John maneuvered the door open, carefully balancing the coffee and sack of food in his hands. Leaning against the door, it opened with ease and he backed into the room. "I hope you're hungry, Doc. I think I have one of every..." John turned to find Marlena on the floor, her arms locked about her knees, her chin settled neatly on top of them. Marlena's eyes peered toward the wall, never actually focusing on anything. Tears cascaded down her mascara-streaked cheeks, whimpers came forth with fervor. John dropped the items in his hands down on the cabinet top and slid over to his wife. He squatted down in front of her, taking her hands in his. Putting himself in her eye line, he pointed her face towards his by raising her chin with a single finger. Her eyes sought out his form and finally focused in on his face.
"John?" She pulled herself off the floor and threw herself at him, hugging him to her with all the strength she could find. John braced himself and fell back on his knees, still clutching her to him. Marlena's body shook with heaving sobs. "Doc, you gotta tell me what's wrong. I can't fix it until I know." He smoothed her hair and kissed the side of her tear-stained cheek. Marlena reluctantly let go of her grasp, setting upright and brushing the hair out of her eyes. Wiping her face, she tried to plaster a smile on her lips. Her tears betrayed her, popping out of her eyes and motioning down her face once again. She shook her head and covered her face with shaking hands. John stood and pulled her up by her arms, her body limp and shaking. Walking her over to the couch, he placed her gently on the cushion and settled himself beside her, curling his arm around her neck.
After a while, her cries became soft and whispering. John pulled her closer to him and kissed the top of her head, letting his lips rest at her crown for a few moments. Pulling back from him, Marlena straitened her posture and wiped her eyes. Her breath caught as she brought her fist up in front of her and held hit out to him. John looked at Marlena questioningly, and moved his hands toward her curled up fist. He pried Marlena's nervous hand open, revealing to him a crumpled pink message paper. He opened the fragile paper with great care, looking up at her every so often. Opening it finally, his brow furrowed in question. Back in Town... O. His mouth made an 'o' shape forming the last letter. Looking up toward Marlena, he had wanted a hint to who "O" could be� he got his answer. Marlena's visage was once again crumpled into a fit of tears and sobs. John crushed the paper in his hand and gripped his wife in a death like grasp. Tears formed in his indigo eyes.
"Doc, it's not him. He's dead... I... I killed him. I know he's dead dammit!" John's grip on his wife increased with every word he uttered. "Do you, John? Did you see him?" Marlena's questions drove into John's brain. No he'd never actually 'seen' that man dead. He had just assumed the bullet had ended his reign of terror. Marlena felt his hold on her go even tighter and his heartbeat begin to race. "John..." She pulled herself out of his grasp, placing her hands on his chest and staring into his pooled eyes. "You didn't see him dead, did you?" John gripped her arms in anger at himself. "NO! DAMN IT...NO!" Marlena's hands went to his forearms and gently stroked them, causing him to calm slightly. "John, it doesn't matter if you saw him or not. He's back. What is going to happen?" Her eyes began to swim in a salty sea of unshed tears, John pulled her to him again and held her tight in his grasp. "Don't you worry about that, Doc. It's not true, someone is just playing with us." Marlena leaned her head into his chest and listened to his heart. She knew he was scared, not just for her, but for them. They had been ripped apart for too long and too many times. Her heart skipped a beat. She knew nothing would keep them apart any longer, not even if it came to battle. Her body shivered and she drew closer to him, not wanting the thoughts she was thinking to return to her head.
The black haired man grabbed the luggage from the trolley, being careful not to arouse any suspicion. His complete dark appearance blended him into the fabric of society, moving about without any wondering. Looking up at the gate ahead of him, he smiled as he viewed the city name... SALEM. "Finally, I can have some peace." He adjusted the glasses that perched on his nose and strode out of the airport terminal.
The day's events had finally wound down and the day was beginning to turn to night. John and Marlena went home, both trying not to think about what that little note could have possibly meant. The ride home was quiet, neither one speaking or even looking in the other's general direction. John drove with one hand on the wheel and the other clasp tightly in both support and fear with his wife's. Marlena simply faced out the window, not wanting John to see her tear stained face. Pulling into the parking garage, John parked the car and turned the ignition off, letting his hand rest on the wheel, neither of the occupants moved. John broke the silence and opened the door, the alarm softly beeping, alerting him the lights were still on. Flipping the knob, he hopped out of the car, shutting the door with a soft thud. Coming around the car to assist her in exiting the vehicle, he was surprised to see her cross his path and head toward the elevator. Walking briskly, hoping that this day had never happened, she could hear his soft shoes padding on the hard surface after her. She reached out and pushed the button, stepping inside when the doors opened. John hopped in after her, grabbing her hand as it nervously punched the button for home. Marlena looked at him in despair, her chin jutting slightly to keep her tears at bay. John kept his hand about hers and gently pushed the button to take them home. The ride seemed to take forever, and both sets of eyes focused on the illuminating numbers as they rose in the air. Finally, the soft ding broke their trance and they stepped out, Marlena breaking contact and unlocking the door swiftly.
Marlena's breathe finally slipped out of its prison in her lungs and she looked about the house, searching for her children. Not finding them in the living room or balcony, she started her way up the stairs. John watched her speed up the staircase, looking down at her feet every few steps to make sure they hit the correct step. Throwing his keys on the desk that sat by the door, he took the stairs at two to her one and soon caught up with her. "Doc... hey Doc, wait a minute." He pulled her arm to slow her course and turned her to him. Her eyes couldn't make contact with his, blindly searching for something else to focus in on. John reached his hand to her face and forced her eyes to meet his. The tears began to bubble up in her eyes once again, John swept away a stray tear that dove down her cheek. "I promise with all of my being that nothing will hurt you or my family. You just believe in that, okay?" Marlena's lips curved into an unsure smile and her head nodded slightly, before pulling herself into his arms for a reassuring embrace. Walking up the remaining stairs with their arms about each other, they made their way toward their children's rooms.
To be continued...