Chapter 22
Hi John, Marlena, I have the results of your tests and everything
came
back normal. Marlena I am going to write you a prescription for something
to help with those mood swings you have been having. Your free to leave
when ever you are ready.
John and Marlena leave the hospital and pick up Belle. Honey I hope
you
are hungry because your mommy hurts. Your mommy needs to empty some
of this
milk.
Belle wants her mother and Marlena nurses her as they drive to there
destination. Out in the country there is a little country inn. Partly
secluded and by the lake.
John it is beautiful, Doc I thought we could all use a vacation.
Sounds
wonderful. The perfect prescription. Doc and Belle get settled into
there
room and John brings in the luggage. The room has a table in the corner
of
the room with a fruit basket and lilacs on it.
John when did you do this? Doc wouldn't a nice soft slippery bubble
bath
sound just wonderful? Oh it sounds like heaven. The bathroom is large
and
has a roman tub in the center of the room. There are bouquets of lilacs
and
white roses all around.
Doc Ill draw the bath and you can get undressed. Now I know why you
wanted
to come here. You just wanted to catch me in my birthday suit.
John
blushes.
Well that is a good idea. Ill join you. The couple frolic in
the tub. John
picks Doc up and places her on the matte. Now my lady, I want to savor
every moment. I am going to make your blood boil
.John starts with her ankles and begins to massage and dry her off.
He
moves up to her arms and hands. He dries her shoulders and then he
stops.
Doc I want you to feel and enjoy every moment of what I am going to
do
next. Oh John, I already do.
Honey we are just beginning to climb. John dries her breast and
kisses her
neck slowly moving his lips down to her breast. His hands move lower
to dry
between her legs. oh john, come with me baby we are going to climb
that
mountain of passion.
Marlena swoons and John picks her up and places her on the bed. The
two
lovers lost in each others passion. Oh John please, now please. John
gently
turns her over and surrenders himself in her.
The two lovers lay in each others arms with a glow of new discovered
love.
Doc! Every time is a new adventure with you. I love so deeply and so
completely I loose my self in you. We become one. A short time later
John's
phone rings.
Chapter 23
This is John what's up Abe? another one of Steffino's holdings has
gone up
in flames. Arson? Looks like it. This one was a rental unit he had.
Someone
is going around destroying all of his records.
They are one step ahead of us and if this keeps up we won't get anything
on
him. OK Abe keep me posted.
John returns to the room to find Marlena and Belle fast asleep on the
bed.
Doc, Doc wake up Doc. John can't get her to wake up. He checks her
vitals
and she seems to be OK.
An hour later Marlena wakes up with a horrendous headache. Oh
John, my
head hurts. Doc take this. What is it? Something Laura gave me at the
hospital. Within a few minutes she is feeling better.
Doc can you remember anything? No I tried to wake you an hour ago and
I
couldn't. You would not wake up. That is strange but I feel fine now.
How
about a walk around the lake? That sounds great. Give me a few minutes
and
I will get dressed.
Several minutes later the lovers are walking around the lake and enjoying
the beautiful spring day. When John sees smoke in the distance. He
quickly
dials 911.
Doc you stay here with Belle, I am going to see if I can help.
John jumps in the car and takes off. He arrives and meets Abe who has
been
on the scene. John, let me guess Abe this is another one of Steffino's
holdings and it's arson. Right on the money.
Abe we have to look for a common thread. Steffino wouldn't burn
his own
holdings would he. I don't think so he seems to be as upset as we are.
I
still can't believe he got a pardon. Well it looks like you have this
under
control I am going back to Doc and Belle
John returns to find Doc asleep and Belle lying next to her on the
bed.
Doc. Doc yes John I am awake. How did you make out at the fire? It's
another one of Steffino's This is so strange,
Why he certainly has enough enemy's
There has been three more fires and all Steffino's property
Well enough of that, lets have dinner and then we have to go home.
Over the next several days Marlena is sleeping more and more
and now she
has been having bad dreams too She keeps seeing Steffino raping a young
woman. She tried to hide them from John. But he knew from the beginning.
John checks Marlena in to the hospital and goes to see Laura
and DR Bader.
I don't know what is happening but Marlena is getting worse and she
is
having real vivid dreams. Let me check her out. Laura and DR Bader
go to
Marlena's room and find that she has slipped into a coma.
John maybe we should call Dr. Marks again. He made a remark when he
was
here before about her not wanting to know what had been done to her.
I
never got him to explain. Do you think this has any connection to the
coma
and what DR Marks said?
Chapter 24
I don't know John but I don't know what else we can do for her.
OK Laura I
will send the jet for him can you make all the arrangements? Sure John.
Several hours later Dr. Marks arrives. Laura fills him in on what has
transpired. DR Marks we need all the information we can get about Marlena
and the 5 years she spent on that island.
We have to find out why she is sleeping so much. I was collecting
all the
information when you called but I found that most of it was in the
warehouse that burned. Can you duplicate it? I don't know, perhaps
in time.
Doctor we don't have time.
Lets start with a statement you made when you were here last. What
was
that? About Doc not wanting to know what had been done. Oh, well this
man
Steffino was not morally ethical.
He was doing several experiments at the time. He had almost perfected
cloning humans but his clones could not reproduce.
He had found a cure for cancer. Many honorable contributions to society.
But he had his dark side. He worshipped her. He tried to clone her
but she
was never the same. He tried insemination, and invetro. He performed
all
this when she was in a drug induced state.
He thought a union between him and this woman would give him the perfect
person. I know he tried but I don't know if he was successful.
He would abuse her and rape her over and over. I finally surmised that
he
was keeping her against her will.
He was drugging her. He called me in to deal with the side effects
of the
drugs. Her coma was drug induced. When I discovered this I mixed the
hypo's
so that for 12 hours she was only given
Water I was hoping that she would be able to get away. As you can see
she
did. The sleeping could be related to the drugs he gave Marlena.
The nightmares I would say that she even in a coma knew what he was
doing
to her. The fear of him doing it to her again.
Our blood tests didn't show any signs of being drugged. They won't
unless
you know what you are looking for. Run a set and tell the lab to look
for
this. They all wait for the results.
You are right DR Marks by the look of this she has enough of the drug
in
her to kill her. Yes I know I suspected this result. What can we do
now to
help her? This is one of Steffino's designer drugs so I don't know
the
antidote but if she doesn't get it soon she will die.
Well it looks like I am going to have to find Steffino. John
we have been
looking for him for months and can't find him. I know Laura but now
Doc's
life is on the line and I know he will not let her die. that may be
the
motivation to bring him out in the open.
Chapter 25
Ill get working on it right now. How much time do you think she has?
Three
days at the most. 3 days? I am sorry John.
John leaves the hospital and hooks up with Abe. After John fills Abe
in on
what has happened at the hospital they go over all the clues they have.
The
funny part of this is that at every fire there was a woman seen at
the
location.. A woman ? Abe you didn't say anything about a woman. Well
the
description we got could of been Marlena. John you and I know Marlena
would
never do anything like that so I just dismissed it. Well Abe maybe
we can't
dismiss it. So far it is the only thread we have. I don't see any other
possibility.
Three days later Marlena is in a coma. John's phone rings. John this
is
Doctor Marks I think you need to come to the hospital she doesn't have
much
time.
John starts to cry he can't face life without Doc. Oh Doc I have
prayed
for a miracle. Doc I can't loose you. John arrives at the hospital
and is
greeted by friends and family. John goes to Marlena and sits next to
her he
picks her up and cradle's her in his arms.
Doc .you can't leave me, you can't leave Belle. John is crying. Mr.
Black I
have to give her an injection but you can stay? thanks. The priest
comes in
the room and gives her last rights. John is rocking her in his arms.
Doc I
won't let you leave you can't.
Mike comes in to check on Marlena. John, I am sorry she's gone. No
no
God won't do this.
John kisses her for the last time He lays her down and leaves
the room.
Crying and completely spent. I can't believe this, she can't be gone.