Whispering Winds – Nicole R

Prologue

That voice…

Marlena had been attending to an unconscious Paul and froze in place as she listened to the old man taunt her husband, why in the hell did it sound familiar ..

“So this is your wife?” He crept up closer on them. “The beautiful Doctor, you should be very proud … she risked her life to save yours.”

She tried to focus on her step son, but noticed her hands were shaking and she turned back to the other men, her hazel eyes narrowing as she tried to place the voice. Being a psychiatrist, she was good with names and faces, but this one … she was drawing a blank and like her husband … like John, she hated blanks.

“Who are you?” she asked, thanking fate that while her hands now in fists were unseen by everyone, especially John who knew the tell mannerism that she was scared, the fear didn’t carry to her voice.

“He’s my father.” She nearly gave herself whiplash as she turned to her husband, a look of absolute confusion on her delicate features as she shot back a comment of  “What?”

At her confusion Yo Ling merely smirked, his expression a mockery of his son’s famous mannerism as he raised an eyebrow at her question.

He bowed merrily at her and muttered something softly to her under his breath in Chinese, watching her reaction closely before smiling once more. “I didn’t think you’d remember Doc..” John growled a warning shot at the other man and he finished his sentence. “ Doctor and you’ll remember only when it’s too late.”

Protective as always of her, John went for his father and they began to spar verbally, Steve and Rafe started moving, guns drawn on the other men, to cover the two Blacks on the ground.

Marlena was having flashes, oblivious to everything as Steve, Rafe and John went for the man who had terrorized their families. Memories of the plane going down, the clinic were like fireworks behind her closed eyes as a worried Paul reached out to lay a hand on her arm.

The memory of her screaming at something unseen all but faded away as she heard the old man taunt John about going out on his own terms. Her hazel eyes widened as she looked up hearing him repeat that there was always a choice and she screamed “He’s got a poisoned capsule!”

The others watched helplessly as John sank to the ground, cradling the man who gave him life, muttering repeatedly that he owed him answers.

Paul studied his step-mother and as Steve helped him to his feet, said to the other man. “I don’t think he’s the only one…

*~*~*~*~*~*

John came out of Paul’s room and found that Marlena was nowhere to be seen. He wasn’t worried, after years of being involved with the pretty shrink, he knew that more than likely, she was in her office or doing a quick consult with someone.

He was walking towards the nursing station when Maxine spotted him and chuckled at the unspoken question she had seen many times in the dark blue eyes coming towards her.  “She wasn’t feeling well, she’s gone to lie down in her office until you were ready to go home.”

John tilted his head in silent thank you as he headed down the hall to find his wayward wife.

He knew that he shouldn’t be angry at her for taking the unnecessary risk in his eyes about coming after him. Heaven and Salem knew beyond question that the beautiful blonde was a magnet at times for trouble never failing to find her, but yet ..

Yet there was this nagging fear that had been in the back of his head that started when Yo Ling targeted her because of him that made him beyond furious. Because she *knew* the risks and yet every time without fail, she always followed him into dangers. Because she loved him without question, without fail, without logic of thought.

“I could have lost you Doc.”

John for most if not all of their life together had this doubt in regards to her that he didn’t deserve her or the devotion that their love inspired in her that had kept her nearly always believing in him, even when he didn’t in himself.

Rounding the corner, he didn’t knock but rather just went inside and found her fast asleep, her fist pressed against her cheek, the obvious only to him tell that his woman, the brave and virtuous and oh so esteemed psychiatrist was scared out of her lovely mind.

John could still count on one hand the number of times, in all the times they had together or separately been in enough trouble, that she had been absolutely terrified enough to ball her hands up into fists.

Her fist …

As his brows furrowed at the gesture, he knelt down beside her and gently shook her.

“Hey pretty lady, it’s time to go … “ When she didn’t respond, he looked closer and saw the tear streaks.

“Doc, it’s time to go…”

She was oblivious, murmuring in her sleep that she was sorry, she wouldn’t do it again, just please don’t take them .. don’t hurt them because she didn’t know, she would do better.

John paused, listening to her plaintive cries and grew concerned.

Marlena’s missing years were forbidden to talk about, one of the few topics in their life together that she had made absolutely without question crystal clear that she would never ever talk to anyone, including her husband about again.  She was adamant that she was fine with not knowing after the mess of finding out John wasn’t Roman Brady while chasing it down the first time and the second time had her nearly dying after following a false lead a few years before that had the Blacks chasing down children that belonged to Roman and Kate.

“I’ve seen what chasing ghosts did to you, hell I nearly died myself John. I can’t do it. I want to just be happy with you and our children and grandchildren.”

He saw the determination in her hazel eyes and knew better. She had always been the compass by which he based his choices for the most part. If she wanted it left, then it was to be left.

Making a mental note to talk to Rafe and Steve to see if something had happened to her while they were rescuing he and Paul, John drew up a chair and began to wait her out.

*~*~*~*~*

Shane Donovan was sitting at his desk when there was a knock at his office door.

Minimizing the file on his computer screen, he called out to the person on the other side to come in.

The younger agent was someone that the head of the ISA had his eye on since the younger man chased his cousins around the Brady Christmas tree when he was 8. Shane’s instincts were never more right about someone as they were about Eric Brady.

Roman’s son, John’s step-son and instincts honed by watching and learning from the best.

It was however the expression on his face that had Shane stopping what he was about to say as he studied his nephew, for it was one that was never seen on either man, but rather a well known feature of Eric’s mother, yet another example of the knowledge sources available to the young operative.

“Why did you send me into that?” He asked Shane as he handed him the USB stick. “Of all the times to put me in the middle of something that I REALLY didn’t want to be involved in. You know…”

Shane held up his hand. “I couldn’t be there and I knew that of all people, you’d be the best person to protect the family’s privacy.”

Eric stood at the window, arms behind his back in military stance as he called over his shoulder. “If you knew all this time about this, you could have told her.”

“You’ve been around your mother long enough to know that she didn’t want to probe her past further than what she and John had learnt a few years ago. Nearly dying makes things very clear.”

Eric turned around and came to sit across from his chief.  “You sent me into that lunatic’s compound and asked me to hack into his computer. How am I supposed to sit here and tell my mother that it wasn’t Stefano really who had her all that time? That in fact it was a triad of the worst men known to my family who had her?”

Shane was about to speak when Eric cut him off. “We both know how John feels about her, he’ll go rogue. You know that. He gets … possessive of her since the whole mess with Stefano and his last attempt of changing him into the Pawn.”

“I’m aware of that Eric.” Shane countered. “However, with what you found on his hard drives … they both need to know about what really happened in 1986 after Orpheus took her from Salem.”

“And his ties to both of my fathers.” Eric added as he gathered up the dossier from his boss and headed out the door. “Guess I’ll see you in Salem soon then. Good luck Uncle Shane.”


Page 2 of 8
Eric checked his watch once more before turning around to check the list of flights before he moved to the window, sitting down in the bank of seats when he saw he had about an hour more go before he could board.

Finding a socket that he could plug into as he surfed the internet to kill time, he set up his laptop and scrolled through his list of contacts before finding who he wanted and began to type his email.

Subject: Vacation!!

Yes, this means what you think it means….

You, you lucky people get the blessing of my arrival home in 24 hours, 26 if my flight is delayed. I am tired of backpacking through Europe and being the roving photojournalist and am really looking forward to Gram’s chowder. (yes Gram, that’s a hint I’ve not eaten properly in months and no Mom, I don’t need a check up)

I need to find a place to bunk so I’ll leave that to you guys to decide to fight to the death over who gets to keep me and in the famous phrase out of Allie’s book she’s reading … may the odds be ever in your favor (see, I did listen little niece when you facetimed me)

Love ya’s

Eric.

He spell-checked it twice to humor that little voice in his head that sounded suspiciously like Dr. Marlena Evans, known more informally as his mother before hitting send. He only had screwed up once but it was enough to not forget his mother was a stickler about certain things.

Closing down the email browser, he chuckled at the image on his desktop, a photo of his girlfriend and himself, his arms wrapped around her as they both grinned at his sister Carrie, who had sworn she would keep his girlfriend a surprise until he was able to get home to Salem and tell their mother when they were all together.

“It’s not that she wouldn’t understand Carrie.” He replied as he sat across from her and Austin at the café in Paris. “Because Mom has the biggest heart of any one that I know. But rather…”

“It’s the fact that she’s a bit out of your league?”

He nodded. “Exactly.”

Eric looked at it once more, smiled at the redhead in the photo and shut it. Not paying attention as he packed the laptop back into the bag at the figure approaching him, who seemed to bang into him accidentally. The other man’s hand coming to shake his in apology but looking horrified as his ring nicked the inside of Eric’s finger.

“At least let me get you a coffee or something to eat as an apology?” He grinned and shook his head. “I’m good. Accidents happen all the time. Have a good day.”

Orpheus nodded, a faint grin on his face as he walked away from the younger man and continued on to his flight, pausing only to remove the ring from his finger, the toxin on the tiny needle more than having done its job.

Hearing the ping of his smart phone, he withdrew it from the outer pocket of his leather jacket and read the message, a frown appearing as he took the significance of the message in.

“You’ve always been a coward. Leaving me to see this through….”

*~*~*~*~*

“Hey pretty lady?”

John’s hand fell away as he came in the doorway of Marlena’s office and he caught her lost in thought, her fingers idly resting against the metal blinds that were opened to allow the sun in.

“Doc?”

Getting no response from her, he came in and called her name once more before coming around the desk and lightly touching her shoulder.

She didn’t turn around, that lovely smile that was just for him on her face at the moment of recognizing him as she always did when she came out of her thoughts. But rather, this time her whole demeanour was different.

“I know him … “ She stopped, correcting herself with a shake of her blonde head. “knew him.”

Thinking that someone they knew had passed away, John asked quietly who she meant. He had no clue at all what was going to come out of her mouth next, or how it was going to take his breath away.

“Knew who Doc?”

“Your father… I’ve met him before. But the thing is John …” She finally did turn around and he could see the unshed tears in her eyes before her hands made the futile swipe to keep them at bay. “I don’t know how.”

He blinked and wrapped his arms around her out of instinct.

“I … I think I need your help John.”

*~*~*~*~*

Arriving home at the townhouse, John allowed her to go past him, watching her drop her computer and work bags beside the desk as she headed to change out of her work clothes before going to the couch himself and grabbing the cordless phone and making a call.

“Hey it’s me. Do you have a minute?”

Steven Johnson, known to the world at large as Patch, merely shook his head with a grin. “When don’t I have a moment? Kayla’s doing a late shift at work and hell if I know where my son is.”

“Probably with his cousins.” John replied.

“Yeah probably.” He chuckled. “But something tells me that Joey isn’t the reason for the call. What’s up?”

John grinned. “No, as much as I like the kid, he isn’t but I need my partner to answer a question before I bother to call the Governor.”

“You’re afraid to deal with Kim?”

“Time differences don’t make for a happy Kim when I wake her up to get him.” John agreed. “You should know best of all what it’s like to wake up a Brady before they’re good and bloody ready, People have died for less mistakes.”

They both laughed and Steve nudged him again about what he needed him to do.

“When you and Rafe oversaw the clean up of the hideout … did the Salem PD happen to leave a clean up list of what was taken out?”

Patch paused. “Anything specific?”

“Like a laptop or a hard drive?

Steve stopped what it was that he was fidgeting with, a look of concern on his face as he listened intently at what wasn’t been said out loud, once an ISA agent … *always* an ISA agent.

“What’s brought that on man?”

John glanced at the doorway leading off the living room to see if she was there, taking a moment to try and collect his thoughts on best how to answer that loaded question.  Steve went to the obvious person for what he thought was John’s concern.

“Is it Paul, is he still showing effects?”

Closing his eyes a moment, John’s eyebrow rose as he exhaled slowly. His hand went to pinch the small of his nose and glanced again to make sure his love wasn’t in earshot as he brought his partner into the loop.

“No it’s … it’s not Paul.” John answered. “It’s Doc.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

Marlena was taking off her jewelry and putting it away in the pretty inlaid box that John had gotten her from their last trip to Italy when she spotted that god forsaken medallion peeping out from under her pretty baubles.

Reaching for it, she remembered a conversation that she and John had had in the clinic on San Christobal about being led to something .. shivering at that thought, she put the coin down and checked the clock on John’s side of the bed. Doing a quick mental count, she reached for her laptop and earphones. Hoping that she would catch her in.

John wasn’t the only member of the family hesitant to call Kimmy when she was overseas.

*~*~*~*~*~*

John came to bed and found Marlena sitting cross legged in the middle of the bed, her earphones dangling around her neck, laptop on her lap and her scribbling furiously on the note pad beside her.

“What’s all this?” He asked quizzically as he took in the familiar sight of his beloved wife hard at it after a consult with Kimberly. Coming around the side of the bed, he propped himself on his pillows and watched the scholar at work.

“Do you remember when I came home all those years ago?” She asked, never breaking her train of thought as she continued to scribble. John’s hand shot out to still the pen. “Doc?”

“I’m serious here. Do you remember when I came home. We were in your office and I offered to help you in investigating how I got home and we started at the beginning with how you were so sure I was allowed to go on my merry way?”

John nodded, it was still a sore spot in his heart about how things had gone. How the primitive side of him wanted to keep her with him, but the logical side … well it led them apart and back together again so many times since.

“John, I don’t know how … and I don’t know why … but I’m getting really convinced that your father was one of the people who held me.”

He looked at his bandaged hands and then back at her. “What brought that on?”

The fact she was able to repeat exactly what he had said to her in a language that John knew she didn’t and couldn’t speak before hand, was proof enough as he reached out and took her tiny hand in his own. “John, I think we need help… *I* need help.”

John brought her hand to his lips, feeling a little more worried with each passing heartbeat that he was starting to think he could hear in his ears. “I shouldn’t have let him bite that pill.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

The hit should have been so easy, in and out. Lord only knew the number of times he had undertaken one of these over the years, but only in hind sight was Eduardo Hernandez able to say that the target had thrown him off and he had to think fast on his feet.

His gun was drawn, he was right on top of the target and yet the man in front of him was *not* the target, but he knew him very well.

Winterthorne’s motto was not death before disloyalty for nothing.

“Failure is not an option and yet here I am in front of one of the only two who failed me as a brother.”

Orpheus merely smirked up at him. It had been surprisingly easy to get into Salem. Under the very radar of the two men who destroyed his world all those years ago. With a well-placed bribe here and there to various people including the target of Hernandez’s rage upon his arrival, he replaced the other man and it was all it took.

They started fighting in the back, Orpheus’s weight was enough to throw Ed’s aim off target, taking out the driver and knocking everyone else out.

Orpheus soon had his arm across his enemy’s throat as he smirked, the emotion not reaching his eyes as he tilted his head. “Death before disloyalty… I wonder why you’ve never lived up to that yet. Lord only knows how you’ve managed to mess this up. But you won’t tell anyone. Because this will all fall on you.”

He cocked the gun and fired …

*~*~*~*~*

“I’m not feverish, I’m fine but I’m telling you that yes I think I need you to call in favors.”

And that was exactly how John knew she was scared senseless. They had been at loggerheads over his involvement with the ISA over the past few weeks. Now she was willing for him to do this?

Marlena batted her hands at him to get him to stop the conversation and moved to go put her laptop away as she heard the cell phone on John’s side go off. “I think that’s for you Sailor.”

“Don’t think that this is over.” John muttered. “You can speak a language that I’ve never heard you speak in all these years. We are going to figure this out.” He hit select and went out of the room.

Marlena turned back around as he shook his head with a smile. “That was Brady.”

Their boy was always a sore spot within her man’s heart. So many mistakes and yet they were trying to rebuild their relationship. If not for Brady himself, but for the tiny infant who stole his grandfather’s heart.

“And?” She came to him and smiled back at him. “What did the prodigal son of ours have to say JB?”

“I’m going to be his best man.”

Marlena burst out laughing at his reaction, thinking he was joking, but soon grew serious. “You do realize you’re going to have to stand beside him as he says his vows to her right? Can you do that for him?”

John shrugged slightly. “If I want to see my son and his boy .. I may not like Theresa Donovan, but I can be fair. She has grown up around them. Our grandson is good for her.”

“And you can put what she did in the past? Because I look at her and sometimes I think I can’t. We lost so much time because of her actions.”

He smiled, cupping her face in his hands before he leaned in and kissed her slowly but very oh so very thoroughly. Studying her dazed expression, John grinned. “But we’re making up for that and more. I can move past. But I have not forgotten.”

This time the phone that rang was hers and John turned her around with a laugh and a smack to her shapely ass as he pushed her forward. “Go answer that, I need to get changed, we’re going to TBD to their par..par..”

“Engagement Party.” Marlena merrily replied to his groan of disgust and answered the phone.

*~*~*~*~*

Brady hugged his brother and stepped back. “You owe me.” Eric grinned. “So I can chalk this up to jet lag. Time zones are a bitch.”

“Well we’re glad to share our night with you cousin.” Theresa smiled sweetly, surprising both men before flouncing off to find her friend Anne. Eric looked dazed and pointed at her. “Who is that again?”

“Motherhood.” Brady offered lamely. “Or the incredibly shiny ring on her hand.”

The boys burst out laughing until Brady noticed Eric wasn’t looking right. “Are you alright?” He nodded. “Must have just been a bug I picked up on the flight.”

“Where’s the lady you were bringing with you?” Eric rolled his eyes. “Who *didn’t* Carrie tell?”

“Our mother.” Brady grinned cheerfully.

Eric blinked and went behind the bar to get a bottle of water. “The redhead over there. Her name is Serena… Serena Mason.”


Page 3 of 8
Winter 1986

“You may be wondering why it is that you’re here.” Orpheus stood behind the chair, regarding its occupant with disdain. “I don’t actually care what you think my dear Marlena. I however am going to tell you that you’re here only because I wish it to be this way.”

Her eyes flashed fire as she tested her restraints and glared at him. “Oh is that supposed to make me tremble? It didn’t scare me in Stockholm, it won’t do you any good here.” He leaned forward and studied her with the eyes of a scientist examining a new specimen.

“He’s not going to find you so we’ll make that clear straight off. However you have a role to play .. you’re going to be my children’s mother.” He shrugged and straightened up. “And if you fail in that as you’ve failed in the last three tries you’ve made to get off this island, well lets just say I’ve got three incentives back in Salem to make sure my rules get across that clever brain of yours. I’ll save *him* for your final attempt.”

As he left her sitting in the dark, she tried hard to focus her breathing and calm down. He had no way of knowing how she fought hard every night against her childhood traumas. Of how Roman kept her sane when they got too much.

“Oh Roman, please find me… get me out of here.” She prayed silently, her mantra of late.

There were times when Serena could remember her. The blonde woman who haunted her dreams when anyone would ask of what her childhood had been like. Her hazel eyes were always kind as she would cuddle them at night when their nightmares woke them screaming. She’d laugh with them over small childish jokes and just unlike their father … would *listen*

She hadn’t thought of her in years, not since their Aunt Olivia had taken them away from the island and refused to talk of that time whenever she and her brother would ask of the woman or of their father. “He got what he deserved.” Was all that Olivia would mention of her ex-brother in law.

Serena grew up the spitting image of her mother, except for her hair. Which was the only clue that the woman raising her was related to them.

When she was 21, she came into her inheritance and she decided to follow her talent of photography and journalism into a career that allowed her to travel.  But it was also the year that she learnt that Aunt Olivia, despite her best efforts hadn’t run them far enough.

Olivia had died in a car crash two days after Serena’s birthday and once her brother had heard the will and what was his, Serena was left alone and defenseless.

It had started with the sense of someone following her, then to calls that would drop. Friends telling her that she had a secret admirer. To which she would reply that she’d rather he’d reveal himself and become an *un* secret one because it was getting on her nerves.

No matter where she’d go, he’d follow … just enough to let her know he was there. A benevolent force that had an ex start referring to her as Christine as in the Phantom of the Opera because nobody was too close for too long.

Until the ISA Agent came along and then the calls started again.

She tried to ignore them, then came the emails, she’d delete them and she’d fought her urge to tell him of what was going on. That inner voice would tell her not to.. that maybe Eric would run away.

But with each day, the doubts would fade just a little because the agent wouldn’t run. He was with her, so much so that he wanted her to come to Salem. That he introduced her to his older sister and wanted her to finally meet his mother and step-father.

Serena was always finding excuses until the day at Carrie and Austin’s. When she saw the photograph taken just before the couple had left Salem the last time. It was of them of course. But on either side of the other couple was a dark haired man, who Carrie explained was their step-father John Black.  Serena of course nodded.

“And this is my step-mother Marlena, Eric’s mom.” Carrie replied, her fingers resting over the image of the beautiful woman who raised her as her own. Unaware of the reaction the image had on the other woman, Carrie continued to talk about Marlena, each word confirming that need in Serena to go with Eric to Salem.

*~*~*~*~*

Kimberly Brady Donovan came strolling up to stand beside the man who she once thought was her biological brother and smiled as she saw who had his undivided attention, the blonde who was on the dance floor with Brady, her unmistakable laugh sailing over the music.

“Somethings never change.” She raised an eyebrow as he blinked and grinned once he recognized the voice. “Well hello there.” Kimberly pffthed. “You’re losing your touch. That took five seconds longer than the last time we were together like this.”

They hugged and turned the attention back to Marlena.

“Any more developments that I should know about going into this now that we’re here?” She asked, watching him closely. It was one of the family’s more well known secrets that if you wanted to know the status of the Blacks relationship, watch the body language. Words could lie, but between those two … it was all about what wasn’t spoken.

His eyebrow went up and she held up her hand. “It stays between us. I just don’t want to go into her session unprepared here John. She’s only told me so much and its so fragmented.”

“It’s fragmented because I don’t think to be honest, she’s even got a clue of what it all means.”

“You should have seen her.”

They both turned around to see Paul come up to them. “Dad, her reaction when he started to talk to her.” He explained what he had seen, originally choosing not to say something because he thought perhaps he was seeing things under the influence of the medication he was given. “What changed your mind son?”

He looked at his father and shook his head. “Her free hand. She had never let go of the gun once but the hand she was using to check on me. Well it was like a claw or a fist. In all the brief time I’ve known her. I’ve never seen her like that. She was petrified.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

Brady was just putting Marlena back on her feet when she felt a hand on her shoulder, she was about to say for John to wait his turn when she heard one of her heart’s voices call out.

“Brother mine, you’ve had this dance. Now it’s my turn.”

She turned around and as she drank in her son, her smile was reflected in Eric’s own. “Hi Mama.”

Anything further he was about to say faded as his face blanked out and he crumpled to the floor.


Page 4 of 8
Stefano DiMera hung up the phone and sat back into his oversized leather chair, his fingers moving reflectively into a temple under his chin as he regarded the information from the caller on the phone and waited for the visitor who had been announced just before phone call to be allowed in.

Reaching for the remote, he muted the song and refused to get up from his chair as Orpheus appeared.

“It’s been quite awhile.” Stefano spoke after he took a moment to enjoy his nearby glass of brandy. “I’d say I’ve missed you but can’t miss what you thought was dead.”

“What can I say. For someone who was trained by you. He was a terrible shot.”

Stefano was about to address that but was cut off by Orpheus. “But we both know the real reason why I’ve been hidden away all these years. Two reasons were rather well hidden by you and that ranting bag of rags that passed himself off as that rambling prophet of doom. The other well … you had to have a fall guy.”

He leaned forward to examine the chess board and picked up the Queen before looking up at the older man.

“You could have told them the truth … let them have the agony of learning you had won and that he could have had them back then, but he chose that Colville woman over them. But you kept your mouth shut, you let him have her instead. And he didn’t say a word either. He chose to die rather than tell them. What loyalty you inspire Stefano.”

He threw the Queen into the fire before drawing his gun. “Tell me … do you even appreciate it?”

*~*~*~*~*

John turned his attention away from the glass in the room door and looked at Daniel.

“Any word?”

“I’m afraid not. We’re still waiting for the results John.” Kayla cut in. “John, he’s always had heart issues that went way back since he was an infant. He could very well have been having trouble before he came home. I’m waiting for Shane to get me his last ISA sanctioned physical for additional information.”

He turned back and watched Marlena, her head bowed in prayer as she held her boy’s hand in her own.

*~*~*~*~*

“Do I appreciate it?” Stefano replied with a chuckle and a shake of his head, more in that moment looking every inch of a demented Santa. “Why would I appreciate it when it’s either give it or I’ll destroy you?”

“She’s never given it. Neither has John and yet here they both still stand.” Orpheus replied. “Tell me … is it because of those little dividends you hold that they’ve never paid for their crimes?”

Stefano didn’t answer. “Do they know?”

Orpheus raised his voice. “Does he know that not a drop of DiMera blood courses through his veins or that precious little creature that you call your grandson’s veins. How much did you have to pay them to say Thomas was a DiMera?”

He fired into the wainscoting. “Answer me.”

“Or what, you’ll keep me from them?” Stefano growled. “I’m not Marlena and this is not then. I can have you erased without a thought. Or perhaps I’ll give them the ammo to kill you. John has motive more than me.”

“Oh really and what would that be?”

“Did you really not think I’d hear about your little move in Europe?” Stefano chuckled, waving away the guard who came at the sound of the gunshot. “Eric Brady is in ICU and they think he just may not last the night.”

Before the other man could continue, Stefano smiled. “The last time Marlena thought that someone had taken one person she loved away, she injected him with a toxic combination of drugs that left him a living corpse for all intents and purposes.”

He smiled. “How did that work out for you? Any lingering side effects?”

*~*~*~*~*

“Baby, lets go for a walk. I’ll buy you a coffee and some fresh air.”

He leaned down to kiss the top of her hair, but she shook her head. “What if he wakes up and we’re not here?”

Roman spoke from his spot by the window. “I have my cell, I’ll text you the moment he does.”

John rubbed her shoulders and kept his eyes on her. “This reminds me of a lifetime ago. A tow headed stubborn pain in my side comatose and refusing to wake up. Every night I’d sit by her bedside and tell her of what she missed and that I loved her.”

Marlena blushed and John continued. “Every day I would do the same until it actually took Abraham to tell me that she wouldn’t want that for me. That she knew me better than anyone and knew she would want me to live my life and make her proud of me.”

“And what happened?” Roman asked.

John straightened and pointed at the person in the chair, who shook her head. “She woke up after I was very tired and frustrated and let her have it with both barrels.” He smiled. “Long story short. Eric’s part her. He’ll fight with all he has and then some. But we can’t sit here 24-7 and get sick ourselves. We can pace each other if we have to.”

*~*~*~*~*

“Here’s the deal, you’re going to help me bring down Salem once and for all. You’re going to help me end John, Marlena and the rest of the sanctimonious do gooders.”

“Or what?”

“I tell them what you helped me do to her.”

Stefano grinned. “They know I’ve never laid a hand on her. The same alas cannot be said for either of you. He’s dead, can’t defend himself against the accusations and John can’t fight a ghost. But you … as I said … I can tell them what you’ve done and maybe get a little breathing space off of me from them.”

*~*~*~*~*

Abby was swaying side to side with a drowsy Thomas as she kept one eye on her husband. “The plane is on time. Relax will you, it’s not like she’s never seen your ugly mug before.”

“That’s not what you called it last night.” Chad replied and checked his watch once more. “However it is the first time she’ll have met her sister in law and her new nephew.”

“So apparently then face time will not have counted.” The voice behind him made Abby grin and Chad’s blue eyes grow huge. “You’re finally here!”

He turned and engulfed her in a hug, nearly knocking off the glasses from her face. “Okay .. can’t breathe .. let go.” Chad burst out laughing. “Not on your life. It’s not every day that I get to introduce my twin to her nephew …”

“And wife, yes I heard.” She slipped the glasses off and smiled. “Hi I’m Evan, it’s finally nice to meet you.”

Abby grinned right back. “He really has no idea does he?”

As they walked out, Evan admiring her nephew, the girls burst out laughing at Chad trying to keep up.


Page 5 of 8
John was on his way back to the hospital with a change of clothes for Marlena and a little bag of treats to try to tempt her to eat. He decided to cut across Horton Town Square when a familiar voice stopped him.

Trying hard to not roll his eyes at the greeting, he laid the coffees down on a nearby table and turned around to address his greatest enemy.

“And what brings you out in the daylight old man? Shouldn’t you be on fire by now?”

Stefano smiled delightedly and threw up his hands. “Is that any way to talk to an old friend?”

“Well no because I’d be happy to see an old friend.” John answered and shook his head. “Stefano, I really don’t have time for this. I need to get back to the hospital and Doc.” He gestured to the items.

“Ah yes, Eric … I heard about his situation. Any word?” He asked. “You must be so worried. The life of an ISA agent never is a long one and he’s got so much to live for.”

The blue eyes narrowed as he looked at the old man. “What did you do?”

“Me?” Stefano shook his head. “I can honestly and yes I do use that word with impunity on occasion when its warranted, honestly can say that I had nothing to do with his current predicament. How ever I can say that it’s a tragic shame when the sins of the parents are paid on the children.”

“Come again?”

Stefano looked at him. “You heard me.”

*~*~*~*~*

Shane peeked in the hospital door window and saw Marlena sitting by Eric’s side and the young man was still unconscious. So he knocked softly before coming inside.

“Hello there Marlena.”

She turned around and nodded. “Good morning Shane, what brings you by?”

“I came to see how he was. Any change?”

She turned back around and took her boy’s hand once more. “No, no change. Are you here as family or as his employer?” She stroked her fingers over the top of the hand and remembered a brief time when it was once smaller than hers.

“Pardon?” She looked up at the wall across from her and then to Shane. “I picked up hints and clues from being married to John. I really don’t understand why every one of the family think that I’m china and will break if I know exactly what and why they do what they do.”

Shane chuckled. “They love you and would do anything to make you happy. But as for being made of china, I think you’re far from it. Been through too much with you to doubt the steel rod that runs along your spine. Especially after your last stunt with Steve and Rafe.”

Marlena faintly smiled and turned around to look at him. “And you haven’t answered my question. Why are you here?”

“Always the psychiatrist.” He shrugged. “I’m here as both. I have reason to believe he’s in this predicament because of something I had him do for me as a personal favor. Out of respect for you and John.”

She rose out of her chair and said nothing, allowing him to continue. “Once we had word via Steve about Yo Ling going down, the ISA sent in a strike team to his compound and grab all the intel that we could. Eric was the leader of the team.” He answered to the unspoken question on her face.

“What he brought back …”

Marlena blinked at the change in his tone. “What about it?”

Shane looked at his hands, playing with his wedding ring. “I really think that we need John here.”

“Why?”

“Because I need to apologize to you both.”

*~*~*~*~*

Spring 1987



The three men watched the target as she walked in the garden for the first time since her arrival, her blonde hair tied back as she moved with obvious discomfort, her injuries improving daily or so the physicians assigned to her reported while they waited for the medical records from the first clinic to arrive.



The first man watched her with pride because he had finally managed to break her. Taking her to the plane and allowing her to see her beloved was too late to save her as he had been too late to save his wife from dying at Roman’s hands had managed to make her pliable. She couldn’t have her life back and death was imminent.



The second man watched her with want because she was the only person who had never submitted to him. She was and had always been Roman Brady’s heart and soul. Having her here broke two ties. Hers to her former life and one of his reasons for living.



The third however … well he knew the truth and the young woman in front of him fascinated him. He had trained his son well and the man he had become must have been like flame for a moth. She would be truly an asset to the organization by the time he was done.



Three men attracted to the beauty and brains of the woman who was unbeknownst to everyone at that time, carrying a secret of her own.



*~*~*~*~*

Marlena texted John and asked him to meet her in her office as he left Stefano and his riddle behind.

He however wasn’t expected to find a stand off between the two old friends. Marlena behind her desk and Shane near the door. He nodded at the Englishman before placing the overnight bag on the chair, the sweets and coffee on her desk and kissing her temple. “Okay I’m here, what’s going on here?”

She looked at Shane and pointed. “Ask him. He started something in Eric’s room and wouldn’t continue until you got here. He said he owes us an apology. John, he sent Eric into your father’s compound. He may have gotten my son killed.”

John turned blue eyes onto his old friend and boss. “Shane?”

“I didn’t say that exactly. I do however owe you both an apology based on what Eric found. He was bringing a dossier to you that you both needed to read.” He leaned against the nearby bookshelf and took a breath.

“John, do you remember my brother Drew.”

Marlena said nothing, lacing her fingers with John’s and listened. “Yeah, yeah I do. Why?”

“Because the scam he had run .. about ..”

Shane stopped, this wasn’t really how he wanted to explain this to them, especially Marlena.

“The scam he had run about Doc, you can say it.” John replied, looking at Marlena who was still silent.

“It turns out … it wasn’t a scam. Not a full one at least.”

The Blacks both looked at him for that one. “Come again?”

Shane began to pace. “She was alive and she was there. However … they had to think quickly because she..” He looked at Marlena. “You were still very sick.”

Marlena let go of John and wrapped her arms around herself. “I was what?”

John’s hands went to his face and pulled down before he shook his head, so much could have been changed if only he had known … if he had believed…

“There was a file on a hard drive that Eric had read, it in great detail describes your ordeal Marlena from start until the end of the road at that clinic in San Christobal.”  He stopped and took a breath. “Including your pregnancy.”


Page 6 of 8
Marlena shook her head. “I can’t have heard you right. My pregnancy?”

Shane remained silent, John looking between them. “Shane, you told me that it wasn’t her. I went with what the ISA told me. What the double told *me* that she was dead and it was …”

“It was a game set up by Stefano.” Shane replied quietly. “Except it wasn’t a game. She was alive and sick with what was an unknown virus that had been in her system since the island with Orpheus.”

Marlena turned away from the two of them, her eyes searching until she found the photograph of her Isabella. Belle was in her arms, no more than months old at the time and the pride and love in the new mother’s eyes was obvious.

“How … how do we know that this dossier is accurate?” She called out over her shoulder. “Yo Ling was capable of trying to destroy not just John but also Paul. He could have had this as something to torment him with if he didn’t fall for the other attempts?”

Shane didn’t answer at first, instead going to get his briefcase. “Because there’s photographs.”

John came to stand beside him and took the folder. “Photoshop.”

He shook his head. “Eric was able to date the pictures up to a week either way. They’re not photoshopped. Marlena was alive and had been pregnant while in captivity. It appears the memories of Rex and Cassie were simply smokescreens implanted in your head Marlena to hide the truth.”

She sank into the chair. “I .. I think I need Kimberly.” The men turned to look at her. “Or Laura. I’m going to be needing someone with unbiased eyes to help crack my brain like a walnut.”

John tried to lighten the mood. “Is that your professional opinion… a walnut?”

Marlena shook her head. “I have a son who could very well die, at least one more child out there in the world that doesn’t know me … or you or our family history. So yes right now my humor is not my normal one.” She paused. “You have photos … do you know what I had?”

Shane hesitated. “Marlena …”

John came back behind her, his hands on her shoulders. “Shane, tell us.”

“Marlena, you had twins.” He rifled through the photos until he found the two he was looking for. One showing her at least at 8 months along. The second of two small infants swaddled up, face to face fast asleep. One however, had a tiny fist curled up by it’s cheek.

That tiny of a gesture struck something inside her and she burst into tears.

*~*~*~*~*

Stefano was about to walk into the library when he caught sight of the two children who had stolen his heart years before.

Chad was facing away from him, studying the chess board while Evan was laughing hard over whichever choice he had made. Telling him he was just rubbish and was he sure they were related because his chess skills sucked.

Chad, if you looked very closely, had his biological father’s colouring … he certainly had the Black eyes. Isabella and Brady both had them as well. But in spirit, he was all Marlena.

But it was Evan who had been the deciding factor as to why the twins had been separated. Stefano had been able shortly after their birth, to get a photograph of the baby Marlena and upon seeing the resemblance, knew that if the then Roman Brady ever saw the child, the game would be lost.

Watching them play, reminded him of Maison Blanche and how Marlena had taken quickly to the game. Of course she had no clue that he had taught her years before.

“Like mother, like children.”

*~*~*~*~*

Marlena had sat with Eric for a couple of hours before she had gone to see her appointments, the revelations of the morning sitting between she and John and Shane as each went to their daily events.

How in the world was she supposed to cope with all of this and be happy stepmother of the groom at this wedding in a few hours?

But when she saw how happy John was as he came off the elevator to pick her up, she bit back her emotions, helping him yet again straighten his tie and turn him into the groom’s right hand man.

As they kissed while the elevator doors closed, she broke the kiss and he looked at her with a sadness he hadn’t let her see until now.

“Pretty lady, if I had of known for one second that you were there.” She laid her hand on his cheek and rested her forehead against his. “That you were even alive.” He gracefully laced his fingers with hers and they were silent a moment.

“Every step together and apart always had the same outcome.” She whispered. “It brought us back to each other, made us stronger.” She closed her eyes and took another breath. “You told me once that you learnt that you could live without me, I think this was my chance to learn I could do it without you. But John … we have…”

“We’ll find them, we’ll figure this out. But we have first things first to do.”

She nodded and opened her eyes. “Obviously I did your tie right, you’re not choking on where we’re going.” They burst out laughing. “Doc, not every day Brady asks me for something this important.”

He tucked her hair behind her ear. “We’ll get our one son straightened out and hopefully by the reception we’ll have word on the other and we’ll be able to focus on you.”

Marlena could only nod.

If only they had known …

*~*~*~*~*

Serena had waited until Dr. Evans and Commissioner Brady had left before sneaking in to sit with Eric. She laid her purse strap over the chair and sat down, taking his hand in hers before ghosting her lips over his knuckles.

“I … I can’t tell you how sorry I am.” She peered up through her bangs and straightened up as she laid his hand back down on the sheets. “I didn’t want it to be this way.”

She listened to the monitors and wiped at her eyes. “I didn’t have a choice. It’s been his way all this time. He began this years ago and he’ll end it here. But you need to understand Eric, I love you. That wasn’t fake or forced.”

“When my Aunt had stood against him, she ran away with us. We thought we were safe and it could be forgotten. But he killed her, he thought he could win us back with this. But we ran again. He always finds us. And it’s all because of your family. John started it but it was your mother …”

She downed her coffee before she could continue. “I thought I could do what he wanted, but I can still see your mother, holding us and taking care of us and it’s because of her that I need to make *my* stand here.”

She slipped the syringe out of her purse and moved quickly.

The text was clear and with obvious intent. “Kill Eric Brady.”

How ever she was never one to follow her father’s rules.  She could only hope that this serum worked.


Page 7 of 8
“It’s late sweetheart.”

John came around the doorway and leaned against it. Watching her sit at the desk with the dossier scattered around her, the golden hair hiding her face as well as her hands did.

He waited a heartbeat or two before trying again, coming across the room to stand behind her, his hands hesitating an additional heartbeat before resting on her shoulders. Ever since all those mistakes in the past, he still found himself cautious around this brave creature, the woman he loved more than life itself. He had hurt her and he’d die before he was the cause of further pain.

But he didn’t know what to do with this …

Back then, it was to rescue Carrie … as Roman he would have done anything to save the child *his* child.  The idea … the smallest hope that he could have had his whole heart back in the form of the woman before him as well, that would have been more than he deserved in his whole life.

But her and a child …. Children?

“You should be sleeping. The pain meds they gave you in Emerge should have knocked you out.”

John shook his head. “They guessed wrong.”

Marlena turned around and his next flip comment was cut off by the tear tracks on her cheeks. “I could have lost you tonight!”

She got out of the chair and went for him, her fists curled as she struck at his chest. “You said you killed him, you said he was dead and there he was and he wanted to take everything away like he did back then and I could have lost you!”

He caught her hands and held them over his heart. “If anybody tonight has the right to be angry over actions, baby it should be me. What in the hell did you think you were doing!”

Six hours earlier …



Chaos had erupted at Victor’s with the appearance of the old enemy, gun in one hand cocked at the temple of the victim in his clutches. Eve, trained by her father and former husband, remained calm.

John had stepped in front of Marlena, hearing the breathless fear in her voice as she said the other man’s name and tried to talk him down, Victor tried to bribe their way out, hell even Paul tried to switch places with Eve, who was finally let go but in the middle of the confusion, Marlena slipped out of the room, a move that when discovered, had Orpheus mocking John of all the times he wasn’t there for Marlena all through their history.

The room was getting more and more tense by the moment before Paul took his opportunity to try and take Orpheus, who shot and hit John in the arm until a shot rang out from behind Orpheus, the aim off just slightly enough to take out the other man by the shoulder.

He managed to escape but not before he and the others saw Marlena re-appear with a gun in one hand. “Doc!”

She was shaking so bad that Paul came to her, taking the weapon from her so that she could go to John. “I… I had to try.”

The police were there moments later and Abe only had to hear John say “Orpheus.”

They let it go and instead rushed John off to the hospital.

*~*~*~*~*

“Don’t you dare!”

She glared at him and shook her head. “I didn’t do anything that you or Steve or Rafe or Ed wouldn’t do. I took the opportunity. The only thing I did wrong … was that I didn’t aim properly!”

John hugged her tight and pressed kisses to the top of her head. “I can’t lose you.”

“And I can’t lose you. We have to find him John. This has to stop.”

Anything further that was going to be said by either one of them was cut off by the nurses and emergency room physician who took care of John while Abe and Roman came to consult with John, who noticed the blonde heading for the door.

“And where do you think you’re going Missy?”

She called over her shoulder. “Hallway, I can’t handle this much testosterone while I call Brady and the rest of the absent family to let them know about you.”

Abe and John exchanged glances before the other man went to the door to keep an eye on her, Roman stepping in to talk to John while they worked on stitching his wound.

*~*~*~*~*

Marlena was out in the hall long enough to make her calls to the children when the nurse found her and came rushing to her.

“Oh thank goodness you’re here Dr. Evans. We didn’t want to call you when you were at the wedding but it’s your other son.”

Her eyes widened as she realized the young nurse meant Eric. Asking her to let Commander Brady know, she went to her son’s room. Hopefully she was going to be able to see him before checking on his status with the Doctor on duty tonight.

*~*~*~*~*

Serena was in the hospital chapel, her head bowed in prayer as she worked the rosary as she waited for word on her lover.

It was on the second cycle that she stopped and lifted her head. “I know you’re there.” She murmured at the person just behind her. “Hello father.”

Orpheus smiled at her as she lowered the rosary to her lap. “I didn’t know you had your mother’s rosary.”

Serena didn’t turn around. “It’s the only thing Aunt Olivia allowed me to have when I turned 16. She said that I would have the rest of it when I turned 21. But we know how that all turned out… don’t we.”

“She kept you from me.”

“Just cause wouldn’t you say?” She finally allowed him to see her face. “You should have stayed dead. None of this would have had to have happen. Stayed in the shadows and allowed us to feel safe.”

“That’s why I had you raised on the island, you and your brother both.”

She held up her hands. “And yet another example of just how well your plans always work for you. That’s why you’re here. Because she got away and because he couldn’t shoot straight.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes I do.” Serena came to stand nearly nose to nose with him. “I remembered Dr. Evans.”

*~*~*~*~*

“How can this be?”

Shane was sitting beside Eric’s bedside when Marlena appeared, the younger man smiling at her from under the oxygen mask. Her former brother in law also smiling.

“We owe it to Serena.”

Eric made a face at how muffled his voice sounded as he waved off the help from his Uncle to get the mask off and once freed, he repeated himself. “The nurses said that she was here with a syringe and she ran out in tears apparently apologizing for what she had done.”

*~*~*~*~*

“She was here!”

John rolled his eyes at Abe’s frustration. “I swear I’m buying a bracelet, putting a GPS in it for her and never letting her out of my sight.”

The nurse came in and cleared up the mystery. “She’s upstairs checking on her son.”

Roman nodded, saying thank you while John let out the breath he was holding and looked at the other two men. “She’s going to need guards who are trained in not letting pesky trouble finding women out of their sights.”

Abe chuckled. “Or you get her that bracelet and let her *think* she’s got some control or say in this matter until we get this cleared up.”

His phone rang and he moved away, Roman and John both hearing the faint tones of Hope on the other end reporting in about the situation post wedding fallout.

*~*~*~*~*

“Do you ever wonder just who you are?”

Evan turned around to see her brother Andre in the doorway. Closing her tablet, she lowered it to the side of the couch and shook her head. “No, I’ve always been aware that I’m Evan DiMera. You?”

Andre merely chuckled and deflected her question. “You know you’re the last in the line of Father’s golden daughters, don’t you? There was Renee, then there was Megan, then there was Kristen, but she wasn’t biological so she doesn’t count even though she was the most like him, then there was Lexie and now there’s you. What makes you think you’ll survive this world?”

Tucking her sneaker clad foot under her, she rolled her eyes. “It’s too late in the evening to be playing verbal chess with you. Shouldn’t you be skulking in the shadows somewhere brother Vlad?”

Andre chuckled right back again. Out of the twins, he enjoyed her more than Chad.

“Do you ever think about your mother?”

Now that … *that* question hit the mark. Evan stilled a moment and lifted her eyes up to look at him. “No, Father answered my questions years ago. That she died giving birth to us and that she was beautiful smart and kept him on his toes.”

“Kept him on his toes.” Andre parroted. “Much like keeping you away from here for all these years.”

She raised an eyebrow, yet another characteristic as to why she was hidden. Stefano couldn’t have her be seen with an obvious trait of his former Pawn.

“I’ll say it again, it’s late and I’ve been up since dawn reading over reports and getting to know Abby and Thomas. So, these games have been fun but …. You’re boring.”

As she grabbed her notes and the tablet to go past him, Andre smiled. The bug had been put in her ear, now was time for it to fester.

*~*~*~*~*

1987 – Summer



The doctor smiled at the young woman, who was lying very still on the table, her hands at her sides while she watched the monitor. “You can’t be serious.”

“That doesn’t lie.” He pointed at the monitor. “That says there’s two.”

The nurse who was standing behind the monitor excused herself and made her way out of the room and down the hall to the library where the three men waited.

She didn’t know two of them, but there was the one man who with one word could destroy her world completely. If it wasn’t for her father’s rehabilitation costing so much, there was no way in the world she would have thought to take on the job of being the nurse for a young American who was in the midst of a very high risk pregnancy.

If that man had known she snuck a peek at the patient’s records, he’d have her killed on the spot. But there was no way that someone could have that much bad luck and live to tell the tale.

The young woman had been in a two month coma just a few months before her kidnapping by the ISA to control her husband, there were records of unknown fevers before the second kidnapping, injuries sustained in an explosion and then a plane crash before her arrival here on San Angeles.

But no matter what, the medical team was told their primary goal was to keep her and the baby … no, babies, she reminded herself, alive.

But first … she had to earn her father’s continued help.

Knocking on the door, she waited for the come in before appearing before them.

“Well?”

She gave her report and excused herself quickly. She had learnt just as fast as she was hired that the best thing was to report what she said, not to embellish, and to get the hell out.

Once she was gone and the door closed then Orpheus was on the hot seat.

“You didn’t have her checked out?”

“I never had time, she never showed any symptoms!”

As he and Stefano went back and forth, the third man in the room began to get annoyed and made that very clear, silencing the other two, before Orpheus, like the cub who wanted to go against the head lion, went after the seemingly frail man.

Stefano moved away, getting a snifter of brandy and settled to watch him go after Yo Ling.

“My dear gentlemen, do neither of you see the gift that is in our lap right now or am I the only one who’s smart enough to catch the significance?”

DiMera continued. “She’s brilliant, beautiful and can be moulded further than what has already been started. She’s carrying his children. The ultimate gift a woman could give to her husband and he’ll never know. Until it’s too late, until the children are safely trained to hate him and they will be the final weapon to destroy John Black.”


Page 8 of 8
Eric looked at his mother, who stared right back at him with the same expression.

“You know, I don’t love you any less. This .. this is the final game in that sick man’s head.” Eric replied, reaching for her hand. “Mom, I’m not judging. If anything. I really should be apologizing to you. I tried not to be the one who was on the team. Uncle Shane asked for me specifically.”

Marlena smiled finally. “If Shane thought that you were the best man for the job, then you were. I’d rather have that found by family than by a stranger.”

Eric shook his head. “Mom … about Serena.”

“As a mother, I can see you love her. Even though you were secretive about her.” Marlena teased him for a few moments, the both of them enjoying the banter before she paused.  “I can see her as a child. But as a psychiatrist and as someone who’s been tormented for years by her father. I’m not ready to meet with her as your beloved. I’m so sorry.”

He was going to say something but she cut him off. “Eric, I’m grateful that she did what she did. But I haven’t lived here in Salem this long without knowing that trojan horses are exactly that. She cured you, but what else is coming?”

*~*~*~*~*

Evan was walking around the town square when she took a moment to quickly shoot a text to Chad, letting him know where she was, she wasn’t paying attention when she was putting the phone away when she banged into someone.

“You know it’s a crime in Salem to be texting and running.”

Her hazel eyes went huge as she looked at the man before her. “Good thing I was walking. Lesser charge.” She held out her hand and smiled. “I’m Ryan.”

Steve Johnson chuckled. “I’m Patch and I was kidding. It’s a misdemeanor.”

*~*~*~*~*

Brady came around the corner and found that his normally unflappable father was standing guard over the town house’s front door.  He stopped in front of him and was about to speak when he heard the voice from inside.

“When did she?”

John shook his head. “No idea until my father did what he did. It’s as if he awoke something in Doc and now, the woman I love is a bomb. I don’t know when or what will set her off. But since then, since the wedding and Eric and everything else … BAM!”

He held up his hand to hold the conversation and listened at the door.

“Who’s she talking to?” Brady asked quietly.

“I don’t know. I’ve been recording it to send to Shane to transcribe. I’ve been counting the number of dishes she’s been smashing to ensure its okay to go inside.”

Brady shrugged straight faced. “Well that’s good she breaks them, less chances of food poisoning.”

John chuckled and sobered up as he shut the recorder. “Hey Doc, we’re home.” He jingled his house keys and signaled to his son to act normal and come inside.

He never expected to see what he walked into.

Marlena turned around from the whiteboard she had dragged out of storage with her neat hand writing all over it.

“This is all I can think of from the flashbacks and the talking to Kim.”

“T-that’s good.” He replied as Brady looked around. “Marlena, what’s with the china?”

She burst into tears. “That was how it started coming back. I broke a plate when I brought my soup out here. I was using it instead of a tray. I can’t be sure, but I think that staccato rhythm was how they started the torture. Something shattered at the start of each session. But I can’t remember what.”

John went to search for the folder and began to rifle through his father’s scribbles and the ISA notes.

“Doc …”

She and Brady on her heels came to join him.

“What they tried to shatter each time, was you.”

He turned the folder slightly, so they could see and as John pointed to the paragraph he found, Marlena’s eyes rolled back into her head as she crumpled into her step-son’s arms.