// July 7, 1999
// Dusk
// Hawaii

Marlena was tired of waiting around for the authorities and decided to take matters into her own hands. She blew out of the honeymoon suite with Bo right on her heals, “Marlena!  It’s storming its ass off!  You can’t go out there it’s not safe!”

Angry, she spat back,, “Damn it!  I don’t care. It’s raining out on that ocean, and John is out there, I’m going too!”  They both jumped in Bo’s rental Jeep and flew down to the boat docks. The owner did not want to cooperate in this storm, but Marlena told the man about her missing husband, John Black. She then pulled out her husband’s credit card and showed the man that she was the billionaire’s wife. Money talks because the man rented her one of his best boats.

As he and Marlena ran toward their boat, Bo remarked, “Asshole!  He could have rented you this boat because your husband is missing. Not because he’s rich!”  Marlena reminded him, “Be grateful. My husband’s life may be at stake.”

Bo couldn’t see a thing in the storm. The waves crashed into the boat with the determination of capsizing it, but it did not stop them. Marlena shed her raincoat as it was inhibiting her movement and ran out to the bow in hopes of getting a better view.

Just then, Bo yelled out to Marlena, “Come quick!  I hear someone on the radio… it sounds like Hope!”  Marlena rushed to the cabin and adjusted the frequency dial while Bo kept his eyes on the waters. All of a sudden Hope’s voice filled the cabin as Marlena and Bo stared at each other in shock.

‘SOS… someone help us… SOS… is anybody out there?’

“Damn it! I knew she was involved in this. I knew it! And I’m sure where we’ll find her and John, we’ll find Stefano,” he yelled. Just then, he saw a light shimmering on the darkened waters and raced their boat toward it. The light could have been from a buoy, but it was worth the chance, for it was the only lead they had.

Minutes later, they found themselves boarding an estranged submarine. The wind and rain pummeled down on Marlena, but it did not stop her. She was determined to find her husband. Bo yelled down from the cabin below for Marlena to join him. Little did she know what she would be walking in on.

There stood John, Hope, and Stefano. Stefano was holding the two at gunpoint and Bo interrupted. “John!” Marlena yelled out unable to control her emotions. Knowing that this could be his last chance to flee with Hope, Stefano stormed past Bo up the steps knocking Marlena down in the process.

Bo ran to her side as John took off after Stefano. Marlena yelled after John to stop, but he would not listen. She had to get up there before he did anything rash. Just as she stepped onto the sub’s deck above, Stefano pushed Hope onto his own awaiting boat then boarded it himself. With his gun still pointed at them, Bo knew he was momentarily defeated.

John rushed to Marlena’s side to shield her from the weather even though she was already drenched. They then watched Stefano drive off and then throw Hope overboard. Bo screamed, “Noooooooo!” and tried to jump into the waters after her, but Stefano threatened to shoot him if he did. He was defeated.

John wanted to use the rental boat to go after Stefano, but Marlena wouldn’t have it. Just then, they heard Stefano yell out from the intercom, “Marlena, kiss your husband goodbye!”  And then there was a deafening sound of a gunshot.

John was standing directly in front of Marlena when the bullet hit his chest sending them both crashing to the deck floor. She looked down at her husband and screamed, “John!  Oh my God!  Nooooooooo!”  There was crimson everywhere as the bullet had ripped his chest apart. He lie between his wife’s legs, his back to her chest as she cradled him in her loving arms. Blood continued to gush out all over her and John both.

Screams in the night were all that could be heard as Marlena was quickly losing her beloved John. They had been married less than twenty four hours. There was still so much to say, still so much to do. She kept repeating over and over again how much she loved him and how much he had to live for. Somewhere deep inside she knew there was no hope for survival, but she tried her damnedest to will it.

Once Stefano’s boat was out of sight, Bo knew he had a chance. He looked back at Marlena who was crying and his heart broke into a million pieces for her. They locked eyes. He was hoping he wouldn’t have to ask and he got his wish. She motioned for him to find Hope before the stormy waters took her under. She knew there was not much time left for her and John, but maybe there was a chance for Bo and Hope.

John could barely breathe, much less speak, but he had to get these most important words out. He couldn’t leave this world without saying them. “Doc… I… love… you… forever… and always,” and then he took his last breath. She felt his body give way and go limp in her embrace. There was nothing she could have done. Nothing anyone could have done. The bullet had pierced his heart instantly.

After holding him for what seemed like a thousand eternity’s, she stood up and walked toward the railing. She, too, had been defeated. The stormy night only added to the horrible scene that had just played out. When Bo got back to her, he took her in his arms while she stared at John’s lifeless body and cried. Bo had no luck, either. Hope’s body was nowhere to be found, but he had just radioed the authorities and soon they would perform a much thorough search.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to her, Marlena’s psyche was changing. Her attitude seemed distant and cold. She pushed herself out of Bo’s arms and walked toward John’s body. Ignoring the enormous amount of blood, she kneeled beside him and  scooped his head and shoulders into her lap and wrapped herself around them. She held her head down for a minute then from the pit of her soul she raised her head and yelled out into the night, “Stefano… I will have your life for John’s!  John’s death will be avenged!”

Episode 1

// May 14, 2002
// 10:45 pm
// An abandoned warehouse somewhere outside Paris, France

“Listen asshole!  Are you going to tell me what I need to know, or am I going to have to castrate you to get you to talk?”  The man squirmed like a child beneath her hold. “We wouldn’t want that now would we?  You’re far too good looking to just let go to waste,” she let her finger trail up his thigh as she spoke and then grabbed him between the legs, “and I could get much better use out of this while still attached.”

“You drive a hard bargain, lady. Who the hell are you anyway?” the man pleaded.

“I’m the one asking the questions. And I don’t believe you are in much of a position to bargain,” she squeezed tighter on his groin enlisting a scream from the terrified man. “All right, all right!  I’ll talk!  Just please lighten the grip!”

Marlena trusted no one. Even when they were in pain, a person is capable of lying. Or at least that is what she had come to believe. However, hearing the man ask of her true identity led her to wonder if the same person whom she was chasing was in fact chasing her, or was it someone else and this poor soul was just a hired hand with no real knowledge of the situation.

Again she squeezed, “Who sent you?”  She had been on the trail of the Phoenix for years now and was beginning to get close when she realized she had a tailer. In order to throw off whoever sent him, she made a detour outside the city. She wasted a lot of time diverting off course and now was makeup time. She would have her answers. One way or another.

She sat her gun down beside her and pulled her knife from its sheath. The sharp edge was cold against the man’s throat as she made her demands. “I’m only going to ask you one more time, and then I’ll have to sharpen my blade after I’m done with you. Who… the… fuck… sent you?”

“Lady, I’m a dead man either way because he said he’d kill me if I talked.”  She was outraged at his words. “Then repent you bastard because you’re about to meet your maker,” and she began to press the blade into his flesh. It was at that pivotal moment when the man knew he was going to die that he spoke.

“It was… not… the Phoenix,” and then she stole his last breath from him. Standing, she brushed her black cargo pants off, “Stupid bastard. I tried to give you the chance to live and tell me that a lot sooner, but no, you had to show me you were man enough to die. Well, I can fix that.”

Marlena took off into the night, but not without first leaving her pursuer a little message. She had indeed castrated the poor man who would not speak in time to save his life. She once held the guy’s manhood in the palm of her hand. And now he held it in his.

Episode 2

// May 16
// 9:30 pm
// Underground hideout

“Boss, Dawson’s dead. He was found outside of Paris in an abandoned warehouse. Castrated,” Benny reported. Benny was the boss’ right hand man. “He was holding his balls in his right hand. His penis still attached.”

The boss’ jaw tightened when Benny asked, “Who the hell is this woman and how’d she become so cold?”  The boss answered, “Life turned her that way. Send another man out. I want her caught. But you better make damn sure she is not hurt, or you’ll be carrying yourballs around in yourright hand.”

// 9:45 pm
// Across town

“Bo, it’s me,” Marlena said from one end of the phone, “How are the kids?”

He replied, “They’re great. They miss their mama, but they’re doing okay. And you?”

“Fine considering the circumstances,” she said as she popped her back muscles and stretched her arms.

“When are you coming home?”

“Not sure. I was thrown off trail, lost a lot of time. Someone was tailing me.”

“Do you know who?”

“No idea. But I don’t think it is Dimera,” she answered. “Listen, I’ve got to go. Give my love to my children and the family.”

“You know I can’t do that,” Bo reminded.

“Yeah, I know. Wishful thinking, I guess,” she sighed. Bo could tell this search was starting to wear on her physically as well as mentally. He only hoped this nightmare would end soon.

“But you know Ma and Pop still love you, and we all miss you. Please be careful,” he pleaded careful not to say her name. “I love you. Take care.”

“Bo… thank you. For everything. I love you,” and she hung up the phone.

It had been two days since she had disposed of her follower and two days since she last had a lead on Dimera. Losing time was not an option. Not that she was on a tight schedule; she had been away from home for almost a year with no return in close sight. But the sooner she avenged her husband’s death, the happier she would be.

“I’ve got to track down my contact,” she said to herself hoping to diminish the feeling of loneliness that had snuck in. “Louis, it’s time we talk again.”

Episode 3

// May 18
// 2:00 pm
// Louis’s House

Marlena had met Louis early in her search. His main home was in a small town in Southern Italy. She met him in Paris when she got a tip that he might be able to help her. Help her indeed. Louis was a long time and loyal employee of Stefano. Of course when he was convinced to help her, she questioned his true loyalty.

She arrived at his house in the country. As she stood in the doorway, her eyes rolled up to look at him and a small smile crept across her face. “Hi,” she softly spoke.

“Marlena!  What a surprise!  I’m so glad to see you,” Louis smiled as he pulled her into a hug. She had intentionally not called him to announce her visit.

They sat at his table out on his balcony that overlooked the city. When with Louis, she usually spoke with a respectful tone, as did he with her, but Marlena was not in the mood for formalities. “So, you wanna tell me who the tail is?”

“Pardon?”

“The guy who was following me. Is he Dimera’s?” she asked.

The dark Italian thought for a moment, “I am not aware of any plans to track you down.”

“You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?” she eyed him suspiciously.

She quickly changed the subject, “So what do you have for me?”

Seriousness took over in him as he answered her, “There’s talk of him leaving the country.”

“Salem?” she wondered.

“I’m not sure where he’s headed. I overheard these rumblings from his inner circle, though. I have every reason to believe it’s legit,” he continued.

“When?” she demanded.

“I don’t know. It could be next week, or he could have already left. I’m sorry I don’t have more specifics,” he replied. “However, I do know that his last bit of business before he leaves will be at the factory.”

Stefano inherited the family factory from his father when he died. The factory was located in Northern Italy and produced all of the electrical power for the region. Among electricity, it was also rumored to produce weapons and machinery, and it is suspected that his scientists once made weapons for armies all over the world.

She thought for a moment and wondered, “Is it still heavily guarded?”

“Oh yeah. You’re going there?”  He was surprised by this news.

“I need to find him before he leaves the country,” she stated matter of factly.

“You’ll need all sorts of espionage equipment to get in there,” he stated.

“No problem. Can you at least get me across the river undetected?”

He nodded, “Meet me at the shack on the river bank at nine o’clock tomorrow night.”

She stood up and slid an envelope from her pocket across the table. “Thanks, Louis.”

“You’re not staying for dinner?” he wondered eyeing the envelope.

“Maybe next time. I’ve lost two days because of that tail. If I’m gonna get into that factory undetected, I’ve got things to do in preparation.”  Pointing to the envelope, “There’s something extra in there to make up for my not staying.”

“Then I suggest you plan on staying at the shack for a few extra minutes.”  His sly smirk was just vague enough to be noticed and it sent chills down her spine.

When he eyed the envelope, he almost missed her next move. “Keep your pants on, stud,” she winked.

He stood and kissed her on the cheek and watched her turn to leave.

He called out to her as she walked away, “Marlena, did the tail give you any indication as to whom he worked for?”

She smirked, “He told me that it wasn’t the Phoenix.”

Louis’ eyes grew wide as she continued, “But I needed to hear it from you to be sure. I sure as hell don’t trust anyone from Dimera’s organization.”  She paused. “Except for you, of course,” she winked.

Episode 4

//  May 19
//  6:00 pm
//  In route to Stefano’s factory

Marlena slid the coins into the international payphone and dialed his number. She smiled when she heard his voice.

“Hello?” Bo answered.

“It’s me,” she whispered.

“M..,” stopping himself before he said her name over the phone, “Where are you?”

“On my way to his factory. Bo…”  He could hear the fear and desperation in her voice.

“Yeah?” he asked.

It took all of her courage to speak her next words, “Please remind my children of their mother.”  She was scared and he had no idea of the cause.

“I will make sure they never forget you,” he reminded.

Bo could feel the tears in her eyes when she whispered her next question. “How’s the baby?  How is Michael?”

It broke his heart to have to tell her that her year old son was growing up just fine… without her. It would be good news to her to hear that he was happy and healthy, but it would sadden her to know that he was doing it with the love and support of her family and friends and not her.

“He’s just fine. As cute as ever,” he replied.

A slight smile formed, “As cute as his daddy, I’m sure.”

There was an awkward pause before she spoke again. Her voice was shaky, “I love you, you know that, right?”

“Yes, I do. What’s this about?” he wondered.

“I just wanted you to know that. I’ve gotta go.”  She quickly hung up the phone while fighting back her tears, and then walked away.

He stood in the darkness of the alley. Watching her. He couldn’t believe it was really her. And he couldn’t believe what he had just overheard.

‘How’s the baby?’and ‘I love you,’trampled through his head like a thunderstorm.

“How could it be?” he wondered aloud, “She’s in love with Bo?”  It didn’t make sense to him. Shaking his head, he headed off to his destination.

//  May 19
//  6:15 pm
//  Cafe in Northern Italy

Marlena composed herself and ordered a coffee from a nearby cafe. She was sitting alone in a corner and when it hit her. Thoughts of him flooded her mind. Memories of their time together flashed through her mind and sent her senses on a rollercoaster.

The memory of the night he remembered their strawberry and whipped cream dessert was up first. As she sipped her coffee, she was reminded of the sweet sensation of the feel of him licking the cream from her lips. The thought of all the times they shared that together ricocheted in her head.

Then she saw herself be lowered onto the leather couch in John’s jet the night that she went to the airfield to convince him to stay in Salem. She definitely did that. A smile formed on her lips at the thought of their lovemaking that night. Even though it was morally wrong, there was no denying that it felt so sweet and sensual, yet hungry for something they both needed so badly.

Other various memories such as: their $100,000 dance, their tryst in the hot springs, their sweet yet long over due reunion, and all the many nights spent making love in their bed, and other places, filled her mind. And how could she forget their wedding day… and wedding night.

Next, she saw them standing hand in hand, eyes locked to eyes, reciting How Do I Love Theeto one another. And then her heart began to race. She remembered her desperation and fear at watching John swim out into the ocean to save the drowning woman.

That was the last memory she would allow to torment her. “Why am I thinking of him now?” she asked herself. She stood and dropped a few bills on the table for the waiter. Figuring it was because she was so close to finally avenging his death, she grabbed her bag and headed to her next destination.

Episode 5

//  May 19
//  9:00 pm
//  Riverbank behind Stefano’s factory  

Marlena Evans Black was the picture of a true undercover operative. She was dressed in all black and wearing a black mask to cover her head and face. She was carrying a backpack that was tied close to her body to avoid unnecessary rustling. She also carried two different guns. A small handheld was easily accessible on her belt and the other was a gun with a silencer zipped inside a pocket on her pant leg. Her trusty knife was also within immediate reach as was any other gadget that would aid in her progress of breaching Stefano’s security.

The gadget freak in her husband would have been proud.

She approached the shack in the night with quickness and grace. Eyeing Louis inside, she made her way to the door and walked in. “I’m so glad you could finally make it,” he hissed. Louis had relieved the guard of his nightly duties and took over the security booth inside the shack.

She shot back, “I’m on time. Do you have what I need?”

“Right here,” he said holding a thick folded piece of paper up for her to see. Continuing, his voice was cold, “Do you have what I need?”

She sat her backpack down nearby, “Always,” she whispered in his ear as her long feminine finger popped one of his shirt buttons.

What they were about to partake in would not be sensual and would not be friendly. It would be down and dirty sex that neither could deny their insisting bodies of any longer.

He slid her pants down her legs as he grabbed her hips with his masculine hands. He helped her up on a stack of boxes as she reached down for his belt. Not letting her finish the task, he laid her back on the boxes. She wrapped her legs across his shoulders as he dove into her with his tongue.

After he had his fill of her, and knowing that by stopping it would drive her mad, he readied himself. Grabbing himself with his right hand and leaning over her with his left, he entered her swiftly. He pounded her repeatedly over and over making her want to scream out louder and louder.

She squeezed him tighter with each thrust and they both fought the urge to make any noise to avoid alerting other guards. Soon, that task grew more difficult and she bit down on his shoulder as he fucked her harder. The slow and easy Marlena had long been replaced by the quick and rough one as she had learned early on how to get what she wanted.

This time was no different. Louis had promised her a map of the factory had she ever had the need for it. The price was high as he had to steal one from the factory itself and make a copy, but Marlena would make his trouble worth it. Being out on her own for as long as she had been, she accepted early on her animalistic need for sexual gratification. There was something about her new lifestyle that caused suppressed sexual desires to surface.

Louis had recognized this lust in her the first day he met her. Being the Italian stud he was, he made sure she received only the best. At first, it was difficult to have sex with Louis and the others and not think of John. But she reminded herself the reason she was there.

By stealing John from her, Stefano stole her moral compass, slowly slipping her into another personality. He took her code of right and wrong … her light and that allowed her to become angry, vengeful and willing to deny her world to take on the darkness of his. She sought to destroy the one thing that destroyed her.

Soon, she was no longer seeing John’s face as she lie under, or atop, a different man fulfilling her rawest of desires.

Her only requirement for any of them was to wear protection, and they all knew better than to try her because they knew she would not hesitate to put their balls in a jar. She was one pissed off woman with an agenda to kill. Fucking was just a joy ride along the way.

Louis continued to fuck her as she finally came around him and was quickly followed by his hot fluid releasing. Friendly thank you’s were not in order as they quickly dressed. Marlena gathered her backpack and did a quick check to make sure every weapon was in tact and accounted for. She might have just had sex with him, but that did not mean she trusted him any further than she could throw him.

He handed her the map and set the security cameras away from the river giving her plenty of time to cross. Just when she was out of sight, he heard a footstep and could feel the cold of a barrel on his neck.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” the voice demanded.

Louis about peed his pants upon hearing that voice.

“And where do you get off fucking mywife?”

Episode 6

//  May 19
//  9:20 pm
//  Guardshack on riverbank  

“You’ve got three seconds to answer me, or I promise you, I will kill you very slow and in a very creative way,” the voice demanded.

The barrel of the gun poked hard into his neck. “It was payment,” Louis squirmed in the other man’s grip.

“Payment for what?”

“For a map to Stefano’s factory. Please… don’t kill me,” Louis begged.

The man held fast to his stance, “You fucked my wife as payment for a god damned map?”  He then jerked the guy around to stare into his eyes. “I promise you will pay for taking advantage of her, but first… why the hell did you lead her here?  Why are you helping her by giving her a map?”

Louis’ voice trembled like a scared child, “She paid me!  I had to!”

The man’s grip tightened as he jumped in the Italian’s face, “I pay you!  You work for me!  You were supposed to lead her to me. Not Stefano!”

The man had only met Louis a short while ago, and when he learned that Louis knew Marlena and was in regular contact with her, the man offered him an obscene amount of money to lead Marlena to him. Of course, Louis was also being paid by Marlena to lead her to Stefano. And then there was the little detail of him also being on Stefano’s payroll.

“Seems like you’ve been playing me for a fool!  I hope to God that you are not sending Marlena into a trap, you son of a bitch,” the man grunted in his ear. Louis was far too scared to even breathe, much less fight back.

The man unsheathed his knife and quickly slit Louis’ throat. “Kiss your ass goodbye, fucker,” he pulled the trigger on his silencer and shot Louis in the knee. Louis’s ragged body twitched in agony as he wanted to scream out and found that function to have been stolen from him.

Louis’s neck poured of blood as the man looked down on the pitiful excuse of a life, and pulled the trigger once again this time taking out his whole genital area. “That was for putting your dick in my wife. How’s that for creativity.”

//  9:45 pm
//  Woods behind Stefano’s factory 

Marlena had pulled herself from the river and quickly made her way to a secluded spot to regain her bearings. The swimming lessons she took during her training for this mission had paid off. She made it across the river with no problem.

She moved very swiftly through the woods like a cat on the prowl. After a few minutes of running, she stopped and checked her map. She was heading toward an entrance she circled on her map. While looking it over, she heard what sounded like footsteps.

‘Oh shit,’she thought, ‘Is it another tail, or just a guard patrolling the area?’

She couldn’t take any chances and quietly evaded that area and to hide out in a thick brush until safe to leave. Eternity seemed to pass as she sat in silence waiting for the noise to leave. It was very dark out, but that night she had the aid of the moon to help her see and what she saw nearly made her question the very breath she took.

As she waited, she watched from the thick brush and saw a black figure move past her in a small clearing. The figure moved in a very familiar way. Too familiar. ‘Where do I know that walk from?’

Just then it hit her. ‘Oh my God.’  The figure moved like John. The shock was too much and she gasped loud enough for him to hear.

He called out to her quietly, “Doc?”

Episode 7

//  May 19
//  9:40 pm
//  Woods behind Stefano’s factory 

Her eyes grew wide with disbelief. Marlena tried to convince herself she was hearing things. There was no way she could have heard his voice.

“Doc!” he whispered into the night once more.

There it was again. Anger raged inside her as she readied her gun. She jumped from the brush and cocked her gun for fire.

“Put your hands where I can see them and turn around slow, asshole.”  Her voice was cold, hard, and demanding.

She watched as the figure did as directed and slowly turned toward her. Shadows were cast away as the moonlight hit his face. And she gasped again.

The figure finally spoke, “It is you.”  He had only heard rumors that she was alive and somewhere in Europe. He had been tracking her for some time now.

She would have sworn that upon hearing that voice her heart stopped. His whisper. John’s whisper. But she would not allow herself to fall into Stefano’s wicked games. John could not possibly be alive.

“Who the hell are you and who do you work for?” she demanded.

He shook his head in disbelief, “What?  Doc, it’s me. It’s John.”

“Bullshit. John’s dead.”  Even though her words sounded convincing, she was not so sure. But questioning herself was not an option.

She took a step closer so he’s sure to see the seriousness in her eyes, “I asked you a question. Who sent you?”

He was careful not to set her off, after all, she did have a gun pointed at him. But he spoke from the heart. “No one sent me. Doc, it’s me. I really am John Black. Your husband. Doc… I didn’t die,” he pleaded.

He felt himself being looked over like a jeweler with his magnifying glass would examine every small detail of a diamond. It made him more than uncomfortable. It made him feel as if everything he had shared with this woman was suddenly placed on display as evidence. And he was placed on trial for the question of whether he met her standards.

Her eyes were black as night. Even under the moonlight, he could see where hazel once was, but now was so dark with hate. He knew what she was capable of after what she did to this man Dawson.

He knew better than to cross her, yet there had to be a way to break her. To break her and make her see that what she had tortured herself with for the past two years was not true.

She shook her head at the resemblance. “I held you in my arms and felt you take your last breath.”

John nodded, “But that wasn’t me. I didn’t die, Marlena.”

Before she could question him further, he uttered, “I heard youdied.”

She was still unsure of the man, so she was careful not to reveal too much too soon. “Obviously not. Although according to the rest of the world I did.”

He began to understand her meaning fearing what he had feared all along. John felt the chill of her voice wash over him and beg to take all sensation away. “You don’t believe me, do you?”

Her voice was shaky. On the verge of breaking. “Why should I?  I’ve learned my lesson after what that bastard has repeatedly done to me. It’s taken me a while, but he finally hit me where it hurt the hardest.”

John swallowed hard. Then took a step forward. He took a chance, but felt in his heart he could get through to her. Lifting his hands up to show he meant no harm, he spoke softly, “Put the gun away, Doc.”

“Stop calling me that,” she demanded. She was on the verge of tears.

“That’s what I call you…”

She snapped, “No!  That’s what my husband called me.”  The anger in her heart fought back her tears, “You’re not my husband. John’s dead.”

He took another stop toward her. “I guarantee you whoever you buried was not me.”

“Stop!  Come any closer and I swear to God I’ll shoot you!” her voice cracked.

He continued his progress despite her threats, “No you won’t. The chance that I’m right is too great a risk.”

Just then, she felt his hands wrap around her upper arms as his mouth came to capture hers

Episode 8

//  May 19
//  9:45 pm
//  Woods behind Stefano’s factory  

John continued to explore her mouth until her knees went weak. Her hard outer shell and cold black heart that she had managed to manufacture had one weakness. John would be Marlena’s kryptonite.

Knowing that time was of the essence and that the risk was high for being caught, John had to act fast. He had to find a quick way to convince her, beyond a shadow of a doubt, of his identity. So, he did what any red blooded man would do. He stripped her of her wings, albeit broken, and took her right there. Hard.

He had her cargo pants down around her ankles in a second. He removed himself from his jeans and entered her without ever breaking from her mouth.

He broke their kiss as he turned her back toward his chest and swiftly entered her from behind. The force of his thrusts caused Marlena to lean forward to brace herself on the trunk of a tree. John, too, had to place a hand on the bark next to hers to give him better leverage to push further into her.

He continued to pound into her, slamming harder and deeper with each thrust while the bark of the tree left tiny scratches on their bodies’ exposed skin. The painful sensations and the fear of being caught only fueled their passion.

John used his free hand to massage a breast, then the other before moving down her abdomen and between her legs. When he felt her about to scream out, he let go of the tree trunk to offer his fingers to her lips while his lower hand continued to rub and tease her in a way he knew she loved.

She eagerly accepted his fingers sliding her tongue up and down one after another. John felt her insides tighten around him and about lost his balance, but continued to pound her giving her the release she sought.

Marlena bit down hard on his finger inflicting a sweet sensational pain upon him. It was not long after her release that she felt the secretion of his hot liquid entering her body and senses.

John did not pull out from her immediately. Instead he wrapped his arms around her, holding his wife tightly against him. Their chests rose and fell together fighting to regain their normal rhythm after having elevated their senses to meet each other at their destination.

He felt her head lay back into him and he reached down to plant soft kisses on her neck. She spoke softly, in barely a whisper, “I love you, so much.”

“I know.”  Relief washed over him as he felt her words reaching out to him. He breathed a sigh of relief and his warm breath tickled her skin. “I love you, Marlena.”

She asked, “What was that for?”

His breath continued to dance her skin as he spoke, “To prove to you who I really am.”

She nodded, “I would know your touch anywhere.”

John pressed his lips into her ear, “I know this isn’t your idea of passionate love making. I promise to make it up to you.”

“Actually… I kinda liked it. It’s been a long time since I’ve shared the comfort of a bed,” she admitted.

“I promise that will be soon,” he whispered, the image of her and Louis going at it still fresh in his mind. And hearing her say ‘I love you’to Bo on the phone still heavy in his heart.

Episode 9

//  May 19
//  10:00 pm
//  Woods behind Stefano’s factory  

John watched as Marlena redressed and did a check for all her weapons and gadgets. He was fixated on her actions and demeanor as it was something that he was not used to her doing.

She loaded a gun and turned to him. “Here. We’re going into hostile territory. You may need it.”

His eyes grew slim with concern. “We’re not going anywhere other than home. I’m taking you back to Salem right now.”

She stopped dead in her tracks and turned back to face him, “No you’re not. I’ve got a job to do and I’m not leaving until I get it done.”

John grabbed her by the upper arms and stopped her from taking off. “You’re not going after Stefano. Doc, I’m alive and I can explain everything.”

“Great,” she said, “now let go of me.”

“Are you going to give up this obsession of finding Stefano?”  “No,” she stated. “Then I’m not letting you go,” his glare burned into her.

He had no idea that while he was talking, she had reached into her pants pocket and pulled out her knife. In one swift motion, she had the blade of the knife poking into his forearm. “Let me go,” her eyes gleamed a tone he knew better than to cross.

Not that he feared her, or thought for a second that she’d harm him, but he was beginning to see first hand just what Stefano had done to her and he let her go. “This is going against my better judgment,” he sighed.

She just glared at him while she sheathed her knife. “I really should carry you out of here, forcefully if I have to, and get you on a plane for home.”

“But you’re not,” she stated very sure of herself. “Give me a reason why I shouldn’t,” he demanded.

Her eyes told the story of the hurt that she covered so well. “Because of how I’m feeling right now. Because of the hell I’ve been living from holding you in my arms and watching you die.”

“But I didn’t die, Doc,” he pleaded with all of his heart for her to see his way. All he wanted was to take her home.

“I see the tables have turned,” she smirked. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“I remember when I came back after years of being held against my will. I came home to my husband who had given his heart to another woman. The confusing thing was, he said he loved me and was so glad I was home, yet he still would not recommit to me. That’s all I ever wanted, John. But you chose to go searching into my past. To see what happened to me. We both came home with different lovers. Things might have been different if you had only recommitted to our love,” she was fighting the tears back with all her might.

His heart ached and the pang in his gut nearly made him double over. “Which is exactly why you should just come home with me now. We’ve got yet another millionth chance, Doc, to get this right.”  He held out his hand for her, “Please?”

“I’ve lived the last two years of my life without you. With the knowledge that you had died in my arms. Do you have any idea what that does to a person?  One of the few emotions I’ve felt for the past two years is revenge. And hate. That son of a bitch took something from me and I intend to get my payback.”

She spoke with such conviction. But it was conviction built on hurt. Pain that she had been harboring unwilling to let it go.

She spat, “You can’t tell me that you don’t know what I’m talking about. All the times you swore you’d kill him if he ever hurt me, or our family. Yeah, you know the pain and hurt. Think back fifteen years ago. Do you remember that pain?”

In his mind, his eyes closed and flashed back to watching her plane go down. She didn’t have to remind him of what happened fifteen years ago. Those memories haunted him every day of his life from that moment on.

“I just love you, Doc.”  “And I love you. But I have also learned to hate. And there is one man who I hate as much as I loved you,” she stated. Her use of past tense did not go unnoticed.

“You don’t have a choice in this matter,” she started toward her destination. “Are you coming with me, or not?”

Episode 10

//  May 19
//  10:10 pm
//  Stefano’s Factory  

Against his better judgment, John reluctantly agreed to go with Marlena into the factory instead of taking her home, albeit dragging her. Marlena would not be persuaded against carrying out her agenda even if it did mean she would be returning home with John.

They quietly moved through the woods making their way to a side entrance. Before Marlena said her goodbyes to Louis, he had told her to rendezvous with a certain guard. Supposedly she would have a better chance of convincing him to let her pass. She figured, even if he would not let her, being at a side entrance, if she had to kill him it would not cause immediate commotion.

“Stay here,” she demanded of John. “No. I’m going with you,” he spat back. “John, this guy expects me to be alone. You know we can’t chance this,” she reminded. “I’ll motion for you when I’m inside.”

John hid himself behind a thick brush so that he was almost completely covered, but could still see the factory entrance. He watched as she moved with stealth precision. Amazing. He had never seen this side of her and he finally began to understand the hell she had been going through that caused her to go through such a change.

John sweated bullets until seeing her wave him in. A muffled sound caught his attention. “Where’s the guard?” he wondered afraid of her answer.

Her piercing glare sent a shiver down his spine. He was tense, expecting the worst. She moved the door a little to reveal a guard, hog tied and gagged.

Relief washed over him as he thanked God that she did not kill the man. “I thought he was going to help you,” John uttered. “He obviously had more in mind for me than I was willing to give,” she shrugged, “I wanted to kill him, but…”  “But I didn’t,” she continued.

John felt thankful she had second thoughts and hoped it was a sign of her conscience coming back. Him being there had affected her more than she was willing to admit. Any other time, she would have fucked the guy and been on her way. But John was back in her world again.

It seemed like eternity had passed as they made their way into Stefano’s labyrinth. John was amazed at Marlena’s newfound abilities. A sense of pride washed over him at the thought of her being his wife. But there was an agony in his gut knowing he had partially been responsible for her pain. He wondered, when the whole truth came out, would she understand?

There was an eeriness in the air as they neared the lion’s den. They had made it into Stefano’s office with ease since there seemed to be no guards. “Something’s off,” she noted.

Expecting to barge into Stefano’s office and find him at his desk, and assassinate him instantly, she was dumbfounded by his empty chair. Marlena quickly noticed a white envelope sitting in his chair. Fearing the worst, she tore it open and read silently.

John, who was scanning the office for clues to Stefano’s whereabouts, rushed to Marlena’s side as she let out a blood curling scream, “Nooooooo!”

Episode 11

//  May 19
//  10:30 pm
//  Inside Stefano’s Office  

John tried to remind her to keep her voice down, but she blew him off. “There’s no one here, John!  I can scream all I want and no one will come. Stefano is gone,” she shoved the note into his hands. “And with him, someone I love very much.”

He took the paper from her with intent eyes. The letter must have revealed a disastrous fate to her that he did not yet understand. Upon reading it, he still had questions.

“You’re too late, my dear Marlena. I’ve already gotten what Iwant from Salem and you will never find me.”

Before he could voice his confusion, Marlena was dialing her cell phone feverishly. “Bo, it’s me. Please tell me everything is okay there.”

“I left a message on your voice mail. Marlena, I’ve got bad news,” Bo said.

Her eyes closed. “It’s Michael, isn’t it?”

“I’m so sorry, Marlena,” he spoke softly. “When I woke up this morning, he was gone.”

She blurt out, “Goddamn it, Bo!”  He said nothing as he knew she was in a lot of pain. When she spoke again, her voice was softer, “I’m sorry. Bo, I don’t blame you. I’m on my way home. Please inform the family. Stefano knows I’m alive. It’s no secret anymore.”

John had assumed from overhearing her other phone call that Michael had to be her son. The pain was evident in her eyes as hazel locked onto blue. After she hung up with Bo, John asked, “What happened?”

She shook her head, indicating he would not get much information, “Stefano is already gone. He went to Salem and… John, my son is missing.”  He hoped for a misunderstanding. “Are you sure Stefano…”  She flashed the note at his face again, “This proves it.”

Tears filled her eyes and threatened to overflow a she stood gazing at John. Despite her hard outer shell of late, it was a look of reaching out. Perhaps hoping for some comfort. He wanted to give her that comfort. John reached for her and pulled her into his arms.

But there was a change in Marlena. Although tears streamed down her face, she was cold and unfeeling. Her hands never formed fists like before. She never shook. She was steadfast in her composure. Every bit the look of strength. But even more so, the look of anger. Anger that would inflict even more revenge within her. John did not know how to react toward the change.

Before he could do anything, she pushed herself out of his embrace wiping the tears from her face. “And so help me,” she began making her way to the door, “if Louis set me up, I’m gonna ring his neck when we get across the river.”  “That wouldn’t do any good,” he called out causing her to turn in her tracks. “Louis is dead.”

“What do you mean, dead?  I just saw him,” she yelled. “Yeah. I know. That’s why he’s dead,” he smirked. Her eyes narrowed as she thought about what he said, “You saw me with Louis.”

“Don’t look so surprised. Doc, I’ve been on your tail for weeks,” he stated. “Louis worked for me.”

Her brow furrowed, “He worked for me.”  John reminded, “He worked for Stefano. He obviously still had some ties with the old man, because I think it’s safe to say he set you up. He set us all up.”

She slammed her fist into the wall, “That no good lying bastard!  He was supposed to lead me to you, wasn’t he?  And I paid him to lead me to Stefano. So instead, you find me and meanwhile Stefano is in Salem kidnapping my son!  I hope you killed that bastard slow.”

John confirmed, “He knew he had fucked up when he died.”  She wondered, “Is that why you attacked me in the forest?  To erase any memory I may have had of him?”

“Come on, Doc, you haven’t gone and fallen for that rat have you?”  Marlena just glared at him. “And is that what you thought of it?  Me attacking you?  Doc, I know it wasn’t the most romantic setting, but I think it got the point across,” he pleaded. But she just threw up her hands, “It doesn’t matter. I’ve got to get home. And then I’m going after Stefano.”

Episode 12

//  May 20
//  Midnight
//  John’s Plane 

They sat across from each other. Unsure of what to say. Fear of erasing years of history between each other evident in their every thought. Yet there was one question that hung heavy in John’s heart. A question whose answer would most definitely seal his future. Or so he assumed.

His voice was shaky, “Would I know him if I saw him?”

The pang in her gut came back in full force. It always did when she thought about Michael. And John. She fought back the tears and took a deep breath. Nodding, “Without a doubt. He looks a lot like Belle. He’s got his mother’s blonde hair and his father’s blue eyes.”

He forced a smile, but despite his strong attempt, a grin barely shined through. Hearing her talk about her son was heart-wrenching to him. He couldn’t stand hearing of her son with another man even if it was her flesh and blood.

//  May 20
//  Evening
//  Marlena’s Penthouse

Marlena ran downstairs and flung open the door to reveal Bo standing there. As he stepped in to her living room, she threw her arms around him squeezing him tight. Relieved to be home, but angry over what brought her there so swiftly. He returned the embrace so glad to finally see her home safe.

This homecoming was not what either of them had in mind. And truth be known, it wasn’t what John had in mind either.

“Oh Bo,” she cried out. He wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. It had been a tiring day for her and now that she was home, she had finally allowed herself to break down and let out the sadness she felt for her missing son.

John looked on from the second floor balcony. He watched as she found comfort in the arms of another man. A man he once called brother. What made the situation even more difficult was that even without the blood ties, he still thought of him as his brother.

She knew she had to tell Bo about who she had found in Italy. Marlena gathered her composure as best she could and readied herself for the task at hand. “Bo, I have something I need to tell you. It’s about what I found in Italy.”

“Something that will lead us to Stefano, I hope,” he stated. She shook her head, “No. In fact, it doesn’t really have anything to do with Stefano.”

He had to strain to hear as her words were barely a whisper, “Bo… John’s alive.”  He did not believe her. “It’s true,” she said as her eyes diverted up to the second floor, with Bo’s following. Her eyes caught John’s gaze and held it while he descended the stairs.

She met him at the bottom of the stairs and took his hand. Bo was still unsure, “Marlena, I can’t believe you brought this man home!  This could be a trick.”

Both John and Marlena blurted out, “It’s not a trick.”  But she continued, “Bo… I know that Stefano has used plastic surgery and other means in the past to trick us. But he is the real thing. He really is John.”

“And how can you be so sure of that?” he was quick to question.

Glancing up at John, a smirk spread across her face at a recent memory. “Because I know my husband,” she said softly. Although Bo had to take her words at face value, John knew their meaning. It warmed his heart to hear for the first time since their reunion, her refer to him as her husband.

Episode 13

//  May 21
//  7:00 pm
//  Marlena’s Penthouse 

John and Marlena spent the day at the penthouse with Abe and Bo all the while trying to avoid the onslaught of family and friends who were eager to welcome her home. For precautionary reasons, the effort was made to keep John’s existence a secret for the time being. No one knew for sure if Stefano knew John was alive and although it could be assumed that he did, they could not risk that he did not and blow their chance of an advantage.

Marlena came out of the kitchen carrying two glasses of tea to find John sitting on the steps. “Why are you sitting over there?”  He shrugged hoping she would not sense his discomfort of being in his old home, “I’ve been on edge all day. This waiting for word from Shane is almost unbearable. I’m closer to the phone sitting here.”

“Suite yourself,” she said as she started back toward the couch. “Will you join me?” he asked. She could not resist his smile and she obliged by taking a seat on the wide step beside him.

“So what is the latest news?”  He sighed, “Shane’s international contacts have been given the order to report in. We’re just waiting to see if any of them have any information we can use.”

Marlena was lost in her tea. He knew she was thinking about her son and wished there was more he could do for her. It was killing him to not be out in the field, but he knew keeping his cover safe was more important. He hoped on some level she was thankful he was with her.

She felt his warm hand give a little squeeze on her shoulder. “We’ll find him. I promise you that.”  Not wanting to talk about Michael at the moment because it hurt too bad, she inquired about what happened to John after that night in Hawaii.

“Right before our wedding, I learned of Stefano’s plan to have me killed. I learned that Hope had been given Gina’s memories and that Stefano was planning to use her to get to me. He knew that Gina would try to get me alone, and so he planned to use that to his advantage.”

“I went to Stefano, days before we were to be married and confronted him about what I had learned. He issued a threat that if I did not leave you on our honeymoon, he would kill you and our children also. I have never believed that Stefano would cause you any physical harm, but Doc… You didn’t see the look in his eye when he threatened me that day.”  She could tell by John’s tone he was actually scared of Stefano would do.

He continued, “So, I took the threat to heart and devised my own plan. I got a hold of Hope immediately after talking with Stefano and removed the chip from her brain. She didn’t want to cooperate since the Gina persona was very strong at that moment, but I was finally able to reach the Hope we know deep within her. After hearing of my discovery, she agreed to help me. She agreed to continue to play the part of Gina for the sake of saving you and our family.”

She gasped. “Poor Hope!”  “I know. The guilt of letting her help me is eating me alive,” he whispered. “But she felt that since she was involved, she had to. If Stefano had discovered the chip was removed, he may have killed her anyway.”

The thought of Hope’s death weighed heavy on their minds, but he forced himself to continue, “So… it would appear that I went along with Gina’s attempts to get me away from you. It was really me that spent time with you on our honeymoon, but at the appropriate moment, I left the scene. I went out into the water after the drowning girl, Hope, and was taken to a rescue boat down shore. Hope, on the other hand, made it to the sub, but with a look alike in my place.”

“Where were you?  And why didn’t you come back to me?” she cried slapping his hand away. “Baby, I wanted to, but I was afraid of what Stefano would do to you.”

“I had a team assembled to get me within eyesight of the action. Stefano was to rendezvous with Gina’s sub and I assumed he would attempt to kill me, the look alike, but I would get to him first. I would then join Hope and return to you. Only things went a little astray.”

“For starters, I did not arrive at the scene in time to shoot Stefano before he hurt Hope due to the storm that night.”  His voice lowered, “And you and Bo were never supposed to be there. Stefano must have assumed I had told you about his threat and decided to kill me anyway and then Hope. So, as I finally arrived, I watched from the shadows that night and witnessed the whole scene. I never thought you would actually do what you vowed to do. On that assumption, I left the country looking for Stefano since he fled after Hope went overboard.”

“I decided to use my supposed death to my advantage. I thought I had enough time to find and kill Stefano and get home to you before things got worse. But then I learned of your supposed death. There was no need for me to blow my cover since I was already so close to finding Stefano. So, I stayed. Once I found Stefano, I began survailliance on his actions. I wanted to find something concrete that I could use to nail him. Two years later, I hear rumblings that you are in Europe.”

“I hired a tail to track you down and follow you and report back to me about your actions. I wanted to find out what you were up to. That’s when I realized that you had stood by the vow you made that night and were after Stefano. I needed to find you, so I sent out another tail. Only that guy never came back. He’s the one you castrated.”

She knew by the way he looked at her that more discussion about her actions would soon follow. The darkness that had taken control of her life caused John to worry even more about her.

He went on, “I had just met Louis and he claimed to know you and that you were indeed alive and in contact with him. I offered him an obscene amount of money for him to lead you to me and not Stefano. Obviously, he had other plans. He knew when he was dying that I had just witnessed the two of you together and for that, I killed him nice and slow.”

“I feel horrible that things went so wrong that night. But John, how could we have stayed back and let something awful happen to you and Hope?  We thought we could get to you in time. You should have told us. Then none of this would have happened.”  He could tell by the tone in her voice that she was not only hurt, but pissed.