Marlena sat on the couch, her knees curled up under her and a cup of tea in one hand and the disturbing paper in the other. Her mind searched for some clue to the answers to all of this case and her involvement in it. John came down the stairs, clad only in silk dark blue pajama bottoms. His hair was still damp from the shower he'd just finished, he stalked over behind Marlena and shook his head and showered her with the droplets that clung to his hair. She jumped up, spilling the tea on her robe. "John Black! Ow, that's hot!" She quickly shrugged off the robe and lifted her leg to find a rather bright red stain on her lower calf where the liquid had seared into her through the robe.
"Doc!" John jumped the couch and landed by her, grasping her leg and checking the damage he'd just caused. "John it's just a little burn, I'm fine, you need to quit fussing over me." She made no attempt to pull her leg back, but stating her mind. John released his grip a bit and smiled, remembering all the times she has shown her independence. It was one of the things that he so fell in love with. She could hold her own and together they made an unstoppable team. Leaning down he kissed the spot that was fading to a pink. "There, did that make it better?" She leaned forward and grasped his face between her hands. "I'll show what will make it better." She pulled him to her with a surprising strength, both falling back onto the couch. "Oh please, honey, tell me what I can do to make it up to you." Marlena's face shadowed with a pondering look. "Well, ya know, I think you were on the right track with that kissing my boo boos." She smiled and encircled her arms around his neck. "I Kinda hurt my neck jumping up. Can you do anything for that?" "Hmm, lemme see what I can do about it." Marlena squirmed under him, his breath on her neck causing goose bumps to peek out from her skin. "Now, that's what I call some very therapeutic treatment. Now, let's get onto some major pains I have..." Marlena's words were halted by the crinkle of the paper that she'd brought with her. "Oh, I forgot." She sat up, hitting John's head with her collarbone. "What the..." John's confused look quickly mixed with pain, as he sat up. "Oh, honey, I'm sorry. We have to talk about this." She held up the paper to his view, showing him the sketch of the young man who was key in this investigation. "What about it? This is the guy we are looking for, he's supposed to be a key witness." Marlena dropped her hand to her lap, and opened her mouth in shock. "John, he's one of my patients."
Orpheus and Stefano rode in complete silence to the DiMera mansion, not wanting to risk prying ears latching onto their conversation. The limo pulled up to the front driveway and the door opened to the men. "Ah, thank you. We will not need your services for the rest of the night." The two men walked to the door and were greeted by a waiting Eliana, who accepted their overcoats and swiftly backed out of the room. "So, may I offer you something to drink?" Stefano strode over to the bar and waved his hand to show his vast array of liquors. "No, nothing for me. Now, let's get down to business. You know why I am here, now what is your part in this?"
Stefano selected a cigar from the humidor and carefully snipped the end off, not acknowledging his partners question. Lighting the end and filling the room with a fragrant smoke, he turned toward the waiting man. "Time, my friend, is a luxury I own. Now, it is in all due time we will pounce on this town. For now, we wait and make them wonder." Stefano set down in the mahogany chair that accompanied the beloved chess game, picking up the queen from its horizontal position and placing back upright, next to the king.
"What do you mean he's one of your patients?" John took the paper from her hand and showed it to her again, thinking she was mistaken. "John, I know what he looks like. He started seeing me a couple of weeks ago. He's been having strange visions, and he feels no one will listen to him. Apparently he's had some trouble with his family. I scheduled more sessions with him, but he keeps canceling them. I know he's coming in tomorrow, I made sure I persuaded him it was in his best interest." John rose from the sofa and walked to the balcony, studying the face sketched on the paper. "Are you sure this is that man, Doc? I mean, from what I hear he's pretty dangerous and..." John turned to his wife and pointed at her. "There's no way you are seeing this guy tomorrow. You are gonna stay here and out of danger. I'm not..." Marlena cut him off in mid-sentence, her eyes ablaze with contempt.
"I'm what? John, there is no way I'm cutting this man out. He needs help, and I took that oath to help him. I can help you with this. You remember when we used to be a team right? Well, now we can either be that team again, or we can butt heads and never solve this." She crossed her arms and waited for his reply, waiting for him to challenge her again. "Doc, you can't..." John threw up his hands in exasperation, knowing it was pointless to argue with her when she was set in her ways. "Fine, Doc, you win. But, if we are gonna work together on this, I want you to have the protection you need." Marlena's mouth opened in protest, but was quickly smothered by John's hand. "A team. We are gonna have to work together and I am relenting, so you need to give me a little." Marlena's eyes narrowed in the double meaning of his words. "Now do we have a deal or am I gonna have to lock you in your room for a while." Marlena made no attempt to move, simply staring at him from behind his hand. Finally, her hand drove upward and stretched out for him to shake, while muffling behind the obstruction over her mouth. John squelched the smile that threatened his lips, and took her hand, shaking it and pulling his hand from her mouth.
"Now, I'll get the boys at the ISA informed and we will get you what you need to help us crack this case. Now, I know you need to be discreet, but any information you bring to the table will be of great value." John turned her face up towards his, so she was looking directly into his eyes. "I really am happy to work with you again. You're right we make an excellent team." She smiled and placed both hands on the sides of his face, pulling him toward her. "That's because you are a wonderful, courageous, well-built hero." She kissed him with each word, feeling his hands wrapping around her waist. "And I of course, am the brains!" Her brilliant white smile gleamed in front of him, relishing in the age-old game they had played. "Well, Mrs. Smarty Pants, this wonderful, courageous, well-built hero is dog tired and ready for bed." John yawned and rubbed his hands over his face and through his still damp hair. "Would you care to join me?" He extended his hand for her to take. Marlena gripped it and leaned over to peck him on the cheek. "You go on ahead, I'll be up in a bit. I need to clean this mess somebody made." John pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "Okay, but make sure you get that spot on the pillow." Marlena sneered at him, pushing herself away and toward the couch. "Get outta here!" John jumped in mock attention and started the stairway, chuckling to himself as Marlena watched with crossed arms.
Stefano sat watching his guest pacing the room, much like that of a caged animal. "Orpheus, you need to relax. All of this will come in due time." Orpheus' steps ceased and he faced Stefano. "How can you set there and 'relax', when time is ticking away. I want my revenge and I want it now!" He pounded the chess table, disrupting the delicate pieces. Stefano made no move toward the outburst, only raising his eyebrow. Orpheus quickly composed himself and stood upright again. "Fine, we'll play this you're way, but I am running out of patience. If we don't start this soon, I am taking my way out. Now, if you will excuse me I have other matters at hand." Stefano did not acknowledge the man's exit, only taking a sip of his drink. A smile painted his face as he thought of the plans he had. Rising from the chair, he moved toward the phone. "Get over here NOW." He hung up without any explanation or time for the respondent to reply.
Marlena sat on the edge of the couch, dabbing the tiny stain with absentminded fervor. She stared at the rough sketch before her, trying to put any pieces she could together. This young man had lost his mother and his father had abandoned him. He seemed so scared, yet there was a tinge of anger and hatred coloring his soul. Marlena traced the outline of the penciled face, wondering what he had to do with all of this. She jumped and fell backward when a hand flitted on her shoulder. "Mommy?" Brady's eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He started back up the stairs, only to be called back my Marlena's soft words. "Honey, come back here. It's okay, come on." He turned to find her arms outstretched and a smile highlighting her face. The tears came with greater intensity, as he ran to her awaiting arms. "Brady, baby, what's wrong?" He didn't speak, but buried his head in her shoulder.
Marlena let him cry for a few more seconds before pulling him away from her slightly and tilting his face up to hers. "Honey, what's wrong?" She dabbed the tear that hung on to the tip of his nose and kissed his forehead. "Momma, I'm scared." "Of what baby? Did you have another bad dream?" Brady nodded his head in the positive and jumped into her lap, shuddering as each sob left his voice. Marlena hugged him to her tightly and placed her lips on his head, rocking him back and forth until the sobs became mere whimpers.
John appeared at the top of the landing, tying his robe shut and looking for the sounds he'd heard. Looking down he saw his wife and son. Not a better picture could be painted. There they were, not bonded by blood but bonded with their souls. He was as much her son as Belle was her daughter, and Marlena was Brady's mother as much as she was the rest of her children. To see them was to see a sight that would melt your heart. John had never worried once that they wouldn't be like this one day, they had loved each other since the day they met. He'd remembered the day Brady started calling Marlena his momma. He'd asked no one if it was okay, he'd just done it. Brady had always known that Marlena wasn't his true birth mother, but to him, she was his mother in every way. John felt the tear slide down his cheek, but wasn't surprised; he'd always got choked up when witnessing a moment between them. He leaned over the railing and just watched the two of them. Marlena stroked Brady's face and broke the silence. "Brady, do you want to tell me about the dream?" Brady again nodded his head and turned in her lap to face her. "It was really scary. I dreamed that someone was hurting people. An' one of them was..." Brady's face crumpled and new tears erupted in his tiny eyes. Marlena's chin trembled at the sight of her son in such pain.
Taking him back in her arms she began to rock him again. "Brady, nothing is gonna hurt us. We'll be okay; it's just a dream. Now, why don't you come up and you can sleep with Mommy and Daddy, hmm?" Brady gripped her shoulders tighter and whimpered out a yes before resting his head more firmly on her shoulder. Marlena reached over and put the paper back in the file and rose with Brady in her arms. "Here we go." She flipped the light switch off, and began to ascend the stairs. "Mamma?" "Yes, honey?" "I love you." Marlena's eyes glassed over with crystal tears. "I love you too baby." She reached the top of the stairs and was met by John's proud smile. "Oh hey there." John walked over and kissed Marlena's cheek and ruffled his son's already disheveled hair. "Ya need some help?" He started to take the boy, but found he had a death grip on his wife's neck. "Well, I guess I don't." John bent down and kissed his son's head. Wrapping his arm about Marlena's waist they proceeded to the bedroom for a much needed night's sleep.
To be continued...