John and Caroline were drinking tea when the doorbell rang. Caroline went to the door and opened it.
"Carrie, I'm glad your here," she said letting her granddaughter in.
"Grandma, John what's going on? Is it Marlena?"
"We still don't know where she is punkin' but we wanted to talk to you about something having to do with Doc," John said rising to greet her.
Caroline motioned for her to sit down and fixed her a cup of tea. John wasn't sure where to start. If she didn't know anything, maybe it would be better if he didn't reveal too much.
"We were wondering if Marlena told you anything, anything at all that might help us find her. I'm not certain that Stefano is behind this and I don't want to miss anything so if you know anything Carrie, anything at all that maybe Marlena was keeping from me, for whatever reason, I need to know."
Carrie understood, but she'd promised Marlena she wouldn't say anything and she told them so.
"Well punkin' if you think what you know might help us find her, you have to tell us because we have to find her and if Stefano didn't take her, or if you think someone might have helped Stefano. . ." Carrie cut him off.
"Okay. I know Marlena still loves you John and I know that Kristen has been doing a lot of things to keep the two of you apart. I didn't tell you because I promised Marlena I wouldn't. She didn't want you to be unhappy and even though I disagreed with her on this, she had her reasons for not telling you the truth."
"Look Carrie, you don't have to defend Doc. I trust Marlena and if she thought that her reasons for not telling me were good, then I'm sure they were but she's gone and if I don't find her, I will be more unhappy than you can even imagine so anything you have to say is not going to make a difference in that, okay?"
"I don't even know where to start John. Kristen found a letter that you'd written to Marlena in Aremid and she hid it from Marlena, but Marlena found it. She was living with the two of you then and we'd all just found out that Kristen was pregnant with your child. She didn't tell me any of this until after you'd found her in Paris but I guess the letter revealed your love for her. When she confronted Kristen about it, Kristen admitted hiding it and then she started having cramps. Marlena was worried about the baby or she would have told you, but Kristen convinced her that if she lost you, she might lose the baby and Marlena wasn't willing to take that chance so she agreed to wait until after the baby was born. Then she disappeared and she was convinced that Kristen helped Stefano kidnap her or at least that's what she told me, that Kristen wanted her out of the picture. She was going to tell you everything in Paris but then Kristen almost lost the baby and she again promised not to say anything until after the baby was born. She made Kristen promise she wouldn't marry you, but she did before Marlena had a chance to tell you. She was going to tell you anyway but then something happened, I'm not sure what and she was convinced that you wouldn't break your vows to Kristen and she didn't want you to be stuck in a loveless marriage. She was certain that Kristen would eventually reveal her true nature and then you could be together. She swore me to secrecy and I agreed. I hope you aren't mad at me. I'm sorry John. I didn't think I'd be the one to tell you this. You must be devastated."
"No punkin' I just found this all out from some things here at the penthouse and I wanted to confirm it and see if there was anything else that might be revealed that I didn't already know."
"What are you going to do?"
"Well, I'm not entirely sure."
"Do you think Kristen is responsible for Marlena's disappearance?"
"If she is I aim to find out. Doc had just moved back in with us because I was afraid that Stefano might still be alive and I wanted to protect her. It doesn't make sense with what I know now that Kristen would have any reason to get rid of Doc."
"What do you mean?" Caroline interrupted.
"Well, think about it. Doc wasn't going to tell me, right? So what did Kristen have to fear unless she was hiding something else and Doc found out about it. Then again if Stefano is alive, and he wanted Doc, then well, she might have helped him take her but I'm not convinced he's alive or if he is alive that he took her because he always leaves a clue and I haven't found one yet. So I'm working on two assumptions here that are totally opposed to each other, but both of them possibly involve Kristen."
"So if Stefano didn't take her, you think Marlena discovered something that Kristen didn't want her to know?" Carrie started.
"Something that might have convinced Marlena that it was time to tell you the truth about Kristen," Caroline finished.
John winked and nodded - all the gravity of the situation apparent in the gesture.
"I must say John, I'm awfully glad I'm not in your shoes right now," Caroline added gravely.
"As much as this is just blowing my mind to think about I'd say I'm wearing the best shoes in the house if I want to find out what happened to Doc. Nothing like sleeping with the enemy," he stated with a voice ladden with a perfect combination of irony, contempt and sadness.
"Is there anything I can do John?" Carrie asked reaching over to him and touching his hand. He rose and began to pace, deep in thought.
"No, no punkin' you've done exactly what I was hoping you could. Kristen found the letter and then Doc found it and realized Kristen had been keeping it from her, " he said distractedly and added, looking up and as seriously as he could, "You've kept this secret well so I don't imagine you'll have trouble keeping it a little longer. Not a word to anyone about this Carrie. And Carrie I hope I don't have to tell you that you should have told me this as soon as you found out Marlena was missing again."
"I know I should have. I've been so wrapped up in my own problems. I'm sorry John. I hope it's not too late."
"Don't give it another thought. I WILL find her and if Kristen had anything to do with this I will find out about it. If there is anything I could say to you Carrie it's that you need to be with the person you love and you need to do what you have to do to make that possible before you lose anymore time."
"You know, I have said to Marlena all along that if the two of you could get back together again, I'd have so much hope that Austin and I would be together too."
"You will dear." Caroline added just as the doorbell rang.
"That will be Laura." John stated as he walked to the door.
Laura was feeling a bit icy towards John at the moment but she was hoping without Kristen around that he would listen to her. After last night's confrontation, she wasn't sure. Kristen had put on a wonderful act. She surveyed the room and was glad that Carrie and Caroline were there but uncertain what was going on. She certainly wasn't expecting to see John and she was hoping that he'd finally decided to give credence to her accusations.
"John, I didn't realize this was a party. What's going on? Did you find out something about Marlena?" She asked hopefully, losing the sarcasm.
"We did Laura and we were hoping you could fill in the missing pieces. Listen, I owe you an apology. About last night, I realize that you are right about Marlena and Kristen. I know everything she's been doing to keep Doc and I apart. I hope you can understand why I was reluctant to believe you." John offered his peace.
"Oh John, it's okay. Finally. You have got to listen to me. I am not crazy. Even Marlena wasn't willing to believe that Stefano and Peter are alive but they are and they and Kristen WERE responsible for my disappearance. I'd stake my life on it. I convinced Marlena to move back in with the two of you because we realized that we had to go after the one we knew was alive and we knew what she was capable of. I know Kristen has something to do with Marlena being gone. She hates Marlena, John and she's hiding something. If Marlena found out what it was then there would be no stopping her from making sure that Marlena didn't get to you."
"We think so too," Caroline said, speaking for everyone. She added, "You know, come to think of it, Kristen has been acting very strangely for quite some time."
"Well this is quite the turnabout," Laura said gleefully. "Do I dare ask what made you change your mind about Kristen?"
"We found some things of Doc's which implicate a motive for Kristen to be involved in this. " He told her the whole story and Laura was unable to contain her delight. She had been waiting for this moment which brought her one step closer to proving that she was right all along. If only she could remember everything then the puzzle would fall into place and they could find Marlena and set Jack free.
"I don't know if I have anything to add, John. Marlena suspected that Kristen was up to something. God, if I could just remember everything, I know it would answer all of our prayers." She was frustrated and John put his arm around her.
"It's okay Laura. We'll do everything we can to help you remember. I want to believe you and I want to do what I can to help you remember."
"She loves you so much John. She has sacrificed so much for you. She was going to tell you everything the night you found out John Jr. was going to be okay but she went to the church and you were there praying that she didn't love you because you were committed to Kristen and the baby. I wanted, I begged her to tell you again and again but she didn't want you to be trapped in a loveless marriage. I had decided to tell you myself.. I couldn't stand seeing her so unhappy. Then Lynn stuck me with that damn needle. I'm going to fire that woman."
John shook is head and he hugged Laura.
Caroline went to make more tea and Laura and John both paced the opposite sides of the room, thinking. Carrie was reclining on the sofa wondering how everyone's life around her, including her own, could be such a complete mess.
Meanwhile Lynn was on the phone to Kristen.
"She just went up to Marlena's penthouse."
"What the hell is she doing there?" snapped Kristen on the other line.
"Well I don't know Kristen," Lynn snapped back.
"Well, find out dammit and make sure she takes her medication."
"I'll do what I can," Lynn said and hung up the phone.
John, Caroline, Laura and Carrie hung around the penthouse for a while, talking in circles. Laura pointed out that it was possible that Marlena discovered that Peter and Stefano were alive and that Kristen was involved in her disappearance but without any evidence they couldn't prove that theory. Laura wanted to go back to the Blake House and see if she could get in the Secret Room she knew was there and Carrie offered to go with her. After they'd left, Caroline busied herself cleaning up from the tea and gathering the things Chelsea had requested of her.
"You know Caroline, I would feel a lot better if Brady and Belle stayed with you for a few days until I get to the bottom of Kristen's involvement in Doc's disappearance. I'm going to go and get them and bring them over to the pub if that's okay with you, give Chelsea a holiday."
"Of course, you know I'd love to have them and with Marlena gone, well I'm sure they'd both appreciate being around family. Poor Belle."
John just sighed. They were silent for a while then Caroline said, "John, are you going to be okay?"
"I don't think I can stop long enough to think about it, if I do I don't know what will happen to me. I can't believe Kristen could be so deceptive. I loved her Caroline. . ." There was a long pause, " but not like I love Doc. I guess, if I'm honest, I have to admit that I haven't been very fair to Kristen. I told her time and again that my feelings for Marlena were resolved when really I just thought Marlena had resolved them for me by not loving me the way I loved her. Kristen must have been devastated when she found that letter but what she's done since then, I can't understand, I can't forgive."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to act as if nothing has changed for now. It won't be easy but I'm trained for such things, it's in my blood. If I want to find out what the hell is going on, I've got to do it," he stated as much as to convince himself as to answer Caroline.
"First I'm going to find out what Abe has rounded up about Susan." He was at the phone but decided to go home first and see what was going on there, to get the children and take them to the pub where he knew they'd be safe. He and Caroline walked out into the late Spring afternoon together and went their separate ways. John's heart was heavy but there was a fire in his belly and the light remained in his eyes, the result of the combination of emotions running through him - hope, anger, sadness, worry, resolve, and love, complete and total love. If he couldn't find Doc now, he wasn't sure how he would go on.
Lynn followed behind the car of Dr. Horton, a safe distance so as not to be recognized. She was wondering why she was following her at all. Laura was obviously doing something with Carrie. How much harm could this pair do? she wondered. Then it dawned on her that they were headed for the Blake House. She pulled over onto the gravel median and called Kristen to warn her.
"Yes," Kristen answered the phone.
"It's Lynn. I waited for Laura to come out of the penthouse. She came out with Carrie Brady and they got in Dr. Horton's car together, and they are headed towards the Blake House. Please tell me you had that room sealed."
"Shit. No I thought Laura had thoroughly convinced everyone that she was crazy when she came back and I was in there holding the door. I didn't have it sealed. Dammit. What are we going to do?"
"I don't know Kristen. I thought you were going to take care of it. They are there by now. I don't think there is much we CAN do."
"Go to the house Lynn, don't let them see you but find out what they are doing. I'll figure something out."
Kristen slammed down the phone. She had a wicked headache that was getting worse by the minute. What was she going to do with Laura and what if she remembers everything and tells Carrie. She certainly couldn't sit around doing nothing. She turned on the monitor to check on Marlena .
"Hi Doc. I have to go out for a while. You stay put now. I'll leave this on so you don't get bored. Maybe you'll get a glimpse of Belle and Brady, or, hey, maybe John will come home and keep you company. Ta, ta."
Marlena didn't even give her the satisfaction of a reply. She'd already realized there was no way she could get out of there and she was worried. If John didn't find her before Stefano got there, what was she going to do? She'd rather die than be stuck with that madman again, if it weren't for the children. She had to stay alive for the children. But she didn't want to think about what was going to happen if John didn't figure out what kind of person Kristen was soon. She watched the monitor as Belle and Brady and Chelsea came in from the garden. Both of the children seemed a little down. She tried to talk to them but she knew they couldn't hear her. It still made her feel better. She was filled with dreaded thoughts, thoughts of being gone from Belle the way she had been gone from Sami and Eric and she was crying again, crying and angry. She wanted to hit something, she wanted to scream and shout but she'd tired of doing that. It didn't make her feel any better. She knew one thing for sure, if she got her hands on Kristen DiMera, there'd be no telling what she was capable of and she'd never felt this way towards another living soul, not even Stefano and she'd actually shot and killed him once, or so she thought.
When she looked up at the monitor again she saw John, he was watching the children, just as she was, without them realizing he was there. When they saw him, they both ran to him and jumped into his arms and he put on his brave face. Her features softened watching him with them. At least if she was gone they'd have him. It was the thought of Kristen taking HER place that made her stomach turn and her head spin. He has got to see the truth, if he doesn't we will all be doomed.
"Chelsea, how would you like to take a paid vacation for a week or so?"
"Well, that would be fine Mr. Black, but don't you need me?"
"Nope, Brady and Belle here are going to go spend a week or so with their grandparents. Would you like that kids?"
"Is mommy going to be there?" Belle asked.
"No, mommy isn't going to be there but when you come back mommy will be here, I promise. I know you miss her and so do I but grandma and grandpa want you to come and stay with them. They miss you and want to spend some time with you. Can you get their things together Chelsea and then I'll take them over and you can start your vacation. Now you two run along and help Chelsea and pack any toys that you can't live without. Don't forget your bunny, Belle."
Chelsea scurried the children out of the room just as Alliana was entering.
"Oh Alliana, is Kristen home?"
"No, Mr. Black, she just left."
"And Susan?"
"No, Kristen gave Susan the night off and I'm watching John Jr. for her until she gets back."
"Okay, thanks."
"Can I get you anything before I go back upstairs?"
"No, thank you. I've got to make a few calls and then I'm taking the children to the pub. If Kristen gets home before I get back could you please let her know where I am and that I'll be back."
"Yes sir. Any luck on finding Dr. Evans?"
"No, not at all."
Alliana left and Marlena was almost whispering, "John, I'm right here, I'm right here."
John went to the phone, looking around before he did so to make sure that no one was there and dialed Abe's number.
"Abe, what you got?"
"Well Susan was a patient of Marlena's but that's all we know. Her file isn't here. Doc must have had it with her the night she disappeared."
"Well, if she had it with her, either she still does or it's somewhere in this house. I'm going to take the children to the pub but I'll look for it here when I get back."
"Have you seen Kristen yet?"
"No she's not here but I'm okay. I can do this. I have to do it for Doc."
"I know you can. I was thinking you should come in first thing in the morning and we can formulate a plan of some sort."
"Yeah, I don't know how long I can play this by the seat of my pants. All right partner, I'll see you in the morning."
John looked around the room, thinking out loud. All right Kristen what are you up to?. What did Doc find out about you that you didn't want her to tell me. Doc, I know you can't hear me but I know you love me, I know you've been trying to protect me but dammit Doc you should have told me about Kristen. How can I take care of you, how could I protect you? Okay, okay maybe she didn't have anything to do with your disappearance this time but I've got to work on the assumption that she did. Damn the consequences.
He said it only because he wanted to believe that she hadn't but how was he going to find out? If he confronted her about what he knew he might lose any hope of finding Marlena, but how could he find out if he didn't. His head hurt and he fixed himself a light drink.
Marlena stood looking at the monitor in shock. He knows. He knows about Kristen. Oh thank God. John I'm right here. She IS responsible. She was relieved for the first time since this ordeal began. There was hope now at least that he could find her. She was right under his nose after all and he did love her, she could see it in his eyes every time he said her name. She watched him sitting there drinking his drink, waiting for the children and she studied him wishing that she could ease the pain he was in, a gesture that would in turn ease her own pain and wash away all the time they'd missed together. She had never once lost sight of why she loved him so much, why she was so drawn to him and he to her. What they shared, a passion and a deep friendship and respect for one another, was unequaled by anything she had known. Yes, she had loved, adored Roman. He was a good, honest man with a heart of gold, qualities that John possessed as well but John was like a fire that burned inside of her. She had long given up fooling herself that she could have stayed away from John forever even though she'd known all along it was the right thing to do in a very bad situation, a situation they had all handled poorly. She couldn't just put out a fire like that because life demanded it of her. She was a human being after all. The affair had been the devastating result of some large, unfathomable manipulation beyond everyone's control, but the love she felt for this man was very real and she wasn't making excuses for it anymore. Thank God, Roman had found it in his heart to forgive her because what she felt couldn't be helped. She knew that she and John belonged together and she knew that he knew it too. Oh John please find me, we have wasted so much time. Just think of how wonderful it is going to be and don't give up on me. You have got to find me before Stefan does John. I'm right here.
Chelsea and the children came down and John scooped them up and they were out the door. Marlena was in tears, wishing she could go with them and then they'd all be rid of this place, this nightmare that had become their lives. Stuck there in that room she tried to focus on a future where all her dreams came true but she found herself full of regret instead, but even that didn't overshadow her anger and her hope that at last the truth was coming out to the one person who needed to know it the most, and that was John.
Lynn and Kristen stood outside the Blake House, hidden in the shadows, desperately wondering what Carrie and Laura had discovered inside and what she was going to do about it. Kristen felt that she could handle Laura, her questionable sanity was her trump card, but Carrie? That was another story. This whole affair was getting out of hand. She'd reached a point of desperation and she wasn't sure anymore what she was capable of. Lynn didn't even want to know what Kristen was planning to do about this situation.
Upstairs Carrie and Lynn were standing inside the Secret Room and Laura was remembering more than she could handle. Carrie was a little frightened. If what Laura was saying was true, that she had been held here and that Peter and Stefano were alive and Kristen was involved, then what sort of danger were they putting themselves in. She used Laura's cell phone to call John, who was on his way out of the Brady Pub when it rang.
"John Black."
"John, it's Carrie. Listen we are here at the Blake House. Laura found the secret room she thinks she was held in and she's starting to remember what happened here. I think you should get over here as fast as you can."
"I'm on my way."
At the DiMera mansion Susan arrived home from her day at the spa, complete with her new Kristen hair and her Susan wig. She was ready to set her plan in action. She had to find a way to get Kristen into that secret room, but how? Tonight was the night she would become Mrs. John Black and that mean mean Kristen wasn't going to stand in her way anymore.
Meanwhile, outside the Blake House Kristen had an idea.
"Come on Lynn. We've got to get out of here before someone sees us. You go home and when Laura gets there you try to find out what she knows and call me right away and make sure she takes her medication, preferably a double dose."
"Kristen, I sure hope you've got a good plan because if Laura remembers she is going to blow you out of the water."
"Don't worry Lynn, I know what I have to do. It's my ass on the line here."
"Yeah, well you're taking us all down with you when you go."
Kristen gave her a look that would melt rubber and they took off through the woods to the cars they had carefully hidden just missing John barreling up the driveway.
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