"So, now you're trying to take my son away from me too John?" Roman
asked furious. "What's next Sami and Carrie? Oh wait, I forgot that you probably already
have Carrie eating out of the palm of your hand."
"Roman, what the hell are you doing? Just what are you trying to prove?" John
asked trying to control the anger building up inside of him as he tried to reason with
Roman. "First, you attack Doc and now your own son. God Roman when is it going to
stop?"
"When you get the hell away from my family!!!" Roman yelled at him. "They
belong to me!!!"
"Stop this dad!!!" Eric yelled trying to stand up.
"Just relax Eric and let me deal with your father." John explained putting his hand
on Eric's shoulder. "You're father just needs to get a grip on reality right now."
"You know John," Roman laughed glaring at John, "I don't think that you're really
in a position to tell me what to do with my life right now considering that you are the man
that destroyed it."
"Roman, you had no right to attack Doc tonight." John said trying to remain calm
as his heart pounded in his chest with fury. "She didn't deserve any of that. You shouldn't
have hit her."
"Why is that John?" Roman asked moving towards him. "Is that because she is
carrying another one of your children again?"
"You had no right!!" Eric yelled from the ground as pain shot through his head.
"You could've killed mom tonight."
"No right?? John has taken away everything that I've ever loved and right now all
I care about is taking back what's mine." Roman laughed shaking as he glared at John.
"Doc will be with me John!!! I won't let you have her even if I have to kill you for
her."
"Roman, why don't you do the right thing and turn yourself in to Abe?" John said
seriously thinking about Marlena's fragile condition.
"Go to hell John!!!" Roman said punching him in the face. "I'll never let you take
me down."
"You know Roman," John said not affected by the punch as thoughts of Marlena's
bloodstained figure ran through his mind, "I tried to do this the right way without letting
my feelings get in the way, but you've left me no other alternative."
"Oh yeah John. Take your best shot!!" Roman laughed grabbing a hammer off of
the ground and swinging it at John.
"With pleasure Roman." John responded lunging at Roman as the two became
entangled in a fury. "You'll pay for what you did to Doc!!"
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
"What's taking John so long?" Jenny asked turning to Abe as the two sat in his
office. "He should've been able to find Eric by now."
"I don't know Jenny." Abe replied looking at his watch. "He said that he had one
more place that he wanted to check out before he gave up the search."
"I just hope that we can get some kind of lead soon." Jenny said shivering as she
took a sip of her water.
"Hey Abe, what's going on?" Bo asked walking into Abe's office. "Frank said that
you needed to see me about something important."
"Yeah," Abe said
taking in a deep breath, "I think that you better sit down Bo."
"Jenny, what are you doing here?" Bo asked realizing that she was also in Abe's
office. "Did something happen to Eric? What did my nephew do now?"
"He's missing." Abe informed Bo. "John is looking for him right now."
"What happened Abe?" Bo asked taking note of the strain on his friend's face.
"Did he do something illegal?"
"It's worse than that Bo." Abe explained
taking a deep breath. "We need to find him before he gets a hold of Roman."
"Roman?" Bo repeated confused. "Why do you need to find him before he gets to
Roman?"
"Bo, I don't know how to tell you this without hurting you..." Abe began
sadly.
"What the hell is going on Abe?" Bo asked growing frustrated. "Quit tiptoeing
around what you have to tell me."
"Bo, Roman found out the truth about John and Marlena tonight and he attacked
her." Abe explained to his friend.
"What? That can't be." Bo gasped in shock.
"I'm sorry Bo, but he attacked her earlier this evening and she's in the hospital. If
Jenny hadn't called the ambulance when she did, then there's no telling what could've
happened to Marlena." Abe informed him.
"Oh thank God that you showed up when you did." Bo said turning to Jenny.
"Eric was the one that walked in on the attack." Jenny explained to Bo with tears
in her eyes. "He was so upset when I last saw him..."
"...because he was going to go after Roman for hurting his mom. Oh God!!!" Bo
said getting up from his chair. "I've got to go find him Abe."
"John's out checking right now, but I haven't heard from him in a while. I'm
starting to worry." Abe explained to him.
"I think I know where to find him." Bo replied walking out of the
office.
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
"Come on John." Roman said pounding on John's chest. "Show me what you're
made of!!!"
"Roman, you're going to pay!!!" John yelled slamming his fist into Roman's
abdomen causing him to fall to the ground. "I'm not finished with you yet!!!"
Roman and John rolled around on the ground hitting each other furiously as Eric
remained over by the crates taking in the entire scene. He could feel the pain throbbing in
his head as he watched the two men that at one point in time he thought to be his fathers
destroying one another until John got the upper hand of the situation.
"This is for Doc!!" John yelled slamming his fist into Roman's jaw as rage rang
throughout his body. "You'll never be able to hurt her again!!!"
"Ugh." Roman gulped as blood spurt out of his mouth and he turned to see the fire
in John's eyes. "You'll never have Doc!!!"
"Shut up!!" John ordered hitting him again with a larger impact.
"John, I don't feel so good!! I'm starting to feel dizzy." Eric called out gripping his
head tightly.
"Eric," John began turning his attention away from Roman.
"Come on John...." Roman began whispering in his weakened condition. "Why
don't you be a man and finish me?"
"You'll get yours Brady!" John replied turning his attention back to Roman again
as he raised his fist.
"Then do it!!!" Roman dared him in a voice of pure madness.
"Roman..." John began as images of Marlena, Belle, and Brady flashed in his
mind.
"What are you waiting for John?" Roman asked as the faint sound of police sirens
filled the air. "Come on Black!!!"
"You'll get what's coming to you," John began lowering his fist and removing
himself off of Roman, "but it won't be from me."
"Too chicken to kill me huh?" Roman teased weakly. "I guess that Doc isn't worth
that much to you if you aren't willing to kill me for her."
"That's just it Roman." John said facing him again. "Doc means everything to me
and that's why I won't kill you."
