Coming Home – By GearJamGranny

She sat staring out the window, not really knowing what she was looking at, just knowing that it wasn’t home. And home was where she wanted to be more than anything in the world. She wanted to feel her husband’s arms around her, to hear him tell her that he loved her, and only her. She missed her children and couldn’t shake the feeling that they all needed her now more than ever. That feeling only intensified when she thought of John. Marlena knew that she needed to get home and that the sooner she did, the better it would be, but she couldn’t convince Roman to try and escape and she wasn’t sure if she could make it on her own. Her mind was racing through so many different homecomings that she and John had shared over the years and as each one played out in her mind, the tears came more quickly. Soon she was sobbing and with the sobbing came a sort of release. The fear was gone and nothing but determination remained.

 

“To hell with Roman. I’m leaving this prison, with or without him. I can’t take it here another day. John, I love you so, and I’m coming home. I promise I’ll be there soon. Please, wait for me.”

 

He was sitting staring off the balcony of the bedroom he had once shared with his soulmate. Nothing in his life mattered anymore. Even walking Belle down the aisle at her wedding hadn’t brought him any joy. At least the drugs helped numb the pain that ripped through him when he thought of her, his light, his purpose, his soul. And she was gone, and he wished he were too.

 

“Doc, I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you. You always told me I was your hero, but the truth is, you were always the one saving me. I was nothing without you in my life, and I’m nothing now. I love you Marlena, and I miss you; I need you, so much more than you ever needed me. Oh God, Doc!”

 

They each buried their heads in their hands, one to gather her resolve, the other to release his bitterness. Slowly each head turned upward, searching, knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt that there was still hope.

 

Marlena knew she had to work fast; once she actually got out of the room, there would be no turning back and no time to waste. Her plan had to be in place before she ever stepped foot over the threshold. Quickly she looked around the room for something she could use as a weapon. There was nothing. She muttered an oath under her breath and jumped slightly when the door swung open and Tony strolled in with a dinner cart. Her eyes landed on the candle stick in the middle of the array of food. She didn’t even try to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

 

“Planning on joining the prisoners for dinner Tony?” He chuckled slighty.

 

“No, my dear Marlena. I thought that you and Roman could use a nice romantic dinner, considering your spouses are at home enjoying each other’s company so much.”

“You bastard. What are your plans for us anyway? Are you getting some sort of perverse pleasure out of watching everyone in Salem suffer? What the hell did people like Jack and Jennifer, or Mickey and Maggie, ever do to you?”

 

“It’s not just me Marlena. My whole family has been ostracized form your perfect little community for all too long, and it was time that they felt some of the pain that they inflicted on us over the years.”

 

“Oh please. Tony, you never wanted to be anything like Stefano, and for so long you weren’t. We were good friends once. I cherished that friendship, but you changed so dramatically when you came back with Kristen. What hardened you?”

 

“John Black. That man stole everything that ever mattered to me.”

 

“John had nothing to do with anything that went wrong in your life Tony. Stefano is the one you should blame.”

 

“Oh, I did, and you see what happened to him. John will suffer a different, but just as lethal fate. He will be made to live out his life without his so called soulmate. And you will watch as he moves on without you and slowly withers and dies. It’s a wonderful revenge for two such hated enemies.” Marlena shook her head sadly, knowing that the man’s delusions would never go away.

 

“Fine Tony. You keep right on thinking that you can control the world and everyone in it, but I know my husband, and John will never stop loving me, nor will I ever stop loving him, and even though we’re on opposite ends of the earth, we will never be separated. Not completely.” Tony just smiled evilly and left with a flourish of his hand. Once Marlena heard the lock click back into place, she snuffed out the candle and grabbed the ornately carved wooden candlestick. It was not overly heavy but she would make it work. She had to. Marlena was still holding it when Roman emerged from the adjoining bathroom rubbing his hair with a towel.

 

“What’s all this?”

 

“Dinner a la Dimera. He seems to think we need something romantic.” Her back was turned and she didn’t see the fleeting look cross Roman’s face.

 

“Well, we should eat before it gets cold.” Marlena thought about refusing just out of spite, but then realized that she would need her strength. She had no idea when she might eat again. She sat down across from Roman and placed the candlestick under her chair.

 

“Marlena, what are you doing?” She looked him square in the eye.

 

“I’m planning on leaving Roman.” With that she took a bite of her salad and left him staring at her.

“You can’t. What if you get caught? You know Tony will kill you.” She didn’t skip a beat.

 

“Then I guess I’ll have to make sure I don’t get caught won’t I?” After a pause, she speared Roman with another look. “Roman, I can’t believe you’re even hesitating about this. Don’t you want to get home to your wife? To your children? I won’t spend another night here, and if that means leaving you here until I get home and sending people back for you then so be it.”

 

“I need to think about it.” Marlena couldn’t believe her ears.

 

“What the hell is there to think about? What has happened to you Roman? Where is your backbone?” She left the table, disgusted with a man she no longer knew. Alone in the bathroom, Marlena mapped out her strategy in her mind, but she knew she had precious little time before someone came back for the dinner cart. Collecting herself, she re-entered the bedroom and found Roman still sitting in the chair he had occupied for dinner. When she went to go around him to listen at the door for any noises, he grabbed her wrist.

 

“I’m not going to be able to stop you am I?” She looked him dead in the eye.

 

“No, you’re not so don’t try.” He brushed his fingers over her wrist before releasing her hand and handing her his watch.

 

“You’re going to need money to get back to Salem. Hock it if you need to.” Marlena took it from him gingerly.

 

“Thank you. I’ll buy you a new one if I need to sell this one.”

 

“Don’t worry about it. Just get home safely.”

 

“I intend to.” Roman was about to hug her when they heard the key in the lock. Marlena stuffed Roman’s watch into her pocket and grabbed the candle stick from the table, quickly hiding it behind her back. Bart entered the room, waving the gun he always carried in the air, just daring Roman to try anything.

 

“So, how was the service tonight folks? Was your dinner to your liking?” Roman figured the least he could do was distract Bart.

 

“Well, Barty Boy, to tell you the truth, the food left a lot to be desired, and the service, well, we haven’t seen a waiter in hours.” During the banter, Marlena was edging closer to Bart, trying to get behind him but stay close enough to the door so that she could hear if anyone else was coming down the hallway. She had learned over the last few weeks that once dinner was served, most of the staff in the castle retired for the night, based on the sound of foot traffic down the corridor. Her hands were trembling a bit, but she waited. She knew she would only get one swing at Bart and she needed to wait until the key was in the lock. It would take too much time for her to search for the correct key on the ring. Marlena watched as Bart wheeled the cart to the door and listened to the jingling that meant imminent freedom. Just as the key passed the chamber of the lock, Bart lost consciousness.

Marlena grabbed Bart’s gun and Roman gave her a crash course on how to use it. Luckily it had a full clip, and Marlena was hoping it would still be full when she found her way home. Within minutes she was down the hallway and headed toward the lower level of the castle. She kept to the shadows and tried to find the servant’s stairs, knowing that they would lead her to an outside door. Ever since she started thinking seriously of how to escape, she had been pumping Bart for information about the layout of the castle and the grounds. He had proven to be a wealth of information and eager to share his knowledge with someone who seemed interested. The psychiatrist in Marlena hated using Bart’s weakness against him, but the woman in her just wanted to use whatever means necessary to get home to her family.

 

She finally found the door that would lead her to freedom, but froze in her tracks when she heard footsteps coming from below her. Quickly she pulled out of the stairwell and wedged herself into a different doorway. She listened intently, her hand resting on the barrel of the gun while trying not to breathe too loudly as she waited for the person to move past her. She expelled her breath slowly when the footsteps continued up the stairs to the next floor. Marlena moved swiftly down the stone steps to the corridor behind the kitchen and out the side door. She stayed in the shadows and prayed that the dogs were in for the night. It was bitterly cold and thankfully she had found a coat hanging by the door as she exited. As she caught her breath and got her bearings, she noticed a thin beam of light in the woods behind the imposing structure that had been her prison. Edging away from it, she started toward the drive that would lead her to the road. Once she got into the woods, she broke into a run and didn’t stop until she could barely see the highest turret over the trees.

 

“Alrighty Marlena, get your bearings and then head for town.”

 

Again, she stopped and listened, but all she heard was silence. There weren’t even any animals out foraging in the cold. Gingerly she edged toward the road and glanced upward, trying to decipher where the glow of the nearby town was in the sky. She marked the direction and ducked back into the shelter of the trees to continue on her journey.

 

“John, please hang on. I’m coming home my love. I’m coming home.”

 

John was sleeping restlessly as his system craved a drug that he no longer would provide for it. He saw her, but couldn’t catch up to her. She was running from him, begging him to stop chasing her, begging for him to let her come home. Suddenly John stopped and he realized that she was not running from him, but from someone, something else. He looked around him but saw nothing except for her breath rising raggedly in the cold. Not knowing what else to do he shouted to her.

 

“Marlena! Doc! It’s me, John! Wait, please!”

 

She stopped and turned, looking for him, but unable to find him. He walked to her, reaching out his hand. Just as he was about to touch her, her head whipped around and she looked past him. Her eyes grew with fright and she ran away again. He was ripped out of his dream by her voice.

 

“DOC!!!”

 

He threw off the covers and ran out on the balcony, clinging to the railing until his knuckles were white. The cold instantly dried the sweat from his body and he stood there shivering violently. John felt a blanket being draped over him and he turned to see Kate standing beside him.

 

“Kate.” He had completely forgotten that she was in the penthouse.

 

“You’re going to freeze out here. Come back inside.” He closed his eyes and brought Marlena’s voice back to his mind.

 

“She’s alive, and I need to find her.” Kate looked at him, bewilderment crossing her face.

“Who’s alive?”

 

“Marlena.” Kate just shook her head.

 

“John, there’s no way she can be alive. You’re going through withdrawl and had a vivid dream is all.” John turned on Kate, anger blazing in his azure eyes.

 

“Kate, I saw my wife get shot through the heart and she turned up alive on that god-forsaken island. Don’t tell me that she couldn’t be alive now. I heard her. She told me not to give up, that she is coming home.” Kate reached up with her hand to touch John’s forehead, but he slapped her away.

 

“Dammit, I don’t have a fever and I’m not delirious. My wife is alive, and I have to save her.” He ran a hand though his matted and disheveled hair and muttered almost to himself, “this time I have to save her.” He started to stalk back into the bedroom but collapsed before he ever got through the doorway.

Marlena was cold, tired, and feeling almost beaten, until she heard a panicked voice calling to her through the darkness. She stiffened her resolve and continued walking, having no idea how long it would take her to reach her destination. The sun was just coming over a distant mountain when Marlena saw the outline of the small town. She gave a small gasp as she fought against the lump of emotion in her throat. Not wanting to take any unnecessary chances Marlena wound through alleys and tried desperately to stay out of the sight of any passing cars. There was only one that she dared approach. Quickly she flagged down the passing taxi and got into the back seat quickly, willing the word for airport to come to her.

 

“Der Flughafen, bitte.” Without a word the driver began toward what Marlena could only hope was actually the airport. She scrunched down a bit in the seat, trying to make herself less visible from the outside. Marlena closed her eyes, willing herself not to fall asleep, but to make the driver think she was. She couldn’t communicate with him really, and even if she could what would she tell him? That she was running from some evil man who wanted to take over the world and had faked ten people’s deaths. The absurdity of it all made her want to giggle hysterically, but she couldn’t afford to. She had to keep her wits about her if she wanted to make it home alive. Marlena figured that Tony knew of her escape by now and would have search parties out looking for her. She also knew that it would be difficult to keep a low profile until she could get the transportation she needed to get home, but she had no choice. She would make it home; she would make it home. The town got smaller behind her as they sped down the highway, and Marlena’s gut wrenched as they got closer to the tower she could see in the distance. As they pulled into the area for passenger drop off, Marlena fingered the watch she had in her hand. As the elderly cabbie turned and reached for payment, Marlena handed him the time piece. He looked at her strangely as she shook her head and pointed to the meter. Tears sprang unbidden to her eyes as she willed the man to take the only thing she could offer.

“Bitte. Bitte.” The second please came out as nothing more than a whisper. Silently, the old man closed Marlena’s hand around the watch and patted it gently, before stepping out of the cab to open her door. She wiped at the moisture on her face and stepped from the derelict car. Turning toward him one last time, she mouthed, “Danke.” He tipped his hat and drove away. Quickly she headed inside to a ticket counter that was down the hallway and away from the windows. Thankfully there was no line so early in the morning.

 

“Excuse me? Do you speak English.” The younger woman behind the counter looked up and smiled.

 

“Yes, I do. How may I help you today?” Marlena released a sigh she hadn’t even known she was holding in.

 

“I need to get a hold of my husband’s pilot in the US. Is there any way that I can do that? I need to get home, but I have no wallet and no cell phone with me.” The woman gave Marlena a look of concern.

 

“Were you robbed? Would you like me to call the police?” Marlena was quick to reassure the woman. The last thing she needed was to get the local police involved. Who knew how may of them Tony had on his payroll?

 

“No, no, nothing like that. I just ran in to a bit of bad luck is all. I lost both my wallet and my cell phone and have the police looking for them, although I’m sure they’re both gone for good. My husband got called back on business and I told him that I wanted to stay a few extra days. Bad move on my part.” Marlena let out a bit of a laugh, hoping the woman behind the counter was buying this inane story. By the look on her face, she was.

 

“Your husband is a pilot, or he has his own plane?”

 

“He has his own plane; it’s his company jet, and I would like to have the pilot fly over and get me.” The woman was intrigued with the other woman standing on the passenger side of the counter. She could tell that Marlena had obviously been though some sort of ordeal but she still looked put together and classy. Yes, that was it; there was class emanating from the blond that could not be obtained unless one was born with it. The ticket agent decided that if they ever got the chance to know one another that she would have liked the other woman very much.

 

“We have a private lounge for our special travelers. Let me lock my terminal and I’ll take you there.” She punched a few keys and turned to the man standing next to her and spoke to him in her native tongue. “I’ll be back shortly.” Then she motioned for Marlena to follow her. After being shown around the VIP lounge, Marlena placed a call to Basic Black and hoped she would be able to reach the pilot. She didn’t want to alert anyone else that she was coming home in case Tony was watching for signs of her arrival. The less noise she made, the better. Her call went through to the main switchboard operator.

 

“Good afternoon, Basic Black. How may I direct your call?”

 

“I’d like to speak to the travel department please.”

 

“One moment, I’ll connect you.”

 

“Basic Black Travel Department. This is Carol, may I help you?”

 

“Hi Carol. Is Rick in?” There was a pause on the line. “Are you still there?”

 

“Dr. Evans? No, I’m sorry, um, yes, Rick is in. May I ask who’s calling?” Being called by name momentarily threw Marlena.

 

“Um, this is…” “Think, Marlena, think.” “…Sarah from purchasing.” Another long pause make Marlena fidget in her seat.

 

“Thank you, I’ll put you through.” “That sounds so much like Dr. Evans, but it can’t be. It just can’t be. Overactive imagination.”

 

“This is Rick.”

 

“Rick, please try not to react to this. This is Marlena Black, and I need your help.”

 

“But Dr. Evans is dead. Who is this? What kind of sick game are you playing?”

 

“Rick, I assure you, I am Dr. Evans, and I am not playing any game. Tony Dimera has been holding me prisoner in a castle in Germany. I escaped last night, but I need you to come and pick me up. I have no money, no ID, nothing, and this was the only way I could think of to get home. How is John?”

 

“Why didn’t you call him and ask for yourself?”

 

“Oh, I wanted to, but I’m afraid that Tony might be watching him and I know John. If he even had the slightest hope that I was alive he’d be on the first plane over here, and Tony would get to me before him. So, how is my husband?”

 

“Mr. Black hasn’t been in since he got home from the island. I’ll let him fill you in when you get home.” The pilot’s words made Marlena’s skin tingle, but she tried to temper her fear.

 

“Home. That sounds wonderful.”

 

“Dr. Evans, I’m going to book you on the first flight out of Germany home. Listen for your name to be called over the speaker.” Her reaction was vehement.

 

“No, you can’t put my name over the loudspeaker. I’m sure that Tony has men all over the airport by now, and they will have a shoot to kill order on me.”

 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think. All right, listen for the name…Sarah…since you stole it to get through to me.” They both laughed. “Sarah Purchase. Are you somewhere safe right now?”

 

“Yes, I’m in the VIP lounge, but if I have to wait with the regular passengers, I’ll be spotted for sure.”

 

“I’ll take care of that. You just wait where you are and listen for the name Sarah Purchase to come over the speakers.” Again, Marlena tried to keep her tears at bay.

 

“Rick, thank you so much. I owe you my life.”

 

“Mr. Black has been real good to me and my family. Taking care of what he cherishes most in this world is a small way to repay his kindness.” As she hung up the phone she wiped at the wayward tears coursing down her face.

 

“Soon, my love. I’ll be home with you in just a few hours.”

John slowly unglued the top of his eyelids from the bottom and tried to focus on the room around him. Everything his gritty, bloodshot eyes lighted on reminded him of her. Standing behind her at her vanity and kissing her satiny neck, scooping her up and carrying her to the shower to make love to her under the steaming spray, coming in late from a board meeting to wake her from sleep and have her curl into his arms. Waking from the bliss of unconsciousness stabbed him into reality and once again he was without her. “God Doc, I can’t do this alone. I have to find you. You’re the only one who can save me from this nightmare.” He tried to move, but his whole body felt numb, and he screamed in fear as his mind registered a recurrence of paralysis. Both Kate and Lexie came running and he fired questions at Lexie before she could even catch her breath.

“What the hell happened to me? Why can’t I move? You told me that the paralysis was over. Lexie give me some answers dammit! Why did I black out? How long have I been out?” Kate tried to get John to calm down.

 

“John, you have to give her a chance to talk. You were babbling on about Marlena being alive and when you tried to come back into the room you collapsed.” He glared at Kate.

 

“I wasn’t babbling; my wife is alive.” He again turned to Lexie. “Why did I collapse? And why can’t I move?” Lexie swallowed hard and prepared herself for an even harsher view of John’s already volatile temper.

 

“When you started to come to, you started throwing clothes all over the place, trying to get to the phone to call your pilot and take off for who knows where to find Marlena. John, you are in no condition to go anywhere. I sedated you after making sure that your collapse was nothing more than nutrition and fatigue related. I have an IV hooked into your arm which is giving you the nutrients you need since you aren’t eating anything Kate makes for you, and I had a hospital bed brought in, which you are restrained on. As for the numbness, it’s from lying in one position for so long. You’re not paralyzed again.” Lexie watched as John’s eyes became increasingly darker with each word she spoke.

 

“Damn you! You’re not a doctor, you’re a freaking quack! You have no right to keep me a prisoner in my own house and if you don’t let me go right now I’ll make sure that you aren’t even able to practice medicine on stuffed animals.” Lexie tried to reassure John that it was all for his own good.

 

“John, this might be your home…”

 

“It’s not a home without Marlena in it. Dammit Lexie, she’s out there somewhere, trying to get back here. You have to let me go; you have to let me find her.”

 

“John, you’re in no condition to go anywhere. Your body is weak from lack of food. Your system is in shock from the withdrawl of the painkillers, and you don’t even know where to begin looking for Marlena, even if she were alive. John, please, get some rest, let your body purge itself and heal.” John was starting to succumb to the next dose of sleeping pills that Lexie had administered through his IV and his head lolled from one side to the other as once again dreams overtook him. Kate and Lexie quietly exited the room.

 

“Thank you for coming over right away when I called Lexie. I had no idea what to do for him when he passed out.”

 

“It’s all right Kate. I’m glad I could help. Maybe I should send Abe over to talk to him. Aside from Marlena, Abe’s usually the only person who can get through to John.” They both turned when the doorbell rang.

 

“I wonder who that could be?” Kate walked to the door and opened it, biting her tongue when she saw Lucas with Sami. She pasted on a smile and ushered them in.

 

“Sami, Lucas, what a nice surprise. What are you doing here?”

 

“Can it Kate. You don’t officially live here so don’t play the happy little hostess. Even if you are shacked up with my mother’s husband it doesn’t give you the right to take over her house.” Lucas looked at his mother apologetically.

 

“Sami, can you at least try to be nice for the five minutes we’ll be here?” Sami just rolled her eyes.

 

“Fine. I’m going up to talk to John. I’ll be right back.” Kate responded a little too quickly and Sami didn’t miss a beat.

 

“No! You can’t see John right now.” Sami narrowed her eyes as she sized up her opponent.

 

“Why? I have something to discuss with him. Something I need to get that’s rightfully mine.”

 

“Because like I told you earlier, John has a bad case of the flu. He’s sleeping and needs his rest.”

 

“That’s why I’m here Sami. John actually lost consciousness a little earlier and Kate called me to come over and make sure he was all right.” Sami still looked skeptical, but didn’t try to argue with Lexie.

 

“Then I won’t talk to John; I’ll just get what I need out of my mom’s bedroom.” Kate heaved a big sigh of frustration.

 

“Sami why even risk waking him by rummaging through your mother’s things. Just come back in a few days.”

 

“You can’t dismiss me from my mother’s house.” She turned on her heel and started for the stairs, but Kate’s hand on her arm stopped her. When Sami turned back toward Kate, her eyes were blazing.

 

“Get your hands off me!” She turned to Lucas. “Lucas, I’m sorry, I know I promised to try and be civil for the sake of our son and our relationship, but she’s pushed me too far.” Sami whipped her arm out of Kate’s grasp and shoved her before running up the stairs to John and Marlena’s bedroom. Lucas stayed behind to try and calm his mother down, but Kate was right behind Sami. Unfortunately Sami had too much of a lead and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw John strapped to a bed with an IV slowly dripping fluid into him.

 

“What the hell is the matter with him? And don’t give me some lame story about the flu because you don’t restrain someone who has the flu.” She turned on Kate. “Are you into some sort of kinky nurse/patient routine? Is this one of your ‘tricks’ from the old days?”

Sami smirked when she saw the fleeting look on Kate’s face as her remark hit its target. Again Lexie stepped up as Sami and Kate squared off.

 

“Sami, John was thrashing around quite a bit earlier and pulled his IV out. In order to stop that from happening again we restrained him.” All eyes looked to the bed as John opened his eyes and moaned for his wife.

 

“Doc? Is that you?” He was looking right at Sami. She moved closer to the bed and took a hard look at the man lying there.

 

“No, John. It’s Sami. Mom’s dead, remember?” John closed his eyes at the venom in her voice and Sami thought he had drifted off again. She was caught off guard by John’s next words.

 

“You’re as beautiful as your mom Sami. Being truly in love has made you shine.” Sami swallowed convulsively and regained her composure before turning around.

 

“Mom was the most beautiful woman I know. Thank you for saying what you just did.”

“I meant it.” He was debating in his mind whether or not he should tell Sami what he was starting to feel, but before he could say anything she spoke.

 

“Can I talk to John for a minute please? Alone.” She turned to Lucas. “You can stay if you’d like.” He gave her a small smile, but it faded when Kate began a tirade.

 

“No, you may not talk to John alone. He shouldn’t get upset and that’s all you know how to do Sami. You never walk into a room without upsetting someone. Anything you have to say to John can be said in front of me.”

 

“Kate, it’s all right. I’d like to talk to Sami anyway. Please give us a few minutes.” Kate never took her eyes off Sami, but did as John asked and left the room behind Lexie. “I’ll be downstairs if you need anything.”

 

“Thank you, but we’ll be fine.” Sami waited until she heard the door click behind Kate before saying anything.

“So, what did you want to talk to me about?” John smiled slightly.

 

“You first. What I have to say might take a while.” Sami just rolled her eyes. All softness from the previous exchange was gone.

 

“Whatever. I want Mom’s pearls for my wedding. I’m here to get them.” Again John closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

 

“Sami, I’m so sorry. I gave them to Belle for her wedding to Phillip.”

 

“You what? You gave Mom’s pearls, the ones that MY father gave to her to YOUR daughter for her wedding? Mom promised those to me, her first-born, for my wedding a long time ago. I can’t believe that you gave them away. I’ll never forgive you for this John.” John just looked at her sadly.

 

“You never forgive me for anything.” He wanted to rub his eyes, but the restraints wouldn’t let him. “Samantha, I’m sorry. Lately I don’t seem to do anything right, but I’ll try to make this up to you. I’m sure if I call Belle and explain the situation she’ll bring the pearls back. I know that she didn’t end up wearing them for her wedding, but I’m not sure why.” Sami was standing with her arms crossed across her chest, her eyes full of indignant hurt and anger.

 

“Whatever John. Not like your promises mean anything to me anyway. Let’s go Lucas.”

“Sami wait. I still want to talk to you about something.” Sami didn’t turn around but she stopped herself from opening the door.

 

“What is it? Make it quick because Lucas and I have a lot to do before the wedding.”

 

“I think your mother is still alive.” It took Sami a long time before she finally turned around, and almost as long before she stopped laughing hysterically.

 

“Oh my God, I was right. You really are on drugs. That’s why they have you strapped down isn’t it? If they don’t you’ll sneak out of here and go steal more drugs from the hospital. I am so glad my mother isn’t alive to see her ‘oh so fabulous’ husband. What a joke you are John Black.” Lucas put his hand on Sami’s arm.

 

“Sami, give the guy a break will ya?”

 

“Lucas, thank you, but it’s all right. Sami’s right.” His admission earned him a look of shock from Sami; she had fully expected him to deny it. “Dammit, I’ve never gone through anything this hard in my life, aside from having to walk away from a family I loved as my own and burying my soulmate. I didn’t know how to get through life without her, and the drugs made it so I didn’t have to feel anything. Sami, I don’t expect you to understand or trust me, but I know what I feel now, and I can feel your mom’s presence. She is trying to get home and I need to help her, but I can’t do it from here. I let her down on the island; I can’t do it again.” His eyes were pleading and Sami tried to close herself off to her feelings. “Please, Sami, will you help me?” Again Sami let her anger and hurt speak instead of her fear and hope.

 

“John, I pleaded with you when we buried Mom to check just one more time, to make sure that she was truly dead, but no one believed me. No one listened to me, and Mom was still alive. You expect me to believe you now; you expect for me to think that this ‘connection’ of yours with Mom suddenly kicked in when you’re high on drugs? No way. This is the lowest thing you could do John. How dare you play on my love for my mother just so I would help you get out of here to score more drugs.” Sami turned and stalked to the door, making sure it slammed into the wall as it flew open. Lucas looked apologetically at John before following Sami. She didn’t even bother with Kate and Lexie as she exited the penthouse. Alone in his room John again wept bitter tears for the chaos that was his life. “There’s only one thing I can do right now to try and make it better.”

 

“Kate, Kate, please come here.” He waited impatiently for Kate to make her way up the stairs.

 

“John, I’m so sorry about Sami’s attitude. I should have…”

 

“Kate, Sami is who she is, and she isn’t going to change overnight. She has a right to be angry with me right now.”

 

“John, Sami is never going to change.” John’s face contorted in anger.

 

“Kate, regardless of how you feel about her, I love Sami as though she were my own. She was for a long time, and I’ve never been able to get over that. She can hate me until I’m dead, but I’m always going to love her.” He made sure that Kate understood that the conversation about Sami was over and then moved on. “I need to make a phone call. Will you please unbuckle these straps?” Kate was shaking her head when Lexie walked in to let them know she was leaving.

 

“I need to get back to the hospital.”

 

“Lexie, I need to make a phone call. Please unbuckle these things.”

 

“I was about to tell John that I didn’t think it was a good idea when you walked in.” Both women could see how angry John was getting.

 

“I want to call my daughter. I need something from her, and you two don’t have a right to keep me from my family. Now unbuckle these damn things or the next time I see someone I’ll tell them that I’m being held against my will and have you both arrested for kidnapping and whatever else I can think up!” Lexie walked over to the bed and undid one of John’s wrists before handing him the phone. He gave both of them a pointed look.

 

“This is a private call.” Kate followed Lexie out with her nose in the air. John undid the other restraints before dialing Belle’s number. She picked up on the second ring.

 

“Hello?”

 

“Hey there sweetheart; it’s your old man. How are you?” He could hear Belle smiling from his end of the line.

 

“Pretty good. How are you?” He decided to be honest with her.

 

“I’ve felt better, but I’m hanging in there. Listen, I need to ask you a favor, and I’m sorry that I have to, but I really screwed up and I need to fix it.” He heard a noise in the background. “Did I catch you at a bad time?” Belle was quick to reassure him.

 

“No, not really. Phillip is packing. His unit got called up and he’s headed overseas.” John’s heart went out to his daughter.

 

“I’m sorry. When does he have to ship out?”

 

“Tomorrow morning.”

 

“Why don’t you come over here for dinner tomorrow night? We’ll order Chinese and just hang out for a while. I’ll see if I can get Nicole’s claws out of your brother long enough for him to come too. How about it?” Belle tried for a smile, but it was weak.

 

“I think that would be nice. Thanks Dad. Now, what were you talking about that you needed to fix?”

 

“Well, I gave you your mom’s pearls for your wedding to Phillip, but I shouldn’t have. Your mom promised those to Sami a long time ago, and I either didn’t remember or never knew it. She came here today to get them and was pretty upset that I had given them away.” Belle’s voice came out more petulant than she wanted it too, but nothing was right in her life right now, and she had no one to blame but herself. Sami had even told her at one time that the pearls belonged to her, but Belle had gotten married first and convinced her father that she should wear them.

 

“But she was my mom too. Why does Sami have more of a right to them than I do? I’m sorry Dad, I know that sounds selfish, but Sami always gets what she wants by shrieking a little louder than everyone else or by just taking whatever she wants, and I’m not sure that I want to give in to her this time.” John ran his hand through his hair and let out a long sigh.

 

“Belle, normally I would agree with you about Sami’s antics to get what she wants, but this time she has a point, and a right to the necklace. Roman gave that necklace to Marlena on their wedding day. Rightfully it belongs to Sami just like there are quite a few things that I gave to your mom that are rightfully yours. Remember her garnet necklace or the diamond bracelet that I gave her on our wedding day? Belle, I know you like the pearls, but it isn’t right for you to keep them. I’m sorry.”

 

“Fine. Sami can have them. I’ll bring them with me tomorrow night. Do you need anything else Dad?”

 

“No, I’m sorry for upsetting you.” Belle shook her head on the other end, trying to keep her tears from falling.

 

“It’s not you Dad, it’s everything right now. I’ve got to go, but I’ll see you tomorrow night. I love you.”

 

“I love you too sweetheart.” John sat with the phone in his hand for a long time, wondering what he could do to help his daughter. “Doc, I need you so much right now. You’d know what to do. You always know what to do when it comes to our kids. You’d know how to help me too. Sami was right. I am a joke, but mostly, I’m nothing without you. I promise you baby, I’ll find you. I’m not sure how right now, but I will find you.” John threw off the covers and walked into the bathroom to rummage through the drawers. “I’m going to need something to keep the pain at bay while I look for Marlena. It’s the only way I can keep going. Once she’s home I won’t need anything but her.” As he continued to weave his excuses his wife continued to wait for the assumed name she was traveling under to be called.

Marlena waited for what seemed like hours to hear the name “Sarah Purchase” come over the loud speaker. In reality it had only been about a half hour, but she had not been still the whole time. Too many scenarios were playing in her mind. What would she do if Tony tried to take her back? Would anyone ever know that she had been alive these last few months if she was killed now? Would her family ever know how much she truly wanted to get home to them? Would they remember how much she loved them? Trying to shake off the unease, she formulated the next part of her plan. “I’ll be out of here soon and on my way home. Rick said he would meet me at the airport because John is still recovering. Oh, honey, I’m so sorry I haven’t been there for you.” An unwelcome flash of Kate in her bed with her husband tried to weasel its way into her mind, but she forcefully shut it out. She jumped violently when the door behind her opened. Her hand went automatically behind her back to the gun that was still hiding in her waistband.

 

“Oh, I’m sorry to have frightened you Dr. Evans. I was sent to escort you to your plane.” Marlena looked at the man skeptically. He was dressed in a pilot’s uniform and had a slight lilt of German in his voice, but he spoke impeccable English.

 

“Why were the plans changed? I was waiting to hear my name over the loudspeaker.”

The man didn’t miss a beat.

 

“It’s just simpler this way.” Marlena edged toward the door cautiously and tried to smile nonchalantly.

 

“Well, whatever John thinks is best.” The man smiled largely.

 

“Yes, your husband does know best Dr. Evans.” Without a second thought Marlena whipped out the gun and swung as hard as she could. Her aim held true and before he knew what had hit him, the fake pilot was sprawled on the floor of the VIP lounge. She was still trying to catch her breath when she heard the announcement she had been waiting for.

 

“Ms. Sarah Purchase. Paging Ms. Sarah Purchase. Please report to gate 32 immediately.”

“All right, what do I do? I’m sure that Tony and his men are out there and sent this goon in to make it easier on them. Less attention drawn to them if I think that I’m not in danger. I guess I just run as fast as I can.”She closed her eyes for a moment and conjured up the face that always gave her back her faith and strength. “John, I need you. Please, help me get home.” A second later Marlena had left the gun in the lounge, the clip in the wastebasket, and was sprinting through the Frankfurt Airport.

 

John was sitting on the pier huddled behind some barrels with drugs in hand when he heard her. He closed his eyes to try and hold on to her image, hoping that he would be able to see her clearly.

 

“Doc, I can hear you, but I can’t see you. Where are you baby?” Her fear slammed into him and he shook with the force of it. “Hang in there Marlena. Please believe me that I’m going to find you.” John’s mind wandered through many of the times that he and Marlena had saved each other. There were the obvious ones; the KGB, Maison Blanche, Paris, even from the Devil himself. But the truly defining ones were in the everyday rituals that kept them bound to one another. Even when they were apart John knew that not a day went by that they didn’t think about one another, reach out and touch each other, even if only in their minds. And in his mind right now he was caressing his wife’s face, calming her, taking her fear into himself by looking at her with his steady azure gaze. “You’re stronger than you think Doc. You’re the strongest woman I know, and I’m here for you. I love you.” John looked down at his clenched fist and grimaced at his own weakness. “I have to be strong for Marlena.” He closed his eyes again and pictured her face once more. Clinging to love and hope for the first time since she strapped him onto the raft, he got up slowly and walked to the edge of the pier. Looking one more time at his hand, he threw the syringe and vial into the ice crested river.

 

Marlena never looked behind her; she just kept running toward gate 32. In her haste she completely forgot about the security checkpoint and need for a photo ID. Rather than get flustered she decided that she could calmly bluff her way through it. Marlena looked at the man sitting on the stool and schooled her features.

 

“ID please.”

 

“I don’t have one with me.” He looked at her quizzically and noticed that she had nothing with her but the clothes she was wearing.

 

“Then I can’t let you through.” Marlena shook her head understandingly.

 

“My ticket is in the computer, but I have no ID because it was stolen yesterday. Is there a supervisor or someone else I could talk to? I’m sorry to inconvenience you.” While he was motioning to another man, she took a few seconds to look anxiously around her. Suddenly a uniformed guard appeared next to her and took her arm lightly. He spoke calmly to the man on the stool.

 

“The woman is with me. We are both registered on this flight and you will notice that all of the paperwork is in order.” Marlena tried to struggle, but was immediately subdued by the pressure around her arm. The guard turned to her and spoke in a low voice.

 

“Ms. Purchase, I will be escorting you back to Salem as per Rick’s orders.” He winked at her and she relaxed considerably. Without further delay they were ushered down the hallway to the gate. One last look behind her caused her stomach to lurch. Tony was arguing with the same security guard who had just let her through. Her fear did not abate until she was seated in first class and taxiing toward the runway, and even then there was a thin trickle that would not go away. She looked at the staunch man sitting next to her.

 

“Thank you.” She held out her hand and felt the calloused warmth of the other man’s hand wrap around hers. She tried valiantly to hold back the tears, but there was no stopping them. He handed her a handkerchief before finally speaking to her.

 

“I’m Coop, by the way.” He let go of her hand and settled his large frame more comfortably in the seat. “Rick told me to expect a spitfire. He was right.” Marlena started to laugh uncontrollably. “

 

“I’m sitting here blubbering and you’re complimenting me on bravery? I find that rather ironic.” He smiled at her.

 

“It took a lot of guts to get out of that castle and get to the airport. Not to mention that I saw the number you did on Tony’s man. He’s going to have one hell of a headache for a few days.” Marlena looked up at the man sitting next to her.

 

“I didn’t escape because I was feeling brave. I have to get home to my family.” Jay looked at her wisely.

 

“Sometimes the bravest people are born out of necessity.” They both fell silent after that and Marlena even managed to sleep for about an hour of the nine hour flight. The rest of the time she wondered what state she would find John in, and how her children were faring. Was Belle truly happy, was Sami behaving herself, had John heard from Eric or Carrie lately, and how was Brady doing? Her most disturbing thoughts though centered around the footage that Tony constantly made she and Roman watch while locked away. Finally she put her fingers to her temples and massaged slowly trying to corral the run-away thoughts. And she almost jumped for joy when she heard the pilot announce the weather at Salem’s airport. Fastening her seatbelt, she prepared to take back her life.

Slowly John wandered back to the penthouse. He was restless and feeling stronger after walking in the brisk night air. His hands were shaking so he jammed them into his pockets and continued walking. Eventually he found himself in the park and sat down on a bench to watch as the late night skaters made patterns on the ice. John’s mind faded back to ice skating with Marlena and the kids and he smiled for the first time in months. His son’s voice brought him back to reality, but this time he didn’t feel Marlena’s loss as poignantly as he usually did.

 

“Dad, what are you doing here? You’ve been in bed with the flu for over two weeks and now you’re out wandering in this weather. Let me take you home.” John motioned for Brady to sit down.

 

“I needed to get out kid. I actually feel better now that I’ve been out of the penthouse.” John decided that he didn’t want to correct Brady about the flu just yet. He knew that Sami knew for certain now, but he wanted Marlena to be the first one that he openly talked to about abusing the drugs. He needed her strength and understanding and hopefully, her forgiveness for his weakness. And he needed her to be the one to walk with him as he went through the withdrawal. Sensing the shaking coming back in his hands, he once again dug them deep into his pockets. Brady mistook the sign as one of coldness.

 

“Dad, really, you’re freezing. Let me walk back with you.” Nodding his acceptance, John stood and he and his son strode silently along side one another. Just before reaching the penthouse, John asked Brady to join him and Belle for dinner the following night.

 

“Brady, I’d appreciate if you came alone.” Brady just nodded.

 

“Dad, I know you don’t like Nicole, but if people would just give her a chance…” John just shook his head.

 

“Brady, too many people have given that woman a chance. And you will never convince me that she wasn’t the one who either killed Vic or hired someone to do it.” Brady held up a hand to ward off the lecture.

 

“I’ll come alone.” When they entered the penthouse, John wasn’t prepared for the tirade he ran into.

 

“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you.” She even turned on Brady. “How could you let him wander outside in this cold with the way he’s been feeling? What were you thinking?” Brady’s temper snapped and before John could say anything words were flying out of his son’s mouth.

 

“Listen lady, you aren’t my mother and you aren’t my father’s keeper. I ran into him at the park and he said he needed to get out for some air. Now I can see why.” Brady turned on his heel and threw over his shoulder as he opened the door, “Maybe you should come alone too Dad.” John was still laughing as the door slammed shut, but he tried to get his composure when he looked at the woman standing in front of him with her hands on her hips.

 

“John, forgive me for being worried about you, but when I went up and saw that you were gone, I thought the worst.” John brushed past her.

 

“Don’t worry Kate, I didn’t go out and get more drugs.” He didn’t bother to tell her that he had but threw them in the river. It was too private a moment to share with anyone but Marlena, and she was still not home. But John knew that she would be. He could feel it.

 

“Kate, I’m sorry for Brady’s rudeness, but you jumped him pretty hard when we came in. He didn’t deserve it, and you had no right to talk to my son that way. Truthfully, you had no right to speak to me that way either. How I live my life is my business.” Kate’s hands hadn’t left her hips and her face was reddening with barely controlled anger.

 

“Then maybe I should just go if my presence here isn’t welcomed.” John held up both hands.

 

“Kate, I’m sorry that you’re so offended over this, but I never asked you to move in here, and I certainly never asked you to move a hospital bed into my bedroom and restrain me. You crossed the line there, big time.”

 

“John, I was only doing what I thought was best for you at the time. I only wanted…”

 

“See, Kate that’s what gets you in trouble every time. It isn’t always about what you want.” He never saw the syringe in her hand and was stunned when he felt it poke through his skin.

 

“What the hell are you doing?” She looked at him regretfully.

 

“John, this is for your own good. You are so agitated. It’s just the sleeping pills that Lexie has been giving you. Why don’t you go upstairs and let them kick in. I’ll fix you something to eat.” John had never been angrier in his life. He was shaking as he roared at the woman in front of him.

 

“Get your things together and get out. When I come back, you will either be gone, or I will throw you out.” John turned and threw open the door so quickly he almost knocked Abe over.

 

“Whoa there John. Slow down.” John just growled at him.

 

“I’m going for a walk. You can join me if you like.” Abe said nothing until they were standing on the pier and John was wavering on his feet.

 

“Hey buddy, come over here and sit down.” Abe led John to one of the benches facing the Salem River. “What’s going on with you? Lexie said you had the flu and you look like hell, but I can tell it isn’t from being sick. Want to talk about it?”

 

“I don’t have the flu Abe.” John didn’t elaborate, but Abe caught the meaning and kept quiet. The next two words out of John’s mouth left Abe speechless even longer.

“Marlena’s alive.” They sat there listening to the erratic beat of the winter waves for long moments.

 

“You’re sure?” If there was one thing that Abe had always trusted, it was John’s gut, especially when it came to Marlena.

 

“Positive. Help me find her.” Abe looked down at the weathered planks and wished that he could help his friend.

 

“I can’t John. I hate to say that to you, but…”Abe took a big breath and let out the words he hated to admit. “I’m going blind.” John reacted like he’d been shot.

 

“Blind? Do you know why?”

 

“No. Lexie is trying to get me worked in at the hospital, but it just hasn’t happened yet.”

 

“Let me help. Let me get you a specialist.” Abe shook his head.

 

“John, that isn’t necessary.”

 

“Yes it is. You’re my best friend next to Doc, and I want to help. You need to watch Theo grow up after being robbed of his first year.” Abe just slapped John on the back.

 

“Thanks. It means a lot. Now what can I do to help you?” John thought for a minute.

 

“Use some of your contacts and favors to help me find Dimera.”

 

“You think he’s still alive?” John gave Abe a pointed look.

 

“He’s the only reason that Doc isn’t here right now. I’m positive that she was on that Japanese freighter, but hidden somewhere. If there’s anything besides making secret rooms that the Dimeras do well, its faking deaths.” They were so absorbed in their conversation that they didn’t notice the three people walking along the pier.

 

 

“I appreciate you both walking me out here, but I’m fine really.”

 

“Dr. Evans, Mr. Black would have me drawn and quartered if he ever found out that I brought you home only to let you walk on the docks alone at night. Sorry, but with Tony Dimera still out there, you’re stuck with us until you get safely home.” She turned and looked at both men.

 

“Thank you. I’d like to spend a little time alone though. Pier 29 is very special to John and me and it just seems fitting that I stop here before going home. It just feels right.” Jay put a reassuring arm on Marlena’s.

 

“Take all the time you need. We’ll be on the steps.” She smiled up at him and turned toward the water.

 

John was still sitting with Abe and trying to fight off the effects of the sleeping shot that Kate had administered earlier.

 

“Dammit, I can’t believe she stuck me with…” Abe looked at John as his voice trailed off and then followed where John’s eyes were glued. He wasn’t as shocked as he thought he would be by what he saw. John stood unsteadily on his feet and grabbed a nearby crate for support. Clearing his throat slightly so his voice wouldn’t fail him he called out to her, hoping against hope that this time she was real and not just another of his visions.

 

“Doc? Baby is that you?” She turned slowly toward the voice she knew as well as her own and walked into his arms with tears streaming down her face. He crushed her to him and relished in a feeling that only she could bring to him. John ran his fingers through her hair, caressed her face, and finally, achingly brought his lips to hers, brushing over them lightly before taking her mouth fully with his own. When they parted Marlena wiped the tears from John’s face with her thumbs as he did the same to hers.

 

“Oh my God, you’re home. Where were you?”

 

“It doesn’t matter right now; all that does matter is that I love you.” She leaned into him and captured his mouth again with a sweet, lingering kiss.

“How did you get here?” Marlena smiled sweetly at him and turned toward the stairs. John followed her gaze and broke into a huge grin.

 

“Rick?” Both gentlemen walked to the reunited couple and Abe met them there. As Abe and Marlena hugged, John chatted with the two men who had gotten his wife safely home.

 

“Rick, I will never be able to repay you for this.”

 

“Don’t mention it Mr. Black. It was the least I could do for your generosity over the years.” He turned to the taller man and made introductions.

 

“Jay Cooper, meet my boss, John Black. John Black, this is my good friend Jay Cooper, or Coop as we all call him.” John shook the man’s hand earnestly as Coop stared at John trying to grasp a fleeting image. John’s words were starting to slur as he tried to keep himself upright.

 

“Thanks you so mush for…” His voice trailed off as his body gave in to the effects of the drug coursing through his system. He could barely make out his wife’s frantic voice as she called his name and Coop and Rick caught him.

 

“John…” She turned to Abe. “What’s wrong with him?” Abe was quick to reassure her.

 

“Kate gave him a shot of some sleep aid just before I got to the penthouse. He was pretty ticked at her and stormed out. I had come to talk to him anyway, so we came down here.” Marlena tensed visibly at the mention of Kate’s name, but her concern for her husband over-rode everything else.

 

“Rick, can you and Coop get him to the car? We should get John home.” Rick gave her a sympathetic smile.

 

“No problem Dr. Evans.” Marlena and Abe followed behind.

 

“Abe, would you like to ride back with us? I could send someone later for your car.” Abe shook his head.

 

“Actually Marlena, John and I walked down here, so I’ll take you up on that ride.” He gave her a sideways hug as they walked. “It’s so good to see you again, at home.”

Marlena’s eyes misted over.

 

“Home.” She said it softly, mulling it over in her head and looked at her old friend sadly.

“It doesn’t quite feel the same anymore does it?” Abe shook his head, completely understanding what Marlena meant.

 

“No, no it doesn’t.”

 

When they got to the penthouse, no one else was there. Coop and Rick carried John upstairs to the bedroom, but called to Marlena before putting John down. Marlena’s gasp of shock quickly turned to anger as she stared at the hospital bed with the restraints on it.

 

“Oh, my love, what have they done to you?” She instructed the men to put John in the regular bed and thanked them before closing the door softly behind them. Abe had told her that he would wait downstairs while she attended to John. Marlena was removing his shoes when the phone rang. Longing to hear her children’s voices, she picked up the phone.

 

“Hello?”

 

“Kate, it’s Eugenia. I know you said not to call you there but your cell phone must be dead, and I just need you to know that I got it. Sami’s never going to know what hit her.” Thinking quickly, Marlena didn’t give herself away and just mumbled, “thanks” before hanging up the receiver. Her mind was whirling with parts of information as she went back to the bed and lay down next to John. It was comforting just to be near him, to listen to him breathe. Wanting to let him rest, she covered him with a blanket and headed back downstairs to talk with Abe. The anger and bitterness caught up with her and she lashed out at him.

 

“What the hell is going on around here Abe?” Her voice was sharp but her eyes were filled with tears as she envisioned John lying on a cold hospital bed with restraints shackling him. Abe wrapped her in a friendly hug as she sobbed. “What’s wrong with John? Why is there a hospital bed up there with restraints on it?” Abe stepped back and looked at her.

 

“Restraints? Lexie never said anything about restraints.”

 

“Lexie’s been treating him? Will you call her? I’d like to talk to her.”

 

“Sure. Celeste is over there visiting now anyway, so she can watch Theo.” Marlena immediately got a smile on her face.

 

“How is Theo? He must be so big by now, and walking and talking. Abe, I’m so glad you’re home for him.” Abe smiled, but she noticed a lingering look of sadness. Marlena pushed it aside however when she heard John cry out in agony. She yelled over her shoulder as she took the stairs two at a time, “Call Lexie now.” Marlena found John thrashing about on the bed. His arms and legs were jerking violently as he fought against the pain and lack of drugs. His head was whipping back and forth and his eyes were rolled back in his head. Trying to get him to focus on something else, Marlena caught John’s face between her palms and spoke to him as soothingly as she could.

 

“John, honey, it’s me. It’s Marlena. Come on, focus on me. Focus on my voice.” She noticed that his head was not straining quite so hard against her hands so she kept talking. “That’s it. Slow down your breathing. Good. Keep focusing on my voice. I’m here. I’m home, and I’m not leaving you again. John, I love you.” His thrashing had slowed considerably and his eyes were slowly coming back into focus.

 

“Doc. Doc, it hurts so bad. I can’t take the pain. I can’t take it if you leave me again. Please, don’t leave me. Please. Promise me you’ll stay. I need you. I can’t do it without you. You were always my strength. Please, please don’t go away again. Baby, I love you so much; I need you so much. Please stay with me.” John was sobbing harder with each sentence and his chest heaved with a longing that could not be fulfilled until he believed that she was real.

 

“John, look at me.” She still had his face between her hands and watched as his eyes met hers and hazel and blue locked. “Honey, it’s me. I’m here and I’m real. I’m not going anywhere.” Slowly she brought her lips to his and made him believe that she was indeed real. He wrapped his arms around her and she snuggled down into his embrace, their bodies fitting together perfectly like the remaining two pieces of a puzzle.

 

“When I woke up here, I thought that the pier had been a dream and you were gone again.” Tears were still streaming down his face, but the wracking sobs had subsided as he traced her face with his fingers. Lexie and Abe found them that way a few moments later. Marlena extricated herself from John’s embrace and sat at the edge of the bed where she could still touch her husband. She never even gave Lexie a chance to speak.

 

“Why the hell is there a restraining bed in here? I want answers Dr. Carver, and I want them now.” Lexie jumped from the vehemence in Marlena’s voice and decided that the truth would be the best course of action. She knew Marlena better than to think she could lie to her and get away with it.

 

“Marlena, I only restrained John for his own good. When Kate called me and told me that John was trying to pack clothes to go off and find you I knew that he was in no shape to do that, but he wouldn’t listen to reason.” Marlena turned to John.

 

“You were going to come find me? You thought I was alive?” Again her mind went to the picture of Kate in her bed with her husband, and her anger mounted as he nodded, still groggy from the effects of the drug.

 

“But why restraints? What would have been the harm in letting him leave the penthouse?” Lexie looked at John before answering.

 

“Marlena, John had temporary paralysis after the ordeal on the island and while he was in the hospital he didn’t respond to any of the treatments we tried. He was in a great deal of pain and…” John held up a hand.

 

“Lexie, I’d like to talk to Marlena. Please.” She nodded slightly before leaving with Abe.

After the door clicked softly closed, John pulled Marlena back into his arms.

 

“I’ve missed this. I’ve missed drawing strength from you, of holding you close and knowing that no matter what happens I can make it through because you are in my life. While you were gone I had no hope. I had no future, nothing to live for.” She moved a bit so she could look into his eyes.

 

“What about the children?” He cupped her face with his hand.

 

“I love them; you know that, but you are my soul. You are the core of my existence, my very heartbeat, and to live without you is like trying to live without air.” He looked down for a minute, gathering the courage to tell her how deeply his weakness ran.

 

“Marlena while I was in the hospital they couldn’t get the pain to stop no matter what they tried and nothing helped. Nothing mattered either. I had failed you and I just wanted to be numb. I kept seeing someone putting stuff in my IV, but it never worked, or maybe that was the point, it wasn’t supposed to work. All I know is that I hurt and I needed to stop it.” He looked up at her and saw the love in her amber eyes. At that moment he knew that she knew, but he had to tell her. He had to make it real and find a way to deal with it with her by his side. “I’m addicted to pain meds…you’re married to a drug addict.”

She cupped his chin in much the same manner that he had cupped hers earlier and kissed his lips lightly.

 

“I’m married to an incredibly brave man. Together, we’ll get through this.” John tilted his head forward and rested his forehead against hers. His fingers were tangled in her hair as his tears once again streamed down his face.

 

“Thank you for coming home to me.” She smiled through her own tears.

 

“That’s what I do. I come back to you.”

She kissed him softly one more time, caressing his face, reacquainting herself with his features.

 

“I need to go down and talk to Lexie and Abe for a minute. Why don’t you just lay back and rest.” She saw the anxiety in his eyes and smiled at him reassuringly. “I’ll be right back. I promise.” He smiled weakly at her.

 

“I’ll hold you to that baby.” The endearment brought tears to her eyes as she walked quietly out of the room. Abe and Lexie were just about to close the front door behind them when Marlena’s voice stopped them.

 

“Can you stay for a few minutes? I need to talk to you both about a few things.” The couple nodded their agreement and followed Marlena to the sofas in the living room. Marlena addressed Abe first, knowing that her conversation with Lexie would be more difficult.

 

“Abe, I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that the others are alive if I am. I need to tell you how to get to the castle, although Tony probably moved the rest as soon as he saw me boarding the plane.” Abe stopped her there.

 

“Tony didn’t have a chance to move anyone. The castle was stormed thanks to the cab driver that took you to the airport; he showed the operatives over there how to get to the only castle in the area. And as for Tony, he was shot during the raid. He’s officially dead. For good this time.” She smiled slightly at her old friend and patted his hand.

 

“Thanks Abe. It’s good to know that the rest will be home soon too. I only wish that Tony had been able to beat that Dimera curse.” Marlena paused a moment before switching gears and contemplating her next words. She hoped that Abe would take her offer. “John told me that you’re going blind Abe. We’d like to help.” Abe shook his head.

 

“I’m not sure that anyone can do anything for me.”

 

“I’d like to try. Will you let me make some phone calls?” This time Abe patted Marlena’s hand.

 

“A few phone calls wouldn’t hurt. Thank you.” Neither noticed Lexie stewing as she sat watching the interaction between them. Abruptly she announced that she and Abe should get home. Marlena looked at her with interest.

 

“Lexie, I have some questions for you first.”

 

“I’m sorry, but we really have to go; your questions will have to wait.” Marlena gave her a tight smile.

 

“I’m sorry Lexie. These questions can’t wait. Please sit back down.” Abe tugged lightly on Lexie’s hand, giving her no choice but to give in to Marlena’s command. Lexie gave an exasperated sigh.

 

“What do you want me to tell you Marlena?” Marlena never took her eyes off of the younger doctor seated across from her.

 

“First of all, why is John in so much pain?” Lexie relaxed a bit at the direction Marlena’s question took.

 

“We’re not sure. When he came to us he couldn’t feel his legs, but after a few days he had excruciating pain that morphine didn’t touch. We couldn’t get him regulated and he was on as high a dosage of pain meds as we could give him. And he wasn’t responding well to anything we gave him. He was having extreme reactions.”

 

“John mentioned to me that there was someone he didn’t recognize injecting his IV. Were foreign substances found in his blood stream?” Lexie gave Marlena a confused look.

 

“We never ran a tox screen on him because he never mentioned that someone was injecting his IV to anyone that I’m aware of. Are you sure he wasn’t hallucinating?”

Marlena’s self-control almost snapped with Lexie’s question, and she clutched her hands together so tightly that her knuckles turned white as she enunciated her next words slowly to try and regain her composure.

 

“You couldn’t get his pain under control, he wasn’t responding to treatments, he had reactions to the drugs you were giving him regardless of what you tried, and you never thought to give him a tox screen? Now you’re questioning whether or not he was imagining someone injecting his IV? Lexie, I’m sorry to say that I can’t exactly trust your instincts as a doctor. As of right now, you are no longer treating my husband.”

 

“Marlena, I did the best I could do for him.” Marlena shook her head in amazement.

 

“Lexie, my husband is addicted to pain medication because you couldn’t treat him, and you never bothered to find anyone else who could. I came home to find a hospital bed, complete with shackles in my bedroom, with no explanation for it other than ‘John tried to go find you.’ Thank God someone wanted to try and find me. Not that I would have needed to be found if you hadn’t declared me dead when I wasn’t.” Marlena slapped her palms onto her legs. “I’ve come home to a nightmare.” Suddenly Marlena looked around the room in horror. Abe caught the terror in her features and questioned her.

 

“Marlena, what’s wrong?”

 

“Tony. He has cameras in my house. He made Roman and me watch certain things going on in Salem. I know for sure that there is one in my bedroom and he had one at the church when Belle and Phillip got married. Abe can you have someone come over and check the house?”

 

“I’ll call right away.” Marlena looked at Lexie one last time before heading back up to spend time with John.

 

“I want a copy of all of John’s medical records sent over here first thing in the morning. You and Abe can let yourselves out when he finishes his call.” To Abe she mouthed “thank you” as she started up the stairs.

Marlena stood for a long time in the doorway and watched as John slept peacefully. She hated to wake him, but she knew she couldn’t stay in the penthouse. Even though Tony was dead it still disturbed her to know that there was a camera somewhere in the room and that her husband had kissed another woman in their bed. She wasn’t angry with John, but if she was honest with herself she was definitely disappointed. Every day she hoped that he would feel that she was alive, that he would somehow find her the way that he always had in the past, but now that she knew the circumstances, she couldn’t fault him for not coming to her rescue. This time she needed to rescue him, and she would do it. Just not at the penthouse. She dialed the number to the Salem Inn and once she had a room booked, pulled out two suitcases and began to pack. John opened his eyes slowly and kept silent as he watched Marlena move from the closet to the suitcase and back again. It amazed him that he had missed just watching her so much. She never ceased to fascinate him, regardless of the mundane tasks she might be doing. Suddenly Marlena stopped and turned to face him. Her face lit up and she giggled at having been caught while John smiled for the first time in months.

 

“I’ve never seen or heard anything so beautiful in my life.” He held out his hand to her and she walked across the room to take it and sit next to him on the bed. He rubbed his fingers over her knuckles and kissed the inside of her palm.

 

“Are we going somewhere?” She leaned down and brushed her lips across his.

 

“Yes. We’re going to stay at the Salem Inn for a while, if that’s all right with you?” John cocked his head to the side.

 

“Is there a reason?” She hesitated for a minute. Marlena wanted John to tell her on his own what had happened between he and Kate, so she only told him part of what she knew about the cameras and Tony.

 

“I didn’t want to stay here knowing that Tony might be coming after me, but he’s dead, for real this time, so that is no longer an issue. However, he had cameras placed in certain spots all over Salem so that he could make us watch our loved ones moving on without us. Abe is going to have someone come over here and get rid of any that might be here, but until they’re gone, I can’t stay here.” John pulled her close and stroked her hair.

 

“I’m so sorry baby. That must have been difficult to know that we all thought you were dead.” He pushed back a little to lock his eyes with hers. “I want to talk to you about some of what went on while you were gone, but I want to wait until we get out of here.” She nodded slightly and went back to packing.

 

In a little under an hour they were settled into their hotel room, splitting a pizza, and ignoring John’s ringing cell phone.

 

“Maybe you should answer that.”

 

“No. I know who it is, and I have no need to talk to her right now. I have everything I need right next to me.” Marlena hit John in the arm.

 

“At least now I know where I rank next to pizza.” John grabbed her shirt and pulled her to him for a searing kiss. She rubbed her fingers over his beard.

 

“This has to go; it tickles my nose.” He ran his hands over the scruff, and decided to see what he could get away with.

 

“It’ll go if you shave it for me.” Marlena relished the gleam she saw in her husband’s eyes. She knew that his eyes sparkled like that only for her. Deciding to play along, she came back at him.

 

“Do I get to cut your hair too?” He gave her his best horrified look as she ran her fingers through his overly long mop.

 

“That might be up for negotiation, but we’ll see how the shaving goes first.” Again she socked him in the arm as her eyes went misty.

 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve cut your hair.” She could tell that his memory had caught up with hers.

 

“Yeah, I was still Roman the last time.” Marlena caressed his face.

 

“You still miss being Roman sometimes don’t you?” He looked at her and answered honestly.

 

“I miss the relationship I had with Sami and Eric, although Eric has come around, but I still miss Sami. Carrie and I didn’t change, and for that I’m grateful. The most important person though is you. And it doesn’t matter if my name is Joe Schmoe. As long as you love me I’m ok.” She smiled at him before kissing him softly.

 

“And I do love you John Black, always.”

His cell phone rang again, but this time Marlena grabbed it and handed it to John.

 

“Answer it and maybe the person will quit calling you.” Marlena turned away quickly after handing the phone to her husband. She had a feeling she knew who it was, but didn’t want John to see how badly it hurt her to have Kate calling him for what she could only assume were romantic reasons. There was no business deal that would make Kate call at almost midnight. And try as she might to give John his privacy, she just couldn’t make herself leave the room.

 

“Hello?…I said everything I had to say earlier….No, you don’t need to worry about me…I need to go.” John clicked the off button and ran his free hand through his hair while letting out a frustrated sigh. He bowed his head and his voice broke as he tried to put the words together to tell Marlena what had been going on since she disappeared in the storm.

 

“Marlena…there are some things I need to tell you. Things I wish I didn’t have to say.” He reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers. It amazed him how something so delicate could possess so much strength. Slowly he brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles then rolled her hand over and kissed her palm.

 

“John, we don’t need to talk about this now. It’s late and…” He put a finger to her lips.

 

“Marlena, I need to talk about this now. I just wish it wasn’t going to hurt you.” Marlena took her free hand and turned John’s face to hers.

 

“As long as you are still in love with me, we can work through whatever it is. It might hurt initially but we’ll only grow stronger by trusting each other. We’ve both learned the hard way what secrets can do to our relationship.” John nodded slightly and took a deep breath.

 

“I am in love with you Doc. It’s always only been you. Always.” He leaned in and kissed her lips softly. “Always.” He was sitting with his back against the headboard of the bed and drew her up next to him into his embrace. He ran his fingers through her hair and down her cheek before resting them on her hip. Slowly he found the courage and strength to tell her what was weighing on his mind. “Doc, I’ve never felt so much pain in my life as I did when I thought I lost you off that raft. And it wasn’t just the physical pain; it was the idea that I wasn’t able to save you. How many times have I let you get taken by those damn Dimeras? How many times have you gone missing because I haven’t been able to keep you from harm or find you when you were taken? This was the worst though because the longer I was in the hospital, the farther away you got. And then suddenly, I couldn’t feel you at all anymore, and I wanted to, but I could never reach you. It was like you had totally disappeared from my heart and my soul. But when I took enough of the painkillers, there you were. You were gorgeous and standing right in front of me, telling me not to give up, telling me that you loved me, holding me and kissing me, and when you’d disappear I’d relive the horror of your absence all over again. It got to the point where I never wanted to be coherent, but I didn’t have access to the drugs so I stole them, bought them where I could. And I was determined to walk Belle down the aisle, but I couldn’t do it in pain, so I used that as an excuse too. Kate moved into the penthouse to try and help me recover.” He noticed Marlena flinch when he mentioned Kate’s name, but he wanted to keep going with the story. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to continue if he stopped. “Of course living there, she figured out that I was abusing the pain medication and tried to get me to quit. Then Brady, Nicole, and Sami figured it out too, but I pretty much roared them down. The only one who didn’t back down from my anger was Sami.” He gave a half laugh at the spunk of the woman he still considered a daughter. “Anyway, Kate was there and things moved a little past friendship.” He felt Marlena flinch again and knew he needed to put her mind at ease. “Baby, I never slept with her, in fact most of the times I kissed her I was hallucinating that you were there with me and then I’d come out of it and I’d be kissing her. I really don’t ever remember pulling her into a kiss because I wanted to.” And then he felt a pang of guilt and remembered Marlena’s words about secrets. “Except for before I found you on the island. I should have told you when you told me about Roman. I’m so sorry, but stupid me didn’t want to hurt you, and now I know that it hurts more the longer you keep it a secret. Please forgive me.” Marlena edged herself up and looked into her husband’s grief stricken eyes.

 

“John, I love you, and I can’t blame you for turning to someone else. You thought I was dead.” She could see the anger building in him again.

 

“But I shouldn’t have. I should have known you were alive and out there. You needed me and I was too involved in my own pain to even try and help you.” She smiled at him.

 

“Honey, you can’t blame yourself for your injury, and I don’t blame you for not being able to physically come find me. I knew you wanted to; I could feel it, and I could feel your love. Those are the things that made me want to fight to get home.” She swallowed her tears before continuing. “And as for Kate, I think that you should talk to her as soon as possible so that she doesn’t think that there is anything more than friendship there.” His vehemence almost knocked her off the edge of the bed.

 

“There is no more friendship with Kate. Not after what she did to me. No one has the right to keep me under sedation and strapped to a bed in my own home. The next time I talk to her it better be her telling me that she has moved her things out of the guest room.” Marlena only nodded and decided that talking about the earlier phone call and Kate’s possible deceptions and machinations could wait. They lay there for a long time, just content to be in each other’s arms. Marlena’s internal clock was still set on European time, and John was too wired having his wife back to care about sleep.

 

“John, I need to tell you a few things too…about the time I spent in the castle with Roman. We knew what was going on back in Salem. Tony kept taunting us with images from various places and showing them to us on a television. He had cameras set up everywhere…including the penthouse. He never let us hear anything, but we saw what went on in the living room and the bedroom as well as at the church the day Belle got married.” She swiped at her tears as she remembered seeing Kate in her pajamas and watching John and Kate in a passionate embrace. John looked down at her, horror filling his eyes.

 

“Marlena, I’m so sorry you had to see those things. I’m so ashamed that…” This time she stopped him from continuing.

 

“John, again, there is nothing for you to be ashamed of. You thought I was gone. I told you to move on without me. It’s natural. I’ll admit that it was hell watching you kiss another woman, but I understand it. I’m just glad that I’m home and that I’m the only one you’ll be kissing from now on.” John rolled her onto her back and gazed into the eyes he had missed so much.

 

“You’re the only woman I’ve ever really wanted to kiss, and the only one that can make me feel the way you do with just a kiss.” His face descended toward hers with every word and he punctuated his sentence by kissing her slowly and sensually. He nibbled on her lips before parting them to taste the sweetness of her mouth. The intensity of it was overwhelming but he had waited what seemed an eternity to have her in his arms again and there was no way he was going to rush what was the most incredible moment of his life. His wife was home, she was still in love with him, and she was willing to help him work through the mess he called his life.

 

“Doc, you are my miracle. Do you have any idea how much you truly mean to me?” Her smile lit up the room.

 

“I think I do, simply because you mean the same to me. I love you John Black.”

 

“And I love you Mrs. Black.” He watched as her eyes clouded over and passion started to rule her head.

 

“Make love to me John, the way only you can.” He kissed her again.

 

“I only respond to the way you make me feel, and that is pretty damn incredible baby.”

She threaded her fingers through his hair and pulled his mouth to hers, fusing them together. She tried to get his t-shirt off, but he grabbed her wrists and held them above her head.

 

“Uh-uh…We’re going slowly here Doc. I’ve missed too much time with you and I want to savor every moment.” She moaned partially from disappointment and partially from what his lips were doing to the side of her neck.

 

“John, you’re going to drive me insane.” His laugh was deeper than normal due to the intensity of what he was feeling.

 

“That’s the whole point sweetheart.” She managed to wrest one hand free and smacked him on the butt, and when he recaptured her wrist, she didn’t put up much of a fight.

John continued his assault of her neck while his free hand ventured under the thin material of her t-shirt and stroked her just under her bra line. Her entire body was humming with the anticipation of his next touch and she let out another frustrated moan as his hand retreated and her stomach lost the warmth of flesh to flesh contact.

 

“John, please…I need you.” Suddenly she had no contact with him as he stood next to the bed and extended a hand to her. She smiled slowly at the look on his face and took his hand. He pulled her quickly to him and crushed her with a blazing kiss. John made a trail of light kisses to her jaw and then to her ear.

“I need a shower. Care to join me?” She was losing herself to his kisses again, but managed to nod her head affirmatively. As they started to walk to the bathroom John collapsed from a painful back spasm. Marlena kneeled instantly by his side and massaged where he told her to. Within a few minutes the pain had subsided and she helped her husband to his feet. He laughed wryly.

 

“Kind of a mood killer huh?” She looked at him with concern.

 

“John, do you get those often? Would you like to go back and lie down?”

 

“No, I don’t want to go lie down, but yeah, I get a couple of them a day. Especially if I’ve walked a lot or tried to exercise too much. I just get so impatient trying to get better that I over-do it sometimes.” Marlena gave John her best “I don’t believe it.” look.

 

“John, I can’t imagine you pushing yourself over the limit or being impatient at all.” She got a laugh out of him and a tight hug.

 

“Well, I guess you don’t know me very well then do you?” She socked him in the arm and asked again if he wanted to lie down for a bit. John took her face between his palms and started into the gorgeous golden eyes in front of him.

 

“No, I don’t want to lie down. I want to make love to my wife in the shower…” He cocked one eyebrow at her and continued. “…and then I want to lie down and make love to my wife again.” She smiled at him once more.

 

“I think that we can arrange that.” Marlena pointed to her lips with her index finger and John leaned in for a kiss that almost made him lose his balance again. Without thinking he leaned over to swoop Marlena into his arms so he could carry her into the bathroom, but stopped just before picking her up. He looked at her sadly.

 

“I’ll do that again soon. I promise you.”

 

“I know you will, but for now, just lean on me all right?” He kissed her hard and they walked into the bathroom together. Slowly they undressed each other as the steam from the water began to make the mirror fog.

 

“Marlena, you are the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. I’m so lucky to have you back in my life.” She leaned up to him and gave him a small kiss.

 

“We’re so blessed. I’m so blessed to be able to be with you again.” She put her hand to her mouth to try to stop the coming tears. “There were times when I wasn’t sure that I would ever make it home.” John caressed her cheek and wiped away the stray tear that escaped her lashes.

 

“But you’re here now, and I’m never letting you go again.” John kissed her again with all of the longing and want that he had endured over the last months without her. “Never again.” And he pulled back the shower curtain for her to step into the tub as he held her arm to make sure she wouldn’t slip. She’d barely turned around when she felt her back pressed up against the cool white tiles of the hotel shower and her husband’s full weight against her. They both let out a moan of ecstasy at the first full contact of their bodies.

 

“John, I’ve missed you so.”

 

“I’ve missed you too baby, more than I ever thought was possible.” Her nails were digging into his back as he kissed her neck and collarbone under the spray of the shower. He slowly ran his tongue over the tops of her breasts and her breath caught in her throat. When his fingers brushed over her nipples, she couldn’t hold back the throaty moan any longer, and John had to do everything in his power not to take her right then. He took both of her hands and laced his fingers with hers, then pinned them next to her head against the wall before taking her mouth again in a kiss that was at the same time both pure possession and absolute adoration. Agonizingly he worked his mouth down her neck again to her collarbone and chest. Slowly he took first one breast and then the other in his mouth and reacquainted himself with the feel and taste of her. Marlena was having a hard time keeping her knees from buckling under the ministrations of her husband’s mouth and tongue. Their fingers were still interlaced and it was driving Marlena crazy not to be able to touch John, not to be able to give him some of the same pleasure he was giving her. He was down to her belly button now and lazily drawing circles around it as she watched the water run down his back and off of his hair. His tongue again was teasing her as he inched closer to the spot on her body that was aching for his touch, but he left her wanting him even more by standing back up and taking her mouth again in a carnal kiss. When she could breathe again, she begged him in no more than a whisper.

 

“John, I need to touch you, to feel you.” He turned and sat on the small seat at the back of the tub and pulled her onto his lap. As he entered her and their bodies adjusted to one another after the long abstinence he asked simply…

 

“How about if you just feel this?” Marlena’s head rolled back in pleasure as her body instinctively reacted to her lover’s movements.

 

“I can definitely feel this.” She took his head between her hands and kissed him hard and long as they rocked to a rhythm that only they knew. When they came together it was mind shattering and they sat for long moments just trying to recover. Marlena kissed John softly and earnestly, knowing that she had never felt more complete in her life.

 

“It’s so good to be home and in your arms.” John smiled at his wife.

 

“I love you baby.”

 

“I love you too.” She gave him a sly smile. “How about if we stay here a little longer and I get that stuff off your face?” He smiled back at her.

 

“I think I can let you do that.” She got out of the shower and brought a small stool and a couple of towels in with her along with John’s razor and shaving cream. Marlena put the towels on the stool to give John some cushioning and she sat on the small seat, razor in hand. He loved looking into her eyes and seeing the playfulness in them.

 

“Are you ready Mr. Black?” He couldn’t help but smile at her.

 

“I think I’m ready.” He stole a kiss and then begged… “Be gentle.” She lathered her hands and stroked his face with the white foam. As she leaned forward to apply the razor, she couldn’t quite reach him.

 

“Well, this won’t work. I’ll be right back.” She got out of the tub and was back seconds later with a couple more towels. She put them on the floor of the tub and kneeled in front of him. He grabbed her and pulled her into him for a searing kiss.

 

“Yeah, I definitely like this position much better.” She laughed at his double meaning.

 

“Be careful there Sailor, I do have a weapon.” John ran his hands over her breasts and was rewarded with a sharp gasp.

 

“It seems that I do too.” She just giggled again as she reapplied some shaving cream to the spots where their kiss took it off. The entire time she was shaving his face, his hands weren’t still. They roamed over her breasts, down her back, up her legs, into her hair, and every time she rinsed the razor under the spray, she had to lean closer to him and he took advantage by kissing her. His lips were exploring the hollow of her neck when he heard his first complaint.

 

“John, I’m never going to finish if you keep distracting me.” He pouted at her.

 

“Maybe not, but this is the best shave of my life.” She took some the cream that was left on his face and tapped his nose with it. Before she could react he had the can in his hand and she was covered with white foam.

 

“John! I can’t believe you did that.” She paused for a minute. “Well, yes I can, but now I’m a mess.” He looked at her for a second and then made her howl with laughter.

 

“Yeah, it was pretty dumb. You look absolutely delectable but all I can do is wash it off. What I needed was whipped cream so I could lick every inch of you.” By the time the water ran cold John’s face was smooth again and they got out and toweled each other off. They noticed that the sun was just starting to rise and they stood at the window and watched as the sky turned myriad shades of gold. John kissed Marlena’s temple.

 

“It’s all these little moments that I’ve missed the most you know? All those little everyday miracles that weren’t miracles at all unless you shared them with me.” Marlena turned into his embrace and held him tightly.

 

“It really is a miracle we’re back together, and I promise not to take it for granted.” John took her hand and led her to the bed.

 

“Let’s get some sleep so we can get some strength back for later.” Marlena looked at him coyly.

 

“What’s happening later?” John smiled down at the beauty in front of him.

 

“We’re not leaving this bed, that’s what’s happening later.”