(Chapter two begins at the hotel where John is staying. He is confused by the turn of events and he is packing his things up. He frantically gathers his things up as he remembers Stephano's reaction to hearing that Kristen's death was a suicide.)
"I have to get out of here." John began as the nights events began to replay in his mind.
John finished packing his second suitcase when he turned and looked at a picture of Marlena and the kids sitting on the nightstand next to the bed. He picked it up and sat down on the bed.
"Oh Doc," John began touching the photo gently, "I love you so much, but look at all the pain I've caused you. It seems like everyone that has ever put faith in me ends up getting hurt. First it was you when our affair destroyed your marriage to Roman, then Isabella got sick and there wasn't anything that I could do to help her, and now Kristen. I should've been able to stop her Doc, but I let my anger get in the way. Damn it. How could I have been so stupid?"
"Oh Doc, if only I could've done things differently......" John trailed off as he noticed the light on his answering machine blinking. He walked over to the machine and rewound it.
"John, this is Kristen......" the voice echoed throughout the room..." I was just calling you to apologize for all the hell that I've put you through. I didn't mean to hurt you...."
"Oh God..." John gasped as Kristen's sorrowful voice filled the room.
"...I know that you hate me for all that I have done, but I just wanted you to know that I was sorry. I really wish that you and I could've made up towards the end of my time here, but I'm afraid that it just wasn't meant to be. I'm sorry that I ruined your life. I know that you don't want to hear this, but I love you....." she finished as her voice was cut off by the machine.
"Oh Kristen...." John began to sob in guilt as he fell to the floor and began to replay her message.
"How is Stephano doing Mike?" Marlena asked as Mike came out of the emergency room. "What happened to him?"
"He had a stroke Marlena." Mike explained looking at the charts.
"How bad is he?" Marlena asked as Roman wrapped his arm around her.
"It appears to be only a minor stroke, but he's not in good shape." Mike explained to her. "This thing with Kristen is tearing him apart."
"I can see why." Roman added tightening his grip on Marlena.
"I've sedated him, but I really think that he's going to need someone to talk to as time goes on." Mike began hesitantly.
"You mean professionally?" Roman asked wondering where Mike was leading the conversation.
"I'm afraid so." Mike said turning to Marlena. "I know that this is a lot to ask of you Marlena, but would you consider being his therapist? I would ask my mom to do it, but the way that she's been acting lately, I don't think that would be a wise choice."
"No way!!!" Roman shouted at Mike. "Doc isn't going anywhere near that monster. Can't you get someone else to help him out?"
"Roman, Marlena is the most qualified person for the job." Mike explained defensively turning to Marlena. "Look I realize that you and Stephano share a history that may influence you to not take him on as a patient. You know that I wouldn't ask you to do this unless it was absolutely necessary."
"I know that Mike." Marlena began wearliy.
"Look Marlena, you don't have to give me an answer now." Mike insisted seriously. "Just please think about it."
"I will." she replied as Roman gave her a disapproving look.
"I'm going to call Lexie since she is the only family that Stephano has around right now." Mike explained leaving Roman and Marlena alone.
"You can't be seriously thinking about taking Dimera on as a patient?" Roman questioned looking at her.
"I don't know." she sighed realizing that she was exhausted. "Right now all I can think about is going home and finding out what happened to John."
John approached the penthouse door hoping that Marlena was awake. He realized that it was very late at night, but he needed to see her. He needed to feel her arms around him as she assured him that everything would be alright in a way that only Marlena could do.
"John what are you doing here?" Susan asked opening the door wearing a pink robe, bunny slippers, and curlers in her hair.
"Is Doc around?" he asked eagerly.
"She hasn't come home yet." she explained looking him over. "Would you like to come in and wait for her?"
"No...that's okay." he began thinking it over. "Actually, on second thought I think that I might."
"Alright." she smiled opening the door and letting him inside. "What brings you here tonight John?"
"I just wanted to talk to Doc about what happened at the morgue today." John explained sitting down on the couch.
"Did you find out what happened to mean, old Krist-an?" Susan asked sitting down in the chair next to him. "You have to believe that I didn't kill her John. You know that I'm not capable of such evil."
"I know that Susan." John replied taking in a deep breath. "Everyone knows that you're innocent."
"I don't think that Mr. Roman Brady thinks so." Susan explained worried. "He looks at me like I'm the one that killed Krist-an."
"Well, he won't do that to you anymore Susan." John explained looking at her.
"Why do you say that John?" she asked confused.
"Because we found out today that Kristen killed herself." John explained to her.
"NO!!" she gasped in shock. "Mean old Krist-an killed herself?"
"Yes, she did." John replied sadly remembering the messge that Kristen left on his answering machine.
"That's terrible." Susan said sadly. "I didn't like mean old Krist-an very much after what she did to me and my sissy, but I really didn't want her to die either. She must've really hated herself to do something so terrible like that."
"Yeah," John agreed trying to dismiss the guilty feelings that ran within him.
"She must have felt like no one would ever love her again after all that she did." Susan continued thinking it over. "I kind of feel bad because she really didn't have anyone to turn to...."
"You know Susan, I think that I'm going to leave." John began standing up.
"Don't you want to wait for Dr. Marlena Evans?" she asked looking up at him.
"No, I'd better be on my way." John replied wishing that Marlena would just walk through the door and hold him.
"Are you sure?" Susan asked getting up and looking him over. "You look really sad. Is something bothering you?"
"I'm fine Susan." John smiled weakly at her. "Just tell Doc that I love her."
"Well, why don't you wait and tell her yourself?" Susan asked confused. "I'm sure that she'd love to hear it from you."
"Well, I can't stay any longer Susan." John began giving her a hug. "You take care of yourself pal."
"Okay...." she began confused.
"I'll be seeing you." John said with tears in his eyes as he made his way towards the door.
"I'll have Dr. Evans call you when she gets home." Susan announced.
"Don't bother Susan." John explained turning to face her once more. "I won't be there."
"Why not? Are you going on a trip?" she asked him.
"Something like that." John replied sadly. "I won't be around for a while, so just tell Doc that I love her and that I'm sorry for everything that happened."
"Okay," she responded with a shrug.
"Oh and one more thing Susan." John said feeling chills run throughout his body. "Tell Doc that I hope that she finds the happiness that she deserves."
"Okay," Susan said waving goodbye to him. "I'll see you later John."
