"I just called John's cell phone, but I didn't get any answer." Abe
announced coming back into the apartment and noticing the silence hanging over the
room. "What's going on in here?"
"Sami left." Carrie explained putting her arm around Eric as he flopped onto the
couch.
"What?" Abe asked confused.
"She went to find my dad." Carrie explained as Eric buried his head in his hands.
"This can't be happening." Eric muttered softly as Jenny watched him.
"Then she knows about Roman?" Abe asked worrying about Sami's safety. "If she
gets near him right now there's no telling what he will do to her, especially after what he
did to Marlena, John, and Eric."
"We have to find her Abe." Eric replied looking up at him. "There's no telling
what will happen when my sister is upset like this."
"Knowing Sami, she's capable of hurting someone...." Carrie began grimly. "..even
if it is herself."
"I'll have my men start a search for her." Abe promised reaching for his cell phone.
"We will find her Eric."
"I hope so." Eric replied wishing that he wouldn't have let Sami leave the
apartment.
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
"Damn them!!" Sami yelled as she walked along the pier. "How could they lie
about my father like that? Just what are they trying to prove? First Eric helps Carrie steal
Austin from me and they turn against our father. I swear that there is no loyalty in this
fa...."
Sami was suddenly silenced as she heard footsteps approaching her from a
distance. She realized that it was probably Eric chasing after her to try to convince her
that she was being childish. She decided that she didn't want to put up with his lecture, so
she hid behind the crates as a dark figure stepped onto the pier in the moonlight.
"How's the patient doing Kristen?" Stephano asked into his cell phone as he looked
around the empty pier.
"What patient?" Kristen asked sarcastically on the other end of the phone
line.
"You know damn well what patient." Stephano yelled scanning the area to make
sure that he was alone. "How is Roman's condition today?"
"He's improving Stephano." Kristen explained to him. "He was ready to get up
and moving earlier this morning before I gave him the sedative that you left for
him."
"Good." Stephano smiled as he looked out into the twilight. "That's just what I
wanted to hear. Roman will soon be as strong as ever."
"I still don't
understand why you care so much about his health." Kristen insisted wondering what he
was up to.
"Trust me Kristen. Everything is going to work out for the best. Just make sure
that he keeps getting stronger. I have to go." Stephano explained hanging up his cell
phone and smiling as he thought out loud. "Now that Roman is getting stronger, I'm
almost ready to put my plan into action."
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Marlena woke up from her nightmare and turned to look at John. He was sleeping
peacefully in bed, so she decided to let him sleep as she put her robe on and left the room.
She walked into the living room of the cabin and looked out the window, but no matter
how hard she tried, thoughts of Roman flooded her mind.
"I just don't understand," she sighed closing her eyes and remembering Roman's
transformation. "We used to be so close and now you're so evil Roman."
Marlena's thoughts began to drift to a time when she and Roman had happiness.
She thought of the first time that they met and the times when he had dragged her fishing
against her will. She remembered when he first came back on her wedding day to John
and how hard he had tried to make her love him once again. Suddenly these images were
replaced with new, more recent ones that they had shared together...
"Before you say another word, I've got something for you."
Roman began getting up and walking over to the refrigerator again.
"You're going to love this."
"What is it?" Marlena asked trying to peek at what he was
holding.
"Surprise." he said bringing a bowl of whipped cream and
strawberries over to the table.
"Oh," she said in shock.
"What do you say Doc?" he asked dipping a strawberry into
the whipped cream and raising it to her face. "Why don't we recreate
the old days?"
"You know Roman," she began as her stomach began to
tighten up, "I'm not really in the mood for those."
"Come on Doc. I know that you love this." he urged moving
the strawberry to her lips.
"I don't want it Roman." she insisted pushing it away.
"Just take a bite Doc." he insisted pushing it towards her
again.
"I don't want it." she said moving his hand away
from her.
"Fine." he said putting the strawberry back into the
bowl.
"I'm just not very hungry." she explained suddenly feeling sick. "I'm
sorry."
"Don't eat it then." he said throwing the bowl across the room. "See if
I care."
"Oh God why did it have to be this way Roman?" Marlena sighed remembering the
last time that she saw him....
"You do love me Doc." he said emotionless as he moved
towards her. "I know it."
"Roman," she began backing up again as he approached
her.
"You want to make love to me." he said reaching for her on
the floor.
"Get away from me." she said pushing his arms away from
her.
"Damn it Marlena." he said slapping her as he moved on top
of her. "I know that you want me."
"Don't do this Roman." she cried trying to break free as pain
shot up her leg.
"You're going to do what I want from now on Marlena." Roman
said forcefully kissing her neck. "You owe me this."
"Please don't do this." Marlena cried trying to push him off of
her. "Roman don't."
"Doc, don't fight it." he said kissing
her neck again. "I know
that you want me."
"Doc," John's voice called out to her as he touched her shoulder.
"Don't touch me!" she shouted opening her eyes.
"Doc, it's me." John explained wrapping his arms around her as she began to sob.
"I'm not going to let anyone hurt you."
"Oh John," she began crying into his chest, "I was so scared."
"You were thinking about Roman again, weren't you?" he asked moving her face
up to meet his gaze.
"I can't help but think of him John." Marlena explained as tears rolled down her
face. "He was a part of my life for so long before he snapped like that. I just don't
understand...."
"None of us understand Doc..." John replied kissing her tear-stained cheek and
looking into her sad eyes. "..but I promise that I'm never going to let him get a chance to
hurt you again."
"I'm just so afraid John." Marlena insisted turning to look out at the night sky once
more.
"Doc, I know that you're afraid," he whispered gently rubbing her shoulders, "but
Roman won't ever get the chance to come near you again. I'd die before I let that happen.
Abe's men are going to find him soon."
"But what if Abe can't find him John?" Marlena asked worried. "What if he comes
back to finish what he started?"
"Doc," John replied turning her to face him, "I won't let him near you. I promise
you that. You and I are going to be happy together from now on. No one is going to
harm you or the children ever again."
"John, we've had so much evil in our lives for so long and I'm just so worried
about everything: you, the kids...especially Sami. How is she going to react to finding out
what a monster Roman has become?" she asked sadly. "I feel like this is all my fault in
some sort of way. If only I could've made everyone happy...."
"Doc, you
can't please everyone." John insisted touching her face. "You did what you thought was
right for so long and you can't punish yourself for what Roman did. You weren't
responsible for his actions."
"I know, but when I think of what he did to Eric..." Marlena whimpered softly.
"Roman is out of control and no one is responsible for that Doc.." John replied
wanting to stop her pain. "He needs help Doc."
"I should've been the one to help him." she insisted closing her eyes
tighter.
"No Doc. Roman needs to help himself. Look at me!!" John urged her as she
looked at him. "I don't like to watch you hurting Doc. I love you."
"I love you too." she replied looking into his deep blue eyes.
"Doc, no matter how hard this is right now, the love that you and I share is going
to get us through this. We have to believe that." John explained kissing her softly on the
lips. "I love you Doc."
"I love you too John." she replied hugging him tightly. "I don't know what I
would do without you in my life."
"Well, pretty lady, you won't ever have to worry about that again." John insisted
placing his hand under her chin as he lowered his mouth to hers for another kiss. "I'll
always be here for you."
