Promises Made ch 19

Some Laughs And A Clash of the Titans

After calling everyone who might be concerned about John, Marlena went back in to see the man she loved, who was thankfully still sleeping. Taking his warm hand in hers, she spoke quietly to him, "Oh, John... I love you so much and I'm so glad you're going to be allright. Please don't go after Roman for scaring me like he did. He was just upset about losing me and feeling betrayed by us again. Once he's calmed down, everything will work itself out, you'll see."

John started to stir in the bed, responding to something internal, it appeared. He cried out fearfully inside the dream, 'No... don't hurt her, no Roman... don't..take her!' The last word was shouted out loud, "NO!" The unexpected sound of his own voice woke him up. Slightly disoriented, he opened his eyes, looking rapidly about the room, checking on external reality. He was sweating and breathing hard, reacting to the troubling images from his nightmare.

Marlena touched him lightly on the arm to capture his attention, "John... honey, you were dreaming, it's okay." After a moment's pause she asked, "Do you want to tell me about it?"

Rubbing his hands over his face in an attempt to clear his mind of the upsetting vision, John tried to sit up. Managing to make it to a leaning position supporting his weight on one elbow, he said, "Oh.. Doc it was about you and me and Roman. He was fighting with me and then he grabbed you and started to take you with him by force. I was so afraid he'd hurt you and I wasn't sure what to do. I wasn't fully recovered and I didn't think I could fight him off for long." John sighed heavily again and said, "Whew... it was so...real, Marlena. Come here and let me hold you," he said with intensity as he reached out for her. They stayed that way for a while, enjoying the warmth and safety of each other's arms. Marlena felt the need to reassure John, saying, "It was just a dream, John.. that won't happen. Roman won't hurt me, I know he won't." John nodded, hoping his fiance was right in her assertion.

As they disengaged slightly, Marlena asked, "So.. how do you feel honey?"

"Aside from that nasty dream, and a little soreness, I'm doing fine. Actually, I'm.. a little hungry. Do you think it's okay if I eat something?" John asked hopefully, feeling slightly embarassed for some reason he couldn't define.

She smiled warmly and said, "Well, I see some things never change. I'll go talk to Mike and see what he says, but don't expect much more than jello or something along those lines, John."

"Oh goody.. jello, my favorite!" he said teasingly, rubbing his hands together, much like Brady did when he was excited about getting a treat.

She tossed her head back and laughed heartily at that one, saying, "Oh, John... you always find a way to make me laugh when I need it most."

"Good, just don't repay the favor right now. I don't think it would feel so great. Speaking of people who actually like jello, can we get the kids over here?" he asked hopefully. I don't want to spend all of Christmas Day without them."

She hated to burst his bubble, but told him the truth, "Oh.. honey.. you probably don't even know about this because it started when you were so sick. There's a terrible winter storm going on and most of the roads in Salem are closed. We had to bring you to the hospital in the Jeep because of it. They've declared a state of emergency now. Austin and Carrie are at the Penthouse watching Belle and Brady. We can call them though," she said trying to end on a positive note.

The look of disappointment on his face was heartwrenching, and she felt horrible for him, as he said, "Oh.. man, what bad timing I have, huh? I can't even get sick at a good time. I'm really sorry for ruining your holiday Doc."

She frowned at him and admonished him lightly, "Oh, that's nonsense, you didn't ruin it at all, John. In fact, you have made it possible for us to be together. I talked with Roman while you were in surgery as you know, and though it didn't go quite as smoothly as I hoped, everything is out in the open now. You and I are free to marry, John. So, actually, I want to thank you for getting sick and landing yourself in the hospital with an attack of appendicitis."

He chuckled and then said, "Oh.. well, you're welcome, Marlena. I always say, anything for the course of true love."

"I thought that was what Alice always says.. since when did you pick it up?" Marlena teased.

John beamed a radiant smile of joy, and said, "Oh, well, I must have heard her say it so much that it started to rub off on me. Anyway, she's right, at least where we're concerned. Our love is right and true and finally we're going to have our day, Doc. You and I are finally going to be married and spend the rest of our lives together... happily ever after, right?"

She shivered with delight at the thought of all that and said, "Right... you're so right, my love." Then, she kissed him slowly and sweetly, her lips lingering over his before fully connecting. As her tongue slipped inside his warm moist mouth, he sighed and concentrated his efforts on taking her breath away. Soon, he knew he was successful as he heard her soft moan of growing desire. As their love play became slightly more involved, they turned to the sound of a throat being cleared.

"Uh... hello you two. Listen, John... I really don't think that it's such a great idea for you to be..." stammered Mike Horton, who found his face turning redder by the second. After they all chuckled lightly about his response to seeing the two of them in the early stages of lovemaking, Mike recovered his professional facade, then said pointedly, "John. you've just had a life threatening episode and a significant surgery. I would highly recommend that you refrain from all...strenous activities for at least a week or so."

John's face fell to hear that strong advice, but he understood the rationale and said, "Allright..Mike, I'll try. And, I want to thank you for saving my life this morning."

"Well, that's what they pay me for, John," he joked. After taking his patient's vital signs and peeking at the incision again, he said "I'll see you soon. Now..please get the rest you need and you'll be out of here before you know it."

"Allright, I will. But I have one more question for you. Am I allowed to eat anything yet?"

Mike and Marlena looked at each other and laughed, having discussed this moment earlier. Then simultaneously, they turned to John and answered, "Jello..."

"Oh boy.. I'm so excited! What color is it? I like blue the best," John said with the mock gleefulness of a happy child.

Mike continued the teasing fun, saying, "Oh, I really hate to disappoint you, Johnny but I think it's red today."

John pouted, looking just like his nearly five year old boy. "Well, then I'm not having any... so there!" he said, folding his arms over his chest in protest. They all broke up at that one, then John groaned because it hurt.. "Oh.. that hurts alot, now go on, get out of here would you?"

"John... does it hurt when you laugh?" asked Mike, who looked at Marlena to see if she would play along one more time.

The discomfort was strong enough that he didn't realize Mike was still playing, and John said, "Yea.. as a matter of fact it really does, Mike."

"Well, then... stop laughing," the two MD's said in unison, knowing they were really pushing their luck. John found a small pillow and tossed it with his left hand saying, "Allright.. that's enough of the doctor's comedy review. Get outta here." The other two began to leave and Marlena turned back and said, still teasing, "I'll be right back with your jello, dear."

"Oh, please don't make me wait too long," he replied with a hint of true irritation at not being allowed to eat any real food.

A few minutes later, John was alone and Roman was looking through the window of his room. John seemed to be sleeping, but one never knew. He entered slowly and approached the bed again. John was only half asleep and his eyes shot open upon hearing the sound. There was a strange mixture of fear and anger in those eyes this time, as John sat up in bed, ignoring the pain to strike a defensive pose.

Roman put his hands in the air, saying, "Don't worry, John.. I'm not here to fight with you. I know that what I did before was wrong and I'm here to.. apologize and ask for forgiveness. I was out of control and I took my frustration about losing Marlena again out on you. I was way out of line, and I'm truly sorry, John," he said contritely.

That wasn't nearly good enough for John because not only had Roman almost inflicted bodily harm to him when he had no way to defend himself, he had also frightened and hurt the woman John loved with all his heart. "Roman.. I appreciate the fact that you were willing to come in here and face me after what you did to me earlier, but sorry just doesn't cut it. Roman.. I was so out of it from the anesthesia that I couldn't have fought back, you could've killed me you were so angry, and that scares me and I'm not just talking about for myself. What's even more important is that you hurt Marlena... her wrists are all bruised, Roman from when you held her too tightly because of your anger and jealousy. And, she has a half dozen bandages on her legs from the glass that came from the coffee pots you shattered all over the doctor's lounge in your jealous rage. Roman... you've got a problem and you damn well better deal with it before someone you love is badly hurt. I'm telling you right now... you better stay away from Marlena. I don't want you to come within fifty yards of her until you have a handle on this thing, you got that Brady!" John warned, suddenly feeling physically stronger.

His rival was taken aback by that last statement and felt the irrational anger and jealousy toward John begin to boil low below the surface, but he waged a fierce battle to contain it. "John, I understand why you're so upset about all this, but I assure you it won't happen again. I understand why you and Doc lied to me. Mike explained it all and somehow hearing it from him made me face the fact that you weren't the bad guy in this whole sorry scenario, John. It was Kristen and Stefano.. once again and I also realized that you and Marlena have waited a long time to be together and you deserve to have a chance at happiness. I divorced Marlena because I couldn't see past my own pain and I left town. I understand that she moved on and rediscovered her love for you and I'm not going to hold you at fault any more, John."

All of that was said quite nicely with a thin veil of amiability, but Roman's eyes narrowed and his voice became harsh as he responded to the final challenging statement John made. "But.. all that being said, you're not married to her yet, John, and I'm not going to give up on Marlena until you are. If she tells me to stay away from her then I will, but I will NEVER let YOU tell me who I can and can't see unless you have a restraining order. You got that Black!"

John stared Roman down, telling him with his eyes and body posturing that he was prepared for a fight to the finish and Roman returned the fiercely competitive gaze, as the other man spoke firmly, "I'm telling you.. if you touch her, if you even bother her in the slightest way, I'm gonna come after you, Roman. I hope you know that I'm serious because you won't see it coming."

Roman scoffed, "You're so damn sure of yourself, aren't you? We'll see what happens, won't we? If you're so confidant in Marlena's love for you.. why should it bother you if I spend a little more time with her?" He finished with one last incendiary question, "Are you afraid she might change her mind about marrying you, John ?"

John hesitated only briefly, but it was enough for Roman. "No.. I'm not at all. I know she loves me and she wants to marry me as soon as possible. We talked about it a few minutes ago, in fact." John's tone as he made his final comments matched Roman's derisiveness. So.. why don't you just give it up and keep what's left of your dignity, Roman," John said, hoping the man would pack it in and get out of town, but resigning himself to the fact that it would never happen.

So there it was.. the stage was set for a modern day version of the mythical Clash of the Titans. The two bitter rivals for the hand of the fair maiden had laid down their challenges. All that remained to be seen was who would emerge the victor and who the vanquished.