wasn't reproaching him but felt it all the same.

"I am so sorry my love. If I could take time back, knowing what I know now..." his words faded and he stared into the distance. When he resumed his voice was low and thready. "I never would have let you out of my arms after that night I saw you on the pier."
"After the interview?" Marlena swallowed hard. John looked at her, his love burning in his eyes.
"No Doc. I mean when you came back to me. Like an angel walking out of the mist. If I had been bright enough to see what was right in front of my eyes.... I would have fought Roman for you. And I would have *won*" His voice was low and fierce and it sent shivers down Marlena's spine.
"But what about Isabella?" she asked in a small voice.
"Oh, don't get me wrong, baby. I loved IzzyB with all my heart. But I love you with all my heart and soul and every little piece of my being. Before Roman came back, I knew I was going to have to make a decision. And I did. On that beach in Miami I made my decision Doc. I kissed you and I *knew*. But then we found....." he couldn't bring himself to say the name again, "and Isabella was pregnant." He shook his head.

"It was a mess." Marlena said softly. "We none of us are fortune tellers sweetheart. You are not the only one that made a decision back then and you are not the only one who has regretted it since.." She ran her hand down his arm and grasped his hand in hers. "But who's to say that if we could go back, things would turn out any differently? Who's to say that they wouldn't be worse?" She interlaced her fingers with his. "Let's just be thankful that we've found each other again now. Let's not waste time on regrets and self-blame. Life is too short and too wonderful for that." John squeezed her hand and then pulled his own away. He twined his fingers in her hair and pulled her forward for a kiss.
"You are the most incredible woman I have ever known Dr. Evans. I must be the luckiest man on earth. What the hell did I do to deserve you?"

******

Sami ducked into the doorway, the rain pouring in rivulets down her coat. Her hair was plastered to the side of her face and she shivered as the icy wind bit through her. Only a few days ago they had been enjoying the last of the summer weather. Now winter had struck with a vengeance. She stopped momentarily as an image of Will flashed into her mind. She hoped he was tucked up safe in his crib. She really knew that she could trust Carrie and Austin to keep him safe, but she worried all the same. Seeing the break in the rain, she hastened down the street to the building where the loft was located.

Once inside, she pulled off the soaked raincoat and squeezed the excess water out of her hair. Tucking the waterproof satchel firmly under her arm, she stepped into the lift and hit the button. The rickety old elevator groaned as it reached the top and the doors rasped open. Sami sneezed and stepped out onto the landing. She hammered loudly on the gunmetal grey loft door and waited. When there was no reply, she banged the door again. Still getting no answer, she tried the door. It seemed to be locked and Sami cursed in exasperation. She didn't even know if she was doing the right thing and everything tonight seemed to be standing in her way. Maybe I should give up and go home, she decided, as an involuntary shiver ran through her. Forget all about it. It's insane Why am I even doing this? She sighed and rubbed her cold face with her hand, her fingers icy on her brow. Because I care about Mom. And God help me, I want her to be happy. She turned tiredly and retraced her steps to the elevator. Maybe I could try Kristen's....

******

Kristen was enjoying herself. After all, the bitterness and resentment she had built up towards Marlena usually had no outlet. John would never hear a word against his precious *Doc* so Kristen had to stay silent. Now however, she could let fly. What the hell could this character do? Tell John? After the whole Belle incident, she didn't imagine John would be very receptive to *anything* Eugene Bradford had to say. A sly smile crept across her face as she saw him look at his watch.
"Mind you," she continued along the same thread, baiting Q. "She's probably frigid. That's probably why she hasn't had a man in so long. No-one wants to sleep with her, she's such a cold fish."

"As opposed to you Kristen." Q said quietly. Kristen missed the menace in his voice, so eager was she to play this game she deludedly thought she was winning.
"Yeah, that's right." She patted her stomach. "Here is the proof after all."
"Oh, of course." Q's glare was so intense Kristen's triumphant smile faded a little. "That would be why John was calling *Marlena's* name when you hypnotized him into screwing you." Kristen returned his stare with equal venom.
"You're just jealous." She spat cattily. "You probably can't get it up yourself and you hate the thought of anyone else actually enjoying sex. You and Mackerel Evans make a good pair." She threw her head back and let out a whiny nasal laugh that made Q feel like vomiting.

His face was thunderous as he looked at her.
"Well I hope you enjoyed that," he snarled, "because it's the last laugh you'll be getting for a long time."
"No, I don't think so." Kristen smiled unpleasantly. "Don't you get it Mr Bradford? I have just *had* the last laugh. Now if you'll just be on your way, I have some business to take care of."
"Kristen my *friend*," the word came out like a brick, "you're wrong. You see the joke is *on* you. As we stand here having this very unpleasant little conversation, John and Marlena are together. And *they* are not talking." He was circling her again. "They are very much *otherwise* occupied. With each other If you get my drift."

******

The doors of the elevator opened at the bottom floor and Sami trudged out. She let out a surprised cry as a figure stepped out of the shadows and into her path, blocking her way.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He was young and his smile seemed quite sincere. "I saw you come in earlier and I thought you might be able to help me." Seeing Sami's bemused expression he caught himself.
"Sorry, my name is Grant Whittaker." He held out his hand in greeting. Sami slowly extended hers and tentatively shook his. If nothing else, her life's experiences had thought her to be wary of strangers.
"Sami Brady." She returned quietly studying the young man intently. He seemed nice enough. Tall without being too tall, a slim wiry build,sandy coloured hair and blue eyes. He'd probably be quite good looking, Sami thought, if he wasn't dripping with water. She smiled, trying to strike a balance between appearing friendly and a little stand-offish. She didn't want to give him any ideas. "How can I help you Mr Whittaker?"

He flashed an attractive smile. "Grant, please. I'm looking for an old school friend of mine. I believe he moved here a few years ago. I've been trying to track him down for a few months now." He wiped away a droplet of water that was trickling down his nose and sniffed. "Just my luck to arrive on the worst night in months." Sami couldn't help but smile with him.
"It does seem like a bit of bad timing. What 's your friend's name?"
"Austin Reed." Sami prayed that he didn't notice the way she froze at his name. To hear it so unexpectedly out of a strangers mouth made her stomach contract and lurch. And she hated herself for it.

"Sure, I know Austin," she said steadily. "He's my-" she paused, catching herself. "He's my brother-in-law."
"You're married to Austin's brother?" He was openly searching her hands for signs of a wedding ring. Sami couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh, no. Austin is married to my sister."
"Reed is married?" His expression was incredulous. "He always swore he'd be the last to get married."
"Yeah, well..." The cold was getting the better of Sami and she was shivering again. "Austin is full of surprises." She reached into her bag and pulled out her purse. She took out a card, scribbled on it and handed it to Grant. "Here," she said, "this is the address of Austin and Carrie's apartment." She gave him quick, simple directions to the apartment building as she put her purse away.
"Thanks very much Ms Brady." He shook her hand again. "Hopefully I'll be seeing you again real soon."
"You probably will." Sami smiled. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to be somewhere." He nodded and looked thoughtful as he watched her hurry out of the building.

******

Kristen's face drained of colour as she very much got Q's drift. She recovered quickly however and faced him, her nostrils flaring.
"You're lying.!" She accused him wildly, her eyes flashing snatches of her insanity. "John wouldn't do that to me. He loves me." The last words were said in desperation, like the repetition would somehow make them true. Q sighed.
"Do we have to rehash this Kristen? John does *not* love you. It was only a matter of time before you lost him."
"I don't believe you!" Kristen's anguish had quickly turned to fury. "You're trying to upset me so that I'll lose my baby."
"Oh get a grip Krissy." Q laughed sardonically. "I already told you. I couldn't care a less about your brat. "

"No, but my child stands in Marlena's way, doesn't it? She' probably put you up to this. She wants me to lose my baby so she can get her claws into John. She knows he'll never leave me while I am the mother of his child, so the bitch wants to kill my baby!" Her voice rose as she rambled and ended in a shriek. Q looked at her in disgust.
"Kristen, you are not even worthy of being in the same room as Marlena Evans. But if you insist on disbelieving what I tell you, then you force my hand. I'm sure you will believe your own eyes." He clicked his fingers.

******

Marlena laughed lightly. "I don't know if I'm that much of a catch." Her voice, sexy and low, made John's pulse race.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that." He studied her face intently, watching the way the soft light bounced off her smooth, pale skin. The flecks of gold in her hazel eyes shone, more beautiful than ever he remembered and he couldn't believe that they were only for him. He closed his eyes as she snuggled closer to him and lay there, wishing in a way that this perfect moment would never end.

******

Kristen cried agonisingly as the scene before her came into focus. It was Marlena's bedroom at the penthouse. Kristen stood next to Q at the end of the bed. In the bed lay John and Marlena, twined in a lovers embrace so sweet it could have come from painting. The pale yellow sheets were rumpled and hanging loose from the bed. The top sheet lay lightly over the two naked bodies and the blankets lay in a pile on the floor, next to Marlena's jeans and chemise. John's maroon boxers lay shatteringly close.

******

Marlena shivered as a cold breeze brushed lightly over her flesh. She opened her eyes, seeking the source. The room looked exactly the same as it had before. The candles flickered slightly but the window was still firmly closed. She looked at John. Feeling her movement, he opened one eye and raised a dark eyebrow.
"What is it sweetheart?" Marlena looked confused for a moment and then shrugged her shoulders.
"I guess it's nothing."
"Are you sure?" He brushed one hand down her arm, noting the raised hairs.
"Darling, I'm sure. I must be a little jumpy still." Her smile held a hint of shyness.
"I don't know how, after all that exertion." he teased. "I'm exhausted."
"Well I hope you recover soon." Marlena winked. "I have plenty more for you where that came from."
"I'm counting on it," he whispered as his lips swept past hers.

******

"John!" Kristen screamed. "John!"
"He can't hear you." Q's tone was low. "They have no idea we are even here. They can't see us."
"This is a trick. It's an illusion!" Kristen shrilled desperately, her hands clutching the frizzy hair at the sides of her head. "It can't be real."
"It's real alright Kristen and you know it. You lose. Zero - Love. Game, set and match, Marlena Evans."
"It's not real. It can't be real." Kristen repeated the phrase over and over as she sank to her knees sobbing. "He loves me. It's not real." Q shook his head as he watched her. Pathetic. Stefano never would have approved. He quietly snapped his fingers.

******

Marlena and John never noticed the second small breeze to sweep across the dark, warm bedroom. Sleep had claimed them minutes earlier. Sated and fulfilled, they dreamed untroubled dreams, only of each other.

******

Kristen wept uncontrollably as she knelt on the carpet of the DiMera living room. He was right. She had lost. She had lost everything. Her whole world was crumbling around her and she had no way to stop it. She looked up, expecting to see his superciliously triumphant face but with relief, discovered she was alone. A fact she bitterly regretted a moment later as she screamed, a searing pain ripping through her lower abdomen.

Sami picked her way along the path. The surface of the stone was flooded from the rain that had fallen rapidly and heavily. The storm wasn't over yet by any means. It appeared to be just beginning. Overhead, lightning sliced through the sky like a jagged scar. It was followed several moments later by an enormous clap of thunder. Sami pulled her coat closer around her and continued up the path. Reaching the front door of the DiMera Mansion, she noticed that none of the lights were on.

Deciding that it didn't necessarily mean anything, she used the heavy brass door-knocker. She waited for a minute or so and then tried again. She stared at the door, willing it to open. It remained steadfastly closed. Sami frowned, wondering if perhaps this wasn't a sign. A sign that she should forget about Marlena's journal and go home to her nice warm bed. Let them work out their problems for themselves. She turned around and stepped off the doorstep. Suddenly, very faintly over the wind, she heard what sounded like a human cry. She stopped and stood very still, listening. Hearing the sound again, she went back up to the door and put her ear to it. Again a cry and she stepped back from the door as if she had been bitten.

Sami quickly made her way around the side of the house and peered through the window. It was so inky black she could hardly make out a thing. She rubbed on the window, but the rain merely smeared the dirt that was already on there and made it more difficult to see. She moved along the wall, fighting the clutches of the wet bushes and looked through another window. Again she couldn't see anything and she was about to give up when she heard another cry. It was cry of pain, a high pitched keening, like an animal caught in a trap and tendrils of cold fear grabbed at Sami. She looked back through the window and a sudden flash of lightning illuminated the room in a blaze of harsh blue light. A cry caught in her throat as she saw a figure crumpled on the floor.

******

Q appeared in the penthouse. The living room was dark, excepting for the occasional flashes from the lightning. The bursts of light illuminated the rain drops that dribbled down the window and they cast long shadows across the room. Q looked in the direction of the stairs. Everything was quiet, just as it should be.

He had sent Kristen back to the DiMera Mansion alone. He could have gone with her, and tormented her even more, but he suspected she wouldn't be much fun for the next few days. Not after the blubbering mess she'd turned into at the sight of John and Marlena in each others arms. He smiled sadistically. She'd deserved it. He'd never intended to bring her to the penthouse but when she'd been so thoroughly obnoxious and nasty...well, she deserved everything she got.

He turned on his heels and went into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and turned his nose up at the contents. A few wilted lettuce leaves, a couple of soft tomatoes and some mouldy cheese graced the top shelf. The middle shelf held a three day old lasagne that Caroline had dropped round. A jam jar, complete with the evidence of a child's grubby fingers, sat in the door, next to milk cartons which, thankfully, were fresh. Q closed the door and snapped his fingers. A plate of fries appeared on the table, along with a punnet of sour cream. A cup of tea completed the 'snack'.

Before Q could sit down, there was a disturbance in the air before him and Q2 materialized. Q2 picked up a couple of fries and winked at Q as he stuffed them in his mouth. Q raised an eyebrow and then wordlessly seated himself. Q2 followed suit.
"Nice work Q." Q2 spoke through a mouthful of fries.
"Hasn't anyone ever told you it's *rude* to talk with your mouth full?" Q asked cuttingly.
"Since when did that ever bother me?" Q2 grinned. "You either for that matter."
"Why are you here Q?" Q eyed him suspiciously.
"I've been keeping tabs on your progress Q. To be honest, you are doing much better than we expected."
"Then I'm back in the Continuum?" Q asked dryly, knowing what the answer was going to be but thinking it was worth a try all the same.
"Afraid not Q. One night of passion a future doth not make" Q2 reached for another handful of fries, but discovered the bowl had disappeared. "Well, very hospitable I'm sure." He snapped his fingers and produced his own bowl. "Say, these aren't half bad Q."

"Get on with it Q" Q growled, his patience wearing thin.
"Where was I? Oh yes. The Continuum wants you to ensure John and Marlena's future together, free from any interference from DiMera or his offspring, adopted or otherwise." Q2 stood, a wicked smile spreading across his face. "Shouldn't be too had for a Q like you. Oh and," he tapped the side of his nose with his index finger, "don't forget, no-one in Salem knows the reason you are here."
"How could I forget with you bugging me every five minutes?" Q frowned, suddenly feeling tired. "I'm going to bed now Q. I trust you can make your own way out." He didn't wait for Q2 to answer as the contents of the table disappeared with a sweep of his hand.

He turned on his heel and made his way up the staircase. Q2 watched him go. He wondered if maybe he should have told him about the DiMera woman. He shook his head. Not to matter, she wasn't important. He raised his right hand snapped his fingers. The lightening flashed, revealing an empty room.

******

Sami battled the biting wind as she pulled her hand into the end of her sleeve. Shielding her face, she put her fist through the pane of glass in the french door. A shriek escaped her as she felt a jagged shard slice through her coat and into her soft flesh. Trying to ignore the tearing pain, she pulled her arm out and batted away the remaining glass. Reaching through she found the key and unlocked the door.

Inside the room, she rapidly dropped her bag and shrugged out of her coat. She could see now that the figure was Kristen and she was obviously in agony, judging by the awful wailing that filled the room. She was on her knees, hugging her stomach and rocking back and forth. Her hair fell about her head, obscuring her face. The phone lay on the floor several feet away, the receiver beeping blankly.

Sami wasn't entirely sure if Kristen had even heard her enter the room and she fought of the urge to just leave the woman there. Quietly she kneeled down beside Kristen.
"Kristen?" When she got no answer she tried it a little louder. "Kristen. It's Sami." Kristen flicked her head sideways and looked at Sami through wild eyes. Her face was streaked with tears and mascara and it was contorted into a mask of pain.
"Get away from me!" she shrieked madly.
"But Kristen, I'm trying to help you." Sami insisted. "We've got to get you to the hospital."
"You don't want to help me!" Kristen hissed, her eyes darting from side to side. "You're in this with *her*. You're all in it together. You want to kill my baby!" She screamed through the pain. "I won't let you do it. You won't kill my baby!"

Sami looked at her with alarm. The impending miscarriage seemed to have totally thrown her over the edge. Kristen had lost the last vestige of her grip on sanity and Sami wondered if she'd ever find it again.

Keeping a close eye on Kristen, Sami crawled across the carpeted floor to the phone. She picked up the receiver and dialled 911, trying to staunch the blood that was flowing freely from her wrist. The operator on the other end picked up almost immediately and Sami gave her the details quickly and succinctly. The operator informed her that the ambulance would be dispatched immediately.

Sami inspected the room around her. It was decorated in light, fresh colours, so different to what she remembered as a child when Aunt Kim and Uncle Shane had lived here. Then it had been dark and somber. An effect of the wood panelling that English people were so fond of, she supposed. Somehow, though, it had been cosy. A warm welcoming house. A respite from the strange, harsh realities of the outside world. Not any longer.

Her eyes settled on a curtain tie. Lacking the energy to get up and walk, she half stumbled, half crawled to the window. The room was freezing and this contributed to her stupor as much as the blood loss. Her numb fingers fumbled as they unhooked the tie Every movement called for more and more exertion as Sami clumsily tied the material round her arm in a temporary tourniquet. She knew from basic first aid that it wouldn't be an artery, but she was sure that she had severed a pretty major vein. Pulling the knot tight with her teeth, she slumped against the sofa, blood pooling on the carpet beneath her. Slowly, as her fingers began to tingle, the blood flow slowed up. Mustering her energy, she pulled herself back to the telephone and turned her attention to Kristen.

Kristen's screams had subsided to loud moans for the time-being. She had rolled onto her side and lay in a foetal position. Sami ventured to speak to her again.
"Kristen, do you know where John is?" Kristen's answer was a long, piercingly loud howl. Sami flinched, the noise setting all her nerves on edge.
"Fine.." she muttered to herself.

She picked up the receiver again, swearing with the pain as the movement set the blood moving once more. She tucked the receiver between her shoulder and chin and dialled the number with her left hand. It was Caroline who answered. Sami briefly explained the situation with Kristen and asked if they had seen, or knew where, John was.

"No Sami, I'm afraid we don't.. Actually, Eugene Bradford dropped Belle and Brady by this evening. He said John was busy. But he didn't know where he was. Or at least, he didn't tell me if he did. Are *you* alright Sami?" Caroline could detect the pain that laced her grand-daughter's voice and it worried her.
"I'm fine Granma," Sami lied. "I cut myself a little when I broke the window to get in. But the Ambulance should be here any minute." As if on cue, a faint wail of sirens sounded in the distance. "In fact I think I hear it now. Could you just try and get hold of John. And Mom." The request came tumbling from her mouth before she could catch it..
"Of course we will sweetheart. And we'll see you down at the hospital soon."
"Okay." Sami's voice cracked on the word and she couldn't quite bite back the sob that followed. She hung up quickly before Caroline could question her any further.

Easing herself back to the floor, she cradled her arm as the rough wool of the carpet bit into her cheek. Kristen's moans continued unabated and Sami had no choice but to listen to them till the ambulance came.

******

Caroline jiggled the buzzer on the intercom. Shawn stood next to her looking at his watch impatiently. They had left the children and the pub in the capable hands of Bo and Hope while they tried to track down John and Marlena. Shawn had phoned the penthouse several times and each time had been met with Marlena's melodious voice on the answering phone. He had left a message the first time, but there had been no reply John was proving to be just as elusive. No-one they had called, from Carrie and Austin, to Mickey and Maggie had any idea as to where either John or Marlena were. Both had made the connection quietly in their minds, but neither were willing to voice the thought.

They had decided to stop by the penthouse on their way to the hospital. The intercom, however, was proving to be just as fruitless as the telephone. Either Marlena did not want any visitors, or she really wasn't home.
"C'mon Caroline. We have to get to the hospital for Sami." Shawn tugged at his wife's arm. She fixed him with a stare that he knew well. She wasn't a woman who liked to be told what to do. Her expression softened when she saw the concern in his eyes. She nodded her head and followed him out to the car.

******

Q listened to the buzzer with annoyance. Why did humans have to be so persistent? It was one of the things he most hated about them. Unfortunately it was one of the things he most loved about them too.

He smiled as the buzzer went silent. No-one was going to disturb John and Marlena tonight. He would make sure of it. He was tempted to drop in on them himself, but he knew that humans were oddly finicky when it came to what they called 'privacy'. It was a strange concept really. But then, humans were strange creatures. It was what fascinated him about them. He settled down on the bed in the guest room. Despite having some Q powers, he was still mortal. And being mortal had it's disadvantages. His eyes fluttered and he fell into an easy slumber.

******

The nurse looked angrily at the man the had just slammed into her. He hadn't even bothered to apologize and now she was left to pick up the paperwork that lay sprawled all over the grey linoleum of the hospital corridor. She made a rude face at his retreating figure and turned her attention to the paper on the floor.

Peter hurried on, barely aware that he had made bodily contact with the nurse in the hallway. All his concentration was on finding someone who could tell him where Kristen was. Since Jennifer had left him he had changed. He had decided never to let a woman affect him in that way again. He had seen what Stefano's obsession with Marlena had done to his adoptive father and he vowed that it would never happen to him. He saw Mike Horton come out of a room further down the hall and sped up his pace in an effort to catch him.

When he reached Mike, he put a hand on the white clad shoulder and swung the doctor around.
"Kristen." He tried to catch his breath. "Where is she? Is she okay? Someone called and asked me to come down."
"Slow down Peter." Mike said in his best calming voice. "Kristen is in the Emergency Room at the moment. She's just come in but she's doing okay."
"And the baby?" Peter knew how much this baby meant to Kristen. Even if it was only so she could hold onto John.
"There's a good chance that she could lose it," Mike admitted. "But we haven't given up yet. As long as she doesn't suffer any more nasty shocks the baby could be just fine. It's a waiting game at the moment."
"Nasty shock?" Peter wondered what Mike meant by the words *any more*.
"It seems that Kristen had an upset over something." Mike motioned for Peter to follow him towards the room where Kristen was being treated. "She won't tell us what but she keeps mentioning Marlena for some reason. We have been trying to get hold of John but we can't find him. That's why we called you. We are hoping you might be able to calm her down."

If Mike hadn't had his back to Peter, he might have seen the cold mask that slipped over his face at the mention of Marlena and John. Peter suspected immediately the reason for Kristen's *shock* and if he was right, he'd make Marlena Evans and John Black pay dearly for hurting his sister. He and Kristen could make a formidable team. His mouth twisted into a sadistic smile. John Black had better pray that he was still going to be a father or he might just discover that he was never going to be a father again.

Sami felt groggy. Her glazed eyes refused to focus and she felt like she was half a step out of synchronisation with the rest of the world. Slowly the white walls began to gain some definition and she noticed a tube snaking down and disappearing into her arm. She watched the red liquid ooze down the tube for several moments before she realized that it was blood and it was replenishing her own depleted supply.

A slight pulling sensation at her right arm made her turn her head to see what was happening. Mike Horton was sitting by her bedside wielding a needle. He was making a tidy job of the last few stitches that closed up the cut on her arm.
"Hey there. Welcome back." His greeting was soft and, Sami was almost surprised to realize, genuine. She tried a reply, but found her tongue seemed to be stuck to the roof of her mouth. Mike motioned to a nurse who raised Sami's head and put a glass to her lips. Sami thirstily swallowed a couple of mouthfuls of the cold liquid, not bothering about the drips that trickled out of the sides of the glass and down her neck.

When she was finished, the nurse took the glass away and gently lowered Sami's head back to the pillow. She turned her attention back to Mike, who was just finishing the dressing on her arm.
"Thanks." She croaked
"You're welcome." He smiled as he fastened up the end of the bandage. "You gave us a bit of a fright there you know?"
"I did?" Sami said uncertainly.
"Just as well you managed to get that tourniquet on your arm." He pushed the tray away and turned his attention to Sami. "You lost quite a lot of blood from that little cut."

"I couldn't get it very tight." Sami winced as the pain began to seep back along the edges of her consciousness.
"It was good enough." Mike's smile was kindly. "But you are a lucky young woman. That cut came very close to doing some serious damage."
"But I'll be okay?" Sami frowned as she thought about her son. It wasn't going to be very easy to look after him if she was in hospital.
"Yeah, you'll be fine. We're just giving you a top-up of blood. " He patted her hand when he saw the worried expression that flitted across her face. "It's nothing to worry about. Just a precaution. We'll keep you in here for a couple of nights, just for observation. Then you'll be able to go home. You'll need a bit of help for a while though. Especially with Will around."
"Okay." Sami's tone was non-committal. She knew that she would be able to manage without help from anyone. She didn't *want* any help.

Mike looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"I'm serious Sami. You're going to need to stay with someone for a while. Your Granma, or maybe your Mom.. Or at least have someone staying with you. Otherwise you'll be back in here. In fact," he paused, a glint in his eye, "I won't let you out of here 'till I know you have help."
"Oh thanks." Sami couldn't hold back the grin that spread across her face.
"You're welcome." Mike winked at her.

Suddenly remembering the reason she was in the hospital, the reason that her arm was in ribbons, Sami's face became serious.
"How's Kristen?" she ventured as she tried to sit up a little.
"She's holding her own." Mike nodded. Seeing her efforts he raised his hand and stood up. He adjusted the bed so that she was in a half-sitting position and then sat back down.
"The baby?" Sami couldn't squelch the small candle of hope that burned. When she had found Kristen she had known that the right thing to do was to call for help. But knowing what she knew, she had no sympathy for Kristen and there was a part of her that fervently wished that Kristen would lose the baby. Sami felt a little ashamed that she should wish that on an innocent child but she found herself unable to help it.
"So far," Mike' pause was more than significant, "the foetus has survived. Whether or not Kristen can hold onto this pregnancy depends on her being insulated from any more shocks."

"Do you have any idea *why* she's like this now?" Sami asked, thinking back to the scene in the DiMera house.
"No, I was hoping that maybe *you* could shed some light on that for me." Mike looked a little dismayed. "She keeps on mentioning your mother's name. What Marlena could have to do with this I don't know." He shook his head exhaustedly.
"I went over to her place to see John. When I heard screaming I broke in. That's how I managed this." She motioned to her arm ruefully.
"Not the brightest of moves." Mike grinned.
"Mmm. " Sami's eyes widened in agreement. "When I asked her what had happened she started raving like a madman. She said something about a plot to kill her baby and I was in it with *her*. I guess that she meant my Mom." A look of anger flashed across Sami's face. "I can't think of anyone less likely to want to hurt Kristen's baby. Despite what ever justification she might have to do so."

"Sami, Kristen's not exactly stable right now." Mike tried to soothe the affront that Sami felt. "She's probably looking for someone to blame and that person just happens to be Marlena."
"Dr Horton, she's not unstable, she's *delusional*. Lord knows, I've done some things I'm not proud of...." her voice faded out as she realized what she was sharing.
"What do you mean Sami?" Mike probed softly.
"I just mean that I don't think Kristen is quite the martyr she's made herself out to be." She bit her lip at his questioning look. Mike thought about it for a moment but then decided not to pursue it any further. Sami obviously knew more than she was willing to say but he wasn't about to push her.

He took a deep breath and rubbed his brow with the heel of his hand.
"You look tired." Sami observed sympathetically.
"It's been a long day Sami." And it's likely to be an even longer night. He pressed his lips together. "You look a bit weary yourself. How about-" He was cut off as a knock sounded on the door. It opened to reveal Shawn and Caroline standing worriedly in the corridor. "How about I leave you in the capable hands of your grandparents." He smiled at the Bradys as they entered the room. "I'm prescribing plenty of rest for the patient. A nurse will be along in a little while, but you have her exclusively till then."
"Aye. Thanks Mike." Shawn nodded his head as Caroline fussed over Sami.
"Yeah, thanks Dr Horton." Sami echoed the sentiment as Mike reached the doorway.
"Anytime." Mike winked at her again and she smiled as she caught it before her attention turned to her grandparents.

*****

Peter sat beside his sister's hospital bed. It was a cold, soulless room, the white walls devoid of any life, the window covered by a blind that looked like it might have been there for thirty years. The monitors attached to various parts of Kristen's anatomy blinked and beeped at regular intervals. She had been heavily sedated but her eyes remained open. She seemed lost in a private hell and Peter had no idea what to do next. He squeezed her hand but there was no response, not even a flicker from the eyes which gazed at a distant point which only they could see.

He narrowed his eyes in contemplation and decided to try another tack.
"Krissy, do you know where John is?" His answer was a deep guttural growl that emanated from the part of Kristen's tortured soul that could still hear and communicate with the outside world.
"Okay." The word was no more than a sound as Peter contemplated his next move. He knew he had to be careful. Any upset could result in the loss of the baby Kristen had fought so hard to conceive and keep. Peter wasn't about to risk that but he had to know.
"Krissy. I need your help. I need for you to be strong and to tell me what happened. That's the only way *I'm* going to be able to help *you*." He was quiet for several minutes as she stared in silence at the blank wall. Finally, when he couldn't stand it any longer, "Krissy?"

He saw her head sway slightly on the hard hospital pillow and then loll sideways. She looked at him with hard, cold eyes. Peter hesitated for a moment and then ploughed ahead. "What was it Kristen?"
"I lost." She closed her eyes and moistened her cracked lips with her tongue. When she opened them again her eyes were red and tear-filled.
"Lost what ?" Peter was not entirely sure what she was referring to.
"Him. Everything." Her face twisted with the pain of remembrance.
"I'm sorry Kris, I don't understand." Peter hated to see her in such pain but he had to find out exactly what had happened.
"He was with *her*," she hissed.
"*With* her, as in...."
"Yes." Kristen's reply was curt as she turned her head away from him. Any further interrogation by Peter was staved off by Mike's voice from the doorway.
"I think Kristen needs some sleep now Peter. You can see her in the morning."

Peter nodded and followed Mike out into the corridor. The personal animosity between the soon to be *ex*-brothers-in-law was obvious to the nurses which passed by. Mike looked at Peter, with open disdain. He had no reason now to hide his dislike for his sister's husband but he remained civil.
"I don't need to remind you that her condition is very delicate. Anything, anything at all could cause her to lose that child." Mike eyed him closely. "Remember that."
"I'm not likely to forget about it in a hurry." Peter rebuked him.
"Good." Mike refused to take the bait. "If you want to go home, I'll have a nurse call you if there's any change."
"I think I'd rather stay here." Peter wanted to be in the building when John arrived. He had no idea what he was going to do when the moment came, but he had at least a little time to work that out.
"Fine." Mike turned on his heel and stalked away, leaving Peter to his own devices.

He watched the retreating figure for a moment and then scanned the area around him. Flipping open his personal diary he pushed a couple of buttons and walked quickly down the hall. He reached the public phone and dropped a couple of coins into the slot. He pushed seven buttons and hooked the receiver between his head and shoulder. There were several rings before the other end picked up. Peter looked around swiftly before he spoke.

******

"So you couldn't find Mom." Sami frowned. Caroline shook her head. "Or John?" Caroline took in a deep breath and then shook her head again. A puzzled half-smile crept onto Sami's face. "You don't suppose....?" Shawn and Caroline looked at each other questioningly. Silently they turned back to Sami.
"I wouldn't want to assume anything dear." Caroline patted her hand.
"No, I guess not." Sami looked down at her arm and deliberately rearranged the dressing.

"Well, it sounds like Kristen is doin' alright. That at least is a relief." Shawn walked back to the bed and seated himself on the end of the white coverlet.
"Yeah." Sami's comment wasn't entirely convincing but before Shawn or Caroline could say anything she gave a cry and her hand flew to her mouth. "Damn!"
"What is it dear?" Caroline's heart-rate felt as though it jumped three notches. Sami knotted her fingers through her hair in frustration.
"I had a bag with me when I got to Kristen's. There's something *really* important in it and I need it here." She looked around the room fruitlessly. Shawn opened the cupboard by the bed, but it only revealed an empty space.

"How about we go by Kristen's and see if we can find it?" Caroline suggested, seeing how worried Sami was.
"Would you?" Sami 's gratitude showed in her eyes. "I wouldn't ask but it is very important and I don't want to risk it falling into the wrong hands."
"Of course we will." Shawn stood, leaned over and pecked her on the cheek. "We'll go now and let you get some sleep. You look like you need it," he said pointedly. Sami smiled and nodded and then embraced Caroline.
"Night dear. Have a good sleep." Caroline brushed Sami's cheek gently with the palm of her hand. "If we find your bag we'll bring it in first thing in the morning."
"Thanks Granma, Granpa." Sami settled back into the folds of the bedclothes, suddenly feeling the utter exhaustion of the days events. By the time the Bradys had left the room, she was asleep.

******

Marlena sat bolt upright in the bed. She couldn't control the cold fear that grabbed at her and she was shaking uncontrollably. John sat up next to her and slipped his arm around her waist.
"What's wrong Doc?. " He brushed the hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. She looked at him momentarily and then focussed on the clock. The glowing countenance told her that it was eight minutes after midnight. "Doc? Honey?" She swallowed , unable to rid herself of the lump in her throat. Looking at John, she studied his face, trying to convince herself that *this* was the reality.

Not getting any answers from his enquiries, John gently cupped Marlena's face in is large hands. "Baby, talk to me. Tell me what just happened. What's got you so scared?" She looked at him intensely for a moment and then averted her eyes and shook her head.
"I don't know John. I really don't." Pulling away from him, she hugged her knees to her chest in a defensive gesture that pulled at his heart.

He moved behind Marlena and wrapped his arms right around her, knees and all. Her rigidity soon relaxed as she melted back against him. She leaned her head back against his shoulder and he buried his nose in her silky hair, inhaling her beautiful scent.

Her regular breathing soon assured John that she had fallen into a peaceful slumber. He gently lay back, carefully cushioning her. Curling his body around hers protectively he pulled the blanket up around them. He lay listening to her soft breaths, watching the way her body rose and fell on the crest of each one and he pondered the incident. He was too tired to ponder for long as he too slipped into the luxury of sleep.