Suddenly John Gets A Brain – By Unknown Author

John walked out onto the balcony of Marlena’s penthouse and deeply breathed in the fresh Spring air. It was too quiet inside and it spooked him. Marlena had not been gone twenty-four hours and already he was feeling like a desperate man. How could he have let this happen AGAIN, he thought silently to himself. He came here not knowing exactly why but just that he had to get out of the Dimera mansion. So much was going on in his head, confusing him and, although he hated to admit it, he sensed something very wrong between Marlena and Kristen. He had not wanted to admit it to himself, but Abe’s words kept reverberating in his head. “Are you sure John that Marlena and Kristen are as chummy as you think they are?” He couldn’t deny that he had sensed tension between them for a long time, tension that they tried to cover whenever he was around. He was now thinking that they had been successful at it most of the time, but it was Marlena who had given away on several occasions that her feelings for Kristen were less than enthusiastic. He recalled specifically the day they heard the news of Roman’s death, the way she barked at Kristen and then the next morning, her reaction when he suggested she move back in with them. There was something going on and he needed to find out what it was. Kristen was not owning up to anything when it came to Doc. According to her, things could not have been better between them but John still sensed that something was not quite right even though to do so made him feel guilty. With Marlena missing again and Laura’s accusations and Viv and Ivan hanging around Kristen all the time and Kristen’s general tenseness lately, John was beginning to think that perhaps he had been wrong about Kristen’s feeling towards Doc. He didn’t want to think it, but he also knew that he could not eliminate anyone in Doc’s disappearance, not this time and especially since Stefano had not left the usual clue. It was a game to Stefano and he would never have taken Doc without making sure to let John know she was with him. The pieces of the puzzle were not fitting together and John was determined to leave no stone unturned no matter who it implicated.
He came to the Penthouse not knowing exactly what he was looking for but he had to search the house for clues, anything that might put him on the right track. If Stefano didn’t have her, then who the hell did? Maybe Doc could provide that clue herself. He walked back in and made his way upstairs to her bedroom. The door was closed and he hesitated before entering, his hand upon the knob. He almost felt like he was spying on her because he knew deep inside he wasn’t just looking for clues as to where she might be but also for evidence that what Laura had told him was true, that Doc did love him, that she had never stopped loving him. He thought back to the day at Sami’s apartment when Marlena had said she knew the pain of not being with the man she loved. He was so certain that that man was Roman, but her reaction when he said it was not what he expected. At the time he wasn’t sure but now he was even less so. He could think of many reasons why she would hide her love from him and they all involved Kristen and all the guilt they had both been feeling about the affair. If Kristen hadn’t called, if Sami hadn’t remembered the affair, maybe they could have finished the conversation and he would know but now she was gone and he had to find out. He also clearly remembered their conversation the night she had disappeared when he sensed that there was something she wasn’t telling him and she said that she would very soon but that she couldn’t yet. Maybe what she wanted to tell him was what he most needed to know. He was grabbing at any straw he could find. He didn’t care if he was violating her privacy. He would do what it took to get to the bottom of both mysteries. But before he could bring himself to open the door, he heard a key unlocking the door downstairs and he ran to the top of the stairs to see who it was, yelling out ” Doc” as he went.
He couldn’t mask the disappointment when he realized it was Caroline.
“John? Oh I didn’t know you were here. Chelsea called me at the pub and asked if I could come and get some things for Brady and Belle. What are you doing here?”
“Caroline. I came over hoping I could find something that could help me find Doc.” He was downstairs now. Caroline shook her head.
“I just can’t believe this is happening again John but I thought you were certain Stefano was behind this, ” she stated questioningly.
“I’m not certain of anything, Caroline and I just don’t want to miss anything or waste any time on this so I came here hoping to maybe find something. I’m actually glad you’re here. Maybe you could help me.”
“Of course John, but I don’t know how.”
John relayed to her what Laura had told him and also the letter he’d received from Roman. Caroline sat down and told him about the conversation she and Marlena had had before they found out Roman was dead which had led her to believe that Marlena did still love John.
“I remember stating to her that you were with Kristen now and that I didn’t think you would break those vows and she said that she would never ask you to. When I ventured that she needed to get on with her life, she said that Kristen would destroy the marriage on her own and that she could wait a little longer. Naturally I wanted to know what she was talking about but she said she couldn’t tell me, ‘not yet’ she said and then she quickly changed the subject. I didn’t press her because she was obviously upset and then you and Kristen came over with the news about Roman, and to be perfectly honest I hadn’t even thought about it again until now.”
John looked at her intensely. “What the hell was she hiding Caroline? Kristen would destroy the marriage on her own? The night she disappeared she admitted to me that there was something she wasn’t telling me but she said she would very soon. What the hell could it have been other than that she loved me? But what was she waiting for?”
“I don’t know John. I was as surprised as you are. I guess in the back of my mind I always thought that she and Roman would eventually find their way back to one another.”
“That’s what I thought she wanted too. God have I made a mess of things if that isn’t true.”
“You still love her don’t you, John?”
“If you only knew Caroline.”
“Well it sounds like from the letter Roman sent, that he certainly knew. You know I can’t imagine him sending you a letter without sending one to Marlena too.”
“Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing. I was about to go into her bedroom when I heard you coming in. I was going to look and see if I could find anything that might help me find her. I’m glad you are here though. I feel kind of funny about doing this alone.”
“Well I’ve got some time. Let’s go up and see if there is anything left behind that might give us a clue as to what she was not telling us.” She patted him on the arm firmly and they went up the stairs and to the bedroom and opened the door.
The room was perfectly neat, not a thing out of place. John walked over to the table by the window and picked up the picture of himself and Doc, Belle and Brady taken at Christmas. Caroline started looking around and then sat down on the bed and opened the drawer of Marlena’s nightstand. She wasn’t too surprised to find a picture of John with Belle first thing. She looked over at John who appeared to be lost in thought, and then picked up the picture, finding another one of Marlena and John with the twins when they were small and another one of John and Marlena at their wedding when they all thought he was Roman.
“John? Take a look at this. They were right here on top,” she said as she handed them to him. She then began to leaf through the rest of the things looking for more photographs, the mother in her hoping to find some of Roman but she came up empty. “Those are the only photographs in here, ” she stated when she had looked thoroughly.
John sighed and sat down beside her, letting the photos fall in his lap.
“Now John, how far are we going to go with this?”
“We are going to look through everything in that drawer. If we don’t find her, her privacy doesn’t mean a damn thing.”
“I had to ask.”
“I know, listen if you are uncomfortable with this. . .” She cut him off,
“No, if you think this will help us find her, I’ll do it. She’s lost too many years from her children as it is.” Her tone was one of anger and she went back to the drawer and grabbed the next thing she could find which was an envelope with Marlena’s name on it in a handwriting she knew well. She opened the letter and began to read it to John.
Dear Doc,
If you’re reading this, then I am dead; I’m sorry for the pain you’re feeling right now. I know despite the way things ended between us. . . that you did love me, and I always loved you Doc. I’m asking you for the sake of the love we shared to listen to my last request for you. I only pray that you will find the courage to grant me that request.
Doc, I know you did the best you could with a tough situation. After a lot of sleepless nights and days filled with thinking of you, I finally realized that you and John couldn’t help the feelings you had for each other. In some ways, I guess they were born out of your love for me. After all, you thought John was me when you fell in love with him. It was a cruel trick of Stefano’s; we were all his victims Doc. So I just want you to know I don’t hold you or John responsible for your affair. Both of you are quality people; people whom I value and love.
John is a decent man. When I came back, he stepped aside and let us be together; that took a lot of strength. I don’t know if I would have been able to walk away from you in the same circumstances. But I understand how you both must have been drawn back to each other; I have a feeling you are still drawn to him. If you are, you should be with him. That is my last request for you Doc: be with John, live out your love for him. I give you and John my blessing and I hope with all my heart that you two will find happiness in the love that I know you share for each other. You deserve it Doc.
Doc, I can’t imagine going on without you and I’m glad I don’t have to anymore. It’s better this way and I will truly be able to rest in peace if you take my words to heart. I’ve gained a lot of wisdom these past few years; the one thing that was hardest for me to see… to admit… was that you and John belong together. Maybe you always did. And if you can’t be with me, I want you to be with him. I love you and want you to be happy Doc. Please go to John. . . tell him you love him; I know he feels the same way about you. Do this for me; for the memory of the happiness we once shared. My love for you will live on past my death.
Remember me fondly.
Love,
Roman
John could tell it was painful for her but her arm on his leg reassured him that she was doing something she had to do. Caroline could see where Marlena’s tears had fallen causing the ink to run and the combination made her tear up as well. If the circumstances had not been so grave this would have been a very touching moment between Caroline and John. She loved him as her own and he loved her. It was painful for both of them, as they imagined it was for Marlena, to read the selfless words of someone they’d so recently lost. They also knew, that if she did love John, Roman’s forgiveness would have meant everything to her and they were glad she had it. Caroline carefully folded the letter and then placed it on top of the dresser very deliberately, reluctant to let go of the touching words from her son – words that broke her heart. She looked at John and rummaged some more, pulling out a pad for prescriptions with Dr. Marlena Evan’s name on it, her address book, which she handed to John. Then she came to a leather notebook that looked like a journal and looked at him before she took it out. His nod reassured her that it was all right . While she was composing herself, John began to look through the address book. It was the one she’d always kept by the bed. She wrote everything in pencil so that when someone moved or disappeared from her life, she could erase it without having to buy a new one. He caressed it before he opened it, hoping to find something that could help him find her.
Caroline got up with the journal and went to the bathroom for some tissue to dry her eyes. John could see that she was shaken by what she’d just read and he felt for her, he felt for all of them. He damned Stefano DiMera but as soon as he did he knew that if it weren’t for him he might never have had those years with Doc, the happiest years of his life.
Caroline noticed an envelope fall out of the notebook she was holding under her arm. She put the journal down on the vanity and picked it up. She didn’t recognize the handwriting at first and she opened the letter inside and began to read words she soon realized were John’s when he thought he was going to die in Aremid. She felt like she shouldn’t be reading it but she couldn’t help herself.

Part II
Dear Marlena,
If you are reading this letter, then I have been executed. No man is without sin but God knows that I did not kill Tony. I have gone with the faith that death is not the end but a summons to a new existence; a summons to live with God in Paradise.
Of course, I feel that my time has come too soon. But God works in mysterious ways. I leave with few regrets: one is that my children will never know their father; the other one is leaving you Doc.
I know that our life together has been complicated; you’ve been in love with other men, I’ve been in love with other women. But the love we shared was something special Doc. There never was and never could be anyone to fill the special place you hold in my heart. I love you. I know now I always have and I always will.
John was cursing under his breath when Caroline came back into the room holding the letter. He was still looking through the A’s which were producing nothing. He looked up at Caroline and then did a double take realizing what she was holding in her hands.
“What the hell . . .” he started, “how did she get that letter?”
“It was in the journal. It fell out and I picked it up and starting reading it thinking it might be something important.”
“If she got that letter then why didn’t she talk to me about it unless she really does only think of me as a friend?”
“John, I think so far the evidence is pointing to the fact that she does love you like you love her. Maybe the reason she didn’t tell you has something to do with why she’s missing now. Isn’t that what you’ve been thinking?”
“Yeah. You know I’m having a hard time keeping focus here. She got the letter. Oh Doc. . . . ” he trailed off shaking his head and taking the letter from Caroline. She patted his back and went back into the bathroom to retrieve the notebook she’d left behind and John sat down on the bed and began looking through the B’s in Marlena’s address book. He was shocked to find that the last name on the page was that of Susan Banks.
He called Caroline and she came rushing in. “Marlena hasn’t met our baby nurse has she?”
“Not unless she met her at your house. Susan was here with me the day we found out about Roman but you all came before she had a chance to meet her and she left while you and Marlena were out on the balcony.”
“No, she hadn’t met her yet. They kept missing each other.” John looked puzzled.
“What is it John?”
“Well her phone number and address are in this book so she obviously knew her somehow.”
“Really?”
“Well, her number is right here. Now what connection could she possibly have to her?” Almost as soon as he said it he figured out that she must be a patient and he said so. “What other possibility could there be?”
“I don’t know?”
“Well there’s only one way to find out.” He picked up the phone next to Marlena’s bed and dialed the cell phone number. When Susan picked up the phone he thought better of asking her and hung up.
“It’s her number all right, now what the hell? She knows Doc is missing. Why wouldn’t she say something if she knew her?” Caroline shook her head. John was busy dialing another number.
“Abraham. John here. Listen I need you to go to Doc’s office and find out if Susan Banks, our baby nurse was one of her patients. Pull the file if it’s there, get Doc’s appointment books and come over to the Penthouse if you find anything. I’ll call her office and see if they’ll let us do it without a court order and I’ll call you back but head on over, if we’ve got to have one we can call from there.” There was a pause while Abe talked on the other end. “Yeah, I’m here now looking for clues. Doc hadn’t met our baby nurse and yet Susan’s name and phone number are in her address book here and this is all I can figure there connection could be. I don’t know if it’s important but it might be. She’s definitely a person I have some reservations about and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if she were in therapy.” Another pause. All right, go through the motions. You take care of it but just get that file if there is one. Thanks partner. And Abe, not a word to anyone beyond what you have to do get those records okay? I’ll let you know if I leave here”
He and Caroline looked at each other. She was still holding the journal. “You find anything useful there?” he asked. He was feeling invigorated. So far the evidence pointed to the fact that Marlena did still love him and finding Susan’s number was at least something which was a hell of a lot more than he had before he walked through that penthouse door.
“Well, I opened the cover and it says if it is found to please give it to John Black, so I thought I’d let you read this one since it was obviously intended for you,” she replied handing it over.
He opened the journal tentatively and began to read the first page out loud. He wanted Caroline there so he wasn’t going to keep anything from her. She seemed to be willing to become involved and he knew he could trust her, the same way he knew he could trust Doc and Abe Carver. He read the letter and despite the complete anguish it caused he couldn’t stop reading it until there was nothing more to read.
Dear John,
To never see you again is pain; to know that you will spend the rest of your life with Kristen is more pain than I can bear. She has built her life with you on lies and deception. I hope, I pray that you will see the evil in her before too long.
I’ve always sensed that Kristen felt threatened by me, by the history you and I share. But she was very careful to keep her feelings to herself, until she found your letter expressing your love for me.
Kristen is so desperate to hold on to you she told Stefano which plane I would be on so he could kidnap me. You kept that information from everybody but Kristen and she told Stefano. That time he failed but for all I know she helped him again, and he succeeded.
Stefano doesn’t want you to know that I’m alive, so he’ll never let me send this journal to you. Even though you’ll never see this, expressing my feelings on paper seems to help me fight this overwhelming sense of despair. I’m trying very hard to hold onto the hope that I can escape. I think of you…I think of your love…it gives me such strength. But Stefano is so evil John, I’m not sure there is any way to beat him.
John, I’ve always loved you, I always will. I wish you could know…
My dearest John, if only these words could reach you; if only you could’ve heard them before it was too late; if only I could tell you, tell anyone, that I’m here in Paris…I could have hope of being freed. But no one knows the truth, no one knows.
John I miss you so. If only I had told you, warned you about Kristen, this never would have happened. If only you’d known in time, you could’ve come to me.
Stefano is becoming more unstable every day. He has progressed from obsession to madness. He cannot understand or accept the fact that I will never return his love, that I will never willingly make love with him, that we will never live happily ever after together. I don’t think he’ll ever physically hurt me but as he sinks deeper and deeper into his fantasy I can’t predict what could happen. I must find a way to escape; but how? It’s been impossible so far, but I can’t give up hope. I can’t bear the thought of never seeing my children, my family, my friends again . . .
“Dear God!” Caroline said when he was finished. John was speechless. He dropped the journal by his side and put his head in his hands, thinking back to when he had found Marlena and they’d declared their love, when she’d thrown herself on top of the guillotine when he was about to be executed. His heart sank into his stomach and he felt as if he were going to throw-up.
“Why the hell didn’t she tell me?” He shouted at Caroline.
“I don’t know John.”
“I don’t even know what to say, here, ” he stated obviously in great emotional pain. Caroline really felt for him, married to a true Dimera after all and one who had been keeping him from his true happiness. She didn’t know what to say either.
John went over to the drawer and began looking through it himself. There wasn’t anything else there. Caroline suggested that she make some tea while they figured out what they were going to do next. John just nodded and she left the room. He tried to compose himself, realizing that his worst fears were true, realizing that maybe Laura wasn’t as crazy as everyone thought she was. He began to leaf through all the drawers in the room and then opened her wardrobe. Looking at all of her clothes he felt such despair. He couldn’t comprehend why Marlena had not told him. He couldn’t comprehend why he had not declared his love for her. Not a bit of it made sense anymore. His eyes fixed on a nightgown that he remembered well and he couldn’t help but smile, despite everything, that she still had it. He took it off the hanger and rubbed it against his cheek. He was thinking fast now. He picked up the phone and called Abe.
“Abe it’s John, listen forget the file. I need you to get over here right now. We’ll deal with that later.” When he finished he knew Kristen would be wondering where he was so he took a deep breath and called her.
“Hi sweetheart, it’s me. I just wanted to let you know that Abe and I are following a few leads and I don’t know when I’ll be home. Don’t wait up for me, okay?”
Kristen was ecstatic because everything was going exactly as she hoped but she feigned sympathy, “I love you. I’m so sorry about all of this but I understand. You do what you have to do.”
John swallowed hard, “I love you too. I’ll see you in the morning.” He placed the phone back on it’s receiver staring at it is genuine despair.
Kristen looked at the camera and flaunted, “That was John, he’s trying sooo hard to find you Doc. It’s sooo sweet,” and then she let out a full throated laugh and the monitor in the secret room went blank leaving Marlena alone to her own desperate thoughts.
John walked downstairs just as Caroline was coming out of the kitchen with the tea. They sat down.
“I called Abe, he’s coming over.”
“What are you thinking John?”
“I’m thinking Laura was right about Doc and Kristen, I’m thinking it’s possible that Kristen has something to do with her disappearance, and I’m thinking if Laura was right about that, what else is she right about? She’s been saying that Peter and Stefano are alive and that they, along with Kristen, are responsible for her disappearance. I’m thinking that I have been played for a fool for too long and now I’m going to get to the bottom of this, I am going to make this right. Doc obviously had a damn good reason for not telling me how she felt about me, knowing that I felt the same way about her. God, I wish I knew what she was thinking through all of this.”
“Well maybe someone knows, like Laura or Carrie. She probably confided in someone.”
“Yeah, good thinking Caroline. Do you think you could call them and ask them to come over here. I want to talk to both of them, and Caroline ask them not to say anything to anyone. We’ve got to be careful here. If Kristen is involved and gets wind of the fact that I’m here, well we’ve just got to stay one step ahead.”
The doorbell rang and John went to answer as Caroline called Carrie and Laura.
“What’s going on John?” Abe asked as he came through the door observing Caroline’s presence.
“Take a look at this partner,” John replied handing the journal over to Abe. Abe read the passages and looked up at his friend who was shaking his head.
“Oh John, ” was all Abe could say. Caroline interrupted with the news that Laura and Carrie were on their way over and that she hadn’t told them why but that they weren’t to reveal where they were going to anyone, just that they were meeting her.
“I knew she loved you John, but she made me promise not to say anything to you. She didn’t tell you before the baby was born because she was worried about Kristen’s delicate condition and then she didn’t tell you after because you’d married her. I got the feeling that there was plenty she wasn’t telling me but this?” Abe shook his head.
“This changes everything partner. It is quite possible that Kristen has something to do with Doc’s disappearance.”
“Are you okay John? This must be quite a blow.”
“It is Abe, it is, but I can’t focus on that right now. We’ve got to concentrate on finding Doc. That’s all that matters right now. I called Kristen. She has no idea that I know any of this and she’s not going to – until we decide to play that card. I’ve been pretty blind but not anymore.”
“You’ve got Laura and Carrie coming over here?” Abe asked quizzically.
“Yeah, I was, we were hoping they might be able to shed some light on what it was Marlena was waiting for to tell me how she felt about me, and as you know, Laura’s been making some pretty crazy accusations that are beginning to sound less and less crazy as the minutes go by.”
“Abe I’ve made some tea. Would you like a cup while we wait?”
“No, thank you Caroline. John I’m thinking I need to move ahead on the Susan Banks lead. You thought it was strange that Kristen would hire her, maybe she and Kristen have some connection that you don’t know about.”
“May be. All right, well we’ll wait here for Carrie and Laura. Call me on my cell phone if you can’t find me here.”
“Will do. We’re going to find her John.”
“I sure hope you’re right Partner.”

Part III
John and Caroline were drinking tea when the doorbell rang. Caroline went to the door and opened it.
“Carrie, I’m glad your here,” she said letting her granddaughter in.
“Grandma, John what’s going on? Is it Marlena?”
“We still don’t know where she is punkin’ but we wanted to talk to you about something having to do with Doc,” John said rising to greet her.
Caroline motioned for her to sit down and fixed her a cup of tea. John wasn’t sure where to start. If she didn’t know anything, maybe it would be better if he didn’t reveal too much.
“We were wondering if Marlena told you anything, anything at all that might help us find her. I’m not certain that Stefano is behind this and I don’t want to miss anything so if you know anything Carrie, anything at all that maybe Marlena was keeping from me, for whatever reason, I need to know.”
Carrie understood, but she’d promised Marlena she wouldn’t say anything and she told them so.
“Well punkin’ if you think what you know might help us find her, you have to tell us because we have to find her and if Stefano didn’t take her, or if you think someone might have helped Stefano. . .” Carrie cut him off.
“Okay. I know Marlena still loves you John and I know that Kristen has been doing a lot of things to keep the two of you apart. I didn’t tell you because I promised Marlena I wouldn’t. She didn’t want you to be unhappy and even though I disagreed with her on this, she had her reasons for not telling you the truth.”
“Look Carrie, you don’t have to defend Doc. I trust Marlena and if she thought that her reasons for not telling me were good, then I’m sure they were but she’s gone and if I don’t find her, I will be more unhappy than you can even imagine so anything you have to say is not going to make a difference in that, okay?”
“I don’t even know where to start John. Kristen found a letter that you’d written to Marlena in Aremid and she hid it from Marlena, but Marlena found it. She was living with the two of you then and we’d all just found out that Kristen was pregnant with your child. She didn’t tell me any of this until after you’d found her in Paris but I guess the letter revealed your love for her. When she confronted Kristen about it, Kristen admitted hiding it and then she started having cramps. Marlena was worried about the baby or she would have told you, but Kristen convinced her that if she lost you, she might lose the baby and Marlena wasn’t willing to take that chance so she agreed to wait until after the baby was born. Then she disappeared and she was convinced that Kristen helped Stefano kidnap her or at least that’s what she told me, that Kristen wanted her out of the picture. She was going to tell you everything in Paris but then Kristen almost lost the baby and she again promised not to say anything until after the baby was born. She made Kristen promise she wouldn’t marry you, but she did before Marlena had a chance to tell you. She was going to tell you anyway but then something happened, I’m not sure what and she was convinced that you wouldn’t break your vows to Kristen and she didn’t want you to be stuck in a loveless marriage. She was certain that Kristen would eventually reveal her true nature and then you could be together. She swore me to secrecy and I agreed. I hope you aren’t mad at me. I’m sorry John. I didn’t think I’d be the one to tell you this. You must be devastated.”
“No punkin’ I just found this all out from some things here at the penthouse and I wanted to confirm it and see if there was anything else that might be revealed that I didn’t already know.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Well, I’m not entirely sure.”
“Do you think Kristen is responsible for Marlena’s disappearance?”
“If she is I aim to find out. Doc had just moved back in with us because I was afraid that Stefano might still be alive and I wanted to protect her. It doesn’t make sense with what I know now that Kristen would have any reason to get rid of Doc.”
“What do you mean?” Caroline interrupted.
“Well, think about it. Doc wasn’t going to tell me, right? So what did Kristen have to fear unless she was hiding something else and Doc found out about it. Then again if Stefano is alive, and he wanted Doc, then well, she might have helped him take her but I’m not convinced he’s alive or if he is alive that he took her because he always leaves a clue and I haven’t found one yet. So I’m working on two assumptions here that are totally opposed to each other, but both of them possibly involve Kristen.”
“So if Stefano didn’t take her, you think Marlena discovered something that Kristen didn’t want her to know?” Carrie started.
“Something that might have convinced Marlena that it was time to tell you the truth about Kristen,” Caroline finished.
John winked and nodded – all the gravity of the situation apparent in the gesture.
“I must say John, I’m awfully glad I’m not in your shoes right now,” Caroline added gravely.
“As much as this is just blowing my mind to think about I’d say I’m wearing the best shoes in the house if I want to find out what happened to Doc. Nothing like sleeping with the enemy,” he stated with a voice ladden with a perfect combination of irony, contempt and sadness.
“Is there anything I can do John?” Carrie asked reaching over to him and touching his hand. He rose and began to pace, deep in thought.
“No, no punkin’ you’ve done exactly what I was hoping you could. Kristen found the letter and then Doc found it and realized Kristen had been keeping it from her, ” he said distractedly and added, looking up and as seriously as he could, “You’ve kept this secret well so I don’t imagine you’ll have trouble keeping it a little longer. Not a word to anyone about this Carrie. And Carrie I hope I don’t have to tell you that you should have told me this as soon as you found out Marlena was missing again.”
“I know I should have. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own problems. I’m sorry John. I hope it’s not too late.”
“Don’t give it another thought. I WILL find her and if Kristen had anything to do with this I will find out about it. If there is anything I could say to you Carrie it’s that you need to be with the person you love and you need to do what you have to do to make that possible before you lose anymore time.”
“You know, I have said to Marlena all along that if the two of you could get back together again, I’d have so much hope that Austin and I would be together too.”
“You will dear.” Caroline added just as the doorbell rang.
“That will be Laura.” John stated as he walked to the door.
Laura was feeling a bit icy towards John at the moment but she was hoping without Kristen around that he would listen to her. After last night’s confrontation, she wasn’t sure. Kristen had put on a wonderful act. She surveyed the room and was glad that Carrie and Caroline were there but uncertain what was going on. She certainly wasn’t expecting to see John and she was hoping that he’d finally decided to give credence to her accusations.
“John, I didn’t realize this was a party. What’s going on? Did you find out something about Marlena?” She asked hopefully, losing the sarcasm.
“We did Laura and we were hoping you could fill in the missing pieces. Listen, I owe you an apology. About last night, I realize that you are right about Marlena and Kristen. I know everything she’s been doing to keep Doc and I apart. I hope you can understand why I was reluctant to believe you.” John offered his peace.
“Oh John, it’s okay. Finally. You have got to listen to me. I am not crazy. Even Marlena wasn’t willing to believe that Stefano and Peter are alive but they are and they and Kristen WERE responsible for my disappearance. I’d stake my life on it. I convinced Marlena to move back in with the two of you because we realized that we had to go after the one we knew was alive and we knew what she was capable of. I know Kristen has something to do with Marlena being gone. She hates Marlena, John and she’s hiding something. If Marlena found out what it was then there would be no stopping her from making sure that Marlena didn’t get to you.”
“We think so too,” Caroline said, speaking for everyone. She added, “You know, come to think of it, Kristen has been acting very strangely for quite some time.”
“Well this is quite the turnabout,” Laura said gleefully. “Do I dare ask what made you change your mind about Kristen?”
“We found some things of Doc’s which implicate a motive for Kristen to be involved in this. ” He told her the whole story and Laura was unable to contain her delight. She had been waiting for this moment which brought her one step closer to proving that she was right all along. If only she could remember everything then the puzzle would fall into place and they could find Marlena and set Jack free.
“I don’t know if I have anything to add, John. Marlena suspected that Kristen was up to something. God, if I could just remember everything, I know it would answer all of our prayers.” She was frustrated and John put his arm around her.
“It’s okay Laura. We’ll do everything we can to help you remember. I want to believe you and I want to do what I can to help you remember.”
“She loves you so much John. She has sacrificed so much for you. She was going to tell you everything the night you found out John Jr. was going to be okay but she went to the church and you were there praying that she didn’t love you because you were committed to Kristen and the baby. I wanted, I begged her to tell you again and again but she didn’t want you to be trapped in a loveless marriage. I had decided to tell you myself.. I couldn’t stand seeing her so unhappy. Then Lynn stuck me with that damn needle. I’m going to fire that woman.”
John shook is head and he hugged Laura.
Caroline went to make more tea and Laura and John both paced the opposite sides of the room, thinking. Carrie was reclining on the sofa wondering how everyone’s life around her, including her own, could be such a complete mess.
Meanwhile Lynn was on the phone to Kristen.
“She just went up to Marlena’s penthouse.”
“What the hell is she doing there?” snapped Kristen on the other line.
“Well I don’t know Kristen,” Lynn snapped back.
“Well, find out damn it and make sure she takes her medication.”
“I’ll do what I can,” Lynn said and hung up the phone.

Part IV
John, Caroline, Laura and Carrie hung around the penthouse for a while, talking in circles. Laura pointed out that it was possible that Marlena discovered that Peter and Stefano were alive and that Kristen was involved in her disappearance but without any evidence they couldn’t prove that theory. Laura wanted to go back to the Blake House and see if she could get in the Secret Room she knew was there and Carrie offered to go with her. After they’d left, Caroline busied herself cleaning up from the tea and gathering the things Chelsea had requested of her.
“You know Caroline, I would feel a lot better if Brady and Belle stayed with you for a few days until I get to the bottom of Kristen’s involvement in Doc’s disappearance. I’m going to go and get them and bring them over to the pub if that’s okay with you, give Chelsea a holiday.”
“Of course, you know I’d love to have them and with Marlena gone, well I’m sure they’d both appreciate being around family. Poor Belle.”
John just sighed. They were silent for a while then Caroline said, “John, are you going to be okay?”
“I don’t think I can stop long enough to think about it, if I do I don’t know what will happen to me. I can’t believe Kristen could be so deceptive. I loved her Caroline. . .” There was a long pause, ” but not like I love Doc. I guess, if I’m honest, I have to admit that I haven’t been very fair to Kristen. I told her time and again that my feelings for Marlena were resolved when really I just thought Marlena had resolved them for me by not loving me the way I loved her. Kristen must have been devastated when she found that letter but what she’s done since then, I can’t understand, I can’t forgive.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to act as if nothing has changed for now. It won’t be easy but I’m trained for such things, it’s in my blood. If I want to find out what the hell is going on, I’ve got to do it,” he stated as much as to convince himself as to answer Caroline.
“First I’m going to find out what Abe has rounded up about Susan.” He was at the phone but decided to go home first and see what was going on there, to get the children and take them to the pub where he knew they’d be safe. He and Caroline walked out into the late Spring afternoon together and went their separate ways. John’s heart was heavy but there was a fire in his belly and the light remained in his eyes, the result of the combination of emotions running through him – hope, anger, sadness, worry, resolve, and love, complete and total love. If he couldn’t find Doc now, he wasn’t sure how he would go on.
Lynn followed behind the car of Dr. Horton, a safe distance so as not to be recognized. She was wondering why she was following her at all. Laura was obviously doing something with Carrie. How much harm could this pair do? she wondered. Then it dawned on her that they were headed for the Blake House. She pulled over onto the gravel median and called Kristen to warn her.
“Yes,” Kristen answered the phone.
“It’s Lynn. I waited for Laura to come out of the penthouse. She came out with Carrie Brady and they got in Dr. Horton’s car together, and they are headed towards the Blake House. Please tell me you had that room sealed.”
“Shit. No I thought Laura had thoroughly convinced everyone that she was crazy when she came back and I was in there holding the door. I didn’t have it sealed. Damn it. What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know Kristen. I thought you were going to take care of it. They are there by now. I don’t think there is much we CAN do.”
“Go to the house Lynn, don’t let them see you but find out what they are doing. I’ll figure something out.”
Kristen slammed down the phone. She had a wicked headache that was getting worse by the minute. What was she going to do with Laura and what if she remembers everything and tells Carrie. She certainly couldn’t sit around doing nothing. She turned on the monitor to check on Marlena .
“Hi Doc. I have to go out for a while. You stay put now. I’ll leave this on so you don’t get bored. Maybe you’ll get a glimpse of Belle and Brady, or, hey, maybe John will come home and keep you company. Ta, ta.”
Marlena didn’t even give her the satisfaction of a reply. She’d already realized there was no way she could get out of there and she was worried. If John didn’t find her before Stefano got there, what was she going to do? She’d rather die than be stuck with that madman again, if it weren’t for the children. She had to stay alive for the children. But she didn’t want to think about what was going to happen if John didn’t figure out what kind of person Kristen was soon. She watched the monitor as Belle and Brady and Chelsea came in from the garden. Both of the children seemed a little down. She tried to talk to them but she knew they couldn’t hear her. It still made her feel better. She was filled with dreaded thoughts, thoughts of being gone from Belle the way she had been gone from Sami and Eric and she was crying again, crying and angry. She wanted to hit something, she wanted to scream and shout but she’d tired of doing that. It didn’t make her feel any better. She knew one thing for sure, if she got her hands on Kristen DiMera, there’d be no telling what she was capable of and she’d never felt this way towards another living soul, not even Stefano and she’d actually shot and killed him once, or so she thought.
When she looked up at the monitor again she saw John, he was watching the children, just as she was, without them realizing he was there. When they saw him, they both ran to him and jumped into his arms and he put on his brave face. Her features softened watching him with them. At least if she was gone they’d have him. It was the thought of Kristen taking HER place that made her stomach turn and her head spin. He has got to see the truth, if he doesn’t we will all be doomed.
“Chelsea, how would you like to take a paid vacation for a week or so?”
“Well, that would be fine Mr. Black, but don’t you need me?”
“Nope, Brady and Belle here are going to go spend a week or so with their grandparents. Would you like that kids?”
“Is mommy going to be there?” Belle asked.
“No, mommy isn’t going to be there but when you come back mommy will be here, I promise. I know you miss her and so do I but grandma and grandpa want you to come and stay with them. They miss you and want to spend some time with you. Can you get their things together Chelsea and then I’ll take them over and you can start your vacation. Now you two run along and help Chelsea and pack any toys that you can’t live without. Don’t forget your bunny, Belle.”
Chelsea scurried the children out of the room just as Alliana was entering.
“Oh Alliana, is Kristen home?”
“No, Mr. Black, she just left.”
“And Susan?”
“No, Kristen gave Susan the night off and I’m watching John Jr. for her until she gets back.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“Can I get you anything before I go back upstairs?”
“No, thank you. I’ve got to make a few calls and then I’m taking the children to the pub. If Kristen gets home before I get back could you please let her know where I am and that I’ll be back.”
“Yes sir. Any luck on finding Dr. Evans?”
“No, not at all.”
Alliana left and Marlena was almost whispering, “John, I’m right here, I’m right here.”
John went to the phone, looking around before he did so to make sure that no one was there and dialed Abe’s number.
“Abe, what you got?”
“Well Susan was a patient of Marlena’s but that’s all we know. Her file isn’t here. Doc must have had it with her the night she disappeared.”
“Well, if she had it with her, either she still does or it’s somewhere in this house. I’m going to take the children to the pub but I’ll look for it here when I get back.”
“Have you seen Kristen yet?”
“No she’s not here but I’m okay. I can do this. I have to do it for Doc.”
“I know you can. I was thinking you should come in first thing in the morning and we can formulate a plan of some sort.”
“Yeah, I don’t know how long I can play this by the seat of my pants. All right partner, I’ll see you in the morning.”
John looked around the room, thinking out loud. All right Kristen what are you up to?. What did Doc find out about you that you didn’t want her to tell me. Doc, I know you can’t hear me but I know you love me, I know you’ve been trying to protect me but damn it Doc you should have told me about Kristen. How can I take care of you, how could I protect you? Okay, okay maybe she didn’t have anything to do with your disappearance this time but I’ve got to work on the assumption that she did. Damn the consequences.
He said it only because he wanted to believe that she hadn’t but how was he going to find out? If he confronted her about what he knew he might lose any hope of finding Marlena, but how could he find out if he didn’t. His head hurt and he fixed himself a light drink.
Marlena stood looking at the monitor in shock. He knows. He knows about Kristen. Oh thank God. John I’m right here. She IS responsible. She was relieved for the first time since this ordeal began. There was hope now at least that he could find her. She was right under his nose after all and he did love her, she could see it in his eyes every time he said her name. She watched him sitting there drinking his drink, waiting for the children and she studied him wishing that she could ease the pain he was in, a gesture that would in turn ease her own pain and wash away all the time they’d missed together. She had never once lost sight of why she loved him so much, why she was so drawn to him and he to her. What they shared, a passion and a deep friendship and respect for one another, was unequaled by anything she had known. Yes, she had loved, adored Roman. He was a good, honest man with a heart of gold, qualities that John possessed as well but John was like a fire that burned inside of her. She had long given up fooling herself that she could have stayed away from John forever even though she’d known all along it was the right thing to do in a very bad situation, a situation they had all handled poorly. She couldn’t just put out a fire like that because life demanded it of her. She was a human being after all. The affair had been the devastating result of some large, unfathomable manipulation beyond everyone’s control, but the love she felt for this man was very real and she wasn’t making excuses for it anymore. Thank God, Roman had found it in his heart to forgive her because what she felt couldn’t be helped. She knew that she and John belonged together and she knew that he knew it too. Oh John please find me, we have wasted so much time. Just think of how wonderful it is going to be and don’t give up on me. You have got to find me before Stefan does John. I’m right here.
Chelsea and the children came down and John scooped them up and they were out the door. Marlena was in tears, wishing she could go with them and then they’d all be rid of this place, this nightmare that had become their lives. Stuck there in that room she tried to focus on a future where all her dreams came true but she found herself full of regret instead, but even that didn’t overshadow her anger and her hope that at last the truth was coming out to the one person who needed to know it the most, and that was John.
Lynn and Kristen stood outside the Blake House, hidden in the shadows, desperately wondering what Carrie and Laura had discovered inside and what she was going to do about it. Kristen felt that she could handle Laura, her questionable sanity was her trump card, but Carrie? That was another story. This whole affair was getting out of hand. She’d reached a point of desperation and she wasn’t sure anymore what she was capable of. Lynn didn’t even want to know what Kristen was planning to do about this situation.
Upstairs Carrie and Lynn were standing inside the Secret Room and Laura was remembering more than she could handle. Carrie was a little frightened. If what Laura was saying was true, that she had been held here and that Peter and Stefano were alive and Kristen was involved, then what sort of danger were they putting themselves in. She used Laura’s cell phone to call John, who was on his way out of the Brady Pub when it rang.
“John Black.”
“John, it’s Carrie. Listen we are here at the Blake House. Laura found the secret room she thinks she was held in and she’s starting to remember what happened here. I think you should get over here as fast as you can.”
“I’m on my way.”
At the DiMera mansion Susan arrived home from her day at the spa, complete with her new Kristen hair and her Susan wig. She was ready to set her plan in action. She had to find a way to get Kristen into that secret room, but how? Tonight was the night she would become Mrs. John Black and that mean mean Kristen wasn’t going to stand in her way anymore.
Meanwhile, outside the Blake House Kristen had an idea.
“Come on Lynn. We’ve got to get out of here before someone sees us. You go home and when Laura gets there you try to find out what she knows and call me right away and make sure she takes her medication, preferably a double dose.”
“Kristen, I sure hope you’ve got a good plan because if Laura remembers she is going to blow you out of the water.”
“Don’t worry Lynn, I know what I have to do. It’s my ass on the line here.”
“Yeah, well you’re taking us all down with you when you go.”
Kristen gave her a look that would melt rubber and they took off through the woods to the cars they had carefully hidden just missing John barreling up the driveway.

Part V
John ran up the stairs of the Blake House two at a time and found Laura rocking back and forth inside the open door of a secret room.
“I’ll be damned,” he stated realizing that until he saw it he couldn’t believe it. Carrie looked up from her perch by Laura.
“John, I’m so glad you’re here. She’s really upset because she can’t remember anything specifically except that she was here and she still claims that Peter and Kristen and Stefano were all here.”
“That’s right John, I can see them all clearly, standing over me but I can’t remember what they were doing. I don’t know what they were doing.” As she spoke her voice went from dazed to frustrated to angry and the tears formed in her eyes. When no one spoke, she started again,
“Well, it’s here. I thought if I found it I would remember everything but I haven’t so there’s no point in hanging around here. Carrie do you think you could take me home. I’ll get Jen or Mike to give you a ride back to your car.” She looked defeated but she was happy too, to prove that she wasn’t crazy.
“Do you believe me now, that Peter and Stefano are alive and that Kristen knows.”
“I want to believe you, for Jack’s sake Laura, but we all saw his body in that coffin,” replied John.
“Oh and I suppose you are going to tell me Stefano is not capable of faking death?” she snapped back.
“We’ve never had a body with Stefano.”
“Well there is one way to find out. We’ll just have to dig up Peter’s grave. It’s the only way to prove that I am telling the truth. Peter Blake is alive. I saw him with my own eyes. He was not well but he was alive, and I’m certain that the reason they held me here was because I knew that, John.”
“Okay, why don’t we sleep on it and tomorrow we’ll talk to Abe and Mickey and see about getting the coffin exhumed.” John really wanted to believe her now. She seemed so sure and his doubts about her sanity were diminishing because she had proved that she was telling the truth, that the secret room wasn’t a delusion. He was looking right at it, he couldn’t deny it – that she was right all along and if she was right about this well, she might just be right about everything else too. It was hard to comprehend, but with Stefano anything was plausible. He had to give her the benefit of the doubt now, anything less would not be fair.
John drove home slowly, thoughts of Marlena filled his head. He had to pull this off for her and so Kristen couldn’t suspect a thing, yet. He might have been upset, thinking of the lengths that Kristen had possibly gone to to keep Marlena from him but instead, he thought only of Doc and how his life was going to be as he always dreamed as soon as he found her. He wasn’t at all prepared for what was about to happen when he arrived home.
Marlena watched Kristen pacing the living room. Kristen was thinking to herself – okay, okay Kristen, you can do this. This has got to be the performance of your life. If Laura and Carrie discovered anything in that house, then I’ve got to make John believe that I had nothing to do with it despite what Laura might say.
She saw the headlights of his car shine through the front windows and fade as he pulled into the garage. She picked up the telephone and let it drop by her side. Frantic, think frantic Kristen.
Marlena wondered what she was up to and when John entered, she had to give Kristen her due. She was indeed a true credit to the DiMera name, a back-handed compliment if there ever was one. But why? Did she know John was on to her?
“Kristen, what’s wrong sweetheart,” he said, letting the horror on her face register and hoping Laura hadn’t called in anger to let Kristen know that she’d found the room, his heart sinking for a minute.
“Oh John, Stefano just called me. He IS alive. I don’t want him near me John. I don’t want him anywhere near me,” her voice quivered on the edge of hysteria.
John looked at her, trying to size up the situation and she thankfully mistook his puzzled expression for one of concern. It was that gesture alone that led John to believe that she didn’t know that he knew what he knew, if she did, she would have been able to read the doubt. What are you up to Kristen, he thought, quickly shifting to play the game. It had to be a ruse, it had to be.
“What did he want sweetheart,” his loathing for the man apparent in every word except the last.
“He just wanted me to know that he was alive and he asked about the baby.”
“Did he say anything about Doc?”
“No but I asked him if he had her and he didn’t say anything, he just laughed.”
“You lying bitch,” Marlena scowled from her home behind the wine rack. “Don’t believe her John,” she implored further.
John turned away from Kristen, not certain how to react.
“That sonofabitch. I’m not going to let him near you or John Jr., Kristen. Did he tell you anything else, like where he is or what his plans are?”
“No, no,” she answered looking the part of someone who is very upset and trying to remember important details. She continued, “It was a short conversation. I told him never to call me again, that I didn’t want any part of him and I told him that if he had Marlena, that you would make him pay dearly. He said he’d be in touch and he hung up.”
John was pacing. Kristen thought it was working, if Carrie and Laura found the Secret Room and Laura remembered anything implicating her, she could deny it, blame it on Stefano, and John would surely believe her. She smiled while John’s back was turned and it was her way of patting herself on the back. Marlena saw it though and Marlena prayed that John had not been convinced of Kristen’s innocence in her disappearance. She had to get out of that room before it was too late. She looked around and had an idea.
Kristen forced tears which brought John to comfort her, “Don’t worry Kristen, I won’t let anything happen to you. I am going to make a few phone calls. Why don’t you go up to bed, it’s getting late and I’ll try and find out what I can.”
She looked up at him with tear filled eyes and he wiped away a few stray ones that had fallen.
“Sweetheart, Stefano would never hurt you, you know that.”
“I know John but he would hurt you and he would take Marlena from us and I don’t want him ruining our lives.”
“I’m not going to let that happen,” he said quietly but reassuringly. “Now go on upstairs and check on that son of ours while I call Abe and take care of a few things.” He smiled at her and she smiled back.
“I love you so much,” she said.
“I love you too.” He watched her go and wandered out to the entrance hall to make sure she was up the stairs, then he turned back and called Abe.
“Partner, we’ve got to meet tonight. Things have taken a sudden turn and I’m not sure what to make of it. I’ll meet you on Pier nine in thirty minutes.”
He hung up the phone and looked around. Okay Doc, the night you disappeared you were worried about that patient of yours. You had the file here, didn’t you. He began leafing through the drawers and bingo, in the bottom right hand drawer of the desk was a file with the name Susan Banks on it and a tape recorder. John grabbed them and stuck them in his briefcase. He ran up the stairs to tell Kristen he was meeting with Abe and he’d be back as soon as he could.
When he was gone, Kristen picked up the monitor, not realizing that Susan was watching her with great interest.
“Hi there Doc.”
Marlena clapped her hands together, “Bravo, bravo!!”
“I thought you’d enjoy that little performance. You see Laura apparently found the secret room at the Blake House tonight. Carrie was with her actually and this was the only thing I could think of short of killing both of them that would convince John that I had nothing to do with Laura’s disappearance. Do you think it worked?”
Marlena rolled her eyes, tears forming at the thought of losing Carrie and Laura.
“Oh don’t cry Doc, I won’t hurt them. I don’t have to now you see. Although the thought did cross my mind and it wasn’t all that unpleasant.”
“You are despicable.”
“Oh Marlena, Marlena, Marlena, you’re just jealous because you know I’m going to win. Soon you will be nothing but a distant memory.”
“I think you underestimate the depth of John’s love for me Kristen.”
“Now why would you think something like that? Why else would I go to such ends to secure him for myself if I underestimated his feelings for you? I know he loves you Marlena, but I’ll be there to pick up the pieces when Stefano comes to get you and John thinks you are dead. He’ll need me more than he has ever needed anyone in his life. It’s all going to work out and you will be living a life of luxury, it’s not like you’ll really be dead or anything.”
Then Kristen laughed but stopped when she noticed a noise coming over the monitor.
“What’s going on in there Doc?”
“Funny you should ask Kristen, I just turned on the water in the sink and in the shower and I’ve plugged up all the drains. In an hour or so this place should be flooding into the cellar. Should that fail I’ve got a piece of metal here that I got off the bed and I’m digging a hole here under the monitor. I’m not too far off from having it complete and I’ll be screaming for help in a couple of days. Of course, by then water will be all over the cellar. John will have to call a plumber to figure out what’s going on.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“You sure about that?”
Kristen turned off the monitor and Marlena’s screen went blank as well. Kristen called up to the thin air, “Where the hell are you Stefano? Damn you.”
Susan realizing that Dr. Marlena Evans was the woman missing and that she was in the house wasn’t sure what to do. It was clear from what she’d just seen that Dr. Evans and John loved each other and that wouldn’t do at all. He was HER husband. She followed Kristen down to the dungeon. If she opened the door, she would just push her in there with Dr. Evans and then she would have John all to herself. She could take care of them real good, it wouldn’t be that bad, she told herself.
A few minutes later, Susan got her wish and her life as Kristen Blake Black was to begin. She had no idea what she was stepping into and Marlena, upon seeing Kristen locked in the room with herself, couldn’t help but feel sorry for Susan despite the fact that she had not seen fit to rescue her. Susan opened the peephole and looked in at the two of them.
“I’m really sorry Dr. Evans but I am John’s wife and I can’t have you two messing things up anymore.”
“I’m going to kill you Susan. You let me out of here,” Kristen screamed. Marlena pushed her aside.
“Susan listen to me. John knows about all the things Kristen has been doing to keep he and I apart and he thinks she’s responsible for my disappearance. If you take over her life Susan you are going to be getting yourself into more trouble than you can handle. He’s going to know everything – about you, the baby. You aren’t going to be able to fool him.”
“Well, we’ll just see about that, won’t we?” she replied and placed the board back over the hole and was skipping up the stairs to get ready for John.
Kristen turned to Marlena, “Well, you are just brilliant tonight aren’t you? Too bad your plan didn’t work on Susan. Now we are both trapped in here.”
“Well I’m just glad you’ll be getting a taste of your own medicine. And by the way, I was bluffing about the hole, but I wasn’t bluffing about John knowing what you’ve been up to.”
“Yeah right Doc, save it for Susan.”
“He knows you’ve been doing everything in your power to keep us apart. I don’t know what he knows but he knows enough. You’ll see. When he left a few minutes ago to meet Abe he was carrying my file on Susan Banks with him. He thinks you had something to do with my disappearance. Pretty soon he’s going to know that you hired someone to have a baby for you and that he married her not you and well, it’s all going to be over.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Suit yourself, you’ll see soon enough and you won’t be able to do a damn thing about it.”
“I really hate you.”
“The feeling is quite mutual and if I didn’t know John was on to you, a pleasure in itself, I think I would strangle you about right now.” She paused and then growled, “But if you were dead, I wouldn’t be able to watch you squirm, when you realize that I’m right and that this game is all over.”
“You bitch,” Kristen screamed lunging for Marlena who grabbed her by the arm and threw her up against the wall with as much force as she could muster. Kristen sank down on the floor rubbing the back of her head.
“I wouldn’t try that again if I were you Kristen. You have no idea what I am capable of and I am not going to tell you twice.”
Meanwhile Susan looked the spitting image of Kristen in a black negligee, lying on the bed painting her toenails and waiting for her husband to come home to her open arms. Marlena and Kristen watched her in disbelief – that someone like Susan could so easily transform herself to look exactly like Kristen. It was truly amazing to both women and they read it in each other’s faces.
John was studying the file on a bench on the pier when Abe came along down the stairs.
“Abraham,” John greeted.
“What’s going on John?”
“Well partner, things are getting stranger by the minute. It seems I have seriously underestimated Kristen.”
“What do you mean? Did she confess? I thought you weren’t going to confront her until we talked.”
“Take a look at this,” John offered Abe the file he’d been studying and then he continued. “It seems Doc was treating Susan who claimed to be living with her husband and a woman who had stolen her husband and her baby. The woman was afraid that the mean woman and some awful man were going to get rid of her.”
“You don’t think?. .” Abe looked from John to the file.
“I know Marlena was studying this file the night she disappeared. Susan lives with us. I’ve heard her refer to John Jr. as her baby. I know Kristen wouldn’t allow me to touch her after we returned from Paris and I know if Doc was figuring exactly what we’re figuring now and Kristen realized it was over. . .” he trailed off but then continued, “It’s crazy, I know. I don’t know what to think. Tonight I went to the Blake House to meet Carrie and Laura and that Secret Room was there. Then I came home and Kristen was in a panic because she claims Stefano called and he is alive and then I found this file which may mean that I am not even married to Kristen.”
“Wait a minute John. You think Susan had that baby and you married her?”
“I don’t know. I mean what other explanation for this is there. She did seem strange to me at the ultrasound and at the birth – like it wasn’t really her and people were always saying they saw Kristen when she’d been with me and. . . oh my god! The night of Roman’s funeral, Doc came over accusing Kristen of knocking Laura out at the Blake House but Kristen was with me, or was she? She was different, aggressive and then after Doc came over she was like Kristen again. Oh my god! This is insane.”
“John listen to what you are saying.”
“I am partner, it’s crazy, but think about it. Kristen knew that Marlena was only keeping quiet about her because of the baby and because Kristen and I were married. If Doc figured this out, that John Jr. isn’t my baby and that Kristen isn’t my wife, she’d have absolutely no reason whatsoever to keep the truth from me and if Kristen found out her plans well there’s no telling what she’d do. I mean look at what she’s already done.”
“I don’t know John. If Susan is the real mother then why would Kristen have her around. It seems to me that Stefano would have taken care of her. She certainly wouldn’t have the woman as a baby nurse and Susan looking like Kristen? I don’t think so. I know you are desperate to find Doc but there has got to be a more plausible explanation for what we’ve got here.”
John looked at him long and hard. “Yeah, I guess you’re right partner.” They both sat down on the bench and looked out at the moonlight on the water.
At Jen’s house Laura had come home long ago, refusing to take her medicine and locking herself in her room. She was mad at Jen for not believing her in the first place and she had to get away from Lynn and her pills. She lay awake trying to remember and suddenly it came to her, of course. She picked up her phone and called John.
“John Black,” he answered.
“John, this is Laura. Are you sitting down?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.”
“Well I remembered something. I walked to the back of the church after Peter’s funeral and I saw Kristen adjusting a pillow underneath her dress, looking around to see if anyone saw her. She wasn’t pregnant. She didn’t see me but I was going to go tell Marlena what I knew but I– I forgot my purse in the church I guess. I went to get it but that’s all I remember.”
John looked at Abe. “Bingo,” he exclaimed with his hand over the receiver.
“Laura, thank you. I’m with Abe right now. I was just trying to convince him that this was a possibility. Don’t say a word to anyone Laura and I’ll call you in the morning.”
“Okay John, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. We’re going to find Doc and then we are going to get Jack out of jail. You just sit tight until you hear from me.”
“What’s going on?” Abe asked.
“Well, it seems that we need to have a little conversation with Susan Banks.”

Part VI
John and Abe were driving towards the Dimera mansion at a fast clip, Abe behind the wheel. John remembered that Kristen had given Susan the night off and they didn’t know where to find her. They decided to confront Kristen with what they had about Marlena’s kidnapping and then act as if they were certain that she had hired Susan to have John Jr. by claiming to have already spoken to her and then hold the exhumation of Peter’s grave over her head to let her know that they were serious about their belief that she was involved in Marlena’s disappearance this time. They hoped she would confess everything but especially Marlena’s location. John was dreading it because he wasn’t quite sure how he could face her, knowing the lengths she had gone to and the fact that she had done such a good job of hiding her deceptions from him. He was angry at Doc too. He felt that she and Kristen had been pulling the strings in his life for a long time and he was just some puppet, blindly existing in a life that was not his choosing at all, but Doc he could forgive. She was trying to protect him and despite his anger, he knew the moment he saw her again, he wouldn’t even be able to tell her he was ever mad at her, he wouldn’t even require an apology from her for keeping him in the dark about Kristen so great was the power of her presence over him. All she had to do was walk into a room and nothing seemed that important. When she was near, anyone could read the peace that came over John and he wasn’t a fool despite the fact that he felt like one, he knew it was there too – his features softened and his heart beat a little faster and his smile came more quickly. He was dreaming of her hand on his cheek, a gesture in and of itself that always took away any other thoughts but her, looking at him like a woman deeply and passionately in love, wanting with every ounce of his being to believe that she loved him, but still harboring some doubt that hinged on the fact that it was just too good to be true, that somehow he just didn’t deserve to have a second chance at so much happiness in a life that had otherwise not been terribly kind. He knew he was a lucky man to have had Doc and Isabella, even Dianna but he didn’t feel so lucky to have lost them all as if he was never meant to be happy for very long, as if he was only allowed to experience happiness long enough to know exactly what he was missing. He was trying to shake off that feeling by promising himself and Doc and God that if he could just have another chance with her it would be forever when Abe announced that they were almost there.
“John? Did you hear me? We’re almost there.”
“Yeah, yeah Abe I heard you.”
“You okay?”
“Well let’s see Doc is missing and I think my wife, oh wait she may not even be my wife, is responsible for that and I’m about to confront her with it. . .”
“I’m sorry John, stupid question.”
“No, I’ve got to be okay. Doc is counting on me. I can do this if that’s what you mean. I’m angry enough to do anything. I’m glad you’re with me partner. I need you there. I’ve got to keep my cool.”
“Here we are. You ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
At Jen’s house, Laura was fast asleep, safe in the knowledge that she’d delivered the information she’d remembered to John and that he was taking care of it. Lynn, on the other hand was pacing back and forth, wondering what she was going to do. If Laura wouldn’t let her in the room, how was she going to give her the medication and how was she going to break the news to Kristen. She had to call her but she didn’t want to. She decided to wait a little longer, maybe try once again to give Laura her pill and then she’d call.
Susan heard the door open and close downstairs. She jumped off the bed, put her Kristen teeth in and gave herself the once over in the mirror. She heard voices which alarmed her. Marlena called Kristen out of the bathroom.
“Kristen you don’t want to miss this. John is home and Abe is with him.” Kristen came running out as the two of them listened to John calling Kristen downstairs.
“Kristen, Kristen.”
“Yes John,” Susan called from upstairs.
“Could you come down here please. Abe and I want to talk to you.”
Oh no, Susan thought. Dr. Evans was right. He does know. What am I going to do? This wasn’t supposed to happen. She walked down the stairs with all the Kristen charm she had rehearsed and mastered.
“Hi darling. Is there news about Marlena? What’s going on.”
“Well, we were going to ask you the same thing.”
“What do you mean honey?” Marlena and Kristen had to hand it to her. She was doing a very good job under the circumstances.
“Let’s go in here and sit down, shall we?” Abe offered. John and Susan complied.
Once there, John looked at Abe uncertain on where to begin. This was harder than he thought it would be. Despite the evidence stacked up against her, he was still having a hard time believing that Kristen was capable of doing the things he was about to accuse him of. She looked worried and his gut reaction was to protect her but he knew he couldn’t this time.
“I think I’ll have a brandy. Kristen would you like one? Abe?”
“I’m on duty partner.”
“No thank you, ” Susan replied.
“Very well, you won’t mind if I fix a little something?”
No one said anything because he was already busy fixing himself a drink. When he was finished he turned to Susan until she felt uncomfortable enough to look away and sit down next to Abe. John took a sip of his brandy, letting the taste of it linger for a moment before he spoke.
“Kristen, today has been a very enlightening day in my life. I went over to Marlena’s this morning hoping to find some information that might help me find her and you are not going to believe what I found.”
“What’s that honey? Do you know where she is?”
“No I don’t but I’m thinking that you probably do.” Susan’s eyes grew wide but she didn’t miss a beat.
“Now why would you think something like that?” she asked and then laughed as if it was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard.
“Let me see. Where should I begin.”
Marlena was ecstatic and Kristen was mortified but neither woman spoke because they were busy watching the intense scene unfold before them.
“I discovered several things today. Shall I list them.” Susan sat down, not answering, and John’s anger was really starting to show.
“I know that you found the letter I wrote to Doc in Aremid and that you hid it from her. I know that you told Stefano what plane she was on. You were the only person that knew. I know that you lost our baby in Paris and that you hired Susan to have our child and pose as you. I have no idea how you pulled it off but you did, didn’t you? We aren’t even married are we?”
“Yes we are John. We are married and that baby upstairs is ours.”
John set his brandy glass down heavily, a puzzled expression on his face. Abe stood up and looked at the woman that just spoke and then he looked at John who was looking at him.
“What did you just say?” Abe asked.
“Oh, oh no. I never meant for it to be like this. Oh no.” They were looking at Kristen but the voice with which she spoke was that of Susan Banks.
“Susan?” John ventured, stunned.
“Oh John, I never meant for things to happen this way. It’s just that that Kristen she is sooo very mean and those vampires and John you are MY husband. You married me and I think you are the most wonderful man in the world. I would never do anything to hurt you. I just thought if we had a chance to be together you’d forget about Kristen and Dr. Evans. . .”
She was talking so fast that nothing she said made any sense but when John heard Dr. Evans, he jumped in, grabbing Susan by the shoulders.
“Get a hold of yourself Susan. Do you know where Doc is?” She looked away and nodded her head.
“Well you have to tell us where she is Susan, ” Abe implored and she nodded again but couldn’t look at either of them. John shook her a little,
“Where is she Susan?”
“She’s down in the dungeon with Kristen.”
“The dungeon? Susan you aren’t making any sense.” Susan was crying now. Marlena was dancing in circles and Kristen was screaming obscenities at Susan through the TV screen.
“Come on, I’ll show you. She was going to lock me in there, she and those vampires but I wouldn’t let her. She got Dr. Evans and then I put her in there too. I promise I wasn’t going to let that Stefano Dimera take Dr. Evans, no sir but she loves you and I couldn’t have her messing things up, ” she babbled as she led them down the steps of the basement, John and Abe looking at each other in disbelief. When they got to the bottom of the steps, Susan pointed at the wine rack.
“Well? If they are in there, open it.” John said. Susan sulked over and removed the magic bottle of wine and the first thing John saw was the relieved look on Marlena’s face. Abe rushed in the room and Marlena hugged him and then turned to Kristen who looked like a deer caught in the headlights of an 18 wheeler. John looked on still in disbelief.
“Well Kristen. It seems that the game is finally over and I’ll see to it that you pay dearly for what you’ve put me and my family through and let’s not forget about Laura and Jennifer and Jack and Abby.” She stared at her for a long time before turning her knowing gaze to John. Abe was on his cell phone calling for back-up to make the arrest. Susan was trying to sneak up the steps but Marlena saw her out of the corner of her eye.
“Susan?” Susan turned.
“Susan I want you know that I am going to get you the help you need and I am going to see to it that you and Elvis are together.”
“Dr. Evans I’m so sorry. You were such a good friend to me and I wasn’t very nice to you at all, no I wasn’t.”
“It’s okay Susan. It’s not your fault but you need to stay here because the police are going to have to question you.”
“I cain’t go to jail Dr. Evans I cain’t.”
“Susan I’m going to help you. You aren’t going to go to jail. You have to trust me okay. I want to help you and I will if you let me.” Susan just nodded.
“Come back down here and we’ll wait for the police to come. They’ll just want to ask you a few questions and then we’ll take care of you.”
John heard her say “we’ll” and when he looked at her she was looking at him and he saw in her eyes the same look he’d seen in his dream on the way home with Abe, the look of a woman who was deeply in love. He wanted to take her in his arms but Kristen came into view and he turned to her.
“I don’t even know what to say to you, ” he started. Kristen just downcast her eyes. She knew she was defeated and she didn’t know what to say to him either. What she’d done could not be explained away by I love you, she knew that much. He was hurt just looking at her there and all her could do was shake his head. Abe herded everyone upstairs and two confused police officers read Kristen and Susan their rights while John got a coat for Susan to wear over her nightgown and robe. Marlena assured Susan that she would meet her at the police station and would take care of everything but Susan wasn’t convinced and she didn’t want to ride in the car with Kristen.
“I won’t bite you Susan,” Kristen mused.
“I’ll take you to the station,” Abe declared and Susan sneered at Kristen as the cops led her out of the house. She turned and looked at John and he looked at her but they said nothing to one another. He wanted to talk to her but he didn’t want to do it now.
“John, Marlena, you’ll come to the station soon.”
“Yeah partner, we’ll be there soon.”
Abe led Susan out the door and John closed it behind him. When he turned around he was face to face with his precious Doc and her eyes were filled with all the love he wanted to find there. He couldn’t help smiling at her and she couldn’t help smiling back.
“I love you, ” she said.
“Oh Doc, ” he said going to her and holding her head in his hands, “I love you too.” And then he hugged her, both parties relieved to be in the safe harbor of each other’s arms. When they parted she looked at him with those teary doe eyes that melted his heart every time and he moved in tentatively for a kiss, breathing in the moment, both of them anticipating the release of the tension that had been building between them for such a long time – too long. She took him off guard gently by placing her hand at the back of his head and pulling him in for a kiss that he would never forget. They seemed to be holding on to each other for dear life and when they parted they only did so because they had to come up for air. She was so happy to be out of that room and it seemed at that moment all her dreams were going to come true, and she had no room for anger or hate or even regret. She was in fact giddy with happiness and despite John’s shock in discovering Kristen, he had to admit that it was contagious. All he’d ever really wanted for as long as he could remember was standing right beside him and she was happy just to be there.
Lynn was still pacing at Jen’s house trying to decide what to do, when she was grabbed from behind, a hand over her mouth, “Don’t say a word Lynn, ” warned the voice that she recognized as the grip he had on her was released. She turned and blurted out in a whisper, “Stefano,” despite his warning. He just smiled and said hello.

Part VII
“It seems we’ve got some problems Lynn. Laura is remembering far too much. In fact I think it’s too late to do anything about it. If I know John Black as well as I think I do, he is on his way to the police station right now with MY lady of the night to stand by her side while she presses charges against Kristen. They’ll be wanting to hear from Laura in the morning and we can’t let that happen. I can handle the charges against Kristen from Marlena but with Susan and Laura mixed in the fray, Kristen doesn’t have a chance. We have got to begin damage control immediately.”
“And what do you suggest we do about Dr. Horton?” She didn’t really want to know but she had to ask. The alternative to not helping Stefano was something she didn’t care to contemplate. He smiled at her question. They were whispering, still in Lynn’s room, and Stefano walked to her door, without a word, opened it and looked around to make sure that everyone was asleep. He closed it quietly and pulled a needle and syringe out of his jacket pocket and filled it with medicine in a vile from his coat.
“Her door is locked Stefano,” Lynn quietly interjected.
“Gather your things Lynn and go downstairs. There is a van outside waiting. I’ll need you to open the front door for me and then we are getting out of Salem for a while.”
“I did not sign on for kidnapping Stefano.”
“But didn’t you Lynn? Whatever it takes, that’s what you signed on for. We have one more stop and then we are going to disappear for a few months. Don’t worry Lynn. I’ll take good care of you and Dr. Horton. We will not be caught so you have nothing to worry about. Life with me will be a very comfortable affair. I know it will be to your liking. Now gather your things quickly and wait for me downstairs.”
Lynn sighed and did as she was told. A few minutes after she got downstairs with her bag, Stefano came down the stairs with a sleeping Laura Horton in his arms. Lynn opened the front door and they got into a van complete with a mattress for the drugged Laura. With a wave of his hand, Stefano instructed the driver to take them to Kristen’s.
At the DiMera mansion Marlena despite her happiness was worried about John. She knew that he would be brave and together for her, but she also knew that he had to be devastated by what he’d just discovered about Kristen no matter how happy he might be that she loved him and that there was nothing standing in the way now for them to finally be together, a family. Just the thought of it sent waves of relief down her body. Oh it was good to be out of that room and near the man she loved. She watched him as he fixed her a brandy.
“John?”
“Hmm?” he turned with her drink and handed it to her.
“You aren’t having one?” He just nodded his head and brushed a stray hair behind her ear letting his hand rest on the side of her head.
“What a mess, huh?” She asked, her eyes filled with compassion. He nodded in the affirmative but couldn’t take his eyes away from hers.
“God, you are beautiful Marlena.” Her heart began to beat faster as it often did when he called her by her real name. She closed her eyes briefly letting the weight of her head rest on his hand. When she opened them, they were filling with tears again.
“I’m so sorry John. I feel so responsible for everything that’s happened. I could have warned you about Kristen a long time ago. I could have told you that I love you with all my heart and none of this would have happened. I know you must be in a lot of pain. . .”
He cut her off by putting a finger to her lips very gently, tracing them slowly.
“I think we both tried to tell each other how we felt many times, we just always let something stop us. We both have felt so much guilt from the pain we caused with our affair Doc. We didn’t want to hurt anymore people and look where it’s gotten us.”
They both offered one another half smiles and Marlena turned and took a sip of her brandy looking around the room.
“We can be together now,” she was almost whispering as if she were saying it as a prayer.
“Yes we can and I want nothing more than to be with you Doc. . . .” he came up behind her and slipped his hands around her waist and she leaned into him relaxing her body against his while he continued, burying his face in her neck, “I love you so much and despite all of this, if it means we can be together, that’s more than I ever dreamed was possible. We’ve been to hell and back and we just get closer and closer. This love was meant to be.”
She turned around, putting her arms around his neck, careful not to spill her brandy on him. Her eyes were filled with passion and tenderness and complete trust. She was safe. Nothing could ever hurt her again. She was home.
“Yes it is, ” she said and then they kissed very gently, brushing their lips against one another as John traced the outline of her jaw with his finger. They both knew that they had to go and deal with the matter at hand but neither of them wanted to so happy were they to be in each other’s arms.
Just as their kissing was on the verge of heated passion, Alliana walked into the room. She had been reading a newspaper and so she did not see them until she was right on top of them.
“Oh, Mr. Black, Dr. Evans, I’m sorry,” she stammered, a look of shock apparent on her face. John and Marlena broke apart quickly, feeling as if they’d been caught doing exactly what Alliana thought.
“Alliana,” John blurted rubbing his forehead. She turned to walk out of the room but Marlena called her name and asked her to wait. She turned and John and Marlena looked at each other, not certain what to say but aware that she needed to be told what was going on.
“Alliana, please come and sit down. Mr. Black and I need to talk to you.” She was reluctant. Kristen was her employer after all and she was loyal but she liked these two before her very much and she wanted to hear their explanation for what had just happened. They told her most of the story and asked her to stay and take care of the baby until they could arrange something for Susan. She agreed and John and Marlena out of the holding room, forcing her down the steps with her gun just as Marlena and John were on their way up the elevator. They were met in the hallway by Abe who had just discovered that the baby was gone. Looking around for Susan, they also realized that she was missing too. None of this was lost on Kristen who smiled in the realization that this affair was far from over. Stefano had arrived and it was better late than never.

Part VIII
The gravity of the situation was weighing heavily on John’s mind. Susan and the baby were gone and Stefano had to be the responsible party. As he stood in the hallway waiting for Marlena to finish giving her statement, everything that was happening hit him like a ton of bricks and he felt genuine anguish not only for the level of Kristen’s deception and his own blindness to it, but also for everything Doc had been through and Susan and the innocent child, a pawn in some sick plot to keep him from learning the truth. Hurry up Doc, I need you, he thought to himself as he fixed a cup of coffee, a look of despair upon his face. He heard some movement behind him, and thinking it was Marlena, turned only to see Kristen, being escorted by an officer. Their eyes met and John was not prepared for the emotions that seeing her there in handcuffs was causing him to feel. He couldn’t face her right now. He didn’t know what to say to her – not while his emotions were so raw, but Kristen read in his eyes pain and hurt just as he read guilt and shame in hers, but she also saw anger and betrayal and she looked away, unable to bare the thought of him hating her, as she continued down the hall. He watched her go wondering how she had come to this, then grabbed his coffee and went to Abe’s office to see why it was taking Marlena so long. She was the only thing that could keep him together right now, in the face of the truth. Her truth, that she loved him and wanted to spend her life with him, was the only thing that made any sense in the whole entire mess and he needed to be near her. She gave him the strength he needed to get through this. It was going to be a long road but at least he knew he could trust her even in an intensely vulnerable moment, moments that he’d had enough of in this lifetime, when he could trust no one else and felt as if he never would again trust another living soul. She would be his saving grace now as she had been many times before and that was supreme comfort. Nothing could be so bad that they, together could not get through it.
He stood outside of Abe’s office watching her tell him about everything she knew Kristen had done and he wished he could have been there for her all those months when she was suffering with a knowledge that she could not bring herself to tell him for the sake of a child that she’d found out was not really his at all. He wondered how she found the strength, not just to go on but to be who she was, a wonderful, compassionate and loving person, after everything she had been through in her life at the hands of the Dimera’s, and he realized something he already knew, that they were in the same boat and they made it because that was the only way for people like them. They both loved life, with all it’s sorrow and heartbreak, because without it there would be no joy and happiness, and it was that love that made them survivors. Suddenly he wanted to talk to Kristen. He felt that he had to talk to her before he left the police station and he hoped Abe would give him some time alone with her tonight. He had to have closure before he could start a life with Marlena and he wanted to start that life immediately and to do that he had to begin to put all of this behind him. He owed it to Marlena and Brady and Belle to get on with it. They had already wasted enough time and he wasn’t going to waste any more and that meant dealing with this situation head on and working to get past it and that had to start now.
At the pier, Vivian and Ivan jumped when they heard a noise behind them. When they turned they were face to face with Stefano and their hearts sank. They had been hoping that he wouldn’t show but no such luck.
“Good evening Vivian, Ivan.” They just looked at him, a little frightened if the truth be told but they tried not to look it, or at least Vivian did.
“What can we do for you Stefano?” she asked.
“Ah I’m glad you asked. I need you to dig up Peter’s grave and get rid of the body that’s in there and then I need you to make it look like no one ever tried to dig it up and I need you to do it tonight.”
“What!!??” Vivian exclaimed, incredulous.
“My dear, dear Vivian. You are to go and dig up Peter’s grave. When you have finished you are to call a number that I am going to give you and someone will come and collect the coffin. Then you are going to make it look like no one was ever there. That might be a little tricky but I’m sure you’ll not disappoint me. It is actually very simple. I’ll even provide the shovels,” he retorted and then handed her a slip of paper with a phone number on it.
Vivian was thinking to herself that he was a genius. She had just been contemplating jumping ship as soon as she’d gotten word that Marlena was free and Kristen on her way to jail, but if she agreed to do this, and she would agree, she really had no choice – after all this WAS Stefano Dimera, she’d be in too deep to turn herself or anyone else in.
“All right,” she said flatly.
“Madame,” Ivan started, shocked, but she cut him off.
“Ivan, shut up. We have no choice now do we?” He just looked at her long and hard and turned away feeling a bit faint, holding the back of his hand to his forehead. Stefano looked on with amusement flickering in his dark eyes.
“I’m glad you’ve agreed, ” Stepfano smiled and then motioned with his hand for them to follow him.
Back at the police station John knocked on Abe’s door and Abe motioned for him to come in. Marlena turned towards him as he entered and their eyes met and they smiled gently at each other as he moved over to put his arm around her. She leaned into his body and they stood like that while they talked to Abe.
“Finished here?” John asked.
“Yup,” Abe said, “Unless there’s more, Marlena?”
“No, I think I’ve covered everything I know. Laura might be able to add more, but Lynn is definitely involved in all of this so we need to call Laura and warn her,” she said.
“I’ll call her tonight,” Abe replied.
“Good. I want to see her but I want to see the children tonight. I want them to be with us. I’m worried about Stefano and what he might do. If he’s taken Susan and the baby. . .” but she didn’t want to think about it so she stopped.
“Don’t worry Doc, I’m going to make sure nothing happens to you and the children,” he looked at her and held her more firmly to emphasize his point. She just nodded with relief that she was under his protection again.
“Listen Abe, I want to talk to Kristen before we go,” John added rather nonchalantly and Abe and Marlena’s eyes met with concerned looks.
“John, I think maybe you should wait. Give it a little time,” Abe replied rather firmly.
“No, no Abe,” said Marlena, trying to find her words and separating herself from John as she continued, “No I think it would be a good idea. I really do, Abe. John’s right, if he’s ready to talk to her I think he should do it.”
“Thank you Doc,” John said quietly.
“Well I’ve had plenty of time to vent my feelings with her and you need to do it, the sooner the better. It will help. All of this is so new to you and so shocking, I’m sure. (Pause) I want to go see the children though. So why don’t we get an officer to take me to the pub while you take care of what you need to do and then you can meet us there and we can go home.”
“That sounds like music to my ears Doc.” Everyone smiled.
“Then it’s settled,” Abe stated, “I’ll get someone to take you Marlena, and John you’ll have to wait a few minutes before I can get you in to see Kristen. I’ll leave you two alone for a minute, ” he offered and went out the door closing it behind him.
Marlena and John both started to talk at the same time, asking the same question and then answering it at the same time as well.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
They both sighed and chuckled lightly.
“I’m going to call Caroline. She probably has no idea I’ve been found and I want to make sure the children are awake so we can take them to the penthouse.” She dialed the phone while John fiddled with some papers on Abe’s desk.
“Caroline?”
“Marlena!!!” the woman shouted in excitement on the other end of the line.
“Yes it’s me. I’m fine and I’m coming over to get the children. I’ll explain everything when I get there.”
“Where’s John?” Caroline asked.
“He’s right here with me. We are at the police station. He’s got to take care of some business here but then he’s going to come and get us at the pub. I miss my babies so much and I don’t want to spend another second away from them.”
“Okay, Dear. I’ll keep them awake until you arrive. I’m so relieved you’re all right. Thank God.”
“Yes, thank God – and John. He found me tonight. I’ll be there soon.”
When she hung up Abe knocked and entered.
“Are you ready Marlena? We have a car waiting for you.” Marlena looked at John, not certain that she was quite ready to leave him..
“You go on. I’m fine. I’ve got to do this.” He turned to Abe. “Give us another second partner.” Abe gave an understanding nod and closed the door.
“Doc. I’m going to make this right.”
“I know.”
“Come here.” She did as she was told and he held her in his arms.
“I love you so much and I need you more than I have ever needed anyone,” he whispered in her ear.
“I’m right here for you and I am not going anywhere. I’ll be waiting for you at the pub and then we can start the process of putting our lives back together.” She touched him tenderly and he felt like he could face anything as long as she was waiting for him on the other side.
“Be careful. I won’t be long,” he said and then they kissed very sweetly and then he touched his lips to her eyelid and then her cheek.
“I’ll be careful. Take as much time as you need. Come on, walk me out.”
In the graveyard, Vivian and Ivan were carefully removing the grass on top of Peter’s grave so that they could put it back once the digging was done.
“I can’t believe we are doing this, Madame.”
“Neither can I Ivan but we don’t have a choice. Be careful with that grass Ivan. If we screw this up Stefano will have our heads or worse, we could wind up in jail beside Kristen and John and Marlena will have our heads. I’m sure Marlena has told the police everything and they’ll be looking for us.”
“What if someone catches us here Madame?”
“Well Ivan if that happens, it’s all over. But no one is going to catch us. Look Ivan just shut up and dig, and give me a sip of that whiskey. My nerves are shot.”
Little did they know that a man was watching them from behind a bush near by and he was wondering what the hell was going on. He wanted to stick around and find out but if these two were in trouble with the Salem P.D. then he couldn’t risk hanging around. He wasn’t ready to reveal that he was back in town so he quietly disappeared into the shadows of the night.
Abe led John to the holding room and they walked in. Kristen was sitting in a chair and she looked up when they entered. Abe dismissed the officer that was assigned to Kristen and then he too left, leaving them alone. Kristen looked hopeful for a fraction of a second, but when her eyes met John, she knew she had lost him for good. No amount of redemption on her part would tear him away his precious Doc now. She did feel horrible that she’d stooped to such levels but she knew she’d do it again if given the chance and she wasn’t ashamed. The silence that penetrated the room for those first few moments was deafening. John looked so wounded and betrayed and Kristen watched him, sickened that it had come down to this. She wished she were dead rather than endure hurting him like she had.
“John, I never wanted to hurt you like this. I love you so much. I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me someday for everything I’ve done.”
John cut his eyes at her, rage apparent.
“Oh God,” she continued. “I can’t stand for you to look at me like that. What do you want? Why did you come here?”
“Why did I come here?” He spoke the words bitingly slowly and continued, “I came here for two reasons. The first is that I would like to apologize to you, not that that is easy in light – in light – of all this.” he made wide sweeping motions with his hands and went on,” I have not been fair to you, or myself or Doc,” he lingered on his nickname for Marlena a little too long and Kristen felt physically ill.
“I lied to you. I love Marlena and I always will and if I had known she loved me to, I would have been with her, but make no mistake Kristen, I loved you too, the person I thought you were, and I was prepared to live out my life with you.”
“If you couldn’t be with Doc!” Kristen’s contempt for the woman and the situation were apparent in her voice and the fact was not lost on John, but he didn’t miss a beat.
“That’s right. And that’s why I’m apologizing. The only reason I was with you was because I didn’t think I could be with her and I was in denial about that and it wasn’t fair to anyone, but I did love you and my love was blind, which brings me to the second reason I’m here. I don’t want you to continue on with your life with the delusion that what you’ve done was done out of love for me. I will not allow you to blame your feelings or Marlena or me for what you’ve done.”
“I do love you John,” Kristen cried but John put his hand up.
“I don’t want to hear how you love me, Kristen because you don’t know what love is. Someone who loves another person does not hide letters and lie about miscarriages and fake pregnancies, buy babies and conspire to take a person away from their children forever. Shall I continue?” Kristen shook her head no. John was in a rage now.
“You are despicable, no different than Stefano and I should have known you’d succumb to his influence eventually, but I really truly believed that you were different.”
“I am different!” She was standing now. “I am different, I am.” She was crying as she tried to convince them both that she wasn’t evil.
“You WERE different but now you are just another DiMera, and if I never lay eyes on you again, it will be too soon.” Kristen was sobbing now a pleading look on her face.
“I am leaving,” John continued, “But I am warning you, if you try anything, anything at all with Marlena or the children or me, there will be hell to pay. You have done enough damage and I will not let you ruin our lives. I will kill you before I let that happen.”
Kristen’s eyes registered shock at the words he had just said which cut through her like a knife and she moaned audibly.
“You are pathetic,” he added, “but somewhere in there Kristen, is a person that I loved very much, and if you are smart and you want to lead a happy life, you will do everything in your power to find her again. She was a lovely person and I will indeed miss her very much. The odds are definitely stacked against you, but you know that don’t you? Look around you, look at Stefano, think of Tony, think of Peter. Do you think they are happy Kristen? You can’t buy, rob or steal happiness and if that’s what you want then you have to unlearn everything that DiMera has taught you about how to achieve that because he has no idea what that is. He is a sick and twisted, evil man Kristen and he is going to rot in hell, right alongside Tony when his time comes. These are the last words I will ever say to you, so take them to heart: if you can search out that woman, that woman who was pure of heart and spirit then you can have everything you’ve ever dreamed of having, everything except me because my heart belongs to someone else and it always will. So forget me, but find yourself Kristen. You are in there somewhere.”
He went to the door opened it and walked out as Kristen watched. She wanted to tell him she was sorry, that she did love him but he was gone and she sat down and cried as a new officer came on duty to watch her.
“Mr. DiMera wanted me to tell you that he is going to take care of everything.”
Kristen looked up stunned as she dried her eyes.
Then John arrived at the pub, relief registered in Marlena’s eyes and the children ran and jumped into his arms. The man from the graveyard watched the scene with a smile on his face and tenderness in his eyes. He was glad she was happy and she looked happier than he had ever seen her look before. He hoped it would last and he was there to help make sure it would.

Part IX
Caroline and Shawn walked out in the night air to see John, Marlena and the children off. When they were gone, the couple looked at each other and shook their heads with relief.
“Well, it is nice to see them so happy isn’t it?”
“Yes indeed and safe,” replied Shawn putting his arm around his wife and pulling her close.
“I guess we better close up shop.”
“Yup, I guess we better.” But when they turned to go inside their jaws dropped at who they saw standing in the doorway.
“Pop, Ma,” Roman greeted, a grin on his face that spread from ear to ear.
“Oh dear God,” Caroline exclaimed running to her son.
“Shh, now. Come on let’s go inside where we can talk,” and he opened the door and held it for his bewildered but nonetheless ecstatic parents who entered looking at him as if they were in a dream and any minute the alarm would go off and snap them out of it.
When the door was closed, Shawn looked at his son, “Thank God you’re alive.”
“Come, come sit down. Oh let me look at you, ” Caroline added but then felt a tinge of anger, “You have got a lot of explaining to do young man.”
Roman laughed and Shawn turned to him seriously, “That’s right, you do. You’ve put your mother and your children and Marlena through the ringer young lad AND me. We thought surely you were dead and now look at you standing here.” Shawn gave a laugh that came from the very pit of his belly and he embraced his son in a bear hug, slapping him firmly on his back and them pulling him out from him at arms length, “Just let me get a look at you.”
“Well, if you two are through giving me the third degree, do you think I could get a little grub? I haven’t eaten a decent meal in months.” Both of his parents scurried behind the counter to fix their son a fine welcome home meal.
“I’ve got to go and disguise myself. I can’t risk anyone coming in here and realizing who I am, but I wanted you to believe it was really me so I took it off. No one is to know I’m here okay? I’ll explain everything. I wanted you to know because, well, because I sure did miss you and I need a place to stay.”
“Roman what is going on?” Caroline asked.
“Ma, I’ll explain everything as soon as I get this getup on,” he held up a suitcase that was in his hand and turned and went upstairs to change. Caroline and Shawn looked at each other in concern and went on making him a plate of food, a meal fit for a king. He wasn’t gone long and when he returned they looked at him and could not contain their laughter.
“Roman Augustus Brady, who in God’s name are you supposed to be?” Shawn got out through his laughing.
“Why, I’m Mrs. Nellie Washburn, from Tennessee and I’m your new boarder,” he stated in a surprisingly effective female southern voice. Caroline held her hand to her mouth, looking him up and down. He looked like an old woman and if she’d run into him on the street she would not have known him as her own son. They were still laughing when the bell on the door sounded and they all turned to see Marlena come in.
“Oh good, you’re still up,” she said as she entered hurriedly. “We got half way home and realized we’d forgotten Belle’s bunny.” She laughed and Roman’s breath caught in his throat at the sound of it. He even went a little pale.
“Oh dear,” Caroline said, not so much in reference to the forgotten bunny but to the fact that Roman and Marlena were only a foot away from each other. The mother, father and son exchanged glances and then looked back at Marlena.
“Oh, I’m sorry, in the excitement of the bunny, I’ve forgotten my manners,” Marlena said with a good humored chuckle. She held out her hand to the stranger, “I’m Marlena Evans.” Roman took her hand quickly and gently pressed it as a southern woman would and smiled. Marlena smiled back. Shawn rallied in Roman’s silence.
“Marlena, this here is Nellie Washburn, an old friend of ours from Tennessee. She’s going to be staying with us for a time.”
“Oh how wonderful,” Marlena replied. “It is very nice to meet you. I used to be Shawn and Caroline’s daughter in law.”
Caroline jumped in, patting Marlena on the arm, “Yes and we are still very close. Shall I go get the bunny?”
“Would you mind. You probably know exactly where it is and everyone’s waiting in the car,” Marlena said with another laugh.
Roman’s heart was beating fast. What a fool he’d been to let her go when this is what she did to him by just being in the same room. His legs were like noodles and there was a noticeably awkward silence in the room. When she was happy she lit up a room and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her
“So how long will you be in Salem Mrs. Washburn?” she asked.
Roman stumbled for a moment but remembering the importance of his mission found his voice, or rather Nellie’s, “Call me Nellie dear. I have known Shawn and Caroline a long time and who knows I might just stay for good.” Shawn looked horrified so he went to finish up the plate he was fixing for Roman. Marlena looked askance at Nellie. There was something vaguely familiar about the way she was looking at her. Roman sensed this vague recognition and turned from her, towards Shawn.
“Where is that food you’re supposed to be fixing me, Shawn Brady. I am starving.”
Luckily, at that moment Caroline came in. She saw the puzzled look on Marlena’s face and came right over with her biggest smile and the bunny, snapping Marlena out of whatever familiar feeling she had. She shook her head as if to brush off a thought and took the bunny with a smile, kissed Caroline on the cheek and waved goodbye to Shawn and Nellie,, who was busy with a mouth full of food.
“Thank you. Belle can’t live without her bunny. I’ll see you again I hope,” she said referring to Nellie.
“I’m sure you will dear. I’m planning on staying for a while,” Nellie said and winked.
“Well goodnight,” she said as she went to put her hand on the knob of the door. Nellie coughed and Marlena stopped dead in her tracks and turned around, a look of shock upon her face which quickly turned to anger.
“Roman Brady!” she said in her most impassioned voice, causing everyone in the room to shrink a little.
“Well I guess I should have known I couldn’t fool you Doc,” Roman said in his own voice, standing and giving her his best smile. Marlena was not impressed. No one could make her as angry as he could and her eyes focused on him with a fire that he had seen before.
Meanwhile Abe had tried to call Laura to warn her about Lynn. When Jen went to get her, she realized that Laura was gone and so was Lynn. Abe was on his way over and he called John on the way. When the car phone rang, John picked it up quickly. Both of the children had fallen asleep while they were waiting for Doc. What was taking her so long he wondered.
“John Black,” he said almost whispering, trying not to wake Belle and Brady.
“John, this is Abe. We’ve got a problem. Laura is gone and so is Lynn.”
“Stefano?”
“I don’t know what else to think. I’ve put double security on Kristen just in case he tries anything.”
“Good idea.”
“I’m worried about Marlena.”
“You know she has been in the pub an awfully long time. I’m going to call. The kids are asleep so I can’t leave them in the car unattended given the present state of affairs.”
“I was on my way to Jen’s but I’m going to swing by the pub on my way. We can decide what precautions we want to take when I get there.”
“Allright partner.” John hung-up and dialed the pub phone.
“Brady pub,” Shawn answered.
“What’s the hold up Shawn?” John asked.
“Oh, oh John. Hold on.” Marlena broke her angered gaze from Roman and started to the phone which Shawn held, his hand over the receiver. Roman caught her arm as she passed.
“Don’t say a word to him about this Marlena,” he ordered which was not exactly the most tactful thing to do given her state of mind. She jerked her arm free and glared at him again.
“I am not going to lie to John, Roman.” Suddenly it hit her that he was alive and her expression mellowed a little.
“Marlena please. I can explain.”
“You always could,” she replied still with an edge of resentment in her voice. He held up both his hands in surrender and she turned and took the phone from Shawn’s hand.
“John, I’m sorry. I’m on my way out.”
“Take your time. The children are asleep and Abe is on his way over and we’ve got to wait for him anyway.”
“Oh, why’s that?” she asked a little worried.
“Well it seems that Laura and Lynn are missing.”
“Oh John, no.” The tone in her voice caused everyone to look at her in concern.
“I can’t leave the children out here alone. I just wanted to make sure you are okay.”
“I’m fine,’ she said looking at Roman, “I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
“Good, I miss you already,” he teased.
“Not half as much as I miss you,” she whispered, turning away from everyone else and leaning into the phone.
“Okay, well hurry up then.”
“Yes sir!”
She hung up the phone and turned to Roman, Shawn and Caroline.
“It seems that Laura and her nurse are missing.”
“Oh no,” Caroline exclaimed.
“I’m afraid so. Stefano must have them,” Marlena offered tears welling up in her eyes as she continued. “You know I just don’t think I can take much more of this.”
“Thank you for not saying anything to John, ” he said.
She looked up at him distractedly. “Don’t thank me yet. You’ve got some explaining to do. John is outside waiting for Abe so I’ve got a couple of minutes. Why don’t you try to tell me something I haven’t heard before and then maybe, maybe I’ll let you off the hook.”
Roman rolled his eyes at her, “Aren’t you even just a little bit happy to see me?”
Her eyes really filled with tears. “How can you even ask me that? Of course I am but that doesn’t mean you don’t owe me one hell of an explanation. I can’t even begin to tell you what I’ve been through these last few years, and your children. We all thought you were dead.” The tears were falling now and he brushed one or two away with his thumb. She was waiting for an explanation and he wasn’t sure he could give her one that she’d be understanding enough to keep from John.
As Abe pulled up next to John’s car, a plane was taking off from Salem airport and it was carrying, Laura, Lynn, Susan, little Elvis, Stefano Dimera and Kristen Blake. If a person listened hard, they could hear his demonic laugh drifting through the skies. He would be back soon no doubt but for the moment a peace fell over Salem as he drifted out of it. Vivian and Ivan felt it even though they were still busy digging but they paused for a second as if they recognized that the air was a little easier to breath.
As if on cue, Abe’s phone rang to inform him that Kristen Blake was no longer in custody. Somehow she’d gotten away and she must have had help from the inside. Following this news, Abe grabbed Brady and John grabbed Belle and they headed for the pub where Roman was very busy stumbling over his words as Marlena, not eager to make it easier for him, stood waiting for an explanation that would convince her not to tell John he was here. Shawn and Caroline looked up in shock when the foursome made their way through the door. The moment John looked at Marlena he knew something was wrong and he handed Belle to Caroline and made his way across the room to her.

Part X
Marlena gave Roman a quick, darting glance and moved towards John.
“Please take me home,” she stated with tears in her eyes. He smiled a sympathetic and understanding smile and put his arm around her as she leaned into him. They walked over to Abe, who was mentally preparing to tell her the bad news – more bad news.
“Marlena, Kristen has escaped somehow,” Abe said looking first at John and then tentatively at Marlena. She didn’t visibly react so he continued, “John and I are very concerned about your safety. I know you want to be with the children but I think you ought to stay at a hotel where I can place a guard outside your door. John will go with you, of course.”
“So this is how it’s going to be? We are going to be looking over our shoulders for the rest of our lives,” her voice was low and laden with sadness and bitterness. No one said anything and she looked up at them with pools of tears in her eyes, on the verge of spilling down her cheeks and whispered, “He won’t rest until he gets what he wants. He is never going to leave me alone.”
John grabbed her to him placing her inches from his face and with calculated intensity stated,. “And we won’t rest until we catch him. I will not let him hurt you again Doc.”
She nodded and closed her eyes briefly, enough to cause the tears to spill down her cheeks but she stepped back from him, gathering strength from his words, and quickly swiped them away. She turned to Shawn and Caroline who had been listening to the exchange. “You won’t mind if the children stay here?”
“Not at all dear,” both Shawn and Caroline offered sympathetically and sincerely. Caroline and Marlena exchanged a lingered look that held much hidden meaning. Marlena knew well enough that Caroline would like to see her with Roman again and Marlena was just terribly confused and exhausted. She looked from Caroline to John.
“Listen John, why don’t I stay here and tuck the children into bed. You and Abe can take care of a hotel. We’ll need clothes. I’ll just wait here for you to come back. I’m a little hungry so maybe I’ll have a bite to eat.”
“Nope, I don’t want to leave you alone,” he replied.
“I won’t be alone,” she mused, “and I’m sure Abe can send an officer to stand outside the pub if you’re that concerned.”
“That won’t be a problem John. I can call right now.” Before John could say anything, Shawn piped in with an authority that no one questioned,
“Marlena sit down. John and I will take these children up to bed and Caroline will fix you a plate of food. We’ll take care of our girl now John. You don’t have to worry about her.”
By the time John came downstairs, Abe was outside talking to the officer he’d dispatched. Marlena and Caroline were sipping tea and Roman was hunched over his food, with his back turned to everyone delighting in the fact that he was going to get to talk to Marlena after all.
John came over to Marlena and she rose to meet him.
“I’ll be back soon Doc and we are going to start our lives together and nothing and no one is going to stop us. That is a promise.” They kissed gently, quickly but with unmistakable tenderness and then, still holding on to Marlena he winked and smiled at Caroline. “I think I can get used to this,” the understatement apparent in his voice, “Now Caroline, don’t you let her out of your sight.”
She smiled tenderly at him, “I won’t.” Both of the women’s eyes followed him until he was gone. Marlena sat down and played with her tea. Caroline looked at her until Marlena looked up allowing their eyes to meet. Caroline looked over her shoulder at Roman and quietly got up and left the two of them alone.
Marlena began to play with her tea bag and Roman, still sitting halfway across the room with his back to her, was uncertain if he should make the first move. Marlena broke the silence, “Well, here we are.” He turned around and got up.
“Doc-” he started coming towards her but she cut him off with her hand and she rose from her chair. Her voice was deliberate, the tenor there expressing anger and hurt.
“I can not believe you allowed us to think you were dead. Not only that Roman, but that you were tortured and suffered miserably beforehand. Do you have any idea what that did to me? Do you have any idea how I blamed myself?”
“Please give me a chance to explain. Doc, I was hoping that the letter I sent would absolve that guilt. I meant every word I wrote. I forgive you. I forgive John. You have my blessing if that’s what you want, what you need. I know it was an impossible situation that we all handled badly but I’ve come to realize that no one is to blame. I took out everything I was feeling about the circumstance on you. I shouldn’t have done that and I won’t lie, I still love you. I think about you all the time and I want you back.”
“Don’t do that. Don’t do that Roman,” she said, eyes filling with tears and running down her face, “God, we have so much to deal with, I don’t even know where to start. I have wanted to be with John for so long and here you are and we have so much unresolved business and I’m just feeling terribly confused.”
“You are?” There was a hint of hopefulness in his voice. She nodded and wiped away the tears as he continued. “Doc it’s true. I love you so much. I was wrong to leave you, to not work things out.” Marlena winced at the words and turned her back to him. As he continued, the pain of what he said could be read on her face. “I was so angry, felt so betrayed, not just by you and John, but by the world, by God and I just didn’t know how to handle it. I was a afraid that if I let you back in that I’d just be setting myself up for more pain, but Doc, being away from you is the worse pain I have ever known. I know I’ve probably lost you for good but I need to tell you how sorry I am for leaving you, how sorry I am for being so angry and bitter, even before the affair.” He was whispering now, standing behind her, his face mere inches from her ear with his hands gripping her shoulders, “As much as I hate it, I know you love him. I know you want to be with him but I believe in my heart, if I’d stayed we would be together, we would have gotten through it and we would still be together because despite everything, I never stopped loving you. I hope you will forgive me for not doing that, for not staying.”
She turned to him now, “Oh yes, I forgive you for that,” she said sadly. She was really crying now as she looked at him. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she blurted out, relief bursting forth. He brushed her hair from her face as he spoke.
“Doc, listen to me. I’m so sorry that I led you to believe I was dead but we are so close to catching DiMera and putting him away forever. If he suspects for a second that I’m alive, he is going to slip through our fingers again.” He drew her to him and hugged her. She wasn’t expecting these feelings but she felt such relief and release in that embrace.
“So you’re undercover to catch Stefano,” she stated flatly. What he would have given at that moment to just erase it all – everything that had come between them so that he could pick her up and carry her upstairs and love her for the rest of his life.
“I’m so sorry Doc. You weren’t supposed to know. The last thing I want to do is disrupt your life. I’m doing all of this for you. I don’t want that madman to cause you anymore pain.” She closed her eyes and put her hands over her face and then rubbed them through her hair. She was tired and overwhelmed.
“I think I need some coffee,” she stated and he went to make her some. She sat down at a table and propped her chin up with her elbows as Roman rummaged around behind the bar continuing his explanation.
“You know, I really was a prisoner in a terrorist camp in the Middle East.” This got her attention. “They nearly killed me Doc and they would have if I hadn’t been rescued. When I was in there, suffering the most horrible humiliation and pain of my life, I had a revelation. It was the turning point for me. I suddenly began to see everything so clearly – what mattered, what didn’t – how pigheaded and stubborn I’ve been all my life, putting things first that should have been second, putting things second that should have been first. I mean I know I’m not to blame for the things that have happened to me, but I am to blame for the way I’ve reacted to them. I know it may not seem to you that I’ve changed because of what I’ve been willing to put everyone through to catch Stefano, but once this is done I’m through. I wouldn’t even be doing this but right after I recovered from my ordeal, I got word from Shane that you’d been kidnapped again. That was last summer and before that I just assumed that you and John were together. ISA wanted a man to operate a clandestine mission to find him and I jumped at the chance because I thought I might be able to save you and settle an old score, of course, but I was more concerned about you. While I was working on that I realized you and John weren’t together, that he was with Kristen but that she was a true DiMera after all and in cahoots with Stefano. It took me a while to really figure out what she was up to. John found you before I had a chance to make a move and you went back to Salem. I knew about the ordeal with Will too but I also knew Stefano wasn’t dead. I’ve been staking him since then. I made a pact that I was going to get him, for you, for me, for the children and for John. Shane and I came up with a way and my “death” and me being here now is part of that. You finding out wasn’t.”
“Oh Roman, I don’t know what to say, but you can’t ask me to keep this from John. I can’t. I won’t. You have no idea what he and I have been through to get to where we are now. The three of us are not going to let what happened to us cause anymore unnecessary problems. We have done nothing but handle this situation badly.”
“What are you saying Doc? Are you saying there is a chance for us?”
“Roman, don’t do this. I love you. I always will but I’m in love with John and I want to be with him. God, I don’t want to hurt you anymore than I already have so, yes, I’m confused. I am so relieved to have your forgiveness. I never wanted or meant to hurt you and now here you are, standing in front of me again and you aren’t angry anymore and you still love me and I have moved on with my life. John and I have overcome incredible odds to be where we are at this moment. Only tonight were we able to tell each other how we really feel and it seems like I have been waiting for that moment for an eternity. The time that you have been away has been very difficult for all of us. We all have so much healing to do and I’m so glad you will be here to be a part of that. I want all of us to reach a point where we can finally put the past behind us and get on with it. We all have so much living to do.”
“I see,” he said handing her the coffee he’d brewed while they were talking and he sat down beside her at the table.
“You know Doc, I was watching you tonight when you got here with John to pick up Belle and Brady. You looked happier than I’ve ever seen you looked in your life, except maybe after the twins were born,” he laughed a little in remembrance and she smiled. ” I was happy for you but I was sad for me, sad that it wasn’t me standing beside you, the one making you that happy. You are so beautiful and on top of that you are the most wonderful and bright person I know and I was thinking that the biggest regret of my life was divorcing you. I was such a fool.”
“No,” she said sternly, “what John and I did was wrong. We should have been stronger. Don’t you start blaming yourself.”
“Come on Doc, you are going to tell me that it wouldn’t have happened sooner or later with the way things were between us all?” She knew he was right and her silence was the only agreement he needed. He looked away from her, feeling that pain he felt all over again and she reached over and touched his cheek and their eyes met as she almost whispered,
“I really didn’t want you to leave. I so wanted you to stay. It has nearly killed me inside all these years living with the pain that I caused you and then thinking that that pain was what caused you to die. You didn’t deserve that.” She stood up now as she continued and he followed behind her.
“And then in the midst of all that pain and sorrow, I get this letter from you,” she said turning to him now with a love-filled expression, her voice still a whisper, “and you set me free. It was such a wonderful gift, and now here you are and you are still in love with me.” She turned away again and raised her voice as she finished, “How many times in this life am I going to be faced with the same choice? I cannot be with you both.”
Her words stunned them both. When she turned to him she smiled sadly and his expression was one of genuine empathy. Neither spoke for a moment.
“You look ridiculous,” she finally said, wiping away the tears.
“See what lengths I go to for you Doc,” he mused.
“I do,” she said, a reply that was filled with a lifetime of meaning. Her eyes filled with tears again.
“John will be back soon,” she offered, knowing that he still hadn’t conceded to her unwavering decision to tell him the truth.
“Shane isn’t going to like it, but I can’t ask you to lie to him. I thought I could, but I can’t.”
“Thank you, because I couldn’t have done it.”
“I understand. Listen Doc, you know how I feel and I was fool enough and pigheaded enough to not stay and work things out with you. You didn’t deserve that and I want you to be happy. You know the saying, if you love someone let them go. . . well that’s what I’m going to try to do. It’s not going to be easy and part of me thinks I should fight like hell to get you back but I know you love him and you always will,” he paused briefly and looked at her. She looked wounded but for him. “I know you love him more than you love me Doc and so you should be with him. I don’t want you to feel anymore guilt or pain. I really didn’t come here to confuse you or mess up your life.”
“I know you didn’t, I know you didn’t. You are a wonderful man Roman, such a good man and I love you, I really do. I would not trade the time we had together for anything in the world. Life has just not been very kind to us. And now I believe in my heart and my head that I belong with John, but I know how painful it must be for you to hear me say that.” She was actually feeling very confused in her head so she was letting her heart speak. She didn’t want to give Roman false hope and she knew once she’d had some time alone with John, and some sleep, her head would be clear. She knew anyway and clearly that she would have to follow her heart this time and her heart belonged to John, but hurting Roman anymore than she already had was causing her to die inside all over again despite anything he might say to stop her from torturing herself about the circumstances and the way she’d handled them. No one could take away the guilt she felt, not even Roman, it was self-induced and as long as she lived she knew it would be there.
“I’m going to be okay. Don’t you worry about me and don’t you worry about Stefano. I’m going to nail that sonofabitch if it’s the last thing I ever do.”
With those words the bell on the door rang and Marlena and Roman looked at John and then at each other. Roman, dressed as Nellie Washburn, removed the wig that he was wearing now that John had relieved the cop that was guarding the door.
“Hi John,” Roman said.
John looked at Roman and then at Marlena, who without a word confirmed that what he was seeing wasn’t an illusion. John could also see that she’d been crying.
“What the hell is going on?” he asked.
“Would you like some coffee John?” Roman asked. John was visibly stunned as he made his way towards them, but he was as cool as ever.
“Sure,” he replied walking to where they stood.

Part XI
John went to Marlena, looking at her like “what next” and put his arm around her as Roman handed him a coffee. Roman then went to the door of the pub and locked it and dimmed the lights.
“I’m undercover on a mission with the ISA to nail DiMera once and for all. Doc figured out who I was. I coughed,” he said throwing his hands up in the air. “And you know Doc, she gave me a look that would have burst me into flames so I couldn’t lie and she refused to lie to you even though I asked her to. I understand why she wouldn’t want to do that. It seems like Kristen really put you two through the ringer – at least that’s the impression I got from little things I’ve gathered here and there. I guess I can’t say I’m much better,” he laughed at the irony, “but I assure you that my motives are honorable.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it for a minute Roman,” John offered. Roman just nodded and continued.
“I’ve been trailing him since Paris, since you rescued Doc and the explosion occurred. I knew he was alive.” He then narrowed his eyes, penetrating John’s and his voice became very intense, “We are going to nail him this time, but when it happens we want to blow him out of the water. He can’t have any idea what is about to hit him.”
“Is he still in Salem?” Marlena asked him anxiously.
“Nope he left earlier this evening, but he’ll be back. We know where he’s going so don’t worry Doc, we’ll get Laura and this Susan character and her baby back soon. He’s not going to hurt them. We’ve got him under our thumb.”
So, I’m curious about something, was it DiMera that taped your funeral?” John asked.
“No, that was ISA trying to give you a hint that Stefano was alive. I didn’t authorize the damn thing and so while it did what it was supposed to do, Stefano also suspected something was up so we’ve had to push things back. We knew he was coming back to Salem because Kristen was getting in over her head, but it was a mistake.”
“So you knew Kristen had me in that secret room?” Marlena asked.
“No, to be perfectly honest I couldn’t figure out what the hell happened to you Doc. I knew Stefano didn’t have you because he was coming to get you. I figured Kristen was responsible but I wasn’t sure and I was under strict instructions to only concern myself with one DiMera at a time so my hands were tied. I knew John would find you, I knew you had to be in that house somewhere and he didn’t disappoint me. There’s one question I’ve got for you though. Why would Stefano take Laura?”
“Because she’s been saying all along that he is alive and that Peter is alive too. Jack is in jail for his murder.”
“Very interesting. This is all news to me. I don’t know how we missed that and it makes me awfully nervous. If Peter Blake is alive, Stefano has been unusually discreet. There’s no sign of Peter anywhere but I stumbled across something very interesting tonight, very interesting indeed.” He was lost in thought for a moment and John and Marlena looked at him like they were expecting an explanation but he didn’t give one.
“I guess I have to say this. No one, no one is to know that I am alive. Not Abe, not Carrie, not Sami – no one. You two are not to get involved in this at all. I know John that you want DiMera as much as I do but you just concentrate on keeping Doc safe. That should be your number one priority. He wants her and he’ll stop at nothing to get her and you have got to do anything and everything to make sure that doesn’t happen. If something happens to me, you are not to get involved. You are to protect Doc, period. I’ll have to tell Shane that you know, so if you sense danger or if something does happen to me, you can contact him, but don’t talk to me about it anymore. As far as you are concerned I am the dear old friend of Caroline and Shawn Brady, Nellie Washburn. I am not here to disrupt your lives. I still love Doc, I won’t lie to you John. I would give anything in this world to have her back, but she makes her own decisions and I’m not going to try an influence her other than by telling her how I feel. I meant what I wrote in those letters. I understand. It’s time for us all to get on with our lives.”
“How are we supposed to get on with our lives when Stefano will stop at nothing to destroy them. Look what he has already done to us. Is this ever going to end? Is this madness ever going to end? Marlena asked as much to the air as Roman and John. She turned away from them and went to the window and looked out into the night.
“I hope so Doc. I hope so for all of us.” Roman offered looking at John.
“It’s good to see you alive and well Roman,” John said. The two men shook hands vigorously.
“You just take care of her. She needs you John.”
“Don’t you worry about Doc, I’ll make sure she’s safe. You just get DiMera so you can come on home to your family. They need you.”
“And I need them,” Roman said looking at Marlena who was still looking out the window. Despite the fact that the two men loved the same woman, and had since they’d known each other, any animosity or bad feelings were not present. In fact there was an air of mutual respect born as much from their own understanding of one another as from the fact that Doc had loved them both, perhaps not always equally, but to be worthy of that love was really something in their eyes and it would have been difficult for them not to have tremendous respect and admiration for one another in light of that fact. They both knew that Marlena would have to make her own decision and that they would have to live with it, a task that would ultimately be easier for one than the other. They had both been in this position before and they knew this time it would be written in stone. Doc would not make the same mistake twice. She had suffered too much and had caused too much suffering for that.
“You two should get out of here. It’s late,” Roman offered.
“Yeah, I guess he’s right Doc.”
Marlena turned towards them and walked to Roman and took his hand in hers. He kissed it very sweetly and her eyes teared up again.
“Well, we’ll be praying that you catch Stefano.”
“I will Doc. Look I know this isn’t easy on you but you’ve got John, he’ll help you through it. I don’t want to hurt you anymore.”
“You’re alive! You aren’t hurting me but the children, they need you so much,” she said touching his cheek with her hand and giving him that look that was once reserved only for him. His heart was melting because, if he was honest with himself, he knew she was lost to him forever.
“Goodnight Doc. I’ll make sure Belle and Brady are safe,” he said putting his hand over hers and pulling it down to his mouth where he kissed it again. She could see the love in his eyes and it was killing her. She had to look away, and he could see that he was hurting her.
“Goodnight,” she said quietly. John was by the door and she turned to him. He looked beyond her at Roman and nodded his goodbye and Roman watched them go. He locked the door and went upstairs to talk to his parents who were anxiously awaiting an explanation and a report on how things had gone with Marlena. Caroline feared it would not be good news.
John and Marlena walked to the car in silence. He opened the door for her and then walked around to his side and got in, starting the engine but not moving the car from its space. Marlena looked over at him and he seemed deep in thought, concerned. She reached out and ran her fingers through his hair and he leaned into her touch. He looked at her like a worried child.
“Doc, I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t.” His features relaxed as she smiled at him and then she repeated herself. “You won’t.” He nodded in his cool John way and pulled the car out of its space and headed for the hotel. No words passed between them as they drove and that was how Marlena knew that she was definitely telling the truth. She and John fit so perfectly. There was no need for words in light of everything that had happened. They were finally where they belonged and the silence was not only comfortable, it was comforting. They had so much to talk about and discuss, but their silence said more than any words could have at that moment. When they reached the hotel, Marlena took his hand in hers and repeated the words he’d said earlier, “This is the beginning of our life together and nothing and no one is going to stop us. Stefano and Kristen are still out there plotting to destroy our lives, but we aren’t going to let them hurt us anymore. Roman is back and I won’t lie, there are feelings there that I didn’t expect, that I can’t help and I was very confused, a little torn. But when we are alone together like this, I am reminded in the most wonderful way that you, only you, are the man that I want and need to share my life with. Roman knows that. You see, I love you John Black more than I have ever loved any man in my life. So don’t you worry, you are not going to lose me. You’re stuck with me.”
“Well then I think I must be the happiest and the luckiest man in the world because despite everything that has happened, if it means I can be with you Doc, then it was worth it. We’ll just have to wash all that pain away together” he said, holding her face tenderly in his hands, gently caressing her skin and the hair around her face
“This is like a dream. Everything that has happened today has been like a dream. Just think, tomorrow when we wake up, we’ll be in each other’s arms. I can’t believe it. I have waited so long for you to be in my life again and here you are.”
“And I’ll always be here Doc. God help anyone who tries to come between us again.”
“Let’s go in.” John said after a light kiss that wasn’t enough, not nearly enough and so they walked arm and arm to the hotel room where a guard was positioned outside.
“Dr. Evans and I have a lot to talk about and need some rest so we are not to be disturbed under any circumstances other than an emergency.”
“Yessir, Mr. Black, and everything is all set inside sir,” the guard replied opening the door for them and quietly closing it behind them as they entered. Marlena looked at John with surprise and then she looked around the room. There were varieties of bright flowers all over the room and the lights were dim. Then she noticed that John had taken pictures from the penthouse and placed them all over the room – of them, of the children.
“Well, I know you wanted to go home and I thought you might enjoy the flowers after being cooped up in that room for such a long time and look at this, this is the best part,” he said leading her to a door which led to adjoining room.
“What is all this?”
“Well, this is for Belle and Brady. I know you want to be with them so tomorrow we’ll get them and they will sleep in here.”
“You are amazing, do you know that?”
“Only because you love me Doc,” he replied.
“I don’t see though why we can’t just go to the penthouse.”
“Stefano knows that place too well. This is just temporary until we figure out something else, but you know what? I don’t want to think about that right now. Okay?”
“Okay. You don’t have to tell me twice,” she said as she allowed him to lead her by the hand back to the other room.
“In fact, Doc. I don’t want to talk about anything at all,” he said looking at her seductively, holding her arms and pulling her a little closer to him. She smiled at him and looked away, like she was shy or worried about something.
“It’s up to you Doc. A lot has happened. I don’t want to rush you. We can just sleep.” He pulled her chin up with his finger so that their eyes met again and he saw the tears in her eyes so he automatically pulled her to him, holding her in a hug, his lips brushing her ear. He lowered his voice when he spoke and the feel of his breath on her ear and the words he was saying and the quiet, tender way he said them sent chills up her spine.
“It’s been a long time for you, I know. It’s just that I’ve had such a hard time being in the same room with you at times knowing how your skin feels against mine, knowing every curve and line of your body and wishing that I could hold you and touch you and love you. My most beautiful dreams have been of you Doc. I love you so much and I’ve needed you, desired you for as long as I can remember. I’ve been fighting these feelings for so long, so long.” She was leaning into him, his words as much as the feel of them on her skin. Her eyes were closed and her neck slightly tilted back as if in surrender, so he kissed her neck then pulled away, just slightly, to read the reaction on her face but her eyes were still closed, her neck still exposed to his lips. His eyes twinkled and she pulled her head upright slowly, opening her eyes as they met his and they sparkled too and she nodded, a slight gesture that was only recognizable because they were so close but which meant “your words mirror my thoughts”. She pulled him in for a kiss – tentative little kisses at first, the last of which grew into a slow, long passionate embrace filled with love and tenderness but also an uncontrollable sort of hunger. To be in each other’s arms again was sweet reward for all the years they’d denied their love, and once they’d started they could not stop. When they pulled away from the kiss, breathless, Marlena slowly untucked John’s shirt and pulled it over his head, her eyes never averting from his except when the shirt passed over them. He then expertly unbuttoned each button on her blouse and slowly pulled it away from her body. He traced his finger around the exposed skin at the top of her lace bra, devouring her with his eyes while she kicked off her shoes one at a time. She undid her skirt and it fell to the floor and he picked her up and carried her to the bed where he placed her gently down. Stepping back, never taking his eyes from her, he removed his remaining clothing and she smiled watching him. She turned on her side and he joined her, facing her, and in what can only be called a slow burn, they proceeded to unhurriedly ravish one another, committing every detail to memory, until they were exhausted with pleasure.
Meanwhile, Roman made a call to find out if his men were following the details of the coffin he’d seen being dug up. They were on the job and were on their way back to the lab to test the hair strands they’d managed to acquire from the corpse. Roman was assured that Stefano would be none the wiser.
Stefano and all in his care were landing at a remote island on the Pacific, totally unaware that someone was already there, someone uninvited who wished to remain undetected.

Part XII
When John and Marlena were finally through with their love making, they fell away from each other and both of them could have easily fallen asleep. It had been a long day, but they were just so happy to be together, that it didn’t seem right to let it end in sleep. Marlena sighed audibly from pleasure and contentment. John was far and away the best lover she’d ever had and he felt the same way about her – they were a perfect fit in this respect too and it only served to enhance their love for one another.
“I’ve missed you Doc.”
“Not half as much as I’ve missed you. I think I’d forgotten how wonderful it is to be with you like this, it’s been such a long time.”
“Well, you certainly didn’t forget how,” John mused playfully.
“No, I didn’t did I,” she said smiling widely, pleased with her own capacity to give and receive pleasure. John turned on his side towards her and ran his fingers through her hair while they gazed at one another in mutual admiration.
“Even though being with you was burned into my memory Doc, I’m glad I don’t have to live on memories anymore. I was so afraid that I wasn’t going to be able to hide these feelings from you, that you would see how much I loved you and wanted you.”
“Shh. You don’t have to hide them anymore because I love you and want you as much as you want and love me. It’s so wonderful isn’t it? I thought this was never going to happen and that thought made me so unhappy. Now whenever we feel like it we can say I love you, we can kiss, we can make love,” she said as her voice trailed off into a whisper that made him want her all over again.
“You are so sexy,” he said kissing her again.
“I’m also starving,” she said getting up and walking to the closet to find something to put on. He sat up as if to keep her from leaving but she was too quick for him, having taken him off guard, and so his eyes followed her until she was out of sight, and then he just allowed himself to collapse back onto the bed in exasperation.
“I can just order room service Doc. There’s a phone right here by the bed. We don’t have to get out of bed.” She laughed and came walking back in, still without her clothes, holding up a negligee he’d packed and he sat up, drinking her in and smiling at himself.
“I’m just wondering what you had in mind when you packed this John. Are these the only bed clothes you packed for me?’
“Aren’t you proud of me that I remembered that?”
“Any red-blooded male would have remembered this,” she said, rolling her eyes and smiling.
” I was very honored when I found that negligee in your wardrobe. It holds tremendous sentimental value.”
“Yes it does, but it is also completely see through.”
“I know but I did pack you a robe. It’s in there somewhere and it’s not see through, and I packed you some very conservative pajamas. They’re in the top drawer, but you don’t have to put on anything Doc, unless of course you want to,” he said devilishly. “Come back to bed and we’ll order room service. Come on now.”
“You know, I’ve been in that room for so long. I know you are as tired as I am but do you think you could arrange for us to have dinner on the terrace off the dining room downstairs? I’m sure they’d accommodate you. I would just like to get some fresh air and have something really good to eat.” She smiled questionably. John wanted to groan but he also understood and would never deny her anything especially not such a simple thing as dinner on the terrace, even if it were going on midnight.
“Anything for you.”
“Thank you. I’ll be waiting for you in the shower,” she said and was gone. John smiled and picked up the phone, getting into several slight arguments with various members of the hotel staff before everything was settled and then he went to join his precious Doc in the shower.
Roman stood pacing the floor in his room over the pub. Shane hadn’t called and he was getting worried. Maybe they were wrong about DiMera’s destination. Then what? Just then the cell phone rang.
“Roman, it’s Shane. You were right. They landed an hour ago, just like you thought. He has four women and the baby with him – Laura, a woman in a nursing outfit – her name is Lynn, Susan and Kristen. Peter Blake isn’t here though that I’ve been able to determine and strangely enough there is very little security here. There seems to be only four of Stefano’s goons on the island and one of them is taking the plane out of here tomorrow. I’m thinking maybe we should nail him here, screw waiting for him to return to Salem.”
“You want me to come to the island?”
“Call Major Dodd and tell him to get you out here. We’ll stay in touch by phone until it’s settled. We’ll need backup. You’ll have to arrange that. Just leave tonight. Don’t say a word to anyone.”
“See you tomorrow then, and Shane, let’s just play it by ear, okay. Nothing written in stone. It might be a trap.”
“I don’t think so and I’m usually right about these things but we’ll ere on the side of caution for now.”
The two men hung up and Roman rubbed his hands together. He could taste DiMera’s blood on his tongue. Shane, took one last look around the compound where DiMera was hiding out and headed back into the hills to the cave on the north face of the island where he could get some much needed rest.