Our Life – By Nic

My body wiggles under the huge comforter nuzzled under my

neck and I stretch out against the warm body wrapped around

1. I let out a content yet disappointed sigh. I know I will need to

get up soon and get ready for work.

 

After a few moments, I scoot away from John slightly and reach

for the top of the comforter so that I can get up. That’s when I

feel John’s arm snake around my torso and pull me back against

him. I can tell he is no longer sleeping… for his breathing is now

calmer than it was before. I make a face. Easy for him to say, he

doesn’t have to get up for work this beautiful morning. However,

my sour face turns into that of compassion as I remember that it

is because of him that I was able to sleep the whole night as he

was up with Belle all night, taking care of her flu.

 

“Come on, John. I need to get up for work,” I complain, glancing

at the clock.

 

He dips his head against my back and murmurs, “Don’t go.”

 

“Nice try, Sailor. But I have to. For my patients,” I explain. He

already knows this, but I have to stress the point.

 

He decides to pretend he’s not listening to me and grips me

tighter. His hand runs softly under my shirt and travels back and

forth across my stomach. I smile as I realize what he is trying to

do.

 

“That may work for our children, but it’s sure not going to put me

back to sleep.” I grin and playfully slap his hand.

 

“Maybe I’m not trying to put you back to sleep,” he says, his hand

suddenly traveling south. His fingers easily slip under my cotton

panties and press against my mound.

 

“No. John, no,” I say, as if I’m trying to reprimand one of the kids.

“John…” I warn, trying not to gasp out loud when his cool fingers

slide along my wet center.

 

I feel his manhood poking into my lower back and without

thinking I grind my buttocks into him. That’s all it takes. Damn, I

think as I feel him shifting his position on the bed. He knows he

has my attention now. He hovers above me and smiles that cocky

grin when he realises that he got me.

 

“So much for making my first appointment,” I grimace and glance

at the clock once more. His fingers push inside me and I fall onto

my back, the phone almost dropping from my hand. I rock my hips

into his hand and I see him biting his lip as he watches my

expression. “John, wait…” I breathe, knowing I have to call

before we get too heated up. He stops for a second, his fingers

still deep inside of me.

 

I can barely dial the number, my attention span only focusing on

John and what he is doing to me. “Dr. Evans office, how can I

help you?,” my secretary answers.

 

John picks this moment to drive his fingers back into me and rubs

his thumb along my clit. “Hello? Is anyone there?” My poor

secretary. If she only knew.

 

My head is pressed back into the pillows, my legs spread around

John. Oh my God, this feels so good. I run my hand through

John’s hair as my hips arch into his hand. If only work could be

half this pleasing. Work! Oh God, my secretary. “Uh, Marcie, its

Dr. …Evans!” I screech, John’s motions bringing me closer and

closer to the edge.

 

“Dr. Evans, are you feeling alright?” I hear my secretary ask. Hell

yes, I want to say.

 

“No, Marcie, I’m feeling a little sick. I need you to….” I gasp as

John quickens his hands. “…to… to…” Concentrate, I think. “I

need … you to cancel my first appointment. I’ll be in… later.” I hit

the off button and toss the phone over John’s head and hear it

collide with something. Hell, I don’t care what just as long as

John doesn’t stop.

 

My whole body almost rises completely off the bed as I come,

John’s fingers still moving inside of me to ride out the waves of

pleasure.

 

“There, that wasn’t so difficult, was it?” John grinned, removing

his fingers from me.

 

“Shut up,” I say, wanting to rid him of that smug expression on his

face even though he has every reason to be smug about what he

just did to me. I lock my fingers in his hair and pull him down

completely on top of me. Our lips come in contact with each

other, grinding together in their own exotic dance. We each open

our mouths, allowing our tongues slide together. I feel his

hardness pressing against my thigh and my hips rise to grind

against him. I want more than his fingers this time.

 

We both stop groping each other and look at the door as we hear

a faint sound come from down the hallway. “Daddy!” Belle calls.

 

John rests his forehead against mine as he closes his eyes and we

both try to calm our bodies down. He pulls back and gives me a

seductive smile, then leans down and gives me a slow, passionate

kiss. “Go.” I say, slapping his butt as he gets out of bed and

tightens the drawstrings on his sweatpants.

 

I watch as he disappears down the hallway to our 2-year-old’s

room, then throw the covers back and go to Brady’s room to get

him up for school.

I peek into my son’s room, wondering is he’s still asleep. Clothes

are strewn across the room as he digs through his drawers. Brady

stands there, green ninja turtles sweatpants on with an orange

shirt.

 

“Honey, what are you doing?” I try not to laugh.

 

“I can’t find my turtle sweatshirt.” He explains. His brown hair

stands on end, his blue eyes lighting up his face.

 

“You want to go to school in sweatpants?” I ask, walking to stand

by him.

 

“I can dress myself, Mommy. I’m this many, member?” He holds up

his 5 fingers and gives me an exasperated look.

 

“Oh, you’re right, Baby. I forget sometimes.” I smile at him and he

returns with a smile of his own. Kneeling before him, I attempt to

tame his short, thin hair. “You’re not too old to let Mommy make

you breakfast are you?”

 

He stands there and thinks for a moment. “No.” He grins at me

and throws his arms around my neck. I am caught off guard and

hug him with one arm and support myself on the floor with the

other. “Race ya!” He screams and backs away, tearing off down

the hallway. I jump up from the floor and chase him, mainly to

catch him before he runs down those steps.

 

When I get downstairs, Brady is already sitting on the table, his

cereal box open in front of him. I remove his small arm from the

bottom of the box and I pour some into a bowl for him. I wonder

how Belle is feeling, but before I can react, John comes down the

stairs, Belle’s head rested peacefully on his shoulder.

 

“How is she?” I ask, walking over to them. John smiles and gives

me a funny look. Upon hearing my voice, Belle’s head pops up and

she turns in his arms.

 

“Belle all better.” She giggles and reaches her arms out to me. I

pull her against me and my motherly instincts come out when I

immediately place the back of my hand to her forehead.

 

“Oh Belle, you’re burning up.” I am shocked at how warm she is.

“John, call the doctor.” Usually I am able to handle these kinds of

situations and much much worse, but when it comes to my own

children, the mother in me precedes over the doctor.

 

“Doc, honey, I took her temperature a few minutes ago and its

not as bad as you think. I called Mike and he says not to worry, to

just bring her in around noon.” John explains, calming my fears.

 

“Okay, okay, let me call my secretary and cancel all my

appointments this afternoon.” He grabs my arm slightly before I

can reach the phone.

 

“Doc.” He smiles and touches my chin lightly, rubbing his thumbs

along my cheek. “Relax, Baby. I can take her to the doctors this

afternoon.” I smile and get lost in his blue eyes. One glance into

those gorgeous eyes and I get lost for an eternity. I am broken

out of my reverie when the doorbell chimes wildly.

 

I place a kiss on Belle’s forehead before handing her back to

John. “I’ll get it.” John disappears with Belle into the kitchen and

I can hear the kids begin to giggle and laugh as John entertains

them.

 

“Alright, alright. I’m coming.” I pick up my pace to get the door

and swing it open, wondering who could possibly be here this early

in the morning.

 

“Carrie! Oh honey, its so good to see you.” I pull her into a hug.

 

“Marlena, you just saw me last night.” Carrie laughs and returns

my eager hug.

 

I am anxious to know how her evening went last night after I left

her. “Come here, come here.” I pull her over to the couch and sit

her down. “So, did he ask you?”

 

Her eyes light up and she bounces off the couch. “Oh, Marlena,

it was so romantic. He prepared this dinner himself and we sat

there in our pajamas talking all night. Then he asked me to marry

him and…and…” She held out her hand, showing the ring that

had replaced the bare spot from the last time I saw her. “And I

said yes! Austin and I are engaged to be married!” She squealed.

 

A smile forms my features and I stand to pull her into another

embrace. “Oh, Carrie, I am so glad for you and Austin. No one

deserves this more than you do. Oh, I’m so excited. We can go

dress shopping and make plans for the wedding and, oh, we can’t

send out the invitations too late.”

 

Carrie giggles. “Whoa, Marlena. We just got engaged. But what

the hell, it’s not to early to start I guess.”

 

John, hearing all the commotion, walks into the living room,

equally as surprised to see Carrie as I was. “Hey pumkin, what are

you doing here?” He smiles.

 

She runs over to him and throws her arms around his neck, giving

him a kiss on the cheek. “Oh look, Austin and I are engaged to be

married!” She screams and John almost jumps back at the

loudness.

 

“What? You and Austin are engaged? Don’t you think….it’s a little

soon?” He asks through the smile that plasters his face. No

matter what the reason, he can’t stop smiling as long as Carrie is.

 

“Oh, Dad, stop.” I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my

features when I hear her call him ‘Dad’. That does it in for me

every time and I know it does for John. She had been calling him

that lately, ever since she returned back to Salem from living with

her mother. “Come on, I’m 20 and Austin will be 23. We’re so

much in love. I have waited for this moment forever.”

 

She looks hopefully into his eyes, searching for the permission she

needs from him in order to feel right about going through with

this. He smiles and takes her hand. “You’re old enough to make

your own decisions, so I guess you don’t need any mumbo jumbo

from me.” She smiles when he says this and gets an excited look

on her face until he continues. “Although, I think I need to have

a talk with Austin.”

 

Her jaw drops open. “You wouldn’t.” She turns to face me. “He

wouldn’t.”

 

“No. He wouldn’t.” I agree, giving John a warning look.

 

“Okay, okay.” He holds his hands up in defeat. Carrie catches a

glimpse of the clock on the wall and grabs her purse.

 

“Oh, I’m going to be so late for work. But this couldn’t wait.” She

rushes over to me and hugs me, placing a kiss on my cheek. “I’ll

stop by after work if Austin and I don’t have plans.” She kisses

John on the cheek as she passes by him out the door. “Oh, and

don’t forget, there we’re going dress shopping this weekend.” She

runs out, trying not to slam the door through her excitement.

 

John leans his back on the door. “Whew. One down, four to go.”

He smiles. I go into the kitchen and kiss the kids goodbye, before

joining him back in the living room.

 

“John, don’t forget, there is lunch in the fridge for you and Belle.

Brady catches his bus in 15 minutes, so don’t get him started in

cartoons or a wrestling match because he won’t want to leave. I

need you to go to the store if Belle is feeling alright, there’s a

shopping list on the fridge.” I shove my keys into my pocket and

search for my purse. “Belle has a doctor’s appointment at 12:30,

Brady needs to be picked up by 1:30, so manage your time.” I start

throwing toys out of my way. Where is that purse?

 

“Doc…” I hear him say.

 

“What?” I turn to face him, the frustration turning my cheeks a

flush red. He smiles and I see what is in his hands. My purse.

“Thank you.” I go over to him and reach for my purse, but he

pulls it out of my reach. “John…” I don’t have time for this. I

lunge for his hand, but he holds it above his head.

 

“John!” He sticks his face out towards me and I realize the one

thing I have forgotten. “Oh, come here, you big baby.” My arms

encircle his neck as our lips crush against each other. Mmmhh, I

moan into his mouth and pull his face closer, if that were possible.

 

He pulls back, letting my bottom lip slide slowly from between his

lips. “Here, you’re going to be late for work.” He pecks me on the

mouth, then opens the door for me. I smile and head to the

elevator, sighing contently.

 

What a perfect life I lead…

“Ohh”, I sigh and sit with a thump onto the couch, my head

resting on the back of the couch. How does Marlena do this?

Belle had been up all night and pretty much all afternoon. After I

took her to the doctor’s, she insisted we go from playing Barbie’s

to house for hours. Finally she wore herself out and me in the

process.

 

I look at my watch and thank God that I don’t have to go get

Brady for another hour. My cell phone rings from somewhere in

the house. I rummage through a few things, look under books, in

toy boxes, and pull apart the couch looking for my phone.

Wherever it is, it’s staying there because I have neither the

patience nor the energy to tear apart the whole house looking for

it.

 

Immediately after my phone stops ringing, the house phone rings.

“John Black.” I answer, grabbing a few of my notes from my

briefcase on the floor.

 

“John, its Shane. You alone?” Shane’s voice comes through the

other end.

 

“Yep. Marlena’s at work, Brady’s at school and Belle is peacefully

sleeping upstairs. What’s up?” I say as I sit back down on the

couch and open my notes across the table.

 

“We got a lead this morning. A pretty good one I might add.” I

can tell he wants to say more, but he waits for my response to see

if I am paying attention.

 

“Where? And who?” I reply, not really all that interested in what

he has to say. To try and make a long story impossibly any shorter,

I’ll tell you what’s been going on for the past few months.

Correction, past few years. First of all, Marlena and I have been

married for 4 years and have known each other for way longer

than that. We also have 5 beautiful children. Yep, from that first

day I arrived in Salem and literally ran into my current wife at

Salem Plaza, I only had eyes for her. We remained friends for a

few years, considering she was just getting over a divorce where

her husband had left one day, leaving her with their 3 children.

But after a while, accidental encounters started getting more

intentional and innocent touches started getting…non-innocent.

What can I say; we were two lonely people in love.

 

Anyways, about a year ago, we, the Salem police, accidentally

uncovered some incriminating evidence about someone’s

obsessions with Marlena. Personally, I know it was planted there

for me to find, considering a simple drug bust turned in to be a

death threat towards my wife. Imagine that. So, now, for the past

year or so, I’ve been working with the ISA, chasing leads, reading

case reports, delving into my wife’s past the whole way down to

her second grade years. So, what’s the problem you ask? Other

than there’s a psychotic killer out to get my wife and possibly our

kids? Oh, well that would be the fact that my wife doesn’t know

anything about it. And to make it even more unbelievable, she

thinks I’m a college baseball and football coach and some amazing

guy that she met by chance at Salem Plaza one fine day….Oh boy,

the hole I have dug for myself.

 

I am snapped back to reality when I realize Shane has been

rambling on for the past 5 minutes. “John? John? Are you

listening to me?”

 

“Yea, I am. Could you just run that by me again? I was kinda out

of it.” My hand scrubs at my face and I can feel the prickly

stubble that has grown around my mouth.

 

“No, you don’t say?” He chuckles a little and gets serious again.

“Alright, as I was saying. We brought down a huge Mob in Sicily

and after finally arresting them all, the younger man of the family

kept repeating, “the phoenix has risen”.”

 

“That makes no sense.” I hear Belle prancing around upstairs and

run a hand through my hair. Well, that was a nice 30 minute power

nap. “Listen, send me a plane ticket and I’ll leave as soon as I can

to look into this. I have to pick Brady up from school soon.”

 

“Alright, hey, listen, I talked with Abe and he is tagging along.

Stay out of trouble until then, eh?” Shane asks and I chuckle,

clicking off the phone just as Isabella bounds down the stairs.

 

“I thought you were supposed to be sleeping, young lady.” I smile

and swing her into the air as she runs into my arms.

 

“Belle did.” She spits “raspberries” against my cheek and I turn

away.

 

“Eww, gross Belle.” She giggles and hides her face against my

shirt. Grabbing my keys, we head out the door to get Brady for

school.

~

“Brady!” Belle yells as she spots her brother amongst the crowd of

kindergarteners that walk out of the school. She tugs on my pant

leg as we stand there and wait for him to notice us. When he

does, he runs over, his book bag bouncing on his back.

 

“Hey dude.” I say as hands me his bag. “Get in any trouble at

school today?”

 

“No, Daddy.” He smiles, knowing I am teasing him. Suddenly I feel

guilty. I really don’t know that much about what goes on at

school. Besides the parent/teacher conferences that I attend

with Marlena, I really don’t know anything.

 

“So…uh…did you eat lunch? Its only 1:30.” I ask, hoping that he

doesn’t see me as ridiculous as I do.

 

He shakes his head and explains it to me. I am thankful that he

doesn’t put me on the spot, but then I realize, he is only 5. “We

have snacks, Daddy. Chelsea usually makes me and Belle lunch

when I get home.”

 

“I knew that. But Chelsea is off for the rest of the week and

Daddy doesn’t know how to cook.” I say, throwing his backpack

on the backseat, then lift Belle into her car seat as Brady climbs

into his own. “So what do you say, we go out for lunch?” They

both nod their heads vigorously and I check to make sure they’re

buckled in.

 

I hear my cell phone ring again and this time I am curious. How

could it be lost at home when it’s ringing in the car? My eyes

venture to the mirror above my head and I adjust it to look at

Belle. “Tink, do you have Daddy’s cell phone.”

 

She nods and pulls it from her plastic purse that she just insists

on carrying around. I look away and shake my head, laughing a

little. I turn in my seat and reach for it as she holds it out of my

reach.

 

“My Daddy’s ‘pone.” She answers.

 

“Belle, can I have the phone? Please.” I reach for it again and she

swings her baby feet to hit my arm.

 

“Uncle Bo!” She giggles and begins to talk in her fast baby

language that no one understands but her. And sometimes Brady.

 

“Belle…” I try to sound stern, but she doesn’t feel threatened.

Why should she? I never yell at her or Brady ever. I smile to

myself. I let Marlena be the bad guy. “Alright, that’s it.” I say

when I know she won’t give it back. I open her door and hold my

hand out. She still relents and I begin to tickle her as Brady starts

to laugh and grab the phone from his sister’s hand.

 

“I got it!” I say in mock victory and place a kiss on Belle’s forehead

as she pouts. “Wait here for a minute while I talk to Uncle Bo.

Just…don’t drive off or anything.” The thought seems impossible

but let’s face it; they’re the children of John Black.

 

“Bo?” I answer, wondering if he had hung up yet.

 

“Hey bro. Day out with the kids, huh?” He teases me. As if on

cue, I hear Shawn D. and Zack yelling and screaming in the

background. He tries to shush them before I hear.

 

“Yea, Dad. Looks like your hands are full also.” A laugh escapes

my mouth as I turn to peer in through the window at the kids.

 

“The reason that I’m calling is because Shane told me about what

they found. I have a few notes myself that Abe faxed to me this

morning. Want to meet for lunch and talk about it? The kids can

occupy themselves with each other.”

 

“Sounds good. I just got Brady from school, so meet you there in

about 15?” I climb in the car and head toward the Pub.

 

“You know it. See you in a few.”

 

The nervousness sets in as I think about what he has to talk to

me about concerning this case. I’m more than ready to bring down

whoever is after Marlena, but the thought of losing her always

plagues my mind. I don’t know what I would do if I lost her or the

kids. I rid myself of the impending thoughts and pull into the

back of the Pub where the family parks.

I sit across from Bo in the booth. “So, what have you got for

me?” I inquire, wondering what was so important that he needed

to see me in person for.

 

“Well, you know, I would have just informed you of everything at

the station tomorrow, but this couldn’t wait. Obviously Shane

told you what happened and Abe and I think it’s really worth

while to look into it.” He pulls two envelopes from his shirt and

laid them on the table. “Two tickets to Sicily leaving tomorrow

afternoon. Originally Abe was supposed to go with you, but I

figured he should stay here and I’ll go.”

 

When I give him a questioning look, he explains. “Well, I figured it

would easier for you and me to leave for some family business

while Abe can keep up appearances for us.” He shrugs and I’m

immediately taken aback.

 

“Thanks. You know…well…you just don’t know how much I

appreciate your help.” There are no other words for me to say to

him.

 

“No need to thank me. I mean, if this is really Dimera, you and I

would know better than anyone how to take him down. And with

the both of us working against him, he won’t stand a chance.” He

looks at the menu and we prepare to order.

~

“You know what? That is Not even funny.” I back away from

John, stopping only when I run into the bed. I climb on it and

stand there looking at him. He has a funny grin on his face as he

stands there shirtless, his jeans unbuttoned. I try not to lick my

lips as the blue boxers that lay beneath them scrunch out more

with every step he takes. Back to the task at hand. John just got

home from his luncheon with Bo and the kids and now he stands

there in front of me holding an opened tub of cool whip.

 

I wipe a little smear of it off my forehead and glare at him. He

begins taking more steps towards the bed and I jump off the

other side. “Can we save this for later or something? John, the

kids are downstairs!” I yell/giggle and run around the other side of

the bed as he chases me.

 

“The kids are napping.” He explains, backing me up against the

wall and licking some whipped cream from his finger. “This is

really good, Doc. You gotta try this.” He sticks his whole hand in

the tub and pulls it out with almost everything in the container.

 

“John, don’t you dare. John…” He presses his hand against my

mouth and shoves in a mouthful of the whip cream. He drops the

tub and retreats, trying to hold in all his laughter. “Oh that is so

it.” I chase him. He tries running to the other side of the bed, but

I climb on top of it and jump on his back as he tries to head for

the door. “Mmm…that does feel nice, doesn’t it?” I ask, rubbing

the whip cream all throughout his short hair.

 

He inches closer to the bed and topples over; sending me landing

sprawled on my back. He crawls up to me and forgets our game

while his lips trail along my stomach, pushing my shirt up over my

head. “Oh John” I moan as he captures one of my nipples in his

mouth and begins nipping and biting at it. My hands run through

his sticky hair, then across his rigid back down to the waistband

of his pants.

 

I feel John begin to pull away from me and my eyes snap open to

see why. “Come on, maybe we should take this to the shower.” He

says. Is he serious?

 

“John, shut up.” I pull his face back towards mine and capture his

lips. If he thinks I’m moving from this position…

 

Giving him a little shove on his chest, I push him onto his back,

and climb atop his legs. I grasp the top of his pants and pull them

down far enough for him to kick them off. Before I can even

think of doing anything, John grabs my hips and slams me down

on top of him. Our moans fill the room.

 

John flips me onto my back and I wrap my legs tightly around him.

I lock my fingers in his sticky hair. “John…” I moan as I tighten

around him, my body spasms. He comes right after I do, then

collapses on top of me. We’re both breathing heavy as we lay

there in each other’s arms.

~

My eyes slowly open and I become aware of the muffled sound

coming from the bathroom. “It’s about time, Sleepyhead.” I almost

jump, realizing John is right beside me, sitting on the floor. Within

a second, I am being picked up and carried to the bathroom

where he sits me on the floor in front of the bath he has drawn

for me.

 

I smile and turn to face him, disappointed when I see he has

already showered. A pout comes across my face and I cross my

arms. “You didn’t wait for me?” I accuse.

 

He smiles a little and shrugs. “I knew the kids would be waking up

soon and I figured they would want something to eat. And I

wasn’t about to explain the whip cream in my hair. Thanks to you.”

 

“You started it, John.” I say as I begin to remove my clothing very

slowly. I hear him clear his throat loudly and grin in spite of

myself. “Something wrong?” I ask, pulling his shirt over my head.

 

I get into the tub and slide down, resting my head on the back of

the tub. My eyes drift shut and before I get comfortable, I feel

John jump in the tub on top of me. When I open my eyes, I can’t

stop giggling. “You do know that it’s going to take twice as long

to get your clothes off now that they’re wet.”

“Hey, hey.” I stand and pull Brady into my arms before he can

escape past me like Belle had done. “What is going on here?”

 

“Belle took my G.I. Joe and she won’t give it back.” Brady tried to

squirm from my arms, but I held him tightly. Belle began to jump

up and try to hit him as I swung him on the other side of me.

 

“Isabella,” I use my stern voice and hold my arm out to stop her

attacks on her brother. I sigh heavily. There are some hospital

reports I am trying to go over and I am beginning to get a major

headache. Not to mention both of my children are screaming at

the top of their lungs at each other.

 

“Enough!” All three of us jump and turn around to see John

coming down the stairs with his duffel bag. He tosses it on the

ground in front of the door and comes over to us. “Give me

that.” He holds his hand out for Brady’s toy. Belle pouts and slaps

it into his hand. As he stands up, he hands our daughter his cell

phone and she runs off happily. “See.” He smiles at me.

 

“And that is exactly why she doesn’t listen to me.” I am not

impressed.

 

“What is that supposed to mean? They stopped fighting, did they

not?” He asks. I can tell he still doesn’t get the point.

 

“John, that’s why they don’t listen, every time they’re bad, you

bribe them with something else so they’re distracted. Belle needs

to learn she can’t always get what she wants.” I rub my forehead.

We are not having this conversation right now.

 

I feel myself being pulled into his strong embrace and I inhale the

masculine scent of him. “Maybe I should just hold off my trip for

a while. I can tell you have your hands full with work and now the

kids. I’m sorry. You’re right.”

 

“John,” I say, pulling my head from the comfort of his chest.

“You need to go. The team can’t do anything without their coach.

Besides, I’ll see you in a few days. I’m sure if it gets too much,

Caroline will help me out.”

 

He avoids my gaze and for a second I think I see a hint of guilt

shinning from his blue orbs. I scoff at the idea and rid myself of

the thoughts.

 

“If you say so, Doc. But if you really didn’t think I should go, you

would tell me wouldn’t you?” I have to smile as I lean my forehead

against his.

 

“No. You go and come back as soon as you can. I’ll miss you.” I

reach my head up slightly and capture his lips in a searing kiss. I

feel him hesitate a little as if he’s still not sure of the idea, but he

responds, his hands traveling down to my butt. He pulls my lower

body closer to his, eliciting moans from us both. “Hold it, Sailor.

You’re going to miss your flight. You better get going.” I remove

his hand and give him one more kiss.

 

“I love you.” He throws his duffel bag over his shoulder and

closes the door behind him.

 

“I love you too.” I whisper.

~

As soon as the door shuts behind me, I lean against it. ‘She knows

John. She suspects something.’ No she doesn’t. If she did, she

would have been grilling you with questions. She trusts you.

 

“But she shouldn’t.” I say, barely audible to myself even.

 

Forget it, man. I head towards the elevator and bump into the

person coming off of it.

 

“Hey, I’m sorry. You alright?” I ask the gentleman standing in front

of me.

 

“Watch where you’re going, boy.” He replies hastily and shoves

past me.

 

I shrug, not in the mood to deal with that right now and push the

button on the elevator. “New neighbors, great.”

Belle bumps into me and I watch almost pitifully as the keys

descend from my hands to the floor which seems to be really far

away right now. “Belle, can you get the keys for Mommy?” Why do

I even bother I ask myself as she runs away from me again.

 

“Looks like you need some help here.” I hear a deep voice ask.

 

“Thanks, that would be great.” The man takes the grocery bag

from me and I unlock the door before rounding up the rascals

who have taken on a new game of doorknob Dixie.

 

The mysterious man comes from the kitchen a huge smile

plastered on his face. His green eyes bore into mine and I have to

look away at the uncomfortable feeling I get from them. “Thank

you so much Mr…” I hold my hand out for him to shake and am

extremely surprised and perplexed as he pulls it up to his mouth

and kisses it.

 

“Call me Michael.” He says and I almost rip my hand from his grip.

“I just moved in down the hall.” He explains.

 

“I see. Well, thank you for your help. It gets crazy around here

sometimes.” I smile, trying not to seem like I’m too exhausted to

talk to him.

“I guess so. You know, a single mother has her hands full.”

 

“Oh no, no. My husband, he…” I trail off. What he says isn’t far

from the truth and suddenly I am lost in my own thoughts. John

is working all the time and is barely even around the children or

myself lately. He’s been coming home from work late and going on

trips all the time.

 

“Your husband. Is he home?” He glances around.

 

“No, he actually left yesterday afternoon. He’s a football and

baseball coach at the college and they travel all the time.” I

explain.

 

“Oh, I see. Well in that case, why don’t I treat you and your

children for dinner tonight? That is if you don’t already have

plans.”

 

“Well, I…” My thoughts travel briefly to John, but then disappear.

Why not? John’s away working and the kids and I have nothing

better to do. Dinner with the new neighbors didn’t sound too bad

right about now.

 

“You know, that sounds like a wonderful idea. Maybe we could

just stay here and order in a pizza or something. Will your wife

mind having dinner with us?” He smiles a little slyly and shrugs.

 

“I guess she wouldn’t but that doesn’t really matter because I’m

not married.”

~

I toss my shirt on the bed in the corner of the room and walk into

the bathroom to scrub my face. The cool water splashing on my

face is refreshing after the day I have had. There is nothing more

I want than to go home to my wife and kids and just hold them.

The guilt seeps back into me as I think of the secret I am keeping

from my wife. The secret I have kept since even before we knew

each other.

 

Thoughts of her fill my mind, not like I’ve had many moments

today where she hasn’t been on my mind. I pull my cell phone from

my bag and lay back on the empty, cold bed in my dark room.

 

I am disappointed when no one answers the phone and all I get is

the answering machine. Maybe she’s in the shower. My thoughts

drift to my beautiful wife running soap over her smooth, tanned

skin, throwing her head back under downfall of water. I envision

myself standing in front of her, my hands traveling lower and…

 

I am thrown off course when I hear an unfamiliar voice answer

the phone. “Hello?” He asks casually. For a moment I say nothing.

Who the hell…? “Is anyone there? Listen, if this is a prank…”

 

“Who is this?” I demand, trying not to sound too much like an ass.

 

“Well who the hell is this?” He asks angrily. I am getting even

angrier by the moment.

 

“I don’t know who you are, but I’d like to speak to my wife.” I

can’t help the possessive tone in my voice. I’m sure I’m throwing

this way off track, but I neglect to think of that at the moment.

 

“She can’t get the phone right now.”

 

“What do you mean she can’t get the phone right now?” All right,

keep your cool. It won’t do you any good to throw the cell phone

at the wall. You’ll break it then you won’t be able to talk to her at

all.

 

“Who is this?” Belle picks up the other phone and I am grateful to

hear her pretty little voice.

 

“Hi Baby. How are you?” I smile, forgetting the other man on the

line for the time being.

 

“Daddy!” She screams. “Belle misses you.”

 

“I miss you too, honey.” My daughter proceeds to tell me all about

daycare and the picture she has drawn for me. The other end of

the phone clicks off. What is this man doing there and who is he?

Why is Marlena even tolerating him in our home?

 

“Belle, honey…” I have to interrupt her for a second. “Can Daddy

talk to Mommy?”

 

“Only if you promise to be home.” She sounds sad and for about

the millionth time today I feel guilty.

 

“Oh honey, I promise I’ll be home soon. Okay?” Belle is satisfied

with my answer. I hear her run through the house, yelling for her

mother.

 

“Hello?” Marlena answers. She sounds tired and distracted.

 

“Hey Baby. What are you wearing?” I tease her, leaning back on

the bed.

 

“Hi John. How’s your trip?”

 

“Doc, are you alright?” I ask, wondering why she isn’t responding

to my teasing, even if only to tell me to shut up.

 

“I’m fine. I don’t have time to talk right now. I have to get Belle

to bed.” She doesn’t even seem glad to hear from me.

 

“Whoa, time out, Doc. You’re not even going to spare me 5

minutes on the phone?” Now I’m getting a little irritated. I’m away

from my family for the second day in a row and I haven’t even

talked to her. Then I call today and some man is in our house,

running the place while I’m not there and she allows him?

 

“Why should I?” She snaps. I know she really isn’t angry with me,

but I do seem like the best target for her frustration now, but

again I fail to see that.

 

I stand up off the bed and scratch my bare chest. “Well maybe

because I haven’t been home for a few days and now when I’d like

to have a conversation with my wife, she would rather be

entertaining some guy I don’t even know but find out is in my

house when he answers the phone.”

 

“Don’t you start with me, John. I am really not in the mood.” She

slams the door and I know she has gone to the privacy of another

room in the house as to not yell in front of the kids or embarrass

her ‘guest’.

 

“Why are you so angry with me? Have I done something wrong?” I

can’t keep the sarcasm from my voice and realize I’m being a little

irrational.

 

“Are you really asking me that question? I am sick of you going on

these trips or whatever. Are you even coming home tomorrow?

Are you even with the baseball team?” Swallowing hard, I wonder

how to answer her question. She is exactly right and I have no

excuse to get angry with her when she takes this out on me.

 

“Doc, I’m sorry. I’m going to try and be home tomorrow.” That is

the best answer I can give her right now. Or at least the only

answer I am man enough to give to her.

 

“No, John. I don’t want to hear that you’re sorry. You’re not

telling me something and I know it. So for the time being, until

you get home, Michael is staying here.” I can’t believe she just

came out and said that. And with such ease.

 

“Michael? Who the hell is Michael? And what do you mean he is

staying at our place?” I have a feeling she is telling me this

because she knows how much its getting to me. Maybe this is a

ploy to get me home sooner.

 

“Michael is our new neighbor. He moved in down the hallway.

Last night he had dinner with me and the kids. They’re fumigating

his apartment today and he isn’t allowed back in there for

another couple of days.” As she is explaining this to me calmly, I

pull the phone away from my ear and get ready to chuck it.

 

“So, new neighbor huh? Probably that jerk I ran into getting on

the elevator yesterday.” I mumble to myself, but realize I have said

it out loud when Marlena makes a disgusted sound.

 

“Stop it John. He’s a very nice man and he’s just staying with us

until tomorrow when he can go back to his own place.”

 

“You’re right…you’re right.” I sigh and give in. What is the use

fighting with her right now?

 

“John, I’m going.” She says.

 

As much as I don’t want to, I nod and say, “All right, I love you.”

But she has hung up already and is not even listening to me. Great

job, John. You always know how to make her feel better, don’t

you?

~

I hang up with John and toss the phone onto my bed. I just miss

him so much and I hate when he goes away all the time for days at

a time. The look on our kids faces when he leaves breaks my heart

every time. I don’t mean to yell at him, but he frustrates the hell

out of me and all I want is for him to be back soon.

 

I sigh and hear the light knocking on my door. “Oh, hi.” I smile at

Michael who is standing there, probably having heard the whole

conversation.

 

“I’m sorry to have eavesdropped. I really don’t want to cause any

problems between you and your husband.” He apologizes and from

the look in his eyes I can tell he is sincere.

 

“Oh, don’t worry about it. He and I have been apart too long and

we’re so used to seeing each other every day that it just kind of

gets to us. I miss him a lot.” I wonder why I’m confessing this to a

complete stranger.

 

“I’m sure you do. It sounds like you’re really in love.” I am a little

shocked when I hear the slight disbelief in his voice. If he only

knew.

 

“We are.” We stare at each other for a minute or two before I

back into my room and say, “I’ll get you some blankets and a

pillow. The couch isn’t really that uncomfortable.” I stop

rummaging through the closet when I hear the bedroom door

shut and the lock snick.

 

“I was kinda hoping you’d let me stay up here.”

“Well, yea, I figured you might have a guest room and…if it’s too

much, I’d be happy to stay on the couch.”

 

I start to breathe again and I feel my face get red in

embarrassment. Get a hold of yourself, Marlena; he’s not coming

on to you. “No, no. That’s nonsense. I completely forgot about

the guest room actually. All of our kids have a bedroom here so

it’s not like we have anyone sleep in there. Um…let me go fix it up

for you.”

 

He doesn’t move as I brush past him and reach the door. Why he

locked it is still something I can’t figure out. As much as I hate to

admit it, I think he’s really starting to freak me out. Well, what

can you do? You already told him he could stay here and it would

be wrong if you made him leave with nowhere to go.

 

I push the door to the guest room open and feel the cold air

escape. Hearing his footsteps coming down the hall, I disappear

into the room to begin making up the bed. When I look up, the

only thing I can see is his dark silhouette and his bright green eyes

shinning in the doorway. John, where are you?

 

~

 

“If you need anything, I’m right down the hall. But feel free to get

whatever you want.” I give Michael a friendly smile.

 

He makes eye contact with me and his stare bores a hole right

into me. “Whatever I want?” I don’t miss his innuendo or the

suggestive look he gives me.

 

Instead of giving him the satisfaction that he has gotten to me, I

simply continue smiling and turn to leave the room. “You’re only

about 8 years too late.” I tell him, walking out into the warm

hallway.

 

As I head to my room, I peak in on my sleeping angels and make

sure they are perfectly tucked in like I do every night. The best

part of checking in on them is when I catch a few precious

moments when John sits beside their sleeping forms and talks to

them.

 

Thinking of John, I remember our earlier conversation. How it

had basically ended in a fight. I hate it when we fight and I know

he does too. We’ve always had a pact since the night we were

married that we would never ever go to bed angry. I’m not about

to break that pact, either. I change into my pajamas, and snuggle

down into the bed, wrapping myself around John’s pillow to savor

the remnants of his scent. I find the phone under the covers and

hit the speed dial button.

 

The phone rings a few times before he answers. “Hello?” He asks

sleepily.

 

“Did I wake you?” I feel a little guilty.

 

“Doc…” I can almost hear the smile in his voice as I hear him shift

his position in his bed. “You didn’t wake me. I was just lying here

dozing. Just thinking.”

 

“About what?”

 

“As if you have to ask.” He pauses for a minute. “I’m really sorry

about earlier. I didn’t mean to talk to you the way I did.”

 

“I should be the one apologizing, John. I guess I’m tired of

hearing your voice on the phone all the time. I wanted you to be

here. And I completely understand how you feel about Michael

staying here. I just couldn’t leave him stranded like that…” He

cuts me off.

 

“I know, Doc. And I expect nothing less of you. You’re a

wonderful person who helps people all the time.” It’s my turn to

interrupt him.

 

“No, I think you were right, John. I shouldn’t have asked him to

stay here. I really wish you were here right now.” Big mistake. I

hear him move around and his voice is no longer calm and

sleep-like.

 

“Doc, did something happen? Are you alright?” He gets that

overprotective tone in his voice.

 

“John, I’m fine. The kids are fine. Don’t worry. I just really miss

you a lot.” I sigh into the phone, my body wracking with tiredness.

 

“I’ll be home tomorrow, honey. Just close your eyes and sleep. I

love you.” I hear him whisper into the phone. My heart lifts

hearing the words he has spoken to me.

 

“I love you too, John.” I say and I place the phone right beside my

ear on the pillow. He has done the same, I know for this is how

we always fall asleep when we are apart. The sounds of his deep,

calming breaths sooths me and within minutes I drift off to sleep.

“Brady, careful.” I say as I follow, he and Belle into the Pub. They

immediately run behind the bar into the back room to greet Pop

Shawn and Caroline.

 

I walk over to the booth where Hope and Lexie are sitting. “Any

news from Bo?” I hear Lexie ask her.

 

Hope shakes her head. “I talked to him last night.” Lexie and I

could hear the frustration and anger in her voice. “His son’s

birthday is in two days for crying out loud and they’re not coming

home until next week. What could be that important?”

 

I’m more than confused now. “What happened? Where is Bo?”

 

“Bo went with John to Sicily. Don’t you remember?” Lexie informs

me.

 

I stare at them, not saying anything for a second. “What are you

talking about? John is in Michigan. The baseball team is finishing

up their tournament. Why would John be in Sicily with Bo?”

 

Hope shrugs. “I have no clue. Bo was supposed to be finishing up

some business with a recent case or something and John went

with him to help out.” She got a confused look on her face as

realization began to set in. “That’s really…interesting. I’m

wondering why John would go too.”

 

I sigh. “I feel like an idiot now. That explains why he was so

hesitant and short with me on the phone last night when I tried

to talk to him about coming home. First he lies to me about going

to Michigan with the baseball team, now he’s lied to me about

coming home.”

 

“Sorry, Marlena. I didn’t mean to…I don’t know what’s going on

either or why they’re even there.” Hope confessed, as we all

shared a look together.

 

Lexie checked her pager as it began to beep. “Well, I have to get

back to the hospital.” She gave us both a half amused, half

exasperated grin. “At least Abe is in town. I’ll grill him for

answers until he finally gives and tells me what is going on. I’m

sure he knows. But don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll be home soon and

when they do, get to the bottom of it.”

 

We give her a smile and watch as she leaves the Pub. As soon as

she leaves, we hear loud giggling and the front door slam shut.

 

“Marlena! Aunt Hope!” Carrie runs over to us and squeezes both

into an enormous hug. She slides into the seat beside me and tries

to get rid of some of her giddiness.

 

“Honey, slow down. What’s up with you today?” Hope asks.

 

“Austin and I set a date. Its two weeks from today. Grandma

Caroline sent out all the invitations 3 days ago and we’re planning

for the wedding. However, this is where you two step in. I

decided that Sami can be my matron of honor and Belle can be

the flower girl and Shawn D can be the ring bearer. If that’s okay

with you two.” Before we could reply, she went on. “I asked Brady

but he turned me down.” She laughed a little. “He agreed to be

the sub-ring bearer just in case.”

 

I smile and roll my eyes. “That’s my boy for you.”

 

“Well good luck with getting Shawn to cooperate, also. He hears

Bo complain about his tux all the time and he does everything Bo

does.” Hope shrugs and rubs Carrie’s hand. “Oh, I’m so happy for

you.”

 

“So am I.” I say, wrapping my arm around her. “My little girl is

growing up. What am I going to do with myself?”

 

“Wait for your other four children to get married.” She giggles.

 

“Oh lord, I don’t even want to think of it.” I reply.

 

“So where is Dad? I mean, I know he went away with the baseball

team and everything, but if he’s not home by next week for the

rehearsal, I’m not going to be a happy camper. And if I have to

postpone this wedding because he’s not here to walk me down the

aisle…” I stop her and brush some hair from her face.

 

“He’ll be here. I promise.” I reassure her, sharing a glance with

Hope.

 

“Good, now you two need to get Uncle Bo and Dad home and

then plan to go dress shopping with me tomorrow.” She gathers

her purse and smiles, jumping out of her seat.

 

“Well that was…” Hope laughs but trails off when she sees

someone walk in the door.

 

“What?” I ask, turning in my seat to see what has caught her eye.

My breath catches in my throat when I see him standing there.

What is he doing here?

“Whoa, major hottie.” Hope commented, as we both sat there and

stared at Michael who was standing in the doorway. “Is there

something I should know about?” Hope teases me. I brush it off

and watch as Michael makes his way to our table.

 

“Marlena.” He smiles and nods to me. “Hi, I’m Michael. I just

moved down the hallway from Marlena.” He shakes Hope’s hand.

She still sits there, flabbergasted. I kick her under the table

slightly.

 

“And I’m Marlena’s soon to be single sister-in-law.” She smiles

flirtatiously and I roll my eyes. “Here, have a seat.” She moves

over to sit by me and he sits across from us. “So, where’s your

wife? Got any kids?”

“Hope.” I interrupt, giving her a look. “Michael is a very well

respected business lawyer from Brooklyn. He just moved in last

week. Let’s not scare him off, humm?” I grin and she sighs.

 

“Oh right, I got it.” She smiles and holds her hand out to Michael.

“It was very nice meeting you. Hope to see you around.” Then she

turns to me and gives me a quick hug, whispering in my ear, “Don’t

worry, I’ll find out where the hell they are and what is going on. In

the meantime, have fun!” She chimes and before I can say a thing,

she’s out the door.

 

I turn back to Michael and see him smiling at me. “What?” I ask.

 

“Oh nothing.” He leans back in the booth and rests his hands

behind his head. “I was just thinking how beautiful you are.”

 

I look down at my plate, feeling the blush rise against my cheeks.

“Well, thank you…I’m…flattered.”

 

“I’m sorry if I’m being too forward. You know, I don’t mean to put

you on the spot so to speak.” He apologizes.

 

“No, its not that. Its just that, sometimes I think you’re trying

to…you know, and I’m married. It makes me uncomfortable

sometimes.” I reply honestly.

 

I hear his aggravated grunt and I look up to see his arms crossed

across his chest. “Yes, I’m well aware that you’re married. But

come on, you even said so yourself, your husband lied to you and

for all you know, he’ll be home next month. How do you live like

that?”

 

How can he ask me these questions? Who is he anyways? “Michael,

you have no idea what you are talking about. John and I tell each

other everything. We love each other so much and there is

nothing in this world that could ever come between us. There

never was and never will be another man for me. John and I were

meant to be and that’s the way its going to be. I would love to be

your friend and be even close friends, but there can’t be anymore

to it than that.” I look at him apologetically. “Please, can we just

be friends?”

 

He nods and leans toward me. He takes my hand in his and looks

into my eyes. “You’re right. And I’m very sorry. I don’t know

what’s come over me the past few days. Friends?” He smiles and

holds his hand out to me.

 

“Friends.” I agree, shaking his hand. I can tell he really doesn’t

mean it but I believe he will try.

~

“What a waste of trip.” I yell angrily as I throw my duffel bag onto

the seat of the plane. Bo does the same and plops down onto the

couch, resting his arm over his eyes.

 

“You know it. I can’t believe we fall for these goose chases every

time.” I can hear the tiredness in his voice.

 

“I hate this so much. Why can’t Dimera just leave us alone? I’m so

tired of him interfering in our lives.” The pilot stands in the

doorway, cutting off my thoughts.

 

“Mr. Black?” He asks.

 

“Yes?” I turn around.

 

“We’re preparing to land, Sir.” He smiles and heads back to the

cockpit.

 

I take my seat across from Bo who is still lounging on the couch.

He speaks up, “For now we should still keep this a secret. We

can’t let anyone know what we believe Dimera is up to. It depends

on the well-being of our family. And if I know Marlena like I know

Hope, if either of the two find out, they’re going to try and get

involved.”

 

“Yea, you’re right.” I lean back and shut my eyes. “I just hate lying

to Marlena, you know?” I chuckle a little. That’s quite an

understatement, Johnny.

 

Bo gives me a sympathetic look. “Well, when Marlena finds out

what was going on after this is all over, everything will work out, I

promise.”

 

“I hope so…” I say, glancing out the window as the lights from

Salem start to come into view.

 

~

 

“Chelsea?” I ask, walking through the front door, flicking on the

light switch. I don’t hear a sound. I start to ascend the stairs and

I hear a door shut. I stop dead in my tracks and my heart skips a

few beats. What was that? More like, who was that?

 

The thought of someone in my house scares me. But the thought

that they’re upstairs with my children terrifies me to no end. As I

walk by the open closet at the end of the hallway, I grab one of

John’s baseball bats and hold it up as I creep down the hallway.

 

I see the silhouette of a man walking out of my daughter’s room.

Taking a step back, I swing the bat as hard as I could. I watch in

horror as the man falls to the floor in a heap.

“Holy shit, Doc.” John looks up at me as he lies on his back on

the floor. His arms are held out in front of him as if to stop any

more swings.

 

“John, oh my God. Are you okay?” I throw the bat to the side and

kneel down beside him. “Honey, look at me, are you alright?”

Grabbing his face in my hands, I turn his face to the side and

back, checking for any injuries. Then I look into his deep blue

eyes.

 

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” He says, sitting up. He glances up and we stare

at the hole smashed into the wall from the blow of the bat. He

looks back to me in astonishment. “You okay?”

 

“I’m sorry, John. I didn’t see Chelsea and I thought someone was

in the house…” I bury my face in my hands realizing that I could

have really hurt him.

 

“Hey, hey, it’s alright.” He pulls me against his chest into a hug. I

sigh from the comfort that his arms bring me. After a minute or

so, I lift my head and slap him on the chest.

 

“What are you doing home anyways? You scared the hell out of

me.” He just smiles and shrugs innocently.

 

“I was kinda hoping to surprise you and the kids. And by the looks

of it, I almost got killed doing so.”

 

“See now what happens when you don’t listen to me? Keep that in

mind.” He leans up against the wall and gives me a serious face.

 

“How come you’re so jumpy. It could have very well been Chelsea

coming out of that room instead of me. Something made you

think it was someone else.” He eyes me quizzically.

 

“No, it was nothing. It was dark when I walked through the front

door and I didn’t hear the kids or anything.” I shrug and see that

he doesn’t believe me.

 

“Come on, Doc. You’re never afraid of the dark. At least not

enough to make you grab a bat and take someone’s head off.”

 

“Well, that’s because my husband is usually here to protect me. I

have no reason to be that jumpy.” I smile and move closer to him,

placing one of my legs on the floor in between his.

 

“Why don’t you just tell me what’s going on?” He demands.

 

“There is nothing going on.” I straddle him completely, letting my

hips slide against his. Inwardly I grin at the sound of his approval.

He continues to ask me what is wrong, but his questions fall on

deaf ears, for my mind is preoccupied.

 

I move as close against him as I can our bodies in full contact.

“John, just shut up.” I mumble, running my lips along his neck and

jaw line. I nip and suck at his skin as I hear his words get more

incoherent.

 

My hand slides down his chest over his rippling muscles and down

to the waistband of his pants. I grab a hold of them and stand up

quickly, tugging on them. “Stand up.” I say and he obeys quickly.

 

As I pull him towards me, he grabs my butt and lifts me so that my

legs are wrapped around his waist. I moan into his mouth as his

captures mine. He grinds my hips against him as I wrap my legs

even tighter around his waist.

 

“John, bedroom.” I manage to say in between our fervent kisses.

We stumble along down the hallway, bumping into things, as our

lips remain locked together. Finally we reach our room. I grab

hold of the doorknob and swing the door open before he slams us

into it. He backs into the room, then kicks the door shut and

pushes me up against it.

 

His hands now free to roam my body, he pushes my shirt up and

massages my breasts. I let my back rest against the door, arching

my hips against him. My skirt gets caught when he tries to push it

up around my waist. “Dammit” he mumbles, breaking our kiss to

concentrate more on getting the offensive fabric off.

 

“Use your imagination.” I smile, whispering seductively into his ear.

 

In one swift motion, he has ripped my skirt the whole way up the

side as he pushes himself against me. I feel his fingers rub against

my silk panties and it is all I can do to keep from screaming out.

 

“I need you. Now.” I demand and slide down the door out of his

embrace. We tear at each other’s clothes, ripping, tearing and

sending buttons flying all over the room.

 

When he reaches for me, standing there in only a pair of jeans, I

push his hands away and give him a hard shove on his chest. He is

sent falling back on the bed, looking up at me. Before I give him a

chance to react, I jump on the bed, unbuttoning his pants. I’m

grateful that they aren’t one of his tighter pairs and slide easily

off of him.

 

His manhood begs for release from his boxers, so I climb on top

of him and kick them down with my feet. John leans up and

suctions his lips to mine, thrusting his tongue inside of my mouth.

I fight back and suck his tongue, driving us both insane.

 

He grabs a hold of me and flips us over so that now I am on my

back. “No fair.” I complain.

 

“I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” He smiles sweetly.

 

“How so? It better be good, too.” My breathing is ragged and my

eyes are half open.

 

Instead of answering me, he places the tip of his penis to my

opening, teasing me as he runs it back and forth against my center.

 

“Oh my God, John.” I throw my head back into the pillows,

spreading my legs for him to have better access.

 

“Not ready yet?” He asks and pulls himself away. Within a second,

my head shoots up and gives him a look. I can tell by the look on

his face that he wanted to laugh, but I know he was tired of

waiting too.

 

“Okay, okay.” He caresses my cheek and kisses me. He thrusts

into me with an urgency that I interpret so well. Even if we’re

away from each other for a day, the passion takes us over so that

when we finally are together, our demonstrations are so

desperate.

 

I wrap my legs tightly around his waist as we fall into a familiar

rhythm. I raise my hips to meet him as he thrusts inward, then

tighten my muscles around him as he pulls out again.

“John…faster…” His head is low beside mine and I lift my head to

place kisses along his shoulder. Seeing his tattoo intensifies my

need and want for this man who has saved me endless times. I

love that tattoo. Even though it is because of Stefano that he

has it and because of Stefano that all the horrible things keep

happening to us, it is because of Stefano that we met.

 

He pounds harder and harder into me, making me scream out.

“Gonnna…” I moan, not able to finish my sentence.

 

“Go ahead, come for me baby.” He encourages me. His hand

moves down to where we are joined and rubs against my clit,

sending me over the edge.

 

I scream out his name and he captures my lips to stop me from

waking up the children. I look up at his face, sweat beads falling

from his hair. I push some short strands from his face and lean

up to whisper in his ear. “I love you.”

 

After that he comes, his fluid hot as it runs through me. “Oh,

Doc, I love you too.” He repeats over and over, as we ride out

the waves of passion.

 

He falls against me, rested between my legs. His head turned

sideways against my chest. Oh I love falling asleep with him like

this. I pull the cover half on us and wrap my arm around him. This

is how we fall asleep.

As if on cue, I hear little feet pitter patting down the hallway. I
thank my lucky stars for having put one of my shirts on Marlena
and a pair of sweatpants on myself as the door flies open and we
are bombarded with two babies jumping on our bed.

“Daddy!” They yell in unison upon seeing me. I sit up and gather
them both in my arms, placing kisses on their faces. “Shh…you’re
going to wake Mommy.” I try to quiet them.

Too late, I think as I feel Marlena’s arms wrap around me from
behind. I lean my head back against her and turn my face to steal
a kiss.

That move received to very loud “eews”. Marlena and I smile at
each other as Brady and Belle snuggle under the covers. “Why do
you and Momma kiss?” Brady asks innocently.

“That’s what two people do when they are in love.” I try to explain.

“What that mean?” Belle inquires, her chubby baby hand pushing
her blond curls from her face.

“It means that every time you look at someone, your heart stops
and you find yourself wondering how you got so lucky.” I say,
smiling at Marlena. She lifts her head from its place on my arm
and leans in to kiss me again.

“Momma, does that mean you love that man?” Brady asks her and
I am shocked. Who is he talking about?

Marlena looks startled, almost as much as I am. “What man,
Brady?” She asks him. It hasn’t passed by me that she has yet to
make eye contact with me.

“That man who lives here now.” He continues. I can tell he is
wondering why she doesn’t get what he is saying.

“That man doesn’t live here Brady. He stayed with us one time so
his home could be cleaned.” I catch Marlena’s eye and mean to
ask her about what is going on when I hear someone pounding on
the door.

“I’ll get it.” I remove myself from her arms, noticing that she holds
onto me a little tighter. As if she thinks if I leave the comfort of
her arms, I may never go back. It makes me wonder a little who
this man is that really stayed here as I trot down the stairs.

The door opens before I have a chance to get all the way down
the stairs and I stare in amazement as the man I ran into on the
elevator the other day walks in casually. “Doc?” He calls out. My
eyes grow dark at how comfortable he is entering my home. And
how dare he call for my wife by the name I gave her. He stares me
down. The tension in the room was so heavy that I didn’t even
sense Marlena coming down the stairs to see who it was.

She stared on in shock as if she didn’t want me to see Michael or
whatever the hell his name was. My curiosity rises at their
relationship as we all stand there and look from one to the other.
~
I clear my throat and descend the last few stairs. “So, you must
be Michael, right?” I try to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. It
doesn’t go unnoticed by Michael and he grips my hand a little
tighter than necessary as we shake.

“Yea and you must be the husband who left.” He must feel the
need to throw that back at me. I fight the urge to punch him
right in the face.

Marlena steps up next to me and places her hands on my chest.
“Honey, why don’t you go make some coffee and we can all sit
down and talk, okay?” She suggests to me. Like I really want to let
her alone with this freak. She must be interpreting what I am
thinking for she runs her hand along my cheek so that I look at
her. “Please?” She gives me a reassuring smile and I nod, glaring at
Michael for a second before I leave the room.

I bang the coffee pot loudly as I hear them talking in the other
room. I wonder what they are talking about, but I can’t bring
myself to listen in on their conversation. I trust Doc and I love
her more than anything in the world, there’s no need for me to
listen in. I know she is handling everything.

Who the hell is this man? He sure didn’t seem too friendly when
we accidentally collided in the elevator, so why is he hanging
around my house, my kids, my WIFE? I have a bad feeling about
this and I’m not sure why. I grab two mugs and take them out into
the living room. Doc is leaning against the back of the couch as
Michael stands close to her, telling her something I can’t hear.

“Here you go.” I hand Michael the mug. He doesn’t take his eyes
off Marlena and acts like I’m not even in the room. Marlena looks
over his shoulder and smiles at me. I can’t help but grin back. Its
almost like Michael is talking but we only hear each other when
we look at one another.

“You know what I mean?” Michael asks her. She looks back at him
and nods and I have to fight back a laugh as I realize she has no
idea what he was talking about.

Michael turns to face me and says, “Where is her coffee?”

I shrug and sip my steaming coffee. “She doesn’t like it.” I really
need to do something about the tone of my voice, I think, smiling
behind my mug.

Michael sets his cup down and stands in front of Marlena, his
back to me. I lean against the door and cross my arms against my
chest. “Well, I should get going. I guess I’ll see you tonight then?”
He asks her.

“Sure, thanks for stopping by.” She replies, leading him to the
door. She gives me a playful shove when I don’t move and holds
the door open for him. Michael glances at me, then pulls Marlena
in for a long hug. I start to move closer to them and Marlena
pulls out of his grip, walking backwards so that she purposely
bumps into my chest to stop any further advancement. “See you
later.” She says, shutting the door.

We stand there for a second, neither of us talking. “So you two,
um, are really good friends.” I comment, turning away to walk out
of the room.

“John, wait.” She stops me. “We need to talk.” She says as she
pulls me to the couch. As much as I really want to know what is
going on, the tone of her voice makes me worry.
She sits on the coffee table in across from me and takes my

hands. “John, Michael and I…” I don’t let her finish as I hold up

my hand.

 

“I don’t want to hear it, Doc. You don’t have to explain anything

to me. I trust you.” There is no doubt that I’m jealous with the

way Michael acts around my wife, but I know she would never do

anything to hurt me. Doc loves me.

 

“I was just going to say that we became friends. I…what are you

talking about, trust me? Obviously you don’t or else you wouldn’t

be thinking what I know you’re thinking.”

 

“Time out.” I stand up. “I was just saying I trust you. I wasn’t

accusing you of anything or whatnot. I can tell just by the way he

acts around you that he’s got the hots for you.”

 

“So that’s what’s bothering you?” She smiles a little.

 

“Are you happy that it does?”

 

“John, stop. We’re just going in circles here. What I’m trying to

tell you is that you’re right. Michael is…attracted to me. But…”

 

“Has he done something? Doc, I swear if he touched you, I’ll

break his neck.”

 

“No, no. It’s just some of the things he says that get to me

sometimes. You know, he’ll say things that I’d expect from you,

not him. And when he was here the other night, I…I don’t know.

Sometimes he just gives me the chills. That’s why I freaked out

last night and almost hit you with the bat.” She confesses to me.

 

The cop in me is interested in knowing more about this new

neighbor of ours. “Does he give you the feeling that he’ll act on

what he says to you or does it just sound like he’s all talk?”

 

“I don’t even know, John.” She sighs and plops back down on the

sofa. “I only met him last week, so anything could be possible.

And he really hasn’t said anything that hints towards him acting

out on what he says, but it’s just the feeling I get when he’s

around. I get this feeling that he will do whatever he wants even

though he backs off when I tell him to stop.”

 

I kneel in front of her. “I’m sorry for leaving Doc. I should have

stayed. I ran into him on the elevator.”

 

“It wasn’t your fault. How were you to know? Besides, nothing

happened and we’re okay.”

 

I smile and lean my forehead against hers. “So where is it that you

and Michael are meeting up later?”

 

“Oh, that.” She stands up. “We have to get ready. There’s a family

dinner at Tuscany for Carrie and Austin. They don’t know about

it yet. It’s a pre-rehearsal dinner.”

 

“Well, my tux is…somewhere.” I shrug, acting like I really miss it.

It’s really difficult for me to contain my excitement that I finally

lost the damn thing. Oh well, time to find something comfortable

to wear for a change. “Its okay sweetie, I’m sure I can find

something half decent to wear tonight.” I head towards the stairs

when her voice halts me.

 

“Oh no, honey. I took it to the dry-cleaners. Its upstairs hanging

in the closet.” She chimes, almost as if she was reading my

thoughts, only glad that she could bring my excitement down.

 

“Thanks, Doc.” I say, hearing her giggle. I pull my cell phone out

once I get upstairs, then go into the guest bedroom and shut the

door. I don’t trust this Michael one bit and I’ll be damned if I’m

going to let him hang around my family the way he has become

accustomed to.

 

I dial the cop shop and talk to one of the sergeants on duty. “I

need you guys to run a name and do a background check.” I peer

out the door to make sure Marlena hasn’t moseyed on upstairs.

“Thanks, get back to me as soon as you get something.” I say,

hanging up.

 

~

 

“John, come on!” I try to fix my tie in the mirror. It’s no use. I

hear Marlena yell for me from the bottom of the stairs. We’re

really late to this family dinner and I’m getting the feeling its my

fault.

 

“Alright, alright.” I say, jogging down the stairs. “Doc…” I gesture

to my tie and she immediately straightens it in a second.

 

Marlena takes Brady’s hand and leads him out the door as I scoop

Belle into my arms. The phone rings. Shit, it could be the call I’m

waiting for.

 

“Doc, I’ll be right out. Let me get this.” I throw her the keys, and

then answer the phone.

“Black.”

 

“You left in such a hurry, John.” My stomach ties itself in knots

as I hear the deep accented voice on the other end.

 

“Yea, well, your men left me no room to stay any longer. Bo was

about ready to find out where you were and I couldn’t risk that.

We had to get out of there. Besides, Marlena needed me here.” I

say, glancing out the doorway to make sure Marlena wasn’t

standing out there.

 

I sigh with relief when I see there is no one out there. “John,

what would Marlena say if she found out we were working

together? Hmmm? You know, that could be the end of everything.

The end of your life together, the end of your family, why the

end of you, John.” I can practically feel the venom from his voice

seeping through the phone.

 

“She’s not going to find out anything, Dimera. And you better

make damn sure that she doesn’t because if she does, my end of

the bargain goes all to hell also.” He is quiet only for a second,

not affected by my threat.

 

“Try me John. You know what kind of fire you’re playing with.

Just make sure you do what I ask and I’ll follow through for you.”

I can almost see the smile playing across his features.

 

Before I can respond, I hear the dial tone. “Dammit.” I slam the

phone down.

Tuscany is empty tonight except for all the family members. I walk

in behind Marlena, holding Belle who had fallen asleep as soon as

we got in the car. Michael comes over to them and kneels in

front of Brady, telling him something I can’t hear. I frown at the

closeness he shares with them. Despite what Marlena says, I can

tell she isn’t all that creeped out by the guy, she’s laughing with

him.

 

Caroline intercepts me before I walk up to Marlena and Brady.

“Here, let me take that baby.” She smiles and I hand Belle to her.

She cradles Belle to her before carrying her to the lounge where

she places her on a couch away from all the noisy people.

 

“You’re back!” I hear Carrie scream before she jumps on my back,

wrapping her arms around my neck. I turn around and hug her, a

huge smile spreading across my face.

 

“Well of course I’m back. Would I miss this?” I smile and look at

how beautiful and grown up she had gotten. I can’t believe she’s

actually ready to marry and not be my little girl anymore. “I’m so

proud of you, Carrie.”

 

Her smile widens as if she had been waiting for me to say that.

Austin walks up behind her and places his hands on her

shoulders. “John…” He holds out his hand.

 

“Austin, you have a wonderful woman here. Just remember she’s

always my little girl.” I say.

 

“Oh you don’t have anything to worry about. I love her so much.”

He smiles down at Carrie with love in his eyes. I move away from

them, giving them the privacy they deserve. I spot Marlena and

Michael dancing. That’s enough, I think, making my way over to

them.

 

“Can I cut?” It’s not really a question, more like a demand.

Michael stands there and just glances at me, not letting go.

Marlena pulls away from him and moves into my arms. I

desperately try to hide the smug grin I so want to shove in his

face.

 

Marlena rests her chin on my shoulder. “You can stop this now.”

She tells me. What is she talking about. Yea, like I don’t know.

 

“What Doc?” I have to ask anyways. It’s what smartasses do.

 

“You know what. You need to stop treating Michael the way you

are.”

 

“I’m treating him badly because I want to dance with my wife?”

 

“John, you don’t need to act so possessive. You and I are

together, the way it was meant to be and no one comes between

1. He knows that.” She pulls back to look at me. “Got it?” After

a second hesitation, I nod. “Good.” She leans up and places her

moist lips gently to mine. I respond to her kiss.

 

She goes back to laying her head on my chest as we dance. I look

up and see Michael’s fuming eyes as he walks out on the balcony,

slamming the French doors. What is he up to?

“Come on, Doc.” I smile at her giddiness as we step off the

elevator. After having a few drinks in her, she clings to my arm,

whispering sweet nothings into my ear. Thank God Chelsea

brought the kids home early.

 

As I pull the keys from my pocket, Marlena slips in front of me,

her back to the door. I look up at her face and see that

seductive grin that wins me over every time. “Doc, if you don’t

move, I won’t be able to unlock the door.” I say, trying to ignore

how close she is to me.

 

“Well, maybe I want to stay out here a little longer.” She says,

wrapping one of her legs around my thigh. I moan as she tightens

her leg, pulling me up against her. I brace my arm above her head

on the door and lean down to capture her lips. She lightly brushes

her lips against mine, then reaches behind her to open the door.

 

“Tease.” I whisper against her lips as she grabs the lapels of my

jacket. She yanks me inside and we quickly compose ourselves as

we see Chelsea sitting on the couch, reading a magazine.

 

“Hello Chelsea. Sorry we’re late.” Marlena says, giving her a smile.

 

“Oh no problem, Dr. Evans. The kids went straight to sleep.”

I hand her some money as she passes by and thank her.

 

“So, where were we?” She grabs my tie and I’m being dragged over

to the couch. Before I know it, my tux jacket and tie are on the

floor, my shirt is ripped open and my wife is currently attacking

my belt buckle.

 

We fall to the couch, tearing at each other’s clothes, our hands

roaming over one another. I grind against her as her legs wrap

around me, our lips dueling together.

 

We’re broken out of our lover’s tryst when we hear loud banging

on the door. “Marlena, open up! Hurry!” Michael yells.

 

Marlena immediately pushes me off of her and runs to the door.

“What’s wrong?” She asks, letting him inside. I roll my eyes, as I

remain lying on the couch.

 

“Are you alright? I was so worried.” He says, pulling her into an

embrace. This guy is really pressing all the wrong buttons with me.

 

“Um…excuse me. What is all this about?” I walk over to them,

refraining from pulling my wife away from him.

 

“You…Marlena, get away from him!” He moves to stand in front

of her.

 

“Michael, what is going on? What are you doing?” She pushes past

him, coming to stand beside me.

 

“Your husband is a fraud! He’s a liar and a cheat and…Marlena,

don’t look at me like that.”

 

“Like what?” She asks. I can tell she is as angry as am I. “Like

some ridiculous lunatic is telling me to stay away from my

husband. And I’m starting to wonder if he’s just doing it to get

me.”

 

He laughed a little. “Your wife is something else, isn’t she,

Lieutenant?” My chest tightened as I held my breath, unable to

move. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Marlena slowly turn to

face me.

 

“What?” It comes out as a whisper. The confusion is unmistakable

in her voice and right then and there, I see my world crashing

around me.

 

“Since he’s going to remain silent for the moment, I’d like to fill

you in on that…” I interrupt him.

 

“No, I’d like to talk to my wife alone, if that’s alright with you.”

I spat out at him. Hasn’t he done enough already?

 

“Someone just tell me what in the hell is going on!” Marlena

demands.

 

“Doc, your husband is a cop. A cop!” Michael laughs. “Funny how

he forgot to mention that somewhere along the line.”

 

Right now I would like nothing better than to charge across the

room and strangle the nuisance once and for all. But I keep still,

watching Marlena’s every move.

 

“A cop? John, what is he talking about?” She asks me innocently. I

can tell that she wants to desperately believe that I will tell her

something different. That I have never lied to her and that I

never would. My mouth opens and moves, but I don’t hear

anything.

 

Finally I find my voice. “Doc, we need to talk.”

 

“Damn right we need to talk. So when was I going to be in on this

little bit of information?” She stands directly in front of me, her

hands placed on her hips. “Better yet, I want to know how long

you’ve been a cop.”

 

I look away, her stare burning at my soul. “Since before we met.”

I eventually speak. She throws her arms in the air and turns away

from me.

 

“Wow John that’s about 10 years ago. So you’ve been a cop for

more than that and funny to think all this time I thought you

were a coach. We’ve been married for 4 years so far and already

you’ve had a secret that’s older than our whole relationship.

When were you going to tell me?!” She screams.

 

My eyes drift to the floor. How can I face her anymore? I’m

ashamed of the secret I have kept and I’m even guiltier knowing

that she’s only scraping the surface.

 

“You weren’t going to tell me.” She answers for me.

 

“Doc, please. I couldn’t tell you. It wasn’t in my assignment.” Shit,

did I really say that? Oh no. No no no no no…

 

“Assignment? What are you talking about?” The anger leaves her

and is replaced by worry and sadness.

 

“I think he’s meaning to say that you two didn’t meet by chance.”

We both hear his words, but neither of us acknowledges him.

 

“I’m part of your assignment?”

 

“Doc, listen…” Before I can finish, she has already begun walking

up the stairs. “Doc…” I chase after her, turning to face Michael

first. “Leave. You’ve already done enough.” She is in the bedroom,

wildly throwing clothes around, an opened suitcase on the bed.

“What are you doing?” I ask. She ignores me and goes about

tossing our stuff around.

 

“You’re not my assignment. Listen…” I grab her arm and

something in her snaps. She yanks her arm away from me.

 

“Then tell me what the hell is going on. We didn’t accidentally

meet, did we?” I curse myself for holding this secret.

 

“No, we didn’t.” I run my hand through my hair and cross the

room to look out the window. “I was sent to protect you by the

ISA. Through them I transferred to be a cop for the Salem PD

so that I could keep a closer eye on you. We didn’t accidentally

meet. I knew where you were all the time and I keep surveillance

on you 24/7. I was protecting you every minute of every hour. But

when that wasn’t enough, I had to meet you face to face and

move in on your life so I could be there with you all the time.” I

sigh and look at my shoes. “I just didn’t expect to fall in love with

you.”

 

I hear slight movement behind me as I close my eyes. I don’t need

to turn around to know that she has walked out on me.

I don’t know how long I’ve been standing here, my eyes fixated on

something out the window. As my eyes get lost in the darkness of

outside and within my soul, they hold back the tears I am sure are

to come. Why did all of this happen? None of this was supposed

to work out this way. It was protecting Marlena that got me

involved in her life, leading me to fall in love with her. Yet, it is

me who I have to protect her from, not Dimera or Orpheus. It is

me who tore us apart, not they.

 

Suddenly, I realize that I can’t let this happen. We are not going

to be over just like that. I run from the room and take the stairs

two at a time, before jumping down the rest of the flight. “Doc?”

I ask, panicking as I look around the bottom floor. I run back

upstairs and check the children’s rooms, which are also empty.

 

“No, Doc.” I fall to my knees on the floor. Everything I once had

has now disappeared. There is no one to blame but myself.

Regardless, it was Michael who started this whole thing, it’s not

his fault.

 

Michael…how did he know all of that about me? The phone

starts ringing off the hook and I jump up to answer it. It may be

her. “Doc?” I breathe into the phone, hoping and praying that she

is calling to say she has made a mistake and she is coming home.

 

No such luck. “Didn’t I tell you what was going to happen?”

Dimera speaks through the phone, his voice laced with

maliciousness. He is the last person I care to hear from right now.

 

“What do you want?” My voice is dry, not in the mood for this

conversation.

 

“I want to tell you what a wonderful job you did in screwing up

your life.” He laughs for a good while as I sit there and just listen.

“Come on, tell me you didn’t see this coming.”

 

“Is there something I can do for you?”

 

“You know you were the best pawn I had. Too bad you had to go

and ruin that. You could have had a better life than you do now,

worry-free.”

 

“What, a life without my kids and Marlena? I would never trade

them for you. Never.” I speak up.

 

“It seems that now you don’t have to. They’ve already left because

of you.” I don’t even begin to wonder how he knows all of this,

nor do I even care at the moment.

 

“Like I said before, what do you want from me this time?”

 

“If you’re still interested in the bargain…” I don’t let him finish.

 

“You know I am Dimera.” I speak strongly. There is no doubt I’m

going to let this go and he knows it.

 

“Good then. The next step is…I need you to train my men. I told

you that you were my best mercenary and I want you to come

back here and live that. Train my men, lead them through

missions.” He awaits my answer, knowing that I want nothing to

do with this whole ordeal but also aware that I’m not about to

have him throw out his end of the bargain either.

 

“What about Orpheus?” I ask.

 

I hear only a minute of hesitation. “He’ll be found, John.”

 

“He damn well better be found. I’ve done everything you asked me

1. I’ve stolen for you, snuck you out of prison, hell I even killed a

man. And I’ve had to lie to my wife about that too. Yet I have no

clue where Orpheus is. Wasn’t that your end of the deal? Weren’t

you supposed to locate him for me since you knew exactly how to

reach him? I’m telling you, old man, if he gets Marlena, I will kill

you both.” He begins to laugh hysterically, knowing I am just

venting but that I won’t mess this up. Marlena’s life is on the line

and whether she hates me right now or not, I won’t stop

protecting her. Even if it means keeping another lie and

sacrificing any chances at us ever getting back together.

 

I hang up and throw the phone as hard as I can across the room.

It smashes into a mirror and I sigh. “7 years bad luck can’t be that

bad.” I say, heading for the shower.

~

It’s been three weeks and I haven’t heard from Doc or my kids. I

only know that they’ve been doing well from Pop Shawn and

Caroline who see them often. That’s not entirely true. I’ve seen

them often too. They just haven’t seen me. I’m back to square

one; protecting her from a distance.

 

For the past few weeks I’ve been planning my trip to Europe

where I’ll remain for God knows how many months. I have no

choice but to do so if I want Stefano to find Orpheus for me.

So, I have learned from Caroline that Marlena is supposed to be

at the Pub to pick the kids up today and I’m hoping to run into

her.

 

As I walk into the crowded Pub, I look around, spotting Shawn

behind the bar. Before I get very far, my two favorite people in

the world come running from upstairs. I kneel down as they jump

all over me, hugging me and both talking over one another to tell

me everything they could.

 

“Oh, I missed you guys so much.” I hold them close to me,

breathing in their baby scents. “Is Mommy here?” I ask.

 

“Momma comes later.” Brady says, content to just be here with me.

 

“Okay then. Come on, we need to have a talk. Just us three.” I

pick them up and carry them to a booth near the back of the

Pub. “How about ice cream?” I smile as they both nod vigorously.

Belle decides she must sit beside me as Brady sits across from us,

since he’s a “big boy now”.

 

“Why don’t we live with you no more Daddy?” Brady wonders,

trying desperately to understand why he had a family then all the

sudden didn’t.

 

How was I going to explain this to them? “Well Brady,

Belle…Mommy and Daddy had to be away from each other for a

while. You know sometimes when you and Belle can’t play

anymore? It’s like that…in a way….” I sigh, not sure if I’m doing a

good job at explaining this or not.

 

“Belle misses you.” Belle looks up at me, her blue eyes a mirror

image of my own.

 

“I miss you too. So much.” I pull her into my lap and hug her.

 

“Are you coming home, Daddy?” Brady asks, thinking I was here

to pick them up.

 

“Not exactly. I wanted to tell you that I’ll be going away for a

while.”

 

“On a trip?”

 

“Yep. I’m going on a trip for a little bit. But I’ll call you all the

time, okay?” Belle and Brady nod their heads, not quite

understanding any of this.

 

“Here, guys. Ice cream sundaes for my two favorite

grandchildren.” Pop Shawn holds up two huge sundaes and I

cringe, thinking about what Marlena is going to say when she

knows I let them eat all this. They run over to the bar and dive in.

I can’t help but laugh at their eagerness, like they’ve never eaten

that before.

 

I run a hand through my short dark brown hair and stand. “We

need to talk.” I jump at hearing her voice so close to me. I turn

around and stare into her beautiful hazel eyes. Suddenly she turns

and grabs my hand, pulling me towards the door.

As soon as we get outside, I can feel her grip loosening on mine. I

hold on to her hand, not letting her pull away. She spins around

to confront me and I place my fingertips to her mouth.

“No. I don’t want to fight,” I say softly.

 

Her eyes soften a bit, then grow dark again. She yanks her hand

out of mine. “If you ever want us to get back the way we were,

you need to start telling me the truth. Now.” She demands sternly.

 

I open my mouth to speak when she cuts me off again. “This is

your last chance, remember. If you lie to me again or keep

something else from me, we are done for good.”

 

I try again. “Alright.” I rub my hands across my chest. “Where

would you like me to start?” She glances in at the kids who are

still sitting at the bar, devouring their ice cream sundaes. By the

look on her face I know we will be having a conversation about

that too later.

 

“How about the beginning.” She starts to walk away and I follow

her.

 

“Okay well, you know I’m a cop.” I start out, not sure where this

all really did begin.

 

“I know that. But now I want to know everything. Why we met

and…everything.” Her eyes focus on miscellaneous things along

the ground as we stroll to the pier.

 

“I started out working for the ISA when I got out of the army. I

was really young, but experienced. So I was put on cases where

someone was in danger and I would protect them. I was almost

like a bodyguard except I solved the whole case too. Well I came

across the case that would change my life forever.” I smile slightly

while nervously rubbing my hands together. “Remember the Salem

Stalker?” She nods. How could she forget? “You were my mission

so to speak. I was assigned to watch your every move, every

minute of the day. I set up a place across the street from you and

everything. But when he almost got to you, I knew there was more

I had to do.” I glance over at her, seeing how she was interested

in what I had to say, but also a little shocked and confused.

 

“That day we met at Salem Place, I knew you were going to be

there. I had to meet you so that I could move in on your life and

protect you from the inside, not the outside.”

 

“So you planned to just get me into bed right away?” She stops

and turns to face me. I can tell she is angry but all the same, she

doesn’t even believe what she is trying to accuse me of.

 

I shake my head. “Of course not. I wasn’t about to take

advantage of you. Even though I thought about you in that way. I

mean, you were hot. You still are.” I sigh. “Anyways, I wanted to

get to know you for more than just the reason to protect you. I

never thought I was going to fall head over heals in love with you.”

 

I look over at her and see that her eyes are now fixated on the

light ripple movements the wind is making on the water. “Is that

why you stayed married to me? So that you could continue to

protect me and use me as your assignment with sex on the side?”

 

The anger rises in me at her sarcastic tone. “How could you

possibly say that? I met you with the intentions of protecting you

better, but I fell in love with you. That wasn’t supposed to happen

but it did. It happened for all the right reasons.” I smile and brush

some hair out of her face. “Your eyes.” I run my hand along her

temple. “Your hair.” My fingers linger in her golden locks. “Your

mouth. Your smarts. Your beauty. Everything about you, Doc.

Everything.” I whisper. “Sami, Eric, and Carrie were bonuses. I fell

in love with them too. It had nothing to do with me being in the

ISA or becoming a cop.”

 

The tears are flowing freely down her cheeks, her hazel orbs

locking onto mine. She knows I am not lying, I can tell. What

reason do I have to lie? We’re in love with each other and I need

her as much as she needs me.

 

“Why didn’t you just tell me all this instead of keeping it from me?”

She asks.

 

“I couldn’t tell you, Doc. There were too many secrets, too many

things that could have hurt you if you knew. I should have never

lied to you. I realize how much this has hurt you and affected

our family, now. And I’m sorry. But I just want you to know that I

love you so much.” She leans into me, wrapping her arms tightly

around my neck.

 

“I love you too.” She whispers in my ear. “I love you so much,

John.” She pulls away to look me in the eyes. “Please stop keeping

things from me. I am your wife; your best friend and I would like

to think I’m your equal. So please, if you are in trouble, we are in

trouble, if you are hurt, I want to be the one to be able to save

you too.”

 

“You save me every day.” I place her hand on my heart. “By loving

me and giving me a family.” Smiling, I wipe the fresh tears that

bunch up in the corners of her eyes.

 

“Is there anything else you want to tell me?” She asks, afraid of

something else I may be keeping from her.

 

I nod and bring her hands to my lips. “What I’m going to tell you

won’t be easy to deal with right now. Especially knowing what you

know now.”

 

She waits for me to continue. “The reason I’ve been leaving so

often isn’t because of any stupid football team or whatnot, its

because…the ISA gave me some information and I found out

that Orpheus is still alive.”

 

She takes in a breath, her eyes darting around the pier. “Doc, its

okay. I’m right here.” I pull her tightly against my chest. “I got

you, Doc. No one will hurt you.” When she calms down I

continue. “I’m trying to find Orpheus before he finds you. That’s

why I’ve been going away, chasing leads. And Bo has been helping

me.” I confess.

 

“John, what if…” She begins when I place my hand lightly over her

mouth. “No what if’s, Doc. I’m going to be here to protect you no

matter what. No one is going to get to you or our children unless

they go through me first. I promise you that.” She nods and we

stand there together, just watching the water.

 

I hear her playful sigh and smile as I turn to look at her. “What?” I

ask.

 

She grins and grabs a hold of my jacket lapels, pulling my face

down to hers. Our lips meet, slow and gently at first, sliding

together. She grabs the back of my neck and presses our faces

more together; our mouths open to one another and our tongues

and lips crashing against each other.

 

“It’s been hell without you for 3 weeks. Michael has been crawling

all over me and the kids since the day I left.” She says, leaning her

forehead against mine.

 

“Michael will be crawling when I break his damn legs.” I say

seriously, smiling when I hear her laugh.

 

“Just take me home, Sailor.” She says, tugging me back towards

the Pub so we can get our kids and go home.

 

I told her about everything. Way to go, Johnny boy. Oh yeah, you

did forget to mention the part where you’re working with Stefano.

I follow Marlena through the front door of the penthouse, Brady

and Belle fast asleep in my arms. She sits a duffel bag down and

looks around the apartment. “What?” I ask, already knowing what

she is thinking.

 

“Clean much?” She asks sarcastically, picking a shirt up off the

side table.

 

“So, uh, the maid couldn’t handle me.” I tease, walking past her to

take the kids upstairs.

 

“Imagine that.” She mumbles. “She’s probably lost in this mess.” I

hear her say as I smile, disappearing down the hallway to the kids’

bedrooms. After I have tucked them in, I stride back downstairs,

stepping over a huge pile of my clothes that are now in front of

the steps.

 

“So Mom, when you’re finished cleaning, come find me.” I roll my

eyes at her and walk over to the couch. She gives up on making

the mess look better for right now and joins me over on the sofa.

 

“Well if you could just, you know, stop undressing in the living

room, you wouldn’t have that problem.” She says.

 

“Hmmm…” I lean in towards her. “I thought you liked it when I

did that.”

 

She draws in a breath. “Only when I’m here.”

 

“You’re here now.” I reply, my lips meeting hers for the second

time this evening. Her slender arm makes its way around my neck

and pulls me closer. She inches back on the couch, making room

for me to position myself on top of her between her legs. “I

shouldn’t be letting…you off the hook this easily.” She whispers,

her hand disappearing under my shirt. I tremble as I feel her warm

fingers leave a trail of fire along my chest.

 

I push her shirt up towards her neck, kissing each spot of skin

that I reveal along the way. I run my lips over the peak of her

breasts, wanting nothing more than to rip that bra right off her,

but wanting to savor the moment. Tonight has been long awaited

and belongs to no one but us.

 

“John…” I vaguely hear her call out my name until she says it

again, a little louder. I lift my head and look into her lust filled

eyes. “John, the kids are…we can’t do this here.” I smile and pull

her up off the couch, taking her by the hand. I can’t stand to

wait any longer as I turn her around to face me. Her arms lock

behind my head as I grab her butt, lifting her against me.

 

I kick our bedroom door shut behind me and fall onto the bed

with her. Our movements have become desperate and wild, as we

can’t seem to get enough of each other. She starts to pull my

t-shirt over my head, but deciding she doesn’t want to break our

lip contact, tears it right down the middle.

 

My lips travel down her stomach, stopping only when her fingers

lock in my hair and tug. “Later John, I need you right now.” She

growls and there is nothing I can do but comply with her orders.

 

I slide my hands under her skirt, pushing it up around her waist,

her panties long forgotten and shoved to the side. She already

has my pants unbuckled and is stroking my rigid member, guiding it

to her slick entrance.

 

I slam into her, our pelvises grinding together madly. She braces

her hands above her head against the headboard as I drive her

closer and closer to it. I hardly hear the loud banging the

headboard is making against the walls until she giggles slightly.

“John, shhh…the kids.”

 

“They’re sleeping…honey.” I lean down to quiet her by placing my

lips upon her swollen ones, creating a sensual rhythm only we can

muster together.

 

“John…” It’s almost a shriek, but her breath catches in her

throat, the passion overcoming her as I bring her over the edge.

 

I pull almost completely out of her, and then slam right back in,

her wet juices mingling with my own. I know I am about to come

and so does she as she tightens her walls around me. My hot

fluids shoot through her body as we collapse on the bed, our

breaths labored.

 

“Mmm…I love you.” She lifts a hand to run it through my sweaty

hair as I pull her against me, rolling off of her.

 

“I love you too.” I smile and place a soft, chaste kiss on her lips.

The moment is gone as soon as we relax into each other’s embrace

and feel the bed make this loud creaking noise and thump to the

floor.

 

We remain silent for quite a while, not moving. I feel her body

shaking against mine and only when I hear her muffled giggles do I

realize she is trying to hold in her laughter. I can barely contain

myself either as I let out a laugh. “Ooops.”

 

“Well, before we get a new bed tomorrow, I think we should give

this one a run for its money.” She gives my chest a shove and

climbs on top of me, her head dipping to capture my lips.

~

The cool summer air drifts in through the half open French

doors, sending the white sheers floating in soft, peaceful

directions. The night sky is lit up by the moon, which reflects off

the beauty’s face beside me.

 

Her back is tucked in against my chest, her hands linked with

mine, pulled tightly against her stomach. I love to be with her just

like this. When we can just lay here together, nothing in the world

bothering us or trying to get at us.

 

This is her time right now. The time when she can wander off into

her dream world and nothing there can harm her. My eyes break

away from her and look out into the night as I hear the slow

rumble of an oncoming thunderstorm. I know how she despises

them so and I vow that if or when she wakes up, I will be here like

I always have. There is no other place I’d rather be…

 

My thoughts are cut short by the ringing of the telephone. I jump

away from Marlena softly as to not wake her but to make it to

the phone before it wakes her or the children up.

 

“Time is running thin, my friend. How are you to protect her if

she is already dead?” My heart catches in my chest, beating wildly

as I drop the phone onto my lap. I look over at the love of my

life, watching her lips turn into a smile as she dreams.

 

“Doc…” I whisper to myself, wrapping my arms around her and

pulling her close to me. The thunderstorm is in full swing by now

as I vow that should it come down to her life or mine, there will

be not a question of doubt. I will do anything to save her.

I kneel down in front of the open closet, throwing random things

to the side as I search for what I am looking for. Where in the

hell was that map? I let out a frustrated groan and toss something

back into the closet. I cringe at the loud noise it has made and

remind myself that Marlena is still fast asleep in the bed behind

me.

 

“Daddy?” I jump, hearing the small voice behind me. I turn around

and see my baby standing there, her thumb stuck in her mouth.

 

“Hi Belle”, My grin widens as I pull her over to me and she sits on

my knee.

 

“Why wake?” She asks.

 

“I couldn’t sleep.” I say truthfully, remembering the phone call I

had received last night. I had monitored the whole house and

kept my eye especially on Marlena.

 

“No sleep niver.” She holds her hands out to the side, then

returns her thumb to her mouth. Leaning her head back, she

rests it on my shoulder. “Lay wif Belle.”

 

“Alright.” I sigh slightly, closing the closet door for now. I cradle

Belle in my arms as I carry her downstairs to the living room.

 

Belle snuggles on top of my chest. She tucks one arm securely

under her and places her hand on my face, her soft baby hand

playing with my short hair that she likes to call Fuzzy. Her tiny

hand goes to rest across my face and within minutes I can tell she

has fallen asleep. I smile contently, running my fingers through

her thin blonde hair.

 

I wake with a start, not even having realized that I fell asleep on

the couch. Belle is still deeply sleeping across my chest. I hear the

loud banging on the door that has woken me in the first place and

sit up carefully as to not wake my daughter. I stand up and get

ready to place Belle back on the couch when her arms tighten

around my neck, holding on for dear life. The knocking persists

and I glance to the clock that now reads 7:20, wondering who

could be here this early.

 

I try prying Belle from my arms. “Daddy, no.” She mumbles,

refusing to give just a little. I give up, carrying her with me to

answer the door. Swinging the door open, my breath catches in

my throat as I see none other than Stefano Dimera standing

there, a sick smile playing on his face. “Hello, John.”

 

I give him a look as I shut the door and jog up the stairs with

Belle. Taking her to her room, I pry her from her death grip on

me and wake her in the process. “Its okay, Baby. Go back to

sleep.” I coo to her, shutting the door behind me as I walk out,

praying she doesn’t follow me like I am sure she will.

 

I check on Brady to see that he is still peacefully sleeping, then

open the door to our room, watching Marlena turn over in bed,

searching for me. I kneel down on the bed beside her and place

my lips against hers. I pull away and mumble, “I love you.”

 

She smiles and sighs contently, “John.” She snuggles under the

covers and goes back to sleep. I pull the door shut behind me and

go downstairs, dismayed to see my nemesis surveying my living

room.

 

I walk towards the door and hold it open, not wanting him even in

the same place as my wife and children. “We’ll talk out here.” I

say, waiting for him to pass by.

 

We walk out into the hallway as I stand there and wait for him to

tell me why he is here, at my home.

 

“I’ve found Orpheus.” He grins, fondling a plant near the elevator.

 

“Where is he?” I demand, grabbing a hold of Dimera’s shirt to turn

him towards me. He turns to look at me with a grin on his face.

“Come on, old man. Where in the hell is he?”

 

“Well I don’t know at the moment. But I was in touch with him

for the past month.” He explains and I am growing tired of him

jumping around the issue.

 

“Tell me!” I shout, desperate to bring down the man who has been

threatening Marlena’s life for the past year.

 

“John, you have forgotten already. I am ashamed. I always

thought you were a man of your word.” He makes a tisking sound.

 

No, I haven’t forgotten the dirty work I have to do for Stefano,

but if it means finding Orpheus and bringing him down so that he

can’t harm Marlena or the kids or any one else I love, then I will

do what it takes. I swear on my life.

 

He continues before I can speak. “You aren’t going to fail on your

end of the bargain are you? Let me put you back into mercenary

mode so that you can teach my men to be as good as I have made

you. That is what I want in return, John Black.” His thick accent

is making me sick to my stomach and only now do I realize that I

have to give up my life, my family in order to save them. I swallow

hard, my mouth run dry.

 

“Alright old man. Whatever you want.” My voice is raspy and I

feel like getting sick. “But first I go for Orpheus. Then I will be

your mercenary man.”

 

“Go to hell!” I hear Marlena scream, slamming the door shut.

 

My heart pounds in my chest, wondering but already knowing that

she has heard everything. “Doc, no. Open the door. Please.” I run

to the door, pounding on it. “Doc please.”

 

“Stay the hell away from me, John!” She yells. I can hear her

choked sobs and feel the guilt seep into me with the realization

that I have caused her pain.

 

“Doc, if you would just open the door and listen to me.” I plead.

 

“Stay away from me, John. I don’t want you anywhere near my

children. As long as you are working for him, I want nothing to

do with you. I can no longer trust you.” I hear her slide down the

door and I too kneel down on the other side, begging for her to

hear me out.

 

“Doc, no. Thats not it. Let me explain…”

 

“Get out of here before I call the police. Get out!” She screams

hysterically.

 

“What the hell is going on?” I am angered even further when I

hear the voice behind me. Michael grabs my shirt and pulls me up

to face him. I glance dangerously down at his hand, warning him

to remove it before I regret something.

 

I could just die when I hear the door swing open and see Marlena

standing there. “Michael, please help me. Please.” She sobs,

refusing to look at me.

 

“Doc…” I shove Michael away and run towards her. She retreats

back into the house, picking up a picture, aiming to throw it at

me if she has to.

 

“Get out! Stay away from me. I can’t believe I trusted you after

finding out that you had lied to me in the first place. You’re no

cop. At least not a good, legal one. You’re working for Stefano

Dimera, you criminal!” She backs away from me.

 

Michael stands in front of her, crossing his arms. “You heard her.

Get out.”

 

“Shut up!” I yell, grabbing him by the shirt. I toss him into the

nearest wall. Marlena comes up behind me and wraps her arms

behind my neck, trying to pull me away from Michael. Michael

uses that as an opportunity to run at me, slicing his fist into first

my stomach, then into my face. I fall to the floor as he pulls

Marlena to him. She hides into the comfort of my arms.

 

“Doc, please listen to me.” I plead with her, defeated.

 

She turns to me, tears masking her face. “I have listened to you,

John. Now that I find you were hiding yet another secret from

1. Please leave. I don’t want you in my life and I don’t want you

near Belle or Brady. Ever.”

 

“Daddy!” Belle yells, running down the stairs. She sees me on the

floor and runs to me, her face pained at seeing her hero lying on

the floor, blood seeping from his face. I quickly swipe at the

blood coming from my mouth and nose so as not to scare her

anymore. But it doesn’t matter as Michael has grabbed her up into

her arms before she can even reach me.

 

Marlena takes her from him. “Leave.” She tells me, trying to calm

our daughter.

 

“You won’t even listen to me, Marlena. I am not working for

Stefano.” She is done listening as she heads up the stairs, having

full confidence in Michael to take care of the situation.

 

“Haven’t you hurt her enough already? I suggest you leave before

I call the cops.” Michael responds.

 

I stand, seeing Stefano come up beside me. “We’ll be leaving now.

We have some business to attend to, don’t we?” He grabs my arm,

tugging me towards the door.

 

I glance up the stairs one last time. “This isn’t over.” I whisper to

no one but myself.

I follow Stefano across the airfield to the awaiting plane. I hitch

the duffel up on my shoulder, not able to shake the frown that

has crossed my face.

 

“Wait a minute.” I say, stopping in my tracks. Stefano turns to

face me, not at all surprised that I am questioning his actions. “I

refuse to leave Marlena and the kids all alone while I go halfway

across the earth.”

 

“Don’t you trust me, Boy?” He laughs evilly. “Trust that Marlena

and the children will be in good hands while we take care of

business.”

 

“I don’t want you or your men following her around every second

of the day. She could be in danger and I won’t be there to

protect her.” I say.

 

“Do you really believe that I would put Marlena and your children

in harms way?” He questions. I just stand there and look at him,

wondering if he’s serious.

 

“That’s it, I’m done. I have to go back and protect her.” I turn

and start to walk off the airfield when Stefano’s voice calls me

back.

 

“And what are you to do when Orpheus eventually finds her? He

has taken her before, what makes you think he isn’t already one

step ahead of you, John? Can you forgive yourself if you pass up

this chance to find him and stop him from getting to her?” He

pauses for a moment, and a slow smile comes to his face. “Are

you sure that after all you have lied about that she still wants

you? She shouldn’t need a man like you when she’s got Michael

now.” I knew he threw that in there to rub salt into the wounds.

 

He’s right. What if she doesn’t want me anymore? She can’t

possibly now that she thinks I have chosen to work for Stefano

than to be with her and the kids. I feel the sudden urge to make

sure that she knows what is going on. I can’t let her fall for that

jerk Michael.

 

Now as we stand on the plane, Stefano retreats to the cockpit to

speak with the pilots as I reach for the phone. I dial the number

to our home, hearing it ring over and over again. I hang up, the

thought of talking to her over the answering machine with

Michael nearby, comforting her in some unimaginable way, makes

me sick to my stomach.

 

The plane jolts and I take a seat, the clouds passing by out the

window softly lulling me to sleep.

~

I sit curled on my bed, staring at the phone that begins to ring off

the hook. I know who it is and I’m even more convinced when he

hangs up before the answering machine turns on. In a way, I know

he is angry with me for not listening to him. But he knows that he

cannot expect me to listen to him after the lies he has fed to me

over the years we have been together.

 

He forced himself into my life and in the process made me fall in

love with him. But how could he do this to me? How could he

work for that monster after everything Stefano has done to me

and our family. Then he decides to play me like a fool by hiding it

behind my back. I get off the bed and run to the bathroom,

falling to my knees in front of the toilet. What is left in my

stomach is now emptying itself into the toilet.

 

I begin to cry, the pain of throwing up and the shambles of a mess

my life has become finally taking over. Leaning against the wall, I

sit there with my hands over my face. Despite everything, it

upsets me more to know that Michael is here and not John. No

matter what he has done, he is the only one who can make me

feel better and safer in the comfort of his arms.

 

Michael pounds on the bedroom door and I wish I really would

have locked it when I hear him coming through the room to me.

“Marlena? Oh my God.” He comes beside me and pulls me into his

arms. However, John is not here at the moment and I pull

Michael closer to me.

 

I am being lifted off the floor and soon enough I feel the soft

padding under me. He goes to stand but I hold fast to his arm.

“Stay with me.” I say, not even sure if the words I speak are mine

anymore. I’m not even me anymore. John has left to become

Stefano’s mercenary and the children, or I should say Belle, hates

me for making him leave.

 

I wake, my face buried against a male chest. I smile and run my

hands up the sides of his torso. “John…” I mumble, lifting my

head to see his waiting ocean blue eyes. However, I am

disappointed when I make eye contact with a pair of hazel eyes

like my own. I push myself off of him, mumbling my apologies.

 

Michael reaches for me. “No, stay.” He says. I am glad that I don’t

have to hurt him by pulling away any further when I see Brady

standing in the doorway.

 

“Hi honey.” I scoot off the bed and go to him, crouching in front

of my sleepy little boy.

 

“Where is Belle?” He asks, rubbing his eyes with his small closed

fists. His ruffled brown hair sits atop his head in a mess and I

gasp at how much he looks like John in this exact moment.

 

“Belle is still sleeping honey.” I say, running my hands over his head

to tame his hair.

 

He shakes his head. “No. I thought she was with you. We watch

cartoons now.” He explains, looking behind me into the room,

only seeing Michael who remains on the bed.

 

“I’ll be back. You can get a shower if you want. I’m sure you could

fit into some of John’s clothes.” I tell Michael, picking Brady up.

Brady gives Michael a dirty look and keeps his eyes trained on him

as we disappear from the room.

 

“Belle not here.” He says again. We go down the hallway, checking

Belle’s room. I sigh and let Brady down, seeing Belle’s bed empty.

It hadn’t even been slept in since I made it the yesterday morning.

 

I check her closets and turn to Brady. “Honey, go check to see if

she is in your room or the guest room. I’ll check downstairs.” I

give Brady a smile.

 

I begin to panic after I have checked every room downstairs,

especially in the places she likes to hide when she, John and Brady

play hide and seek. Brady comes down the stairs and I know he

hasn’t found her either. Where could she be??

 

The breath catches in my throat as I see Belle’s jacket lying on the

floor in front of the door that stands slightly ajar. “Oh God.” I

run to the door and swing it open, catching another glimpse of

Belle’s bunny on the floor in front of the elevator.

 

“No, no, no…” I frantically run on the elevator, taking it to each

floor, asking random people if they had seen my daughter.

 

I fall to the floor crying my heart out. “Ma’am, Ma’am….” I hear

someone speaking the words to me…then the world goes black.

 

“Marlena….honey, wake up…” I hear Hope’s voice bringing me

back to reality. I sit up on the couch, feeling like I had been hit

with a ton of bricks. My house is swarming with cops and

machines set up all over the place.

 

“What is going on?” I ask, looking up at my long-time friend.

 

Hope grimaces and hands me a cup of steaming coffee. “Here,

drink this.”

 

“Where is Belle? Where is my baby?” I push her hand away and

throw the covers off of me. An officer passes by me and I grab

him. “What is going on? Where is my daughter?” I scream, feeling

Hope’s arm wrap around my shoulders.

 

“Marlena, come with me.” She says. My stomach turns and I

wonder what I could possibly toss up this time considering I

haven’t even eaten anything. I run to the bathroom, emptying my

contents yet again within the past few hours.

 

“Oh honey. Everything is going to be alright.” Hope is beside me,

pushing the hair from my face. “We are going to do everything to

find out who has taken Belle.”

 

“John…” I say, looking at her. “John.”

 

She nods. “I’ll see what I can do about finding him.” She leaves

and I feel Lexie replacing her right beside me.

 

She places her hand on my forehead. “You’re burning up. When

was the last time you’ve eaten something?”

 

I shrug. “Yesterday when I had breakfast with Belle and Brady.”

 

“I’d like to take you to my office in the hospital. We need to

check you out.” I shake my head before she even finishes. “No. I

need to find my daughter. I need to….” I start to cry. “I need

John.”

~

I lie on the couch in the plane, my arms folded behind my head. I

stare up at the ceiling, visions of Marlena and the kids playing in

my mind.

 

I jump up when I hear Stefano and someone else entering the

room. I crouch behind the chair, listening to what they are saying.

 

“What do you mean you don’t know how she got there? Listen;

there were two planes that took off at the same time. I had that

airfield guarded left and right. Are you telling me that a 3 year

old hid on one of our vehicles and is now on the other plane?!” He

yells.

 

My brow furrows. What in the hell is going on?

 

“When this plane lands, get rid of the little girl.” Stefano demands.

 

“What do you want me to do with her?” The man asks.

 

“Send her back on the plane, I don’t care. Drop her in the jungle.

Just get rid of her before it ruins my plans.” He slams his fist on a

table and stomps out of the room.

 

Something is so wrong. I can feel it. When the man follows

Stefano out, I stand up and find a parachute and prepare to

depart this plane and this whole mission Stefano has planned.

I hear a faint voice calling my name and I look up to see who it is.

A police officer sits beside me on the sofa, his sympathetic eyes

making my heart jump a few beats. What has happened? “Ma’am,

there was no forced entry into your home. As of right now we

have no reason to believe someone took your little girl.”

 

What is he talking about? “Are you telling me that my daughter…

ran away?” The words replay in my mind a thousand times. Belle is

only three, how could…why would she just run away like this?

And how could she have gotten very far without getting scared

or without someone noticing a little girl wandering the streets?

 

“Tell me everyone who has a key to your Penthouse here.” He says.

 

“I…I…There is no one who has a key that would take Belle.” I say.

The fears seeps into my whole being as the confusion sets in.

Where is Belle? Did someone take her or did she really run away

and why would she…My heart stops and my eyes widen.

 

“What is it?” The officer asks, noticing my change in attitude.

 

“It’s just that…maybe she did run away. She witnessed an…

argument…” I sigh, trying not to sugar coat it too much. It had

been way more than that. “She witnessed us fighting and…I

kicked him out. She’s very attached to her Daddy and…that

could be the only explanation I could come up with as to why she

would dare run away.”

 

“I see. Well, now that we know this, we can talk about where you

think she could have gone. But for now, it looks like you could

use some rest. My men have set up wiretaps in the den and they

will be in there just in case anything new comes along.” I nod my

head, barely hearing him explain all of this to me. How could I be

so stupid? How could… No. Stop right there, Marlena. This

wasn’t entirely your fault. You know that John would never hurt

you or the kids, but how could you be sure that Stefano wouldn’t?

 

Lexie and Hope come to sit next to me again. “Bo ran back to the

station to meet up with Caroline for a while. They’re putting

posters up all around town. Someone is bound to see her.”

 

“I’m sure she’ll be fine. Belle is only three, but she is one

determined little girl. We can only hope that she finds someone

who will bring her back to you.” Lexie says, trying to comfort me.

However, it is no use.

 

“I am not feeling to well.” I say truthfully. The stress of losing my

little girl and John shoots pain and worry through my heart. It’s

getting to the point where it’s making me literally sick. I can’t even

stand up without a wave of nausea taking over.

 

Looking around, I spot Michael out on the terrace talking on his

cell phone. He has been so helpful to me and so caring of Brady. I

don’t know what I would do without him here.

~

I tighten the chute around me and walk towards the side of the

plane, preparing to jump out of this thing and get home to my

family. Something tugs at my heart and says that I can’t do it. I

remember the little girl on the other plane, wondering how

someone so innocent could get involved in this horrible situation.

I back away from the doors, knowing that I cannot leave. I

cannot abandon the girl on the other plane no matter what.

 

When we land I will find her and get her out of this mess safely. I

vow to that. The plane begins to shake and I grab onto the

nearest thing to hold on to.

 

“Sit. We’re landing.” Stefano says dryly, casually taking his seat

near the window.

 

I make my way over to the couch, discarding my chute. “Is there a

problem?” I ask, wanly.

 

“Nothing you need to worry about, John. Look who you’re talking

to…is there anything I can’t handle?” He smirks.

 

“Oh I don’t know, maybe a 3 year old little girl. Isn’t that what’s

gotten you so uptight and stressed out? Your plans faltering old

man?” I decide to rub it in a whole lot as I lean slightly forward in

my seat. “You’re not going to let a little girl ruin your big plans,

are ya?”

 

“How do you know about that?” He tries not to let me see that

I’ve struck a nerve in him, but I can tell that I have.

 

“Oh, I don’t know.” I shrug. “I might have overheard.”

 

“Stay out of it John.” He warns me.

 

“When we land I want to make sure she is unharmed and put back

on a plane to Salem. Then I want to make sure her parents are

notified and she is out of harms way. Until then, you get nothing

from me. That’s a promise.” I say matter of factly.

 

“Too bad we’re on my turf now and you’re nowhere near in

charge.” Stefano chuckles but I can tell there is a hint of worry in

his chuckle. He knows that I’m serious and that I, of all people,

have the power to bring down his plans yet again.

 

Without another word, I lean back in my seat and await our

landing.

~

I laugh, the obscurity of the situation taking over my whole body.

“How in the world did she get on that plane? It looks to me like

Dimera and Black have their hands tied now. Whatever they’re up

to is about to be brought to shambles.”

 

“Don’t worry about it, son. I told you I could handle everything.”

My father speaks to me with ease, no sense of worry in his tone.

 

“I trust you father. I really do. Now with John out of my life and

Dimera preoccupied with making John his mercenary, we’re able

to make our move. After John loses his memory yet again, we only

have Marlena to worry about. And right now I have her wrapped

around my finger.” I grin, looking through the french glass doors

at her. Lexie is talking to her about something important I can

tell.

 

“Michael, listen to me.” My father breaks the silence. “Take is

easy on her until I give the go ahead, alright? Then Marlena will be

yours to have and I can finally bring down this perfect family.”

 

“You got it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a beautiful lady inside

waiting for me.” I say, clicking my phone shut. I enter the house

again and go to sit by Marlena who is now lying on the couch, her

blonde hair spread out behind her, her tear-streaked face. I

caress the hand that rests atop her stomach, wishing she would

just wake up already.

As soon as we step off the plane, I take a good look around, a

familiar feeling of deja vu washing over me. I turn to Stefano

with no hesitation, “The girl?”

 

“All in good time. She’ll be taken inside the compound.” Stefano

heads off to the compound, waving a hand at one of his servants

to gather our things.

 

I cannot believe I’m doing this. This is so wrong. I know Orpheus

is out there looking for her, but what good am I protecting her if

I’m all the way out here? I should be home with Doc and the kids.

I can’t go through with being his mercenary again. I risk losing my

memory of them and in my own selfish way, I’m not even near

ready to do that. I can go home and protect her now and get

away from all of this.

 

I stop in my tracks, lost deep in thought. Stefano notices that I

am no longer following him and he turns to look at me. It makes

me sick to see how well he knows me because a look of realization

comes over his face and he is immediately yelling for his men. He

knows I am about to flee. I wonder if he ever thought I would

completely go through with this in the first place.

 

I drop my things and run in the opposite direction, hearing men

shouting from behind me. I stop suddenly when I hear a small girl

screaming and crying. Looking around, I try to figure what

direction the sound is coming from.

 

Turning around, I feel my whole being shake with anger and

craziness when I see Stefano standing in the same place he was in

before, holding my little girl.

 

“Belle!” I start fighting of the men who threaten to overpower me

and take me down for good to get to her. “Put her down you

bastard!” I start to run to them as Stefano leisurely hands my baby

to someone in an army jeep. They drive off towards the

compound and before I can react, I feel something sharp hit me

in the back of the neck and immediately I hit the ground.

~

“Marlena.” I am being shaken. “Honey wake up.”

 

I smile as my eyelids begin to flutter open. “John?”

 

“No. Anyways, I need you to get up.” I hear the voice now and

wake myself out of my dream sleep. Michael is hunched over me,

his face so close to mine. I sit up to push him back some and he

moves with me.

 

“What’s going on?” I ask, looking around the now empty

apartment. “Did they find Belle? Is my Baby here?”

 

“No, she’s not. The officers are still working in the den. I need

you to come with me, alright? There is something I have to talk to

you about.” He grabs my hand and leads me upstairs. Once in my

room, he sits me on the bed and kneels down in front of me.

 

“I got a very important call today.” He looks down. “Orpheus

notified me. I have no clue who this man is but he says you would

know him. He has your daughter, Marlena.”

 

I push him away from me and go to stand up. “Well, what are we

waiting for? We must tell the police. We have to let them know so

that they can bring her home to me.”

 

He holds me in place on the bed. “No. Don’t you think I’ve

thought of that? Orpheus told me that if we informed the police

he would kill her. And he sounds like the man who would not

hesitate in doing that.”

 

“What does he expect me to do then?” I ask, my heart aching for

my little girl.

 

“He says he wants you and to fly to Dimera’s compound where

he’ll meet you.” Michael tells me. If only John were here. He’d

know what to do. But I can’t think of that now. I have to save

Belle and if I have to do it without John, so be it.

 

I frantically rush over to my closet, pulling out pieces of clothing

and shoving them in one of John’s duffel bags. Then I go across

the hall and put some of Belle’s things in there with mine. “One

more thing.” I jump at hearing Michael’s voice behind me. “Brady

is to come along, also.”

 

“What? Why? I can’t put him in danger like that.” I stand up to be

face to face with him. Was he really that crazy?

 

“If you leave Brady here, your police friends will know that

something is up. This way if you say you are going on a vacation

they’ll believe it.” I huff and walk past him.

 

“Are you stupid? Who goes on vacation when their child is

missing?” I spin around to face him, wondering why I have never

seen this side of him before.

 

He shuts Belle’s door and moves closer to me. “You’re going to.

Okay?” He grabs my arms and pushes me against the wall. His face

leans close to mine as he breathes in my scent.

 

“Get away from me.” I put my hands on his chest and begin to

push him back. He only tightens his grip on me. Remembering the

cops are still downstairs, I open my mouth to yell for help when

his lips brutally attack mine. He forces his tongue into my mouth,

then bites at my lips. I think I can taste blood that is my own

which angers me even more. I bite down on his tongue and he

pulls away, yelping slightly.

 

He wipes his mouth and takes a step closer to me, swinging his

hand back as if to hit me. I cringe and close my eyes, awaiting the

blow. Nothing comes though. Instead, he shoves me back into the

wall and pulls my head back roughly. “You and Brady are going to

come with me on this trip. In the meantime, I want you to go

downstairs and get rid of the cops. Tell them that John has Belle

and you and I are going to get her, alright?”

 

I turn my head away from him, refusing to adhere to any more of

his comments. “Your daughter’s life is in your hands. I’m the one

who can ultimately take her from you. Do you understand?” He

grabs my face roughly and makes me look at him. “Understand?”

 

I nod and shake his hands off of me. “Where are you going?” He

asks, wanting me to answer him so that he can show who is in

control. He wants to make absolute sure that he was heard loud

and clear.

I ignore him and grab the bag with Belle and mine’s stuff in it,

heading down the hallway to Brady’s room. He is following me, I

am sure. From now on I feel he is going to be watching my every

move. Brady is sitting in his bean bag chair playing video games.

He smiles up at me when he sees me walk in, but glares at Michael.

 

“Find Belle?” He asks, anxious to hear more news on the

whereabouts of his sister.

 

I can’t lie to him, but I know Michael is rushed so the last thing I

want to do is make him angry. Especially at Brady.

 

“No, Baby, we didn’t find Belle yet. But how would you like to

come with Mommy to help find her?” I smile when he jumps up,

ready for action.

 

“You bet I would. Belle needs to get home so I can beat her at my

video game.” He smiles and hugs me. “I’ll help you find her

Momma.”

 

“I know you will, honey.” I hug him back then hear Michael clear

his throat. Standing up, I go through Brady’s drawers and pull out

clothes for him, adding it to the bag with our clothes. “Ready?” I

turn to Brady and take his hand, leading him out of the room.

 

“Sit your stuff here and we’ll go talk to the police.” I put down

our bags and walk to the den. Michael stands outside the open

door to make sure I don’t tell the police anything or hand them

any notes.

 

“Well, our plane awaits.” Michael grins and follows Brady and I

out to the car.

~

I will the pounding in my head to stop. At least for a few golden

moments where I could actually gather my thoughts. I knew I

should have never followed Stefano. Now because of my actions,

my little girl is somewhere in the compound, scared out of her

mind. All because I decided to leave and she followed me, not

able to let me go.

 

I try to sit up, the pain in my head intensifying to no end. “Belle…”

I mumble, falling off the cold cot onto the stone ground. I can

hear her cries and screams in my head, the pain moving to my

heart. I need to find her. I swear, if they lay one hand on her, I

will kill Stefano and every last person in this compound.

 

“Morning John.” Stefano smiles at me. I finally look up and get a

pretty good glance around the room. I’m not locked in anywhere

and the door is left wide open. What is going on?

 

I pull myself into a standing position. “Dimera, I’ll do whatever

you want. Just please don’t hurt Belle.”

 

He gives me an exasperated look. “John, would I ever hurt a child

of Marlena’s? Or any child for that matter?”

 

“I trust you as far as I can throw you.” I reply, not backing down.

 

“Belle is in good hands. Trust me.”

 

“I want to see her.” I demand.

 

“Well of course. What kind of monster do you think I am?” He

walks out the door, leaving it open for me to follow him.

 

We walk up a long flight of stairs near the west wing of the

compound, then down a long corridor, passing by at least 6

rooms. At the end of the hallway, we come to the last door. He

waves his hand to the door and steps aside. “You and Belle are

free to go wherever in the compound. Dinner will be in a few

hours.”

 

I look at him skeptically, the only thing I care about is seeing my

daughter. As soon as he starts walking away, I open the door.

There is no one in the room. “Belle?” I call out, shutting the door

behind me.

 

I hear soft cries coming from somewhere in the room. When I see

movement under the bed I make my way over to it and kneel on

the ground. “Belle?” I look under the bed and see her little form

curled into a tight ball, her face pressed into the carpet as if to

ward off anyone who came near her.

 

Reaching under the bed, I tug, pulling her to me. “Belle, its

Daddy.” She finally opens up her eyes and upon seeing me, lets me

pry her from under the bed. Her arms instinctively go around my

neck as she buries her face into my chest. “Don’t leave Belle.” She

cries and my heart breaks for her.

 

I sit back on the ground with her cradled in my arms. “Never

again, Belle. Never.” She relaxes into my arms, her sobs coming to

a halt. The room is silent save for a small hiccup here and there

from Belle.

 

“Are you hurt?” I ask, kissing her forehead.

 

“Belle okay.” She says and leans back to look at me. Her hand

touches my face. “Daddy okay?”

 

I smile and nod my head. “I’m fine, Belle.”

 

She rests against me again, clutching my shirt in her small hands

to ensure that I won’t leave her again. Within a few minutes, I

realize she has fallen asleep. I look around the room and try to

figure out what’s going on and how Belle and I will make our

Escape.

Brady and I sit near the back of the plane away from Michael and

another man. I throw my legs across the two plane seats with

Brady resting against my chest. “Momma?” His sweet face turns to

face me, his blue eyes plagued with curiousness. “Why isn’t Daddy

helping us find Belle?”

 

I sigh, knowing this question was bound to be asked sooner or

later. “Daddy is on some very important business and I wasn’t able

to tell him yet.” I try to explain it to him in the best way. He nods,

not in understanding, but accepting what I had to say. In his own

little way, he knew to trust me and felt a sense of comfort in that

he knew I would tell him anything. I smile and rub the top of his

head, pushing his short hair back.

 

Leaning my head against the window, I ignore Michael’s stares and

constant glances my way. How could I have not believed John and

went along with him to not trust Michael? Maybe none of this

would have happened. I still didn’t understand why John was

helping Stefano in the first place, either. I trusted Michael as a

friend and John as the love of my life. I laugh a little. If you can’t

trust someone from either of those categories, you don’t have

anything but yourself.

 

That’s not true in my case. I’ve got my kids. I glance down at

Brady who is picking at a string sticking out from his shirt. He

refuses to even close his eyes let alone fall asleep. His over

protectiveness of me has gotten in the way of that and I smile at

how much he is like John. I also have Belle who, without a doubt

is very much her Daddy’s little girl but loves her Momma all the

same. Michael is taking us to Belle, so he says and when we land, I

vow I will not rest until I find her and she is safe in my arms.

 

Lost in my own thoughts I don’t see Michael sit next to me until

Brady sits up and scoots more against me. “What is it?” I ask, not

looking at him.

 

“I just wanted to let you know that we’re preparing to land. Brady,

if you want, I have some cookies for you up here.” Michael says,

turning to him. Brady turns his head and moves off my lap to

buckle himself into the plane seat.

 

“I guess that’s a no.” I almost laugh at Michael’s frustrated look.

He rolls his eyes slightly, pretending not to be affected by Brady’s

rejection and stands to go into the cockpit to talk with the pilot.

A few minutes later we are informed we will begin to land.

 

Once again, my eyes travel to the window as I look down on the

upcoming compound. “Hang on Belle, Mommy is coming.”

~

I sigh and run a hand through my hair as I look around the

outside of the compound. Belle is playing on the tire swing,

kicking her legs and leaning her head back so that she sees the

world upside down as I give her a slight push when she comes

back my way. She giggles at the sensation being upside down gives

her little tummy, breaking me out of my wandering thoughts. I

smile and revel in her contentment.

 

She pulls her legs from the hole in the tire and I take a few quick

steps forward to stop the tire before she jumps off of it. She

jumps out and tries to run but gets dizzy and falls to the ground,

giggling. I laugh at her silliness and feel grateful that she doesn’t

know all of the things Stefano is capable of and why we are here.

Her eyes travel upwards and she stares for a long while before

calling out to me. “Daddy?”

 

“Yea Belle?” I walk over to her and sit down in the grass beside

her. Her baby hand pushes her hair out of her face sloppily and

she grins at me.

 

“A hopimus.” She tells me, pointing to the sky. I look upwards and

realize she is telling me what the clouds remind her of.

 

“You see a hippo out of that?” I tease her. She giggles at my tone

of voice and I pull her to me, tickling her. She laughs and squirms

in my arms until I finally let her go. She stands up and takes a step

back. I can tell from the gleam in her eye that she really hasn’t

given up.

 

She runs and jumps on me, pushing me back into the grass. “Oh,

Belle, don’t hurt me. Please.” I pretend that she is hurting me and

she giggles even more.

 

“Belle win!” She says, trying to balance herself while standing atop

my stomach. Glancing up to look at her, I see Stefano and two

men walking out of the mansion. I sit up suddenly and catch Belle

as she falls off my stomach into my arms. I stand as Belle tightens

her hold on me, hiding her face in my neck.

 

“Sorry to interrupt.” Stefano says as the two men stand a few

steps behind him. “Dinner will be ready in about an hour. I

thought you two may want to clean up.” I snort and look down at

Belle.

 

“And you think I’m going to actually fall for eating your food?” I

question, my gaze falling back onto them.

 

“What are you going to do John, starve your daughter for crying

out loud?” He’s right, Belle is probably very hungry. What am I

supposed to do? She needs to eat something. I don’t really care

for myself though.

 

“Fine. But she doesn’t eat anything without me trying it first. Got

it?” Stefano merely nods and heads back into the mansion, his men

following him. I keep my eyes on them as I kiss the top of Belle’s

head.

 

“Belle’s tummy is talking, Daddy.” Belle tells me at the mention of

food.

 

“Its okay, honey. You can eat something soon. How about we go

change, okay?” She nods and lays her head back on my chest as I

carry her back inside the mansion.

 

Once inside I sit Belle on the bed and lock the door. I walk into

the bathroom and start filling up the tub with water. “Bath time”

I call out, going to find Belle.

 

“No bath for Belle.” She stands on the other side of the bed with

her hands on her hips.

 

“Oh yes, bath for Belle.” I repeat as she runs by me to go into the

bathroom. I smile and let her win for now. “You better be in that

tub.” I say, walking over to the dressers in the room. In one there

are men’s shirts and jeans and then some nicer khakis and

sweaters. I sigh and look in the other dresser. Some children’s

clothes in the bottom few and then some women’s in the top. I

feel a sick feeling surge through me as the sizes match mine and

Marlena’s. I wouldn’t even be surprised if the sizes matched Belle’s

and Brady’s.

 

I hear Belle splashing around in the tub so I grab a few items for

her and go into the bathroom. She is surrounded by tons of

bubbles. “How did the tub get this full of bubbles?” I raise my eye

brow and she tries to sink further into the tub to hide in shame.

She smiles innocently and holds up the empty bottle of soap.

 

I laugh and crouch down on the other side of the tub. I begin to

wash her hair, wishing she would at least sit still to let me. “All

done.” I say, holding my hands out to the side. As she stands up, I

grab a towel and wrap her in it, lifting her from the tub. She lays

her sleepy head on my chest as we walk back into the colder

room. I dress her then brush her hair.

 

“I’m going to get a shower, you wait here. Kay?” She nods and lays

down on the bed, curling under the covers. I pick out some

clothes then head to the bathroom. I take a long look at myself in

the mirror. I’m growing a slight beard and my eyes look bloodshot

and tired. Thankfully my hair is still too short to not even really

have to be brushed I think as I turn around and step into the

shower to rid myself of the grime of the last 2 days.

~

“Where are we?” I demand, walking into the mansion, holding

Brady’s hand. He sticks close to my side as Michael and another

man follow us into the lobby of the mansion.

 

“You’ll be staying in the West Wing.” Michael nods upstairs. “I’ll

take your stuff.” He goes to pick up our things when I stop him.

The last thing I want him doing is following us to our room.

 

“I think we got it.” I pick up our bag and Brady in my other arm as

we ascend the long stairs. The place seems oddly familiar, but I

can’t put my finger on it. I know Belle is here, I can sense it. But

asking Michael would probably be useless right now. I’m figuring

he’ll let me see her a little later.

 

“Dinner is soon. Hope you can join us.” He smiles and I cringe, a

slight twinge in my stomach. I get a dizzy spell and once at the top

of the stairs, put Brady down.

 

I lean over a little and hold my stomach. “Mommy, what’s wrong?”

Brady grabs my hand, squeezing tightly. I know he is scared here

as am I. But I can’t fail and let myself be sick. That would be too

much for him.

 

“Its okay, honey. Mommy is just fine. I think that’s our room.” I

nod down the hallway. He looks at me skeptically. “Go ahead.” I

smile and he tears off down the hallway to find our room. I fight

the nauseous feeling that rises within me. I can’t be coming down

with something. Not now.

 

“Momma.” Brady whispers and I look up at him. “I think someone

is in here.” He reaches for the door handle and I rush over to

him. “No.” I say, the curiosity trying to break through. “We can’t.”

I immediately think it may be Michael’s room or that maybe

Stefano is in there.

 

“But what if they can help us?” Brady asks. “Maybe Belle is in

there.” His eyes widen and I pick him up.

 

“No baby. Over here.” I open our door and close it behind us,

locking it securely. I hope Brady is right though. Maybe if there

really is someone in there, we’ll see them at dinner and they will be

able to help us.

 

The thought of dinner makes me sick to my stomach. I beeline for

the bathroom, thankful Brady is checking out the room and not

watching me. I fall in front of the toilet and lose my contents yet

again.

Belle walks in front of me, taking cautious steps as she curiously

glances around. The hallway is dark and only some light shines

from the ceiling lights. Something catches her eye and she turns

around, ready for me to hold her again. “What’s wrong, Baby?” I

ask, wondering what she has seen.

 

“That’s scary.” She curiously turns in my arms to get a second

look at it. I follow her gaze and see that she is pointing to a huge

stuffed animal head mounted on the wall.

 

“It’s not alive.” I assure her. We make our way downstairs where

Stefano has a table set for us. I sit Belle down in a set beside me

and watch as she eagerly reaches for her fork to dig in already. I

lightly grab her hand and she looks up at me with confusion.

 

“Can Daddy have a bite?” I smile at her. She nods as I look at

Stefano with a warning glance. He waves his hand at me and nods.

 

Belle pushes a huge spoonful into my mouth and I thank her.

“Happy now?” She puts her hands on her hips. I wait a minute or

two, giving anything that might be in her food a chance to work.

When I am sure that nothing is wrong with it, I give her back her

spoon and watch her eat.

 

“Not eating, John?” Stefano sits down and leans back in his chair.

 

“Not hungry is more like it. Especially not for your drugged food.”

Stefano lets out a laugh as he leans toward me.

 

“But John, you are letting HER eat?”

 

“After I made sure you didn’t put anything harmful in it.

However, I’m not taking the chance for my own food. Thanks.” I

keep my eyes on Belle, reassuring myself she is alright.

 

“I am sick of this, she won’t even….” Michael comes bursting into

the room. She? My eyes travel from Stefano back to Michael and

back again. He stops short when he sees Belle and I sitting there.

 

“I knew it.” I say to myself, standing out of my seat. Belle sits back

and watches, sliding down into her seat slightly.

 

“You fool!” Stefano yells, making his way over to Michael. I stand

in front of Belle protectively as I know something is about to

happen. Stefano grabs Michael by his shirt. “If you have ruined

my plans!”

 

“Let go of me! My father will not be pleased about this!” Michael

shoves Stefano. Stefano’s men come rushing into the room as do

Michael’s two followers. “I came through for you. The woman

and boy are…”

 

“Shut him up!” Stefano demands, sending his men to go after

Michael. I think of Brady and Marlena. They’re here? Where?

 

A royal battle is about to start and I want to get Belle as far away

from it as possible. Windows are kicked in as a bunch of men

wearing black come through the windows. I shield Belle from the

flying shards of glass. I remove my long-sleeved shirt and wrap it

around her baby form. I look up and see Marlena standing with

Brady by one of the side doors. “Doc!” I scream and she begins to

run towards us. I hear a gunshot go off and immediately push

them to the ground, trying to cover them and shield them from

any shots.

 

Leading her and the kids over to a separate corner of the room, I

kneel in front of their crouching forms. “Doc…” I breathe a sigh

of relief as I hug her, Brady and Belle pressed in between both of

us.

 

“John, our baby….I thought….I…she ran away.” Marlena cries

into my now dirty white t-shirt.

 

“Shh…She’s right here, Doc. It’s okay.” I hear a few more shots

go off. “Doc, listen to me.” I force her to look at me. “If we start

to run out of here all at once, they’re going to notice. I’m going

to try and distract them. I noticed a small cottage a quite a few

miles from here. Take the kids and…” She cuts me off, the tears

streaming down her cheeks.

 

“Not without you.” She says.

 

“No, listen!” I yell. “You have to get the kids out of here. Please. I

will meet up with you once I make sure you’re out of here alright.

Please. It’s the only way it will work.” She nods and stands up,

holding Belle in one arm and pulling Brady tightly against her. I

look around, seeing the fight that continues between Michael’s

men and Stefano’s. “Over here.” I pull them along the wall with me

and use my bare hands to wipe the broken glass off the high up

window cill, not even caring about my hands quickly becoming

sliced.

 

“Son, once you get outside, I want you to start to run, okay?

Belle, same with you. Mommy will catch up with you, okay? Just

run for the woods.” I hug them, then look around before lifting

Brady up onto the window cill. “Help your sister.” I tell him, lifting

Belle up. She refuses to let me go. “Belle, Brady wants to play

outside, okay?” She presses her face close to mine.

 

“You said never leave Belle gan.” She pouts, her big blue eyes

holding unshed tears.

 

“I’m not leaving you. I’m coming too.” For the moment she is

satisfied. I lift her up on the window. “Brady will catch you, kay?”

She nods and slides down the other side.

 

“Okay, Doc.” I put my hands on her waist to lift her when she

turns in my arms.

 

“John…” She makes me look at her.

 

“Get them!” Michael barks, looking over at us. His men descend

on us.

 

“I love you.” I crash my lips against hers, momentarily slipping my

tongue inside her mouth. She moans and wraps her arms around

my neck tightly. I grab her butt and lift her onto the window cill

just as someone grabs me from behind. I turn to fight them off as

I hear Marlena scream my name.

 

“Doc, run!” I yell, watching some men run from the room, no

doubt going to chase them. Someone punches me in the face,

holding me to the ground. Two men hold each of my arms as two

other take turns sending their fists flying into my gut, one

powerful slam after another.

 

Shots sound out again and I try to look around, the perspiration

sliding down my face. Stefano now stands over me, holding a gun.

He hands it to me. “Hurry.” He gets frustrated when I look at

him, puzzled. “Move it!” He yells. My eyes get wide as I see

someone come up behind Stefano. I shoot the man, then toss the

gun back to Stefano.

 

I run over to the man I have just shot and run over to the

window, pushing myself up. I jump down and take off towards the

trees, a million thoughts running through my mind. Just then a

shot rings out and I fall to the ground, my arm soaring with pain.

I glance down and see that I have been shot.

 

This is not happening! I seethe as I break another man’s neck,

walking casually out of the room where it looks like a mob war

was going on. Father is going to kill me! They have escaped all

because of him! That bastard! Both of them.

 

My cell phone rings as I head outside. “Don’t start.” I say,

answering the phone.

 

“What is going on?” My father growls at me through the phone.

 

“Well, Stefano forgot to inform us that John and Belle were in

the same damn compound.” I smile as I hear him yell through the

other phone.

 

“What? They weren’t supposed to be at that one. He tricked me!”

He screams through the phone.

 

“Dimera planned this out the whole time. He can’t be trusted

anymore.” I say, stating the obvious.

 

“That is so.” He sighs.

 

“It’s alright, Orpheus.” I laugh. “I’ll find Marlena and John. We’ll

follow through with our own plans. The only thing is we skipped a

step. They are already together so I’ll find them and put them on

a plane to you where we can go through with everything.”

 

“Don’t get smart, son. You bring them to me and we will work

things out. But I want John and his family here now!” He clicks

the phone off and I grin, getting into my awaiting van.

 

“Where to boss?” They ask.

 

“I don’t know fool. Drive around until we find them.” I sit back

into my seat and close my eyes, thinking of Marlena and my

future. A grin comes to my lips as I dream of a life without those

menaces John and Stefano.

 

We make our way into the pitch dark woods, hearing the coyotes

howl. The road is bumpy and I get a sense of feeling that

something is not right. There is someone out here other than us.

Suddenly, high beams flash behind us and the moving vehicle gets

closer and closer. More of Stefano’s men. I turn and sit back in

my seat, the sweat pouring down my face.

 

Oh God, what now? Father, help!, I think, pulling out my cell

phone just as we are rear-ended by the oncoming vehicle. John

and his family would have to wait for now…

I catch up to Brady and Belle who have stopped a little upon

reaching the woods. They sit on the ground, embraced in each

other’s arms. “My babies…” I cry, falling to my knees in front of

them. They see me and run into my awaiting arms.

 

Hearing the loud voices back at the compound, I realize they are

now looking for us. “I need you two to be very brave for Mommy,

okay?” I look into their crystal blue eyes. Oh, how I was robbed, I

smile to myself. They have so much from John. They nod as I

continue. “We have to run for a while, okay? But I promise once

we are finished, you two can rest and we’ll be safe.”

 

Brady takes the initiative and grabs his sister’s hand, pulling her in

the same direction they had been running. “Daddy?” Belle says,

trying to look behind her to see if he had been following. I turn

to look also. But the night has set in and the darkness threatens

to interrupt our travel.

 

“Daddy is coming, Belle.” I assure her, holding her hand with

Brady. Together we make it through the extremely dark woods.

The kids cling to my side, the darkness scaring them. I try to keep

it together through my fear of the darkness also. If only John

were here. Thoughts run through my mind, wondering if he made

it out of there alright or if I had left him there to die.

 

We hear a noise in the woods and we all stop dead in our tracks.

“Its alright, it’s just an animal.” I tell them, trying to reassure

myself in the process. Standing there for a few moments longer, I

eventually make the move to keep going. They follow suit and we

continue on. After a while of stopping to rest a few times, I start

to wonder where John is. He should have caught up to us by

now. He would be experienced in dark woods like these and

would be able to find us. I know something is really wrong now.

 

I see headlights coming closer and closer to us. Grabbing the kids,

I pull them behind a huge tree and gather them into my arms. We

sit there and wait, hoping we aren’t caught. I lean my head against

the tree, holding my babies close to me. Why is this happening to

us? Right now I understand about as much as the children do.

 

Oh my God. I hold my breath as I hear a car door slam and a man

telling a few others to search the area. “I think I saw them

walking around out here somewhere. Search this whole place.”

Belle and Brady are motionless in my arms.

 

I try not to gasp when Belle begins to move around, anxious to

get away and begin to run. She starts to sob, her cries growing

louder and louder by the moment. I struggle to keep her quiet as I

place my hand over her mouth, trying to stifle her sobs.

 

Brady starts to make noise also, trying to shush his little sister.

“Belle.” He whispers, trying to keep his voice as low as he can.

“Shhh…” He starts when I cover his mouth too, holding in a

breath.

 

“Hey, quiet.” The man says to the others. “I think I hear

something. Over there, by that tree. Check it out.” I hear

footsteps getting closer to us and I begin to panic. If they find

us, they’re going to take us all in. There is no way I can defend us

against those many men. Especially not with the kids here. I hold

my stomach as the stress gets to me, my face becoming warm as I

feel the same nauseous feeling that I can’t seem to shake.

 

“Careful. It might be Black.” The man says and inwardly I spare a

smile. You’re damn lucky its not either, boy, I think to myself.

 

From what I could tell there were at least five of them. There is

no way unless the kids and I make a break for it, which could be

dangerous considering they have a vehicle.

 

“When Mommy says go, we’re going to all run that way into the

woods.” I whisper into their little ears. I can feel them both shake

against me as their fear surfaces. Glancing to the side, I see the

man come in our direction. He spots me and I yell, “Run! Honey

run!” I give them a boost off the ground and we take off into the

woods, the man hot on our heals.

~

“Father! Everything has gone terribly wrong. I need more men to

get off this damn compound. Help!” I scream into the phone as

we hit a ditch in the road, our van making a rumbling noise.

 

“No, this can’t be!” He sighs frustrated into the phone. “I’ll have

men as soon as possible. Don’t worry, son. Just get me John

Black!” He slams the phone down as I throw mine at the driver of

the car.

 

“What are you doing? Don’t tell me we are stuck!” Could this

possibly get any worse? Either Stefano’s men kill us or my father

kills me for not bringing him John. “Move this car!” I yell, the fear

seeping through my voice. The other vehicle has stopped behind

us and I can hear them making their way towards us.

 

“Oh God, Oh God,” I begin to panic, breathing heavily. I can’t die

like this! I’m too young. I have a life to ruin and a new wife and

kids to claim as mine. I won’t be going down like this, that is for

sure. Orpheus wants John Black’s life ruined just as much if not

more than I do. There is no way he is going to let Dimera and

Black win this one.

 

He couldn’t…could he?

 

~

 

I try to keep my eyes on Belle and Brady who run as fast as they

can in front of me. My sleeves get snagged on each branch I run

through and the jaggers tear into my skin. Belle stops shortly

ahead of me, not able to run any longer. Brady stops, refusing to

leave his sister behind. I try to reach them as fast as I can, but a

sharp pain hits me in the ankle. I fall to the ground, frantically

trying to get to my children.

 

I can here someone making their way towards us and I panic.

“Brady, Belle, run!” I scream, the tears streaming down my face. I

can’t get up, the sickness in my stomach too unbearable for me at

the moment. I pray to God that it passes just long enough for me

to get up and save my children at least.

 

“No!” I scream as someone runs up to us. I turn onto my back and

kick my leg in the air, catching the man swiftly between the legs. I

hear him groan as he drops to the ground in front of me. “Brady,

take Belle and run!”

 

“Belle, stand up. Come on.” Brady pleads with her, trying to pull

her out of the dirt. “Belle, its okay.” He takes her hand and tries

to pull her along, but she’s frightened and stays curled into a ball

on the ground, her sobs taking over.

 

I look up, seeing the man still hunched over on the ground, his

breathing labored. I swing my leg again and catch him in the face,

sending him flying backwards. I do my best to stand up straight,

my ankle twinging with pain. I have twisted it pretty good.

 

I stand on it and take a few steps, falling back onto the ground.

The man is behind me. He turns me over onto my back and leans

over me.

 

“Are you done kicking my ass?” John can barely get out as he

leans down to gather me into his arms for a much needed hug.

 

“Oh John…Oh…” I hug him tightly, so relieved that he is here

with us now. He found us in these dark woods and has come to

our rescue yet again. “I’m so glad you’ve found us. We were so

scared.” I wrap my arms around his neck, holding him close to me.

 

“Daddy!” The kids run over to us, hugging both of us. John pulls

away slightly to look at us.

 

“Mommy hurt you.” Brady said, looking at John who has a bruise

forming where I have kicked him in the face. “Look.” He shows

John as he tugs on his arm. John takes a sharp intake of breath

as Brady touches his arm.

 

“John?” I question, wanting to see his arm.

 

“Doc, it’s alright.” He smiles at me. “I got a jagger in it, but its

okay now. Just a little sore.”

 

“Momma’s pretty strong if she can take down Daddy.” Brady says,

looking over at Belle who is content now that John is here. She

leans into his side, against his chest.

 

“Yea, she hits in all the right spots.” John says sarcastically as I

remember where I kicked him the first time.

 

“Oh honey, I’m sorry. But you scared the crap out of us.” I put my

hands on the back of his neck and pull his face down to me. “I’ll

make it up to you later, Sailor.” I promise, bringing his awaiting

lips to mine. He puts his hand on the back of my head, supporting

it from resting on the ground.

 

“I love you.” He whispers against my lips. The tears threaten to

fall as I lean my forehead against his.

 

“And I love you. So much.”

 

“Come on, we better get moving. I think I held them off for a

while, but if we stay out here any longer they’re bound to find us.

If we can make it to that cottage tonight, they won’t have found

us until it’s too late. They won’t think we could have made it that

far.” He says, getting up on wobbly legs.

 

I notice him holding his arm slightly and wonder if he really has

gotten snagged by a tree branch. He sees me looking and drops

his arm. I can’t tell how much pain he is in for I can’t see in his

eyes through the darkness. John helps me off the ground. I try to

stand again and almost fall when John wraps his arms around my

waist, supporting me. “Are you okay, what happened?” He asks.

 

“I think I twisted my ankle. It hurts so badly.” I lean my head on

his shoulder, trying to gather strength from him. Without another

thought, I am being swept up into his arms.

 

“Let’s go, guys.” John says, waiting for the kids to walk in front

of us before we follow. I don’t mistake the grunt he gives when

he pulls me into his arms. There is something more to his arm than

he is telling me.

 

“John, your arm…” I start when he cuts me off, placing a sweet

kiss on my lips.

 

“Will be alright.” He finishes for me. I can see his fake smile even

through the darkness, but I know there is no use arguing with

him. I rest my head on his chest as we make it through the

Woods.

“Fools! You scared me!” I yell at them, stepping from the van. “We

thought you were Stefano’s men.” I say, glancing at the men who

step out of the vehicle behind us. A smile comes across my face.

It won’t be long now before we catch Black.

~

“Daddy, Belle tired.” Belle slows in front of us, doing her best to

be strong and keep up. I glance up at Brady who is a few feet in

front of her, having found a long stick and hitting everything in

sight with it. I imagine we have been walking for quite some time

now as I glance down at Marlena in my arms. Her head is resting

on my chest comfortably.

 

“I guess my turn is over.” She smiles up at me, giving me a kiss on

the lips.

 

“We’re almost there. Think you can make it?” I set her down on

the ground and she winces a little, holding on to me for a second.

“You okay?” I ask, turning her face towards mine so I can look in

her eyes and see that she isn’t lying.

 

She nods. “I’ll be fine. I think I can make it.” She starts to walk up

with Brady as I swing Belle into my arms. She giggles softly and

tucks her arms under, against my chest. I wrap the back of my

hand behind her head while my other one supports her.

 

“Tired Belle?” I ask as she nods slightly against my chest, not

saying anything. “You did very well, honey. It won’t be long now.” I

say, placing my lips on top of her warm head. After only taking a

few more steps I can tell that she is completely crashed in my

arms.

 

Finally we reach the cabin as the light peeks into the day. I squint

my eyes at the brightness, spotting the cottage about a mile

ahead. “John.” I hear Marlena call my name and look over at her.

Brady is leaning heavily against her side as he tries to walk,

struggling to keep his tired eyes open. I move Belle to one side

and gather him up on the other.

 

Marlena takes that opportunity to look down at my painful arm.

The blood has almost dried, becoming a gooey, sticky substance

as it builds up around the bullet hole wound. She gasps and looks

me in the eyes. “You were lying to me. I knew something was

wrong. John, what happened?” She questions, the worry etching

across her features. “If you’ve lost a lot of blood from this…you

need to get to a hospital.”

 

I knew she was right. I kept feeling lightheaded. I thought it was

just because of the long walk we had, but deep down I knew it

wasn’t. It did hurt and it was putting me in a miserable pain, but

none of that matters. Not when I have my family to worry about.

 

“John?” She grabs my face and makes me look at her. “What

happened, honey?”

 

I look away, the worry and horror in her eyes making it unbearable

for me to see. “As I was running from the compound, I was shot.”

 

“What? Oh my God, John. You didn’t tell me. I’ve probably made it

worse by making you carry me all that time. And you never even

said anything.” She begins to cry and I wonder what has gotten

her so upset.

 

“Hey. Doc, look at me.” I turn towards her. “Its okay. I’m alright.

When we get to the cottage, I’ll let you look at it. But lets just get

there first. I’m not having a good feeling about being out here any

longer, okay?” I give her a smile and lean in to kiss her.

 

She wipes her tears and holds back more tears. I can tell she is

very upset about something and I’m wondering if its more than me

being shot in the arm. Once we get inside the small cottage, I

place the kids on one of the beds in a back room. They snuggle

down into the covers, keeping close to one another for warmth. I

kiss them both, then walk out, shutting the door most of the way.

Before I can get any further, Marlena is pulling me toward the

other bedroom. She shoves me back onto the bed beside a few

items that she has gathered to clean my wound.

 

“Doc, I’m fine. I just…” I try to stand, reaching for her. But she

holds her hands out, stopping me.

 

“Let me look at this first, Sailor.” She demands. “Now take off

that shirt.” I smile suggestively and waggle my eyebrows. “John…”

She warns me, peroxide in one hand and cotton balls in the other.

I slide my hands down to pull the shirt from my pants, taking my

time. “John!” She yelps and yanks the shirt over my head in one

quick motion.

 

I smile and hold my arm out. “I’m not going to make this easy for

you.” I say and she gives me a knowing look.

 

“I know.” She smiles sweetly and dumps a large amount of

peroxide into my wound. I yell and yank my arm away from her.

“I’m not going to make this easy on you either.” I give her back my

arm after the pain stops rippling through my arm and admire how

she turns into doctor mode and is in complete control. “Can you

lift your arm for me?” She asks.

 

I nod and use my other arm to support lifting it in the air. She

frowns and bites on her bottom lip in thought. “What? What is it?”

I ask, wondering what’s wrong. She runs her hand over the

bottom side of my arm. When she does I know what has caught

her attention. The bullet was still lodged in my arm and didn’t

break through the skin. “What now?” I wonder.

 

She presses slightly and I wince in pain, dropping my arm a little.

“Now I need to get that bullet out of there. That’s what.” She

doesn’t seem pleased with her own answer.

 

“So let’s do it then.” I scoot back onto the bed and lie down. I lay

my arm on my shirt and move over to the side of the bed so she

has better access.

 

“Alright, let me go try to find some anesthetic.” She turns to

leave the room. I lie there and wait, not looking forward to what

is about to happen but knowing that if I want to make sure this

doesn’t get infected and to make sure the bleeding stops, I must

do this. Doc returns a few minutes later with steaming water in a

basin, a few towels, a scalpel and a pair of tweezers. “This is all I

could find.” She explains, her look apologetic.

 

I nod and lay my head back. “All I know is that I need a reward

for being a good boy in the doctor’s office when this is over

with.” I say. She laughs a little and comes over to me. “Be gentle.”

I say, capturing her lips with mine in a slow, passionate kiss. I run

my tongue along her bottom lip, awaiting entrance. She opens her

mouth to me and darts her tongue out to duel with mine.

 

“Mmmhh….John, let me get this over with.” She pulls away and

tries to ignore my pouty look. Getting down to business, she feels

over the wound for the bullet and pushes my skin to the side a

little to expose the bullet. When she gets to where she can see it

protruding through my skin, she takes the scalpel and begins to

cut it out.

 

I close my eyes tightly and try not to jerk my arm away from her.

The sweat pours down my face as I struggle not to give in to the

excruciating pain. Marlena’s eyes are on me. I can feel it. She’s

studying my face to know when I’ve had to much and she needs to

stop. But I keep my eyes pressed shut tightly.

 

I yelp out in pain, my eyes shooting open as my body strains to

keep still as it writhes along the bed. Then, I feel nothing. No

more pain, just the soft touch of Marlena’s hand grasping mine.

“I got it.” She sighs, relieved that was over. I open my eyes, staring

into her hazel ones. With a small smile, I reach out my hand to

touch her face.

 

“In just one night you have literally kicked my ass and cut me with

a knife.” I grin, making her smile wide. She leans down, resting her

forehead lightly against my own. “Oh but it was worth it.” I say,

running my hand through her hair. My other hand runs up the

inside of her thigh, only to be stopped by her own hand. I raise my

eyebrow at her. “I thought I got a reward for being good?”

 

She pulls away and reaches for the peroxide and gauze again.

“After I dress your wound, I’ll give you your reward.” She wraps

the gauze all the way around my arm, then pats my thigh as she

goes to leave the room.

 

“Hey. Where are you going?” I sit up onto my elbow, favoring my

other arm as I give her a questioning glare.

 

“To check Belle’s pockets for candy. You said you wanted…” I

jump off the bed and press her up against the door.

 

“You. I want you.” I state the obvious, grinding my lower region

into hers. She moans and leans her head back onto the door,

giving me access to her throat. I nip at her skin, sucking the skin

in between my lips. I hear her moan.

 

“Do you have to do that? It makes marks.” She whines a little,

running her hands up my chest. I just nod against her, pushing my

hands up under her breasts. Shaking her head, she pulls away,

pushing my chest slightly.

 

“What…Doc?” I ask, searching her face. “Doc, what’s wrong?” She

turns her head a little and sighs.

 

“I’m sorry, I just can’t…I guess I just can’t figure out why you

have been lying to me about Stefano. If you’re working for him,

John I don’t know how I can…” I shush her, placing two of my

fingers on her lips.

 

“Doc, no. I’m not really working for Stefano.” She gets angry and

backs away from me completely.

 

“Not really? John, what is going on?” She asks, her face flushing

with pinkness, letting me know that she is not happy at this

moment.

 

“It’s a long story. But I’m not working with him in the way you

think I am. Can we talk about this tomorrow?” I ask, rubbing my

wounded arm. She looks at my sympathetically, taking my word

for it right now. Nodding she stands there and looks at me

unsure.

 

“Hey,” I say, cradling her face in my hands. “I would never hurt

you nor would I help anyone else hurt you or the kids. You know

that, Doc.” I whisper, leaning in to kiss her again. She responds

with an urgency that I hadn’t felt just 5 minutes ago. I moan into

her mouth as I pull her to me. “So what do you say we just talk

about it tomorrow?” I mumble against her lips. She looks at me

intently and tries to raise her eyebrow.

 

“Alright. But don’t think you’re going to do this to me tomorrow

and try to get out of it again.” I smile and run to the bed, flopping

down on it as I eagerly wait for her to come join me. She sighs in

exasperation as if I were one of the children and makes her way

over to me. For a minute I think about tomorrow and what she

will do when she’s found out about all of the things I’ve lied to

her about. And more importantly how the hell I am going to get

Marlena and the kids out of this place before we’re found.

The next morning, I wake up to the sunlight shining off my face. I

want to get up and stretch out my sore arm, but Marlena and I

are tangled in a heap together and if I move, no doubt she will

wake up. Her left leg is pressed up against my right leg as her

right leg is in between both of mine. One of her hands has found

its way to the back of my head on the pillow, her fingers laced in

the hair on the nape of my next. Her blonde hair is sprawled out

against my bare chest as our hands are linked together on the bed.

 

I smile, breathing in softly as I relish this time together. Our

special time where no one or nothing exists except the two of us.

Here. Like this. I lean down and place my lips on her forehead. I

cringe when she stirs awake. I shouldn’t have done that. “I’m sorry

Doc. Go back to sleep.” I whisper softly, running my fingers

through her hair. She lifts her head and smiles at me. The corners

of my lips tug up into a smile as she shifts her position on me, now

straddling me.

 

“I love you.” She whispers against my lips. “Especially when you’re

just like this. Here with me.” With one hand she pushes some hair

behind her ear. “Just me and you.” She shifts her hips against me

and leans down to kiss me as we hear the all too familiar pitter

patter of feet down the hallway.

 

I have to laugh as she leans her forehead against mine. “And the

kids.” I add, chuckling as I give her a chaste kiss when the kids

bust through the door, tackling us on the bed.

~

I pull a shirt on as I close the door behind me, leaving Marlena

and the kids in bed back in the room. I have this feeling that I

need to check around the place to make sure no one is on to us

yet. I take a step outside, the cool air brushing my short hair

slightly. My eyes travel up to the now darkened sky, the oncoming

of a storm ready to blast through here. I look around, trying to

see through the rest of the depth of woods around me. For as

far as I was able to see, there was no one around. Not even an

animal.

 

Marlena and the kids enter the living area of the college and I go

back inside to join them, locking the door behind me. As Marlena

gets them something to eat, she comes over to me in front of the

window. “John.” She says. Out of the corner of my eye I take in

her beautiful form, standing there in one of my t-shirts that

reaches down to barely below her waist. My boxers hang loosely

from her hips. She snaps me out of it by touching my arm slightly.

I jump and pull my arm back. “I want to look at that. Come here.”

She grabs a fist full of my shirt and leads me off into the

bathroom, telling the kids we’ll be right back.

 

She tells me to sit on the counter and hold my arm up. As I do,

she pulls out some more gauze and peroxide, preparing to clean

the wound. “So John, tell me about what was going on between

you and Stefano.”

 

Shit, I should have known that was coming up. I take a deep

breath and prepare to tell her everything. “Okay. First let me just

say I’m sorry for lying to you. But once you know everything, you’ll

know why I had to.”

 

She nods and remains silent, urging me to continue. “So

anyways…” I sigh, not really knowing where to start. Or even how

to start or what she will do to me when she finds out. “When I

found out Orpheus was alive and was sending threats to you, I

knew I had to do something. I couldn’t tell you because I wanted

Orpheus to think you were getting the treat letters and that you

were scared. I acted as if I didn’t know who was sending the

letters so that I could find out where Orpheus was and I would

be able to take him down before he even got close to you. So

after a few months of chasing leads and going out of the country

to find him, Stefano came to me offering some help. From the

beginning, I knew there had to be a catch to him helping me. But I

was prepared to do whatever he asked if it meant finding

Orpheus and protecting you. So when he told me about going

back to Europe, I jumped at the chance because I knew Stefano

had found him. I just knew. That’s when you found out that I was

working for Stefano.” I trail off, letting her absorb all this

information.

 

She lifts her head to look at me. This is a look I have never seen

on her before. It was a look of distrust and disappointment. But

not in just anyone; in me. I gulped, knowing I had to tell her the

rest of the story. “And what was his catch?” She asks in a small

voice, afraid of my answer.

 

I look down at something on the counter, my eyes filling with

unshed tears. “I was going to let him make me his mercenary.” I

finally say. Marlena attaches the gauze around my arm, then drops

my arm and walks quickly out of the bathroom. “Doc, wait!” I

jump off the counter and chase after her into the kitchen. She is

sitting with the children, her eyes glazed over as she cleans them

1. “Doc, please listen.”

 

She cuts me off, pulling Belle out of her high chair and taking

Brady by the hand. “Bath time.” She smiles sweetly at them, pulling

them past me. I grab her arm before she can walk by me. “Stop it.”

She says through gritted teeth as she shakes her arm free of my

hold. She kneels down in front of Belle and Brady. “Mommy has a

bag of clothes in her room. Go pick out what you want to wear

and I’ll be back in a minute.” She smiles as they run off toward

the room. She stands up and crosses her arms in front of her

chest, giving me a look.

 

“I need to tell you…” I start, when she holds up a hand. “What

else are you going to tell me John? Are you going to tell me that

you want to go back to be Stefano’s mercenary man? That our

whole marriage was a lie because you met me on purpose and I

was your assignment for 10 years? Or that you were a cop, trying

to figure out how he could be the hero and get in my pants on

the side?” She asks sarcastically. “Oh wait…my mistake.” She

laughs. “You already did tell me all those things.”

 

“Oh stop it.” I interject, throwing my hands in the air. “I met you

because I was staking you out to protect you, you know that. No

I didn’t tell you I was a cop, which I should have. I was going to

be Stefano’s mercenary again to pay up for helping me find

Orpheus to yet again protect you! So please tell me what I’m

missing?”

 

“Well if its too much to be saving me from something all the time

then forget it. I never asked you…” I realize what I have said and

what she took it as. This can’t go on any longer. She has tears

streaming down her face as she tries desperately to make them go

away.

 

“Doc, stop.” I say softly. “You’re wrong. I will never let anyone

hurt you or the kids. Ever. That is why I made that deal with

Stefano. Don’t you see, I love you more than life itself and surely

more than my own. You can hate me for the rest of your life, but

I would never stop saving you. Never.” I can feel the wet tears

streak down my own face as I look at her.

 

She takes a step and wraps her arms around my neck, burying her

face in my shoulder. “I’m sorry.” She cries, her tears soaking my

shirt. Holding me tightly she says, “When you told me that you

were going to be his mercenary again, I couldn’t handle that.

John, I don’t want to lose you and….” She gets choked up and

starts crying again.

 

“Doc, hey,” I hold her tightly against me, pressing my lips on the

top of her head. “I’m not going to leave you. I’m going to be here

with you and the kids always and forever. Okay?” I lift her chin to

look her in the eyes. As I lean down to kiss her, we hear the

rumbling of vehicles outside. I pull her towards me, glancing out

the window. “Doc, get the kids.” I say, pushing her off into the

direction of the bedroom as I search around for my gun. Within

seconds, they bust down the door, about 5 or 6 guns pointed

right at me. Michael parts his men and walks in the door, smiling

at me.

 

“You son of a bitch!” I yell, taking a step towards him. One of his

men comes close, pointing his gun at my head.

 

“I get that a lot.” He smiles. “So…” He waves his hand around the

room. “Where are the kids? And Marlena?”

 

“I don’t know but if you have them…” I grit my teeth, glaring at

him. He begins to laugh, then stops abruptly, changing his

attitude.

 

“Don’t screw around, John. I know they are with you.” He sighs

when I don’t falter and waves 2 of his men to search the place.

 

“No!” I yell, running up behind one of the men and hitting him

from behind. The other turns to attack me when I take him

down. I feel a gun press up against the back of my head as I hear

Doc and the kids screaming. “Doc, run!” I yell, elbowing the man

in the stomach. He drops to the ground as I hear a gunshot.

Sweat is pouring down my face as I look up, seeing Marlena and

the kids a few feet in front of me, their faces in a sheer look of

fear and panic.

 

Marlena tries to run to me but is held back. My legs get weak as

my vision blurs. A gunshot went off, who the hell was shot?

My numb fingers reach down to my stomach. I look at my fingers

and see the red, sticky substance on them. My breathe catches in

my throat as I stand there and hear Michael laugh in the

background. As I look down at my white shirt, now soaked with

my own blood, my world goes dizzy and I feel myself propelling

towards the floor, Marlena’s screams the last thing I hear.

~

“Get him out of here.” Michael says, his grin becoming serious

again. Two men tear my babies away from me, pulling them out the

door. He makes his way over to me and I spit in his face. “You

bitch!” He says, backhanding me in the face. “Did you really think

you could get away?” He laughs. “Why Marlena, where is your

transportation? What, were you going to walk to the nearest

country?” He begins to laugh, almost to the point where he is

hunched over.

 

“Don’t hurt my children.” I say, trying to remain calm.

 

“Well here’s the good news.” He smiles, touching my cheek. I slap

his hand away. “The good news is that now we don’t have to

worry about John to be together.” He grabs my chin in his clammy

hand and forces me to look at him.

 

“You’re pathetic. I want to see John. You and I will never be

together for as long as I live. I promise you that.” I glare at him.

 

“You know Marlena, John is dead. But beside the point, you and I

will be together til the end of time. We both want that. And

within a few days you will find that you want that also. Let me

finish. I was also going to tell you that I will bring you back to my

mansion and get you and the kids cleaned up and fed. Then you

will be on your way back to Salem.” I look at him with distrust.

But all I can do for now is take his word for it. My eyes fill with

tears as I spot the puddle of blood on the floor where John had

previously lain. He can’t be dead, I know he can’t.

 

I am put into the back of a black SUV with Brady and Belle. I

hold them close to me, consoling them for what they had

witnessed at the cottage. Brady doesn’t move as he stares ahead

at nothing, his eye blank and his breathing calm as Belle cries non

stop for John, her hiccups and tears taking her over. When Belle

finally cries herself to sleep, I pull Brady close to me and hold him

tightly, crying my own self to sleep.

 

~

 

“So what has been done?” I ask impatiently, demanding an answer

from one of my father’s assistants. “I need to know if you went

through with what you were supposed to.” Resisting the urge to

grab a hold of the man in front of me and make him talk, I turn

towards the brick wall, crossing my arms across my chest.

 

“Sir, we did exactly as you have asked. We drugged Marlena and

the children before they woke up from their nap in the SUV and

have placed them in their respective rooms.” I have had enough

dancing around the issue. I whip around to face him.

 

“But have you done it? Have you given her the serum?” My

patience runs low and I pace around the room like a mad man,

breathing heavily and wiping the sweat from my tense face.

 

“Yes sir. Marlena has received the serum. The drugs will last

through the rest of the night into tomorrow afternoon. By that

time she and the kids will be safely tucked away in a small town in

France. When she wakes up, she will have no recollection of

John.” I grin, my sick and twisted plan now working to my favor.

 

“So let me get this right. Marlena will not remember anything

about John? And John will not remember anything about

Marlena?” I laugh out loud, slapping my hand on the doctor’s

back. “Marlena will be walking around town wondering who the

father of her children is and she doesn’t even know John.”

 

“Yes sir. Precisely. Mr. Black is in the recovery room down the

hall. The gunshot wound will knock him off his feet for a few

days but he shall be fine. And when he wakes up, he will now

belong to Orpheus and remember nothing of his past. Not

Stefano. Not Belle or Brady. Not Marlena.” The doctor grins

along with me and its all I can do from hugging him.

~

“Ah, shit.” I grumble, the pain shooting through my stomach as I

try to sit up in bed a little. My fingers trace along the gauze

wrapped around my bare torso. I cringe as I see the blood spot

seeping through the white gauze. “Where am I?” I ask myself,

looking around the room.

 

“Hey, buddy. You’re awake.” Michael says walking into the room.

“Glad you could come too. I was getting a little worried there.”

 

I sigh and try to get up. “What do you want with me? Why did you

shoot me?” I demand an answer, my muscles tensing. “I’m getting

out of here.” I say.

 

“Where are you going?” He asks, smiling at me.

 

“I’m going home. Now where is my shirt?” I glance around the

cold, empty room. He looks around and shrugs.

 

“I’ll have to ask my assistants as they would know where your

clothes are better than I. But John, where is home?” He asks me.

I look at him as if he were stupid.

 

“It’s…” I stop, trying to think. Where the hell was my home

anyways? “What did you do to me?” I ask, sitting up in bed as I

fight the pain. “What in the hell did you do?!” I yell.

 

“You were shot, John. And we were helping you to recover. The

least you could be is a little grateful.” He sighs deeply. “Anyways…

we’ll leave you alone.” He walks over to one of the hospital

drawers. “Your clothes and keys are in here. Your Jeep is parked

in the front of the building.” He waves his hand around the room.

“Stay as long as you like. My doctors will be in shortly to change

your bandage and then you’re on your way.” He turns and leaves

the room as I wonder what he is really up to.

~

“Now when he leaves, I want you to follow him. Think you can

handle it?” I look at the beautiful blonde in front of me. My eyes

travel up her shapely legs up to her breasts then her beautiful

face as she glances at me. “Keep him occupied, alright?”

 

She nods and gives me a knowing look. “But I thought you took

care of his memory. He won’t remember his wife or kids will he?”

She twirls her hair in between her fingers and licks her bottom lip.

 

“No, he won’t remember. You don’t have to worry about that.

Just make sure he doesn’t start wondering who he is or where

he’s from. All you have to do is occupy him in your….own special

way.” I laugh as I walk by her. She walks to John’s room and I

hear the door open then shut. “Now with John’s memory gone yet

again, I will be able to move in on Marlena and make sure she falls

for me.”

~

I hold on to my side as I swing my legs out of the bed, taking in

the rest of the empty room. The steel walls make me feel like I am

stuck inside a mental institution which just freaks me out.

“Ugh…” I moan as I feel an oncoming headache to top off the

wound in my gut. I stand from the bed, the doctor scrubs hanging

loosely on my hips.

 

I jump as I hear the door to my room shut with a loud snick, the

sound reverberating off these walls. I look up and see a woman

standing in front of me, her skirt only going down a quarter of

her thigh and her spaghetti straps pushing her breasts out.

 

“Hey there, Sweetie.” She makes her way over to me, swaying her

hips. “What? No hello for me?” She sticks out her pouty lips and

leans towards me. I back away a little, giving her a questioning

glare.

 

“I’m sorry. Do I know who you are?” I ask, trying to keep my eyes

off of her. This can’t be the woman I have envisioned in my

dreams. I just know it can’t be. This is not what I pictured at all.

 

“Oh honey, you must have hit your head harder than I thought

you did.” She puts her hands on either side of my head, forcing

me to look at her. “Let me help you.” She grins, pushing me

backwards towards the bed. Her lips trail over mine, her hands

sliding down to the waistband of my pants.

 

“Whoa, wait a minute.” I push her hands away and avoid her

groping hands. “I’m really sorry. This is all new to me. I don’t know

what happened and I don’t know who you are. This is just going

to take some getting used to for me, okay? So let’s take it easy.” I

sigh and turn around to get my clothes and car keys. “Could you,

uh, give me a second?” I say, grasping the drawstrings on my pants.

 

She smiles and glances downwards. “You have nothing to hide

from me. It’s not like I haven’t seen anything before.”

 

“Please.” I cross my arms. “Whatever.” She says, walking past me

out the door. “What the hell is going on?” I quickly change,

grabbing my car keys. “There must be some other way out of

here.” I think, trying to find any way possible to avoid Miss

whatever her name is.

The summer breeze flows over my body, washing it with sunlight

and fresh morning air. I sigh contently, a smile forming across my

lips. I roll over, my hand fumbling around the other side of the

bed. I sit up and realize I’m alone in the room. The white sheets

bunch around my waist as I look around the room. “Just another

dream.” I whisper to myself. I hear the kids make their way down

the hall and I hide under the covers, pretending to be asleep.

 

I smile as I hear them run through the bedroom door and shake

me awake. “Mommy.” Brady says, pulling the covers off of my

face. I grin and hug him. “Good morning, sweet baby.” He sits

back on his legs as I look around for Belle.

 

As if picking up on my concern, he sighs and rubs his face.

“Momma, Belle is still crying. I don’t know what to say to her. She

wants Daddy.”

 

I roll over on my side to face my boy. “Did you ask her to come in

here?” He nods sadly. I do not know what to do about all of this.

Every morning for the past few weeks my youngest daughter

wakes up in the middle of the night crying until she gets sick. I

don’t know what is wrong with her nor do I know how to help

her. She cries endlessly for her father of whom I can’t remember

anything about. I had sat Brady and Belle both down to explain to

them that I wasn’t sure who their father was only to receive

confused, questioning glances from them both. Belle had

immediately started to cry as Brady got up sadly and retreated to

his room.

 

As I figure out what to do about Belle, I sit up and pull Brady

close to me, hugging him. He wraps his arms around me and

returns the hug. “I have some good news for you and Belle,

Brady.” I say, looking into his handsome blue eyes. “What’s that?”

He asks anxiously. “Have you found Daddy?” His excitement runs

through his body as he gets up on his knees, gripping my

shoulders. I try not to frown at the answer I must give him. “No,

son, I haven’t. But I wanted to tell you that…”

 

The knocking on the door interrupts my thoughts. I sigh as Brady

slumps down onto the bed in defeat. My heart breaks for him and

my little girl crying her eyes out in her room. “Do me a favor and

go check on your sister please. I will be right back.” He nods and

slides off the bed, turning the corner down the hallway.

 

I slip my robe on and make my way downstairs as the knocking

persists. I open the door and sigh when I see Michael standing

there. “Good morning.” I say, trying to be polite. I have a few

fuzzy memories of him staying here with the kids and I at one time

and can only gather from that that we have become good friends.

He stands there and smiles at me as I move aside. “Would you like

to come in?” He nods and walks past me, giving me a little peck on

my cheek. “Can I get you anything?” I ask as he stands over by the

balcony.

 

“No, I’m fine thank you.” He says, turning around, his expression

puzzled. “Remember a few days ago when you told me you were

preparing to go back to Salem?” I nod, wondering where he is

going with this. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea, you know.”

 

“I think it’s the best thing for my children right now, actually.” I

reply, sitting on the edge of the sofa. “I have to find out who

their father is and right now the best way to do that is by taking

them home to be with people they know and love.” I rub my hands

over my face, frustrated with the whole matter. I immediately

think of Stefano and how he might have done something to my

memory like he had before. But Stefano had erased my memory

for 5 years at a time. I can remember everything except the man

who fathered my children. Michael breaks me out of my silent

reverie by placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

 

“Marlena, you know I only want the best for you and the children.

That is why I’m saying we should stick it out here for a while until

we can find out what is going on. If the children go home, don’t

you think it will be much harder on them, seeing other families

and other children with their fathers. Listen, I am going to help

you in any way I can. Okay?” He leans on the sofa, his face near

mine. I nod, captivated by his determined stare. There is a hint of

something else there, but I cannot place what it is. It’s almost as

if he is much more comforted that I have agreed to remain here

in France for a little while longer to figure out what is going on.

 

“Daddy!” I hear Belle scream, her tiny feet pounding along the

floors upstairs as she makes her way to the steps. “Daddy!”

Inwardly I grin as I hear her happy baby voice fill the house once

again. But before running downstairs, she stops and sets her eyes

on Michael. I figure she must have heard his masculine voice and

thought he was someone else.

 

“Hello Belle.” Michael stands up proudly, looking at her. Belle

backs away from him, bumping into Brady who had also heard

Belle and ran to see who she was yelling for. “You not Daddy.”

She exclaims, tears threatening to pour out. Michael makes his

way over to the stairs to her. “Belle, come here, Baby.” He

reaches for her when I stand up. “Michael.” I say. When he looks

at me I shake my head, telling him not to go there, not yet. “You

not Daddy. You hurt Daddy.” She screams at him, turning to run

off towards her room. Michael tries to chase after her when I

grab his arm.

 

“No, don’t.” I tell him yet again. He turns around, pulling his arm

from my grasp. “Are you going to let her talk to me like that?

Marlena, she shouldn’t be talking to adults that way.” I almost

have to laugh at the absurdity of his statement. “Michael she’s 2.

She is going to say things like that. And besides, she misses her

father so desperately that I feel she deserves to be angry.”

 

He sighs, exasperated. “But she shouldn’t be accusing me of

something like that when she doesn’t even know!” This is about

enough. I’ve had it. “Michael, why are you getting so defensive?” I

pull him back towards the sofa. “Look, Belle is only 2 and she

doesn’t know what’s going on right now. So if you’re going to help

me find out what is going on, we need to get started.”

 

He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me towards him.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. It’s just that I love Belle as my own and I

hate seeing her hurt like this.” I smile and hug him. “You’re so

sweet. Thank you. And I’m sure with time Belle and Brady will get

used to you and get a little more comfortable around you. So

don’t worry.” I sigh and pull away when I spot Brady standing at

the top of the steps. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to go upstairs

and handle this.”

 

“No problem.” He says and I wonder if he actually means that for

the sound of his voice betrays something else. Making his way to

the door, he glances up at Brady, then opens the door. “See you

tomorrow.” He says, pulling the door shut behind him.

 

I go upstairs, reaching Brady at the top. Instinctively he holds out

his arms to me and I pick him up, cradling him against my chest.

We go to Belle’s bedroom where she is sitting on the floor playing

with her dolls, her cheeks tear stained. I sit down with Brady in

my lap. He wraps his arms tighter around my neck and looks

towards the ground, his back facing his little sister. “I want you

two to listen to me, okay?” Brady nods as Belle continues to play,

not even realizing I’m there. “Something happened and Mommy

forgot about some things. I know you both miss Daddy very

much, but I’m going to find him, okay?” I feel Brady press his face

further into my shirt. I pull away and watch his face scrunch as

tears drain from his eyes. He struggles to keep them in but loses

the battle. Belle has stopped playing and sits there, just staring at

the floor. My heart breaks for both of them as I pull Brady back

against my chest and bring Belle into my lap. We sit there

together, rocking back and forth for what seemed like hours.

~

Making my way through the crowd, I glance down at my white

shirt for what seems like the millionth time to make sure the

blood from my wound hasn’t seeped through yet. For a small town

in France, the amounts of people at this gathering was enormous.

The truth is, I was actually looking for something like this

tonight. Hell, anything to get away from that woman who seems

to be everywhere I go.

 

I scratch at the slight beard that has begun to grow around my

features, wondering if I should shave it or if it could come in

handy to keep what’s her name away. I jump at the loud crack of

thunder accompanied by the lightning that turns the sky blue.

People start to disperse in all different directions when the cool

rain pours in huge droplets from the sky. I dodge people as they

run left and right.

 

Another crack of thunder rumbles the sky as I become soaked to

the bone in my clothes which now stick directly to me. The

ground starts to slush, becoming mud and I find myself almost

getting my foot stuck a few times. My left foot eventually does

sink and I stop, leaning to the side to pull it from the mud. I give

a hard yank and stumble to the side, bumping into someone. I look

up and make eye contact with a blonde haired woman who is

standing there with a panicked look on her face as her little boy

holds on to her tightly.

 

She grasps my arm desperately, worried that I will run from her

like other people most likely have. “Please.” She cries, the rain

mixing with her tears. “Please, you must help me. I’ve lost my

daughter.”

 

I stand there in shock as she grips my arm more firmly, my lack of

response more than she can handle right at this moment. “Please

don’t go. Please.” She begs me. I pull her hand from my arm and

hold it in one of mine, the heat and shock from doing so running

throughout my whole body.